Category: Missionary Stories

Connie and Mary Cain served with New Tribes Mission for 36 years – seven years in Venezuela and twenty-nine in Colombia. Connie wasn’t saved until he was 21 years old. Immediately he wanted to “do something for the Lord.” He wondered what he could do. Being a pastor or missionary meant he needed a college education. He had […]

Ron and Avis Bodin served with NTM for thirty nine years – three years in Venezuela and the rest at the US headquarters. Both are children of New Tribes missionaries and both were raised in a boarding school. In fact, they actually met in Bolivia when Avis was three. Avis’ father, Dave Bacon, was one […]

Joe and Elna served the Lord with NTM for fifty one years in Bolivia. Joe did evangelism throughout his time there; seven years while still single, and the same work after marrying Elna. After their children were older, Elna taught Sunday school, a ladies’ class and VBS. The majority of their time on the field […]

It was in 1943, while students at Moody Bible Institute, David’s parents heard about the death of five NTM missionaries, at the hands of wild Indians in Bolivia.  Interestingly, although the newspapers announced that this tragedy would result in the demise of this fledgling mission society, the Lord used the news to challenge David’s parents, […]

The Ellsworths have been serving the Lord with NTM for thirty seven years at NTBI schools as cooks and Rachel as receptionist.  From 1979 to 1986, they were assigned to Waukesha; from 1987-1998, Jackson; followed in 1993 by three years at the Latham Center at NTM Retirement Homes where Forrest retired.  Rachel continued as receptionist […]

Linda has served the Lord with NTM for twenty nine years in translation and linguistic work in PNG with the Siawi tribe.  She was born in 1945 and raised in Missouri. She was saved at age thirteen.  While her parents were not church-goers, through a relative who loved the Lord she attended church and eventually […]

Joe Engel (and his wife Marilyn) served with the publication department at NTM headquarters for twelve years, with Joe as pre-press supervisor, and Marilyn as a proof reader.  Both were born in Milwaukee, WI, Joe in 1937, and Marilyn in 1938.  They retired in 2002. Joe was saved through a Bible Study in 1976. Marilyn […]

Mabel or as some affectingly call her”Aunt Mabel”,  has served with NTM for fifty three years in Bolivia.  She was born in 1922 in Michigan; and her husband Norman in 1925 in Canada.  They served with the Ayore tribe until the Lord took Norman in 1966.  Mabel was asked to live in the village to […]

The Hartmans served the Lord with NTM in western Brazil for forty two years. Throughout their time they did language study, tribal contact, initial relationships, beginning language development, Bible stories and translation to administration.  However, their hearts were in tribal work with the Yanomam.   They retired in 2001.  Bruce was born in Washington State in […]

Joe and Jana served the Lord with NTM for forty seven years, six spent on staff at Waukesha where Jana taught literacy and Joe worked in maintenance, and thirty three plus in Venezuela doing literacy and Bible translation in the Panare tribe.  Jana translated and Joe did community development and some Bible teaching and literacy.  […]