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OUR TRAINING×sJoe
My preparation for the mission field began over 40 years ago. I was born in Germany to German parents. Even after we came to the USA, we spoke German in our home. My parents were the mission farm managers of Liebenzell Mission in Schooley’s Mountain, New Jersey.After accepting Jesus Christ as my Savior at 13, I attended and worked at our church camp in the summers. I helped my dad in various forms of construction, carpentry, and masonry. I worked in an auto repair shop. I was drafted into the U.S. Army during the Viet Nam era. I believe the prayers of my parents were answered as I received my orders to go to Germany as an interrogator of East German refugees, instead of being shipped off to the swamps of Viet Nam. I used the German language in my army work. I became involved with a German church also.
When my service time was over, I worked with the youth group at our church. I attended Newark College of Engineering for a short time. I graduated with an Associates degree in business from Bergen Community College in Paramus, New Jersey. I have taken additional college classes when living in Maryland and Virginia. I have attended the Walk Thru the Bible seminars on the Old and New Testaments. I have also attended the Institute for Basic Life Principles, Promise Keepers, and Dad: the Family Shepherd. My Bible education has come from years of being active in church.
My father-in-law taught me about plumbing and some fine point of electrical wiring. I was an Electro-mechanical draftsman for about two years. For fourteen years, I worked in the printing business as a shift supervisor and trainer. For nine years, before coming to Black Forest Academy, I held the position of head electronics technician for a security company. I was involved with installation, trouble shooting, and repairing security, fire, telephone, CCTV, vacuum, and intercom systems. I was ordained as a deacon in the Oak Ridge (South Salisbury) Baptist Church in Salisbury, Maryland. At Franklin Heights Baptist Church, for 21 years, I rotated on/off the deacon board. I have taught Sunday School. My favorite way of serving was in the sound room. I was the head technician there. The church continues to broadcast the 11:00 Worship Service on the local radio station. At Christian Heritage Academy, where Susie taught and the children attended school, I served two years as the Parent Teacher Fellowship president and therefore, served as a non-voting member of the school board. Life experiences have been the preparation for the work that is ahead.Since coming to Germany in 1997, we attended the English speaking Black Forest Christian Fellowship until 2002. At that time, ready to be immersed in the German language and with our son finding an active youth group, we now attend an Evangelical Free Church located here in our town. When we work in the dorm on the weekends, we attend the Black Forest Christian Fellowship with the young men of Maugenhard dorm.