I graduated from Baptist Bible College in Springfield, Missouri in 1977 and went into Christian education. While administrating a Christian school in Maine, I recognized that, though I enjoyed working with the children, my soul was still unfulfilled because I was not doing what God had called me to do, preach the gospel.

          Krista was led to the Lord by her father, Rev. John Pursselley when she was five years old. She has led a faithful life to the Lord ever since, attempting to please her parents, her Lord, and for the last 32 years, her husband. Not only this, but she has been a most excellent mother, leading both our children to the Lord and doing her part in preparing them to be faithful servants of God.

         Our daughter Rachel, her husband Cory Barker, and their children, Isaac, Micah, Aaron, and Eden are our partners in ministry here in Nejapa, Nicaragua. Our son Eli and his wife, Rebekah, have three sons, Joel, Ethan, and Seth.  Eli is the co-pastor of Maranatha Baptist Church in Bolivar, Missouri with his grandfather, John Pursselley.  Eli is also a 1st Lt. in the Air Force Reserves and serves as a Chaplain.  God has richly blessed us with children that want nothing more than to serve their Lord and Savior.

 Ministries – past, present, and future
          After surrendering to the gospel ministry in Maine, we went to Virginia to gain experience working under a pastor as an assistant, majoring on the youth and soul winning. After that period of preparation for the ministry, in 1982 we moved to Massachusetts. There I started a church and pastored it four years.
 
          From there we went to work with my father-in-law at Meadowview Baptist Church in Republic, Missouri. In 1989 I was called to Bible Baptist Church in Elkhart, Kansas. After a ten-year ministry, the Lord burdened us for missions in a new way.

          In May of 1999, Krista and I were approved as missionaries to England. I was called to head up Independent Baptist Bible College. I enjoyed this ministry immensely. We saw graduates go into the pastorate, missionary service, and church-planting ministries.

           Now God has touched our hearts for the field of Nicaragua. We work with “Team Nicaragua” in the ministry of winning the lost to Christ, establishing Baptist Churches, and training the Nicaraguans to reach their own people for Christ. As Paul, Barnabas, Mark, Silas, Timothy, and Titus worked together; we have the opportunity to work with the Barker and Kanaar families.  Krista and I along with the Barkers started the Iglesia Bautista Amistad (Friendship Baptist Church) in October of 2006.  We have bought property and built a building, moving into the new facilities in July of 2008.  The Kanaars are finishing their language studies and in the last few months have become a great help in the work.  Several ministries are yielding great fruit. Along with the Sunday school and church services we have OANSA (AWANA), Saturday youth ministries, a learning center for the children who have no opportunity to attend school, and a Bible Institute for the purpose of training the Nicaraguans in the work of the ministry.

            Satan is fighting as hard as he can. Many of our people have been robbed; some beaten, and even one was shot while guarding our church property.  Yet, they remain joyful as they see soul after soul turn from sin unto the Lord Jesus Christ.

            Please pray for the work of the Lord here in the Comarca of Nejapa, in Nicaragua.