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Global Encounter Ministries // History

When we started on December 7, 1991, our ministry was basically two itinerant evangelists traveling as God opened doors. My ministry friend was Samson Latchison…a true worshipper of God. He led worship and occasionally preached. I preached and never sang! We all know why. One year and ten months later, I married my bride, Joy; and Samson, although we hoped he would continue to travel, was called to co-pastor a church in Springfield , Missouri . Our singer changed from Samson to Joy….a beautiful voice as well, but much prettier to look at!!! Our ministry began to change. I am so thankful that what began to happen was God’s idea alone. To be honest, it wasn’t even on my radar screen. When God does the work everything goes so much better!

In June of 1992, we led a small group (20 people) on a short-term mission trip to inner-city Houston , Texas . In the summer of 1993, we led another group, even smaller in number. In July of 1994, Joy and I led a group of 50, again to Houston . Each time it was the result of different people from Missouri contacting us. God initiated it all. In the future years, our phone continued to ring and others, under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, asked to come along.

By the year 2000, we had over 1,200 people involved. Over 90% being next generation high school and university students…. WOW…. Only God! During this time, God transitioned Global Encounter from a traveling evangelist type ministry to a traveling evangelist and a mission equipping/sending ministry.

As time passed, we added other inner-cities to the list such as St. Louis , Missouri ; Kansas City , Missouri ; and Denver , Colorado . All the glory goes to God, but He did not do this only through our lives, but as a direct result of guidance from great mentors such as Harvey Kneisel, William Taylor and David Case. For my bride, Joy, Godly women such as Charlene Kneisel and many more, plus we have always had a wonderful Board of Directors who are men and women desiring more than life itself to glorify God. What incredible examples God has always blessed Joy and I with to model before us what we are still learning today! So, in some ways overnight and in other ways over the years, God changed our ministry into a ministry of Evangelism and Missions. Not to mention a great marriage (only by God’s grace) and five incredible children.

As many of you know, the picture of Global Encounter changed a little more in June of 2003 when God called Joy and I to become missionaries appointed by the North American Mission Board. It was due to the Lord calling us to serve in the Missouri Baptist Convention. What a privilege I had to serve Him as Director of Evangelism for our state. I learned a lot…mostly that I still have a lot to learn. I would not trade that experience for anything.

Then, in February of 2007, God placed another change in our life as we answered His call to First Baptist Church , Arnold , Missouri . Now I have the humbling honor to serve God as Pastor of Outreach at FBCA. My responsibility is to follow God and lead His church in the areas of Evangelism and Missions. I also, at this time, am leading our College and Young Professionals ministry. What a thrill!! Joy and I pray and believe we will spend the next 20 years here and from there….only God knows.

Here’s the fascination of this journey. I believe God began to prepare us for today many years ago. To recap, we started in 1991 and in 1992 He started a direction change or maybe I should say a direction addition, as we were asked to lead our first mission trip. We began to understand this enough to embrace it in 1994. He began to prepare us even more in 1997 when He gave us the name Global Encounter Ministries and led us to change our mission statement to “to love, win and train men and women as fast as possible in order to fulfill the Great Commission.”

By 1998 God had added to the missions component of our ministry a fuller purpose in training the next generation. Every other winter we led trips to India (first trip in January of 1995); Spring Break trips for university students to Springfield, Missouri and Corpus Christi, Texas (first trip in March of 1997); and expediential growth to the summer Houston, Texas trips with other mission endeavors, as well. All along with the “on the road” evangelism in local New Testament churches continuing. God is so faithful! A short time later, by the year 2001, an extra component was added to the India ministry -- a child sponsorship ministry. This enables individuals and churches to sponsor children from the Chandigarh Baptist School so they can receive quality education, school supplies, a uniform, and most important, the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Today, in this school of over 1,200 students, 390 children are sponsored through Global Encounter and we are praying for many more.

So, who are we today? The same ministry with a different look. We are still about evangelism and missions. Missions with a laser focus on the next generation. Our missions side looks much as it did before. Our evangelism looks a little different as it has gone from “on the road” evangelism to evangelism in one local New Testament church….First Baptist Church , Arnold , Missouri .

The only thing more exciting than looking at the faithfulness of God over the last 16 years is to think of His faithfulness for the next 16 years and beyond. I pray that we all, by God’s power, will honor Him for He and He alone is worthy!