Puerto Rico

Jerry and DeAnna Olson

Jerry and DeAnna developed an interest in missions during their studies at Grace Bible College, but it was during an evangelistic conference directed by the Billy Graham Association in the summer of 1984 that they both felt the urgency to pursue careers as full-time missionaries. Most recently they lived in Santa Cruz where Jerry was involved in leadership training and teaching at the evangelical university, as well as serving as field director. DeAnna was involved in women’s ministries and also served in areas where she could use her ESL training. She was also active in the ministries of the local church. But now Jerry and DeAnna are changing their focus. Jerry will be the director at Campamento del Caribe (Camp Caribe) in Juana Diaz, Puerto Rico. They will be working alongside a team of missionaries and Puerto Ricans to further develop the ministries of the Camp Caribe, a youth and family camp which reaches out to churches, schools and families across the entire island of Puerto Rico. This ministry will center on evangelism and discipleship of young people and families through camping experiences. Learn more about them here.

John and Kerry Cox

In 1990 they felt distinctly called to do camp work in Puerto Rico with GMI. That ministry was a blend of everything that the Lord had been developing in them throughout their lives. Their ministry in camp covered 10 years, after which their daughter and son-in-law, Jon and Theresa Marshall, came and took over the work. They then constructed a house in a local poor community with the idea that they would plant a church. A church in the traditional sense has not happened. What has happened is that their home has become a refuge for the poor, addicted, mentally troubled, neglected and abused. Using only one year as an example, July 2008 to July 2009, eight different people have lived with them, the longest for one year and the shortest for three weeks. Kids from all over the neighborhood come to play, eat and get help with schoolwork. Their ministry does not have a schedule; it continues with the next person to walk through the door. Read more here.

Jon and Theresa Marshall

Both Jon and Theresa had made a decision to follow God no matter where, when, or how. It seemed to both of them that God was silent for many years. They were working in a church doing music and youth group. Theresa was teaching piano, and Jon was working towards a physician assistant degree. The summer of 1996 was a turning point for both of them. Jon had the summer off before he would be heading into serious medical training. They had talked about the possibility of going on a short-term missions trip, so they talked with Dr. Sam Vinton at Grace Ministries International about the possibilities. Dr. Sam thought of two different locations: Bolivia and Puerto Rico. They had already been to Puerto Rico on vacations to see Theresa’s parents. Jon was thinking Bolivia because of snakes and spiders but the mission decided that Puerto Rico was where they needed to be. While in Puerto Rico, God opened their eyes to what He had been doing in preparing them to go to Puerto Rico. All the things that they had been involved in were things that they would do in Puerto Rico. Visit their blog here.

Lawrence and Barbara Trumbower

In November of 2004 GMI passed the radio baton to Calvary Evangelistic Mission, owner of two other Christian stations in Puerto Rico. Since that time Lawrence has been secunded to CEM (the Rock Radio Network), where his main responsibilities are to keep all three stations FCC compliant and to handle engineering for WCGB, WBMJ and WIVV. In these capacities he divides his time between Juana Diaz, San Juan, and Vieques island, respectively.

Barbara is working on various writings she has developed over the years with a view to incorporating them into GMI’s Library of Materials which can be used on the various fields. She also works with Junior Church, initiates most of their correspondence and mission reports, and tries to stay free enough to visit and pray with people. Read more about the Trumbowers and their ministry here.