Personal Testimony of Jose Esquibel

I came to know Jesus Christ as my personal Savior in November 1974 as the result of the Bus ministry of Lanakila Baptist Church and missionary Robert Knutson. I was enrolled by a bus captain to ride the bus to Sunday school. I heard the gospel many times during Sunday school and one day came home and kneeled at my bedside and invited Jesus Christ to be my Savior. The following Sunday I raised my hand and received assurance of my salvation. I attended youth camp the following spring. It was while I was at youth came that I surrendered for full-time Christian service. Upon returning from youth camp I was baptized (Easter Sunday, 1975). 1 attended Lanakila Baptist High School where I worked as a janitor to pay my tuition. I graduated in 1978.

During a missions conference at Lanakila Baptist Church, I surrendered my life to be a missionary. I was privileged to spend the summer of 1978 in Ponape, Micronesia. While there I became acquainted with many missionaries and their ministries. The following fall I enrolled at Pacific Coast Baptist Bible College where I had planned to major in missions. I became ill and had to withdraw for a year. When I returned to school I enrolled at Baptist Bible College in Springfield, Missouri, where I majored in missions. I graduated in 1982.

In July 1982 we moved to Chesapeake, Virginia, where I served as youth director at Fellowship Baptist Church (D. Lynn Hardaway). My duties included assisting the pastor, bus director, and youth director. I participated in the visitation ministry of the church. In August 1983 we returned to Baptist Bible College, where I attended another year while my wife completed the missions course.

In May 1983 we began serving as college and career directors at United Baptist Church (Dr. Tom McGath). My duties were to lead and build the college and career department. I assisted the pastor in various duties.

In November 1985 Bethany Baptist Church of Holton, Kansas, called me to be their pastor. The church grew from an average of 35-40 to and average of 55-70. A number of people were saved and baptized. The debt of the church was refinanced and a parsonage was purchased. I pastored Bethany Baptist Church until July 1988, at which time Lifeway Baptist Church of Ellettsville, Indiana, called me to be their pastor. Our attendance grew from an average of 94 to a high average of 220. We averaged over 300 first-time visitors each year. Most of our members have been saved and baptized during my time as pastor. The income of the church has grown from $85,000 a year to $220,000 a year. Missions giving has increased from $8,000 a year to $36,000 a year.

In the summer of 1994 we visited England for a month. I became burdened for the people of England but did not feel God's definite leadership. My wife had already surrendered to go and quietly waited for the Lord to deal with me. On July 1st I surrendered to go to England as a missionary after a time of prayer in which I felt the Lord was giving me some definite direction. A great peace has been mine since I surrendered. My mother's family (she is deceased) is from England. I have had the opportunity to witness to most of my father's family and now feel a great responsibility to try to reach my mother's family and country. This once spiritually vibrant land is spiritually dead. My desire is to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with those who once shared it with the world.

Personal Testimony of Carol Esquibel

I came to know the Lord on August 1, 1978, while living in Waipahu, Hawaii. I had attended Bible Baptist Church in Plymouth, Indiana, and had heard the Gospel there many times. After hearing the Gospel at Lanakila Baptist Church I came to realize that I wasn't truly saved. I went home and kneeled at my bedside and invited the Lord Jesus Christ to be my personal Savior. I immediately called my pastor's wife (Mrs. Knutson) and told her of my decision. She encouraged me to be baptized the following Sunday, which I did (August 6, 1978).

During a missions conference at Lanakila Baptist Church I became burdened to be a missionary and surrendered my life to the Lord. I attended Lanakila Baptist High School and graduated in 1980. I then attended Baptist Bible College in Springfield, Missouri, where I majored in missions.

Upon my husband's graduation in 1982, we moved to Chesapeake, Virginia, where we served at Fellowship Baptist Church (from July 1982 to August 1983). My duties were to assist my husband in the youth department, help with Junior church, ladies meetings, and the nursery. I also had a bus route with a neighbor of ours that I had led to the Lord.

In 1983 we moved back to Springfield, Missouri, where I completed my degree in missions (May 1984) while my husband attended for another year. In May 1984 we became the college and career directors at United Baptist Church (Dr. Tom McGath, pastor). My duties were to assist my husband with the college and career department, assist in Junior church, and participate in the visitation program. I helped organize the ladies meeting and activities. In November 1985 Bethany Baptist Church of Holton, Kansas, called my husband to be their pastor. While at Bethany, I taught a ladies Bible class, worked in the bus ministry, Bible club ministry, and organized the ladies meetings and activities.

In July 1988 Lifeway Baptist Church of Ellettsville, Indiana, called my husband to be their pastor. While at Lifeway I taught a ladies Bible class, which ministered to divorced women, single mothers, and women who's husbands were not saved or did not attend church. I organized ladies meetings, activities, and banquets. I taught in Junior and Primary church, and taught a Wednesday-evening toddler class. During this time I also attended nursing school, graduating in 1993 as a practical nurse (LPN). I also was the primary care giver for an elderly woman (now 99 years old).

During the summer of 1994 our family visited England for one month. While there we toured the country and visited family. It was while we were there that the Lord burdened my heart for the people of England. I surrendered to be a missionary when we returned and quietly waited for the Lord to deal with my husband. On July 1, 1995, my husband called me to his office and shared with me that he had surrendered to be a missionary to England.

As a teenager, I recall reading some books by George Mueller. One thought that I faintly remember was his desire for God to answer his prayers as a testimony to the people. It is also my desire that God will demonstrate to the people of England, through us, that He is alive and well and still answers prayer.