Why Missions?
God takes missions very seriously. He said, “Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel.” Worship is the fuel of missions, because God passionately desires that His great name be worshipped by all His creation.
The joy of knowing Christ is not a treasure that we should keep to ourselves. Rather, the word should well up within us as a river of life, and spring forth to give refreshment to those who are in a weary world. Without the preaching of the gospel, how shall they believe?
Charlestown Bible Church is committed to sending forth laborers into the harvest, either in a prayerful or financial manner, in the name of Christ for the furtherance of His kingdom. We go forward in confidence knowing that Christ’s grand work of building his church cannot fail.
Read on to see some of the missionaries we support.
Tim and Ruth Bixby – Missionaries to Sarcelles, France
Tim and Ruth were both born into Christian families, and both accepted Christ as Savior at an early age. Both also graduated from homeschools before attending college. Tim was born in the Central African Republic where his parents were missionaries. Several years later the family moved to the field of Bordeaux, France, where Tim’s folks continue to minister. Ruth grew up outside of Raleigh, NC.
As college students at Bob Jones University Tim and Ruth became close friends while traveling several summers with a musical mission team to Europe. They were married in September 2000.
Tim received a Bachelor of Arts in Bible in 2000 and a Master of Arts in Bible from the BJU Seminary in 2003. Ruth earned a Bachelor of Arts in Print Journalism in 1998 and a Master of Music in Church Music in 2000. Tim was the pastor of Cleveland Park Bible Church for 5 years before becoming a missionary to France. They moved to France in June 2009.
Tim and Ruth have four children: Micaiah, Miriam, Zacharie, and Gabriel.
Kristi Colas – Missionary to Sarcelles, France
Kristi Colas has her own prayer for France. Her prayer is that those around her would come to know of His salvation. After eight years in France, she now works with the Bixbys in a church plant in Sarcelles in Paris’ northern suburbs. Sarcelles is one of the most multi-ethnic communities in the whole country. Kristi serves in the church’s music and children’s ministries, special programs, evangelism, and discipleship of women. She also conducts English clubs for neighborhood children.
The Lord has opened doors for her to minister on a regular basis throughout France. She has also made a few short trips throughout Europe, Africa, and Asia. Because of her burden for cross-cultural missions, she eagerly encourages French churches to be more involved and interested in cross-cultural missions as well. “Most French churches see very few missionary presentations, and their missions programs are very under-developed,” she said.
Her passion for music also causes her to reach beyond France. She heads up the Ecclémusica ministry. Her passion for music has grown into a strong desire to train better music leaders, instrumentalists, and pianists through church music seminars. She uses this passion as part of her ministry to local churches where church music is not very developed.
Rick and Bev Gaudet – Missionaries to Telfs, Austria
Rick & Bev Gaudet began their ministry in Austria in 1974 with WEFMinistries. Biblical Ministries Worldwide came into existence in 1988 as the result of the union of WEFMinistries and United Missionary Fellowship.
The western panhandle of Austria – in particular the province of Tyrol, which is a stronghold of Catholicism – was chosen as their place of ministry.
From 1974 to 1984 intensive evangelistic outreaches and church planting efforts took place in the three largest cities west of Innsbruck (Telfs, Imst & Landeck) as well as in Reutte on the Austrian/German border. During this time Rick was also involved in the production and printing of evangelistic literature and Bible study courses for the ministry as well as for other German speaking believers, churches and the mission.
From 1985 to the present they have concentrated their efforts in Telfs. Their current ministry is three fold: Evangelism, Church Planting and Leadership Training.
Jack and Jennifer Mitchell – GFA
Jack has been practicing as a dentist since 1975, after graduating from Tufts Dental School in Boston, MA. He was in private practice for twelve years and geriatric dentistry for thirteen years before starting Grace Dental Mission in 1996 (which became GDMMissions in 2010). After many years with GDMM, the Mitchells are now serving with GFA, assisting missionaries around the world in reaching people through dentistry. Jennifer has been Jack’s dental assistant for many years, first in his private practice and also on the mission field.
Brian and Erin Bollon – Missionaries to Taiwan
Few churches in Taiwan offer sound biblical teaching. Qualified national leaders are few, and often influenced by the charismatic movement. God has called Brian and Erin to train Taiwanese believers to maturity in Christ by Biblical teaching and exemplary living, so they themselves will be able to make and mature disciples.
Their stated goals are:
• Participate in evangelism.
• acquire fluency in language and familiarity with culture.
• Join a church planting team of veteran missionaries and assist in ministry.
Christine Sears – Missionary to Berlin, Germany
Christine has served for many years in Southern Germany helping to plant a church there. In 1997 she moved to what was east Berlin. Christine helps with ministries to children and women. She is involved with visitation and entertaining in addition to Bible study, aerobics and sign language.
God had only One Son and He was a missionary.
There is no such way to be even with the devil and his instruments, for all their spite against us, as by doing what good we can wherever we be come.
In our manner of speech, our plans of living, our dealings with others, our conduct and walk in the church and out of it—all should be done as becomes the gospel (Phil. 1:27).