John, Wendi, Ryan and Michael

Serving as Missionary trainers in Montana

Country of service: Montana, US

Serving with: International Messengers

Mailing address:
5341 Lake Creek Road
Troy MT 59935
E-mail

    John grew up in Holland and Wendi in Yakima. Wendi (daughter of Gary and Penny Betsch) and her family have been members of West Side for many years.
   Wendi joined Eastern European Bible Mission in 1983. Later she met John in Holland. They married in 1989 and spent 11 years with WorldVenture in Romania. They originally wanted to work with orphanages in Romania, but they saw that Romanian churches were in need of children and youth ministries  so changed their focus. They began working with the Romanians by starting Sunday Schools, training teachers and building a Christian camp. (On a recent trip back to Romania and Slovakia this summer they were encouraged to see that the camp they started 10 years ago continues to grow and be used for God’s purposes!)
   Their decision to leave Romania after 11 years was a hard one but they have been able to see now how God used those years to help prepare and train others who are going out to the mission field. When they returned to the USA they began working as missionaries in Montana. They now serve with International Messengers. IM has a missionary training center in Libby, Montana. John helps train and prepare missionaries for overseas ministry. The missionaries attend a four and one half month long training session followed by a 16-18 month internship under the wing of a seasoned missionary. After that year they might decide to become a full time missionary or return to the states.
   Wendi teaches in the local Christian school in Libby and assists John in his ministry. They have two sons, Ryan, 13, and Michael, 10. They live in a log cabin home in Troy.