I did not grow up in a Christian home. My brother and I grew up in a house with a single mom, and she was suffering from substance abuse, so it was not the best environment for us, but during this time when I was 8 years old I was invited to Vacation Bible School, and during the week I received Jesus Christ as my personal savior! This was the greatest event that has ever occurred in my life, but I did not know what the next step was. I was still in the same situation, I was in the house with an alcoholic mother, and stopped going to church. I had no clue what God had planned for me next. Later around 4 years later I was forced to call the police on my mother, and from there life drastically changed.
This, little did I know, was a blessing from God! I thought it was horrible that I was going to have to leave my mother, but God worked it out for his glory. Because we could no longer live with our mother, we went to go live with our cousins Mark and Amy Coffey. They were a Christian family who had previously been in Peru as missionaries, so life was going to change. Going from no rules, no bedtime, no morals to living in a Christian home where the Bible was the center of the household.
It was hard at first, but I slowly began to learn the Bible and enjoy serving him, and at 12 years old I gave my life to serve the Lord as a missionary. Little did I know I would be going to the mission field a lot sooner than I expected! I was 15 years old when my parents were called to the country of South Africa, and it was amazing! I was able to serve the Lord there as the Children’s Church Pastor along with my brother, and be very involved in the Youth Group. Then at the age of 19, I came back to the states to study Missions, and as part of the Mission’s Training I spent 6 months in Argentina, and that is where I ended up obtaining my missions training.
Now my wife and I are on our way to Canada since this country has a huge ethnic pool. This will cause us to be able to train people from all over the world and Lord willing be able to send them back to their home country to start their churches all throughout the globe.
Quotes by Men of God
“If God called you to be a missionary, don’t stoop to be a king.”
– C.H. Spurgeon
“God always gives His best to those who leave the choice with him. “
– Jim Elliot
“To know the will of God, we need an open Bible and an open map.”
– William Carey
Ellis To Canada 