Anson Van de Kemp

I was privileged to be born and reared in a Christian home by godly parents. I accepted Christ as my Saviour at the age of four in the bedroom my brother and I shared in our home in Gorrie, ON in 1983. My brother had been telling me about a place called heaven and a place called hell and how he had made sure of his place in heaven rather than hell by accepting Christ as his Saviour. That night I too trusted Christ as my Savior in childlike faith. I was baptized by Pastor Ross Smith at Wingham Baptist Church in 1988 at the age of nine. In my formative years and beyond, under the leadership of Pastor Ross Smith at Wingham Baptist Church, I learned of the great need in this world for full time Christian labourers. As I grew not only in physical maturity but as a Christian, what I learned soon became a burden in my heart. It was at Camp YES, as a teen-ager that I learned that God’s will for my life was simply to be obedient in my daily life. It was also at Camp YES at the age of 16 that I finally surrendered my life fully to God’s control. The path He led me down was one of formal training at FaithWay Baptist College of Canada under the leadership of Dr. Gregory Baker. While at FaithWay I received my Bachelor of Theology degree in 2001. He led me to marry my wife Allison in 2002. In August of 2002, my wife and I moved to Knoxville, TN where I attended Crown Seminary for two years receiving my Master of Ministry in 2003 and my Master of Biblical Studies in 2004. The Lord also has blessed us with two daughters, Aimee and Chloe. I have also had the opportunity and privilege to work alongside Dr. Baker at FaithWay Baptist Church and College from 2004 to the present. Alllison and I took survey trip to Malta in December of 2008 where God confirmed His call in our lives to this needy mission feild. As I look back on my life, I can see God’s hand preparing me unconsciously for his service in Malta.

Allison Van de Kemp

I had the privilege of being born and raised in a pastor’s home with wonderful, godly parents, Greg and Melissa Baker. I heard the gospel from my earliest memories and when I was 4 years old I bowed my head and prayed to ask Jesus to be my Saviour. I was later baptized at the age of 7. I attended our Christian school from kindergarten through grade 12. As I began my teenage years I began to doubt my salvation. I continued doubting my salvation for many years but thought that because I knew what the Bible said in my head that I was really saved. I graduated from high school in 1998 and began FaithWay Baptist College that fall. I continued to struggle with my salvation throughout that first year of college and in May of 1999 at the age of 18 I spoke with my mom and finally settled my salvation. I realized that believing and knowing in my head did not make me a Christian. I needed to believe it with my heart as well. I was baptized the next Sunday. I finished my Bachelor of Sacred Music Degree in December of 2001 and Anson and I were married in February of 2002. In August of 2002 we moved to Knoxville, Tennessee where I taught in the Christian School (elementary music and high school speech) at Temple Baptist Church. Our daughter Aimee was born in June 2003. I moved back to Canada and my home church in May of 2004 where I have been serving in the music ministry and discipleship program ever since. Our second daughter, Chloe, was born in December of 2005. Even as I struggled with the assurance of my salvation, I have always had a desire to serve the Lord—wherever He might lead me. I attended Camp BIMI as a 15 year old and always have had missions on my mind. Growing up in a missions minded church with a father and pastor who always stressed that “the field is the world”, I believe that God has been preparing me all along for this step in our lives.