Disciple-making is foundational to any missions work. That’s why Steve and Gayle King started the Baptist Theological Institute in San Pedro, Ivory Coast in 1999. By God’s grace, the institute is training students to reach the lost and see new churches born.

Having served in Africa for nearly 20 years, Steve and Gayle also [...]]]>

Disciple-making is foundational to any missions work. That’s why Steve and Gayle King started the Baptist Theological Institute in San Pedro, Ivory Coast in 1999. By God’s grace, the institute is training students to reach the lost and see new churches born.

Having served in Africa for nearly 20 years, Steve and Gayle also understand important it is to make ministries self-sustaining. For years they’ve prayed for a small business that the Institute could operate to keep income flowing long after they leave. In late 2008, their prayers were answered, as related in a recent prayer letter:

Business Center
The Center of ITB [Institut Théologique Baptiste, or in English, Baptist Theological Institute] has been created for a special purpose and under special circumstances. The overall purpose is to glorify God (1 Cor. 10:31). Our prayer is that through this business, the Bible Institute ministry will be able to continue training men and women according to 2 Tim 2.2, as well as to be a lighthouse and outreach to the lost.

The idea of this business center begun when we considered how ITB could become self-sufficient. The Bible Institute is currently funded by gifts of friends and churches in the United States. In order for the Bible Institute to function without the missionaries’ presence one day, a way was needed for it to be financially self-supporting.

A photocopy center was the original idea, since there are a number of colleges in the area where students need papers typed and copies run off. In 2006, a missions team came from Arlington Baptist Church in Baltimore, Maryland, headed up by their pastor, Ryan Dupee. Knowing our desire for a business center, the church took up an offering for us. That gift, along with other gifts that had been given, enabled us to purchase for our first photocopy machine.

It was also in 2006 that we met Joanne Sopt in Paris and talked about this and other projects. At that time, Joanne was working for an auditing firm in the Paris office. In January 2008, she made the decision to join the Kings in their endeavor to start up a business center. She left EY in April 2008 with the desire to join the Kings in the late summer. Computers were needed for the project and in June 2008, Brad Schweibold, a friend of the Kings approached them with a desire to help out with their ministry. He had the vision of starting a cyber café, in addition to the photocopy center, and donated seven monitors with one central computer to that cause. Joanne, Brad, and DJ (Brad’s son) came together in September 2008 to install the computers in San Pedro, Ivory Coast.

Throughout the beginning stages of this project, the Lord manifested Himself by bringing several individuals together from different parts of the world in His perfect timing.

The business will provide the following services: Internet, copying, international phone calls, and a Christian library. All of the proceeds will be used to first fund the expenses of the business center, with the ultimate goal of funding all of the expenses of the Bible Institute. The success of this project so far has been due to the Lord, and our hope is that any trial or triumph in the future will be seen as coming from above.

Rev. Peters and his wife, Susan, were appointed as BMM missionaries in 1980 and served in Fortaleza and Curitiba, Brazil, from 1983 until 2000, when V.W. assumed [...]]]> Rev. V.W. Peters is the Field Administrator for Latin America, including the Caribbean. He serves in a pastoral and consulting role for the missionaries serving in his fields.

Rev. Peters and his wife, Susan, were appointed as BMM missionaries in 1980 and served in Fortaleza and Curitiba, Brazil, from 1983 until 2000, when V.W. assumed his current position and Susan became a part-time receptionist.

Rev. Fulks [...]]]>
Rev. Steve Fulks is the Administrator for Church Relations and Enlistment. His responsibilities include helping churches advance their missions programs, screening new missionary applicants, overseeing all missionaries on deputation, and arranging short-term missions opportunities. In addition, he administrates BMM’s Enlistment Directors as well as oversees BMM’s Annual Conference and Candidate Seminar.

Rev. Fulks and his wife, Judy, served as BMM missionaries in Peru from 1985 until 1997, when he assumed his current position.