Testimonies: Bobby

I had the privilege of growing up in a “dis-functional” family in Findlay, Ohio. My father was an alcoholic and my mother was a “back-slidden” Christian. Although I had attended a couple VBS programs as a child, I never really heard the Gospel until I was about 14 years old. I always believed in God and I knew the Jesus died on the cross, but I never really understood the purpose of His death or what it meant for me.

Through a controversy within my public school regarding a certain “health” textbook, we were invited to attend a local Baptist church. After attending this church for several weeks, I began to understand the Gospel. One Sunday, I was feeling pretty uncomfortable in the service. I felt as if someone had handed the pastor all of the notes on my life. I thought that everyone was staring at me because everything the pastor said seemed to apply to me. At the close of the service there was an invitation for people to come forward and place their trust in Christ as Saviour. I walked down the aisle at the close of that service and prayed to receive Christ.

I had always thought that I was a good person. One of my biggest “hang-ups” in coming to Christ was dealing with my own sin. As a child, I was always told that I was a “good-boy.” But when I was confronted with Christ, I realized that I was not.

My mother had re-committed her life to Christ prior to my coming to Christ. Shortly after that, my alcoholic father decided it was time to leave our family. My parents went through a divorce and my world was rocked.

I battled with my family situation for quite a time. My misconception of Christianity added to the battle. I thought that once a person gave their life to Christ life would be easy. I was angry with God because my family was falling apart. In fact, I remember shaking my fist at God one day saying, “If being a Christian means my parents have to get a divorce, then I don’t want to be a Christian anymore.”

My youth group went to camp the following summer. My mother asked, “Bobby, are you going to youth camp this summer.” I said, “No.” She said, “Let me rephrase that, Bobby, you ARE going to youth camp this summer.” I said, “No, I’m not.”

I eventually agreed to go to camp, but I was determined that I would not have a good time. However, God rocked my world that summer. Tom Mahairas was the speaker and he blew me out of the water. By the end of the week, I surrendered my life to do whatever the Lord called me to do even if that meant going into full time ministry.

I was willing to do whatever God wanted but I attached an exception clause in two parts. I said, “Lord, I’ll do anything except be a missionary. I’ll go anywhere except Africa!!!!” God has a sense of humour.

The Lord used basketball to get me to Cedarville University. I played ball for the school my freshmen year. By the start of my sophomore year, the Lord had taken basketball away from me. In its place, I got involved in the “Master’s Puppets” ministry. Through that ministry, the Lord led me to South Africa on two summer missions trips. Those two trips not only gave me a burden for missions but also for the people of South Africa.

In summer of 1990 I graduated from Cedarville University with a bachelors degree in broadcasting. That summer is also I asked Sara Sweetland to be my wife while we were on our second missions trip to South Africa.

We were married in June of 1991. Sara finished her last year at Cedarville.

In June of 1992 we attended ABWE's candidate class and were officially appointed to Durban, South Africa.

We arrived to Durban in 20 April, 1994, which was a week before the first open elections in the country.

In 1998, I received my MRE degree (Master's in Religious Education) from Grand Rapids Baptist Seminary.

Discover the Real Reason I didn’t want to be a missionary!