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About us

 

It was a simple small town life in North Florida.  Following a term of service in the U.S. Army a normal life was the plan for Jerry and Barbara Alford.  A very good job was acquired, which should have assisted Jerry and his young bride in bringing some fulfillment and happiness, but vices crept in and began to strangle out all joy and happiness. 

 

Shortly after the complicated birth of their first son, a country pastor stopped by to pray, to share a story of hope and purpose through the plan of salvation.  Barbara accepted Jesus as her personal Savior.  Jerry wrestled in the pews of the church, with the simple truth of God’s love and the salvation He offers through Jesus.  After three long months, Jerry finally surrendered and accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Saviour.

 

Their story was like many others.  They engaged in service at their local church, Jerry worked his ordinary job, and together they began to raise their young family.  But, God was at work in their hearts and was seeding dreams and visions deep within his newly transformed heart.

 

For Jerry, first came the question, “Will you serve as a deacon?”  Then came months and years serving with the local pastor sharing the gospel at every opportune moment.  Little did he realize that God was working at a deeper level.  The Holy Spirit cultivated and drew him towards the calling of being a preacher of the gospel.  Finally, in October 1977…he surrendered.  His response wasn’t original, he simply prayed the prophet Isaiah’s words “Here I am, send me.”

 

Seeking the next step in God’s plan through much prayer and turmoil, the answer seemed to be to go and prepare for the ministry.  So, obey they did!  Jerry resigned from his comfortable good paying job.  They packed up the only life they had ever known and with their 4-year old son, moved to Greenville, SC.  Tabernacle Bible College would be their home and training ground.

 

At the annual mission’s conference while in Bible College, that (now) familiar still small voice spoke and called Jerry to surrender again to go.  GO!  Jerry spent several days wrestling with the call and confirming that it wasn’t an emotional response to the conference. He obediently announced 3 days later that he would GO.  Meantime, Barbara also felt the call on the first night of the conference, but silently waited for the spirit of God to speak to Jerry. 

 

God’s still small voice kept drawing Jerry’s attention to the top of South America.  A map was consulted, it was discovered that the northern point of South America was Venezuela.  They passionately shared their call and began to raise support on deputation.  However, countless missionaries offered discouraging remarks telling them that it was impossible to enter Venezuela as a missionary.  In spite of the odds, they persevered on the deputation trail and completed Bible College in 1981. 

 

In 1982, Jerry Alford and family (wife and 3 boys) drove the long journey to the heart of Mexico for language school.  Queretaro, Mexico is where the process of learning a new language and experiencing a drastic culture change began.  Discouraging words of others telling them that entering into Venezuela would never happen continued in language school.

 

Following the language school adventure, the Alford family landed in Caracas, Venezuela.  Stepping outside of the airport into the humidity and the heat of this tropical land nearly took their breath away, but it felt like home.  With God’s guiding hand, the impossible had been made possible; they made it to South America!

 

After the 12-hour journey to the Orinoco River they could finally see their new home.  It was an old mission house where the Pinare Indians would camp when they visited town to trade.  A couple months into this adventure, Jerry decided it was time.  He rented a house on the edge of town, set up a table on a street corner, and hung a sign that said “GRATIS” (FREE). 

 

People stopped by out of curiosity.  After a short conversation, they would be handed a gospel tract and signed up for a bible study.  These methods produced several numerous contacts, followed by dozens of professions of faith and baptisms.  A small core group of believers emerged and the Baptist Church of Caicara de Orinoco was birthed.  One of the first converts, Jose, is now, 20 years later, the pastor of this vibrant church.

 

Every few months, Jerry would have to travel to Caracas to renew the family’s temporary visas.  After one long and difficult trip, the news was broken; there would be no more renewals and the Alford family would be forced out of Venezuela.

 

Belongings were sold.  Bags were packed and tearful goodbyes were shared.  The long and challenging 36-hour bus journey through Venezuela and the Colombian guerilla infested mountains landed them in Duitama, Colombia.  During their 3-month stay, they labored with a local missionary and hoped to return to Venezuela.  In spite of his best efforts, Jerry had to face the reality that Venezuela wasn’t in reach.  Maybe everyone had been right when they said that serving in Venezuela was impossibility.

 

Not wanting to return to the U.S. defeated, the Alfords asked God to provide another opportunity to serve.  So, in 1984 they landed in Santiago, Chile and were granted visas by Pinochet’s government.  During this season in exile from the land of their calling, God allowed two churches to be planted; He protected them from a serous bomb threat and a near death illness, and kept them from harm during a 7.2 earthquake that centered near their home.  After 4 and one half years it was time to go home on furlough, but one night the phone rang…it was a game changer.

 

Late one night Jerry received the call…if you can come to Venezuela right now, postponing furlough, you can get a visa.  Wow!  Again the impossible was possible because God was at work.  Grandparents and extended family would have to wait; there was a mission to accomplish. 

 

Since 1986, Jerry and family have been serving in Venezuela.  They have survived riots, government coup attempts, burglaries, and death threats.  But in the face of great opposition God has done great things.

 

Thousands of Venezuelans have accepted Jesus as their personal Saviour.  Numerous churches have been planted and some of those church plants have multiplied and started other churches.  A Bible Institute and training center has been established and dozens of leaders have been trained.

 

It has been over 30 years since that calling to the northern tip of South America.  The journey has been hard at times, but God has always been faithful.  The greatest reward has been the countless changed lives and the joy in the faces of those who have been redeemed by the marvelous work of Jesus.

 

 

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