GREAT LAKES Directory

Maricka, a native South African, currently serves as an administrative assistant and faculty member at the Philippine Bible Methodist Shepherd’s College. Her passion is disciple-making, particularly among those who are training for Christian ministry.

She grew up in rural South Africa in a loving Christian family. As God began to direct her towards a life of full-time ministry, He opened the door for her to receive her ministry training in the US at God’s Bible School and College, earning degrees in: BA in Intercultural Studies and World Missions, BA in Biblical and Theological Studies, MA in Biblical Studies, graduating in 2017

David was born into a Christian home and made a personal decision to follow Jesus when he was just six years old. “I don’t remember the exact date”, David testifies, “but the conviction that I was a Christian never changed. I fully surrendered my life to Christ in May of 2013. I was a High School senior about to graduate and confused about the future. In His mercy, God came close to me, called me to full-time ministry, and ask me to surrender all. I did.”

While David has been studying at GBS he as also been involved in a ministry called Cincinnati Circuit Riders, a weekend preaching, testimony, and worship ministry organized by international students.  One of David’s ministry peers says of him: “When we traveled in the ministry team together David was known for his willing spirit to do anything for the team (preach, play the piano, teach). He is a very talented guy with a servant’s heart.” One of his professors at GBS describes David as “sincere, humble, disciplined in his studies, a team-player, a man of integrity.”  We look forward to introducing Bro. David Martinez to you in our BMC camp meeting missions services this summer.

While David feels called to church planting ministry, his complete transition to the field is still a few years away. Later this year he will be enrolling in graduate studies at a seminary in Guatemala: SEMINARIO TEOLOGICO CENTROAMERICANO. During breaks he will be training, working and teaching with Brennan and Ivon Muir in San Gabriel and throughout our BMC work in Mexico. We will talk about this and much more this summer!

Brennan and Ivon Muir have been serving as disciple-makers in the southern Mexico village of San Gabriel (state of Oaxaca) since 2013. In their partnering role with the Mexico Bible Methodist Church, Brennan currently serves as Assistant National Youth Pastor and Ivon teaches children and youth. Brennan is the son of a pastor and grew up in a nurturing, Christ-centered home.

Ivon is the daughter of hard-working, Mexican immigrants who came to the United States when Ivon was just a toddler. After Ivon, her mother and siblings came to Christ through the relentless love of Frankfort (Indiana) Bible Holiness Church, their home also became a home filled with love and prayer.

Brennan and Ivon graduated from God’s Bible School & College, where they won the respect of all who knew them for their sincere dedication to Christ. Soon after they were married in 2011 God called them to be missionaries in Mexico, and He has blessed them with two little boys – Brennan and Jared.

The Muirs are examples to us of spiritual surrender.  We have watched them exchange the securities and comforts of “home” to face many challenges and tests in an area where no missionary has lived before. They have done this with a beautiful, selfless and teachable spirit, and with the energy and determination which promises an enduring, fruitful ministry.