The Apostle Paul used numerous individuals to encourage and comfort the hearts of the people in the new churches he established during his missionary journeys. He saw the need for people to personally visit the churches that he had started. Those visits afforded opportunity for the Apostle to send word to the churches about his ongoing ministry, to encourage them in their own ministry, and to disciple them through the letters he sent. Then these “messengers” were to bring word back to Paul about the condition of the church and its people. Col. 4:7-9 and Eph. 6:21-22 provide good examples of this type of ministry.
Project History:
As TBM grew, the Directors observed an ever increasing need to minister to its own missionaries with more communication and personal visits. Tentmakers Bible Mission missionaries are on the front lines where the daily battle can make them weary and stressed. A visit from someone who knows what is happening on other TBM fields can be a great encouragement to them. Therefore, in 2005, the Tentmakers Board of Directors created the Missionary Care Project and appointed Vince to direct the project as the Mission Coordinator. Through this process, God called Vince and Pat to this ministry of encouragement.
In keeping with the New Testament model of missionary care, it is our mission to visit, inform, disciple, and encourage. Then, we report back to the TBM Board and the churches which have sent these missionaries onto the field. In these reports, we share the praises, needs, and prayer requests of our missionaries. Our ministry helps to strengthen lines of communication, and it allows supporters to pray specifically and effectively for their missionaries.
Biography:
Vince and Pat grew up in Marion, Kansas. They both attended Kansas State University where Vince received a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree, and Pat received a BA in Interior Design. They lived in western Idaho for fourteen years where Vince worked for several Veterinary Hospitals, and Pat was working even harder at raising their two boys Mike and Paul. The Lord led them to Dillon, Colorado in 1990 where they purchased Alpine Veterinary Practice. They were involved in numerous types of discipleship and encouragement ministries during their time at Rocky Mountain Bible Church in Frisco, Colorado. In August of 2005, Vince retired from Veterinary Medicine to fully devote their time to Tentmakers Bible Mission. They now reside in Glenwood Springs, Colorado. Their son, Mike, is married to Livia and they have five children. Mike pastors Rocky Mountain Bible Church in Frisco, Colorado and is also on the TBM Board of Directors. Their younger son, Paul, and his wife Annie live in Castle Rock, Colorado where Paul is a structural engineer with LTS Drafting & Engineering. They are both very involved in their local church as they raise their three children.
