A calling to serve ...

Milton is from Ecuador and Vicky is from Taiwan. On Nov. 22, 2004 we got married and answered God’s call to serve at Rio Grande Bible Institute as missionaries. We have now been here for six years. Milton’s primary job is teaching in the Bible school and language school. Vicky was initially a video editor for Video Hope Ministry; now that we have three children, she is focused on our family and teaching our children at home. We home school our five-year-old son Joshua. God has been faithful in our lives and allowed us to experience His grace. As we look back over the past six years, we are so glad that we made the decision to serve Him. Following are Milton’s and Vicky’s autobiographies.

Milton:

     I am from Ecuador and the fifth of seven children. I grew up in a nice Catholic family believing that I could work for my passport to heaven, so I tried my best to earn salvation. This formed a barrier between God and me, and I didn’t feel I needed to receive Jesus to be saved.  In September 1993, I attended a Christian youth fellowship, and by listening to two songs, God put in my mind the need to receive Him in order to be saved. That night, I decided to accept Jesus as my personal Savior. In 1994 I came to the U.S. to study at Rio Grande Bible Institute in Edinburg, Texas. In 1998 I graduated from Rio Grande with a BA in Theology. Then I moved to Oregon to learn English because I wanted to study at Western Seminary. In 2001 I began my classes at Western Seminary and on December 12, 2003, completed my program with a Masters Degree in Exegetical Theology.

During my time in Portland, I became involved in ministry with international students, and in the last year of my studies at Western Seminary, God put in my heart the burning desire to prepare leaders for the Hispanic world. It is my concern that there is very rapid growth in Hispanic churches, but a lack of prepared leaders for them. This led to my decision to serve at Rio Grande Bible Institute, where I have been accepted as a teacher. 

Vicky:

I am from Taiwan and the second of three children.  I came to the U.S. to go to college, graduating from Marylhurst University in 2003 with a degree in cinematography.  My family believes in worshiping ancestors, but in 2001, after learning much about Jesus, I decided to receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior and give my life to Him.  Soon I got involved in the leadership of my church, and I learned that there is nothing more precious than serving the Lord.  In 2002, I decided to serve the Lord with my skills in cinematography and music, while praying and seeking God's will for my future.

Early in 2003 I heard about Video Esperanza at Rio Grande.  I was so excited because it was just what I wanted to do.  I believe video can be a great evangelizing and teaching tool for sharing the Gospel and training Christian leaders.  After I got married, I started praying with my husband about where we could serve together with our expertise, and God opened the door for me to serve at Rio Grande Bible Institute as a video editor in the video department.