Celebrate Wheaton Bible Church's Heritage in Mission
We anticipated the relocation of Wheaton Bible Church to North Avenue with excitement and joy. We realized we'd be facing change, and change is not always easy to deal with. But it’s during times of change that we cling to our roots. That’s why we chose this time to share this “Family Tree” with you, along with some exciting stories about WBC missionaries with deep roots at WBC. We have roots firmly planted in Christ as witnessed by the WBC family members who have sacrificially served Christ all over the world.
Click here to read about the incredible work of retired missionary Elizabeth Lewshenia, and her late husband, Constantine.
Click here to learn more about WBC's history of involvement in mission.
The tree and the stories below represent generations of families from our church who we have supported as WBC missionaries. Parents followed a call to serve and their children compounded this heritage with their own ministry. In some cases, we have even seen third generation WBC missionaries.
“And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns” (Philippians 1:6 NLT).
Download a pdf of the tree here.
In our June '08 issue of life@wbc, we return to the tree to look at one family with deep roots at WBC. Ed Ruch and his son and daughter-in-law, Mark and Tammy, are WBC-supported missionaries serving in the Philipines. Ed’s 100-year-old father, Eddie Ruch, still attends WBC.
Read the Ruch family article. 
See Ruch family pictures below!
Mark Ruch works as a counselor for the mission community at Faith Academy in Manila, Philippines. He spends time consulting, counseling, and debriefing at the Wycliffe office and at Faith Academy, a school for missionary kids. His wife Tammy encourages Filipino Bible translators and Korean missionary women. They have lived and served in the metro-Manila area for 8 years.
When asked what motivated them to go halfway around the world to serve the Lord in this particular way, Mark replied:
"Growing up as the son of a Bible translator on a small island in the Philippines, I had a front row seat to watch the power of God's Word transform the lives of people who read and heard it for the first time in their own language. I also understood firsthand the needs and challenges of missionary kids and families. So when I saw an ad from Faith Academy for a marriage & family counselor, I was excited to see a way I could help out, using the gifts the Lord's given me."
"For me, it began at Wheaton College," stated Tammy. "During my junior year, I became focused on trying to be a 'perfect Christian.' I soon discovered, after a time of great stress and anxiety, that it was simply not possible. About that time, I re-read C.S. Lewis' Mere Christianity and realized afresh that that's precisely the reason Jesus came to this earth. Because it's impossible for us to have it all together, so we need God's grace and forgiveness. As I experienced that freedom in my own life, I wanted others to have it as well. Having grown up in Europe as a military kid, I already had an interest in other cultures, and so began to pursue missions opportunities. So when I heard Mark's care and concern for missionary kids and families, it wasn't hard for me to embrace his vision and pursue whatever God had for us."
Mark's work not only involves counseling individuals, couples and families, but also providing seminars to various groups. This past year he and his colleagues taught seminars on Peer Debriefing, Dealing with Conflict Biblically and Child Protection. Some of the seminars involved traveling to other areas of the Philippines and this month to Jakarta, Indonesia. He is also available as a consultant to mission administrators, and during the last 4 years, has been heading up the family counseling department at Faith Academy. He is thankful for the three other part-time counselors the Lord has provided to work with him.
Tammy sees her role primarily as that of encourager and facilitator, first for her family, and as she has time, for others as well. She has been meeting regularly for the last three years with Korean missionary women to help them practice their English. This year she has had the opportunity to serve as a liaison and advocate for Filipinos pursuing master's degrees in linguistics to enhance their skills as Bible translators. She also volunteers some time at the Faith Academy library, teaches beginning piano lessons and edits missionaries' prayer letters.
WBC will host the family this summer and celebrate this milestone in their family history, which is so closely related to WBC missionary history. Mark and Tammy's two daughters, Jaina (13) and Kyra (10), attend Faith Academy and are looking forward to attending Wheaton public schools this coming year during their home assignment.
It's hard to imagine that Eddie’s wife was a charter member of WBC and sent as a missionary and now 46 years later, the fourth generation of Ruch children will be here in Wheaton. The fourth generation of Ruch’s will celebrate their great-grandfather’s 100th year, the huge accomplishment of grandfather helping complete a translation of the Bible from an unknown language to a written New Testament. They will celebrate their own 11th and 14th birthdays here among our church family.
For the Sake of His Name: Constantine and Elizabeth Lewshenia
WBC missionary Kay Talbot shared this story from HCJB Global's Annual Meeting, at which retired WBC missionary Elizabeth Lewshenia was honored. She and her late husband, Constantine, served in South America and Europe for many years.
"Our Annual Meeting was tremendous. The messages directed us to life “For the Sake of His Name.” So many memories were shared, many meals eaten together, much laughter, and finally winding up with the reception for Elizabeth Lewshenia. She shared many memories of her life and ministry and we as missionaries shared special stories about Elizabeth and Const and their ministry. Many of our employees told me, “That was the best part of the whole week!”
[WBC missionary] Cheri Birkey mentioned one very special Sunday at WBC during a Missionary Conference. Cheri’s mom was talking to a young man who introduced his mom who was Russian. His mom kept tugging on his sleeve and whispering in his ear. Finally in exasperation, he said, “I am sorry, my mom must be losing her mind. She says she is hearing the voice of Elizabeth Lewshenia here. That can not be possible!” But Cheri’s mom (Joyce Passon) said, “Oh but she is right. I know her. Elizabeth Lewshenia is here and is on the other side of the room! I will take her over to meet her.” (She recognized her voice clear across the Narthex!)
This dear lady from Russia, on meeting Elizabeth, grabbed her and gave her a big hug, weeping. “You were our light. You were our only Word of God. You were our hope!” (In Russian). What a divine miracle! And one that Joyce Passion will never forget. The Cold War was an embargo for the Russians from the “Outside.” Fortunately, HCJB Global broadcast for years and years over shortwave. And Russia blocked out The Voice of America, but thought broadcasts from Ecuador were not worth bothering about. That is God. And for years and years the Lewshenias did not know if their broadcasts were getting through. So many wonderful stories were told about Russians on hearing their voices bringing the Word of God to them, their church, would stop everything and gather to listen. Later after the Iron Curtain went down, and Elizabeth and Const traveled to Russia, when they would pray in church or share in Russian Churches, a buzz would go thru the congregation, and silently the congregation would stand to honor them. They truly gave their lives “For the Sake of THE Name.”
History of Mission at Wheaton Bible Church
The Beginning
In 1933, we raised support for the first Wheaton Bible Church missionaries, Robert and Winifried Hockman, to be sent out from our congregation. We sent them at the same time that we were raising money for our first church building. At the time, it could take weeks, months or sometimes the better part of a year for missionaries to arrive at their new home. Means of travel included trains, ships and caravans with pack animals.
Our Commitment
Our financial support of missionaries around the world continues to be close to 25% of our church budget. Our annual budget for mission in 1931 was $600 and today we invest over a million dollars annually. Our 95 missionary units serve in approximately 40 countries in a wide variety of roles (see our six emphases below). Of our missionary families, approximately half have deep roots at WBC: because they lived here for many years before going to the field or one spouse "grew up" here, or as a result of being second generation WBC missionaries.
Recent Years
WBC’s heritage reflects such diversity in missionary roles that we could truly be described as generalists in missions. In 2007, an attempt was made to categorize our 95 missionary families. Six categories became apparent and the vast majority of WBC missionaries fit into those described here.
1. Evangelism: Whether they are the first to share the Gospel with someone in Africa or are training U.S. college students in evangelism, WBC missionaries are living our mission statement to “Reach the World” for Jesus Christ. Historically we have been especially invested in pioneer ministry in Africa, serving with mission agencies that began over 100 years ago. In the past few decades, our missionaries’ creative ministries have reached specific populations—on U.S. college campuses or in summer camp programs in Europe, for example. As Europe experiences an influx of immigrants from closed countries, our many missionaries on this continent face a great challenge and great opportunity for evangelism.
2. Bible translation: WBC currently supports more missionaries serving with Wycliffe Bible Translators (WBT) than any other U.S. church. Many of these Wycliffe missionaries are in Asia working among unreached people groups. We also support many Wycliffe missionaries who are now serving in U.S. offices, many of whom are in leadership training roles.
3. Church planting: As a small group of believers emerges in a previously unchurched location, this group begins meeting and births—or plants—a church, defined as a community that meets to worship and study God’s word. WBC has a strong commitment to and history of church planting in the challenging, post-Christian countries of Europe. We are also presently involved in such ministry in Asia and Latin America.
4. Community development: Meeting the felt needs of a community—as Jesus did in the gospel accounts—is an important way to work toward the holistic development of that community. Many of our missionaries are involved in creative ministries such as: operating community centers, caring for children at risk, micro-enterprise projects, medical work and education, particularly in Latin America and Africa.
5. Leadership Development: WBC missionaries are training and mentoring the next generation of church and mission leaders through theological education, leadership development and missionary sending responsibilities. WBC supports many seminary professors and missionaries invested in facilitating healthy church leadership development. We support trainers, recruiters, mobilizers and other administrators who train and send out missionaries around the world from both U.S. based agencies and churches that used to be primarily “missionary-receiving.” We also support educators of missionary children, an important investment in both the current missionary force as well as the next generation of leaders.
6. Professional skills in global mission: A diverse set of vocations is found on Wheaton Bible Church’s missionary roster. Health care professionals, pilots, teachers, graphic designers, radio technicians, curriculum writers and photographers capture the great variety of skills that God is using in expanding His kingdom today. These professions open doors for direct evangelism and the building up of believers.
The Last Seven Years
In the past seven years we have sent out about ten GO Teams each year. The vast majority of our teams are invited by our missionaries to serve alongside them. These teams are involved in everything from construction work to teaching business in universities and from English classes to working with children at summer camps. Our missionaries relish the opportunity for their new community to meet their American community. Our ties grow stronger as both communities work together to meet local needs.
