How we got to Africa

As a Pastor’s daughter and a pianist / organist, Kathleen has helped with many weddings over the years. Among those, we have experienced two very important life-changing events at these weddings. Twenty years ago this June, Ken and Kathleen attended a wedding that would forever change their lives. He was the groom and she was the bride.

Ken and Kathie met August 18th, 1985 in Southside Baptist Church just before the evening service. Her first thought was, “Oh, so that’s Ken Golde the girls have been talking about.” We met again at Dairy Queen after church and became further acquainted. We met in Dairy Queen a bunch more times and often it was with both of her roommates. Ken was fun and always had lots of ideas. Kathleen also worked with Ken’s mom everyday at the Christian school where she worked as a music teacher. Mom had lots of ideas too. She often invited us to Sunday dinner and eventually my roommates were busy with other plans, but I kept going. June 27, 1987 all of our ideas and plans came to a climax when Kathleen's neighbor and family all traveled to Florida, stood up with us, and married us off.

We were married a year when Ken decided that if Houghton College would accept him, he wanted to finish his education there. We moved back to NY in 1988 and attended the Rock Glen Baptist Church where my Dad was Pastor for many years. During our time there, we met many people that influenced our lives. The best part was knowing that they prayed for us and our children regularly.

Over the years, four different opportunities were brought to our attention of ministries that would use our specific gifts on the mission field. We had both been to Haiti and Kathleen had also been to various other mission fields overseas. We had a desire to be used, but it never seemed to be the right time. The last time we were approached by a mission field director in Ivory Coast, was the year Dad Merrill died. We didn’t know he was ill, but for some reason Dad didn’t feel it was the right time. Within a short time, Dad was gone. We decided to go after the boys were out of school and we had retired

In July 2006, we attended another wedding that would ultimately change our lives. We had the opportunity to attend a wedding. While we were there we spent several hours with the groom's aunt and uncle. They were the field director of Niger and West Africa. They had done their homework before we even arrived by discussing this with Ken’s folks and finding out specific information about us, our gifts, and how they would fit the needs in Niger. It just so happens that they need someone with accounting skills and a music teacher for the local academy.

We prayed for two months before we said a word to anyone except three missionary couples whom we asked to pray with us for guidance. When we were sure we should proceed, we approached our Elders at our home church, The Baptist Church of Perry. Following our meeting, the Elder board requested an application. We determined that if God wanted us to go, we would be willing, and HE would open the right doors. Time slipped quickly and we were on our way in July of 2007. We continue to movie forward in full-time mission service and are seeking the Lord with every step. We are very appreciative of our Pastor, Rev. David Nelson, the Elder Board, and the whole church family for their support and encouragement.