Why LaGrange?
Every 3 months TBM publishes a new issue of the TBM News. This time around, I had the opportunity to write an article that expresses the unique place that God has allowed us to serve. God has used this place to grow the ministry opportunities that TBM has the privilege of being a part of. I have also attached the full September 2017 issue of the TBM News. As you read the article below, please pray for us…that God would continually grow us in how we can serve Him through serving TBM missionaries all over the world! What you do for us through prayer and support is more valuable than we can communicate
Why LaGrange?
August of 2011, my family and I moved from Utah to LaGrange, WY to serve in the Home Office of Tentmakers Bible Mission. I have had many opportunities over the years to share the ministry that God has placed us in. When I get to the part about LaGrange being a small town in rural Wyoming with a population of around 400, I am usually met with a look of shock and the question, “Why LaGrange?”.
The Home Office of TBM has had a few locations since it was founded in 1985. The first was in Grand Rapids, Michigan in the small personal office of the Mission’s secretary. Years later, Rocky Mountain Bible Church in Frisco, Colorado provided the second location by allowing TBM to use office space in their building. Then, in 2009, through God’s provision TBM was able to purchase the current Home Office facility and place it in LaGrange. This meant big changes for the operational side of TBM. Among other changes was that of owning a facility rather than using borrowed office space. Board and staff meetings, TBM’s daily operations, and TBM Candidate School could now take place in a centralized location. The new space allows for maintaining guest rooms for visitors including missionaries home on furlough. These are all benefits of the new location, but the question remains, “Why LaGrange?”. TBM could have chosen a more populated area, right?
We believe that a key reason God provided our location in LaGrange is because of its strategic position which helps TBM to fulfill the Mission that God has called us to: “TBM exists to plant Bible-teaching churches throughout the world”. LaGrange is unique. Not only does it provide a quiet, small town setting for accomplishing the daily tasks that keep the Mission running, but the facility is a short walk from the campus of Frontier School of the Bible. Over the years God has allowed many contacts with students who are preparing for work in the ministry. Since relocating, God has led many to become TBM church planting missionaries and, at present, nearly half are alumni of FSB. Our Home Office staff often have opportunities to speak at FSB’s chapel services, teach courses at the school, and interact with students in their free time. FSB also hosts three Missions Conferences a year that allow TBM to present ministry opportunities to the students, but also allows for interaction and networking with leaders from other Mission Agencies. TBM has been able to open our facility to professors at FSB to occasionally hold classes here, to other Mission Agencies for their events, and to the local church for Sunday School.
We are thankful to God for this unique place that has allowed TBM to effectively work toward the church planting goals that He has placed on our hearts. If you happen to be in LaGrange, come for a visit! We would love to show you how God has answered the question, “Why LaGrange?”!
Click the link below to read the full TBM News issue.
