HIS IN SOUTH AFRICA
Ron Fruin
Ron was saved after serving in the Navy for 8 years and after he was licensed as a Southern Baptist pastor. After his final tour of duty was up, Ron and Tina returned to their home in Northern Illinois and started looking for a good Southern Baptist church, but found none. They thought that the Independent Baptist Churches were similar to the Southern Baptist, so they started attending Calvary Baptist Church in Belvidere, IL. After attending there for about 3 or 4 months, the church held evangelistic meetings where the evangelist preached on how pride can keep you from going to heaven. Ron was brought under great conviction for his soul realizing he was not saved and on that night, February 17, 1991 Ron trusted Christ as his personal Saviour.
Tina Fruin
Tina went to church with her parents at a Lutheran church during her school years. A friend from school invited her to special meetings at a nearby Baptist church. During one of those meetings, Tina trusted Christ as her Saviour when she was about 13 years old. She continued to go to church with her parents until she and Ron were married, which is when they started to go to the Southern Baptist church. It was then that she started to grow spiritually as she realized her relationship with the Lord was a very personal one.
Ministry
Preparation
It wasn’t long after Ron’s salvation that God began to burden his heart about missions and the need to train for the ministry. Ron attended BJU from September 1993 until May 1997 which is when he graduated with a degree in missions. Ron and Tina were appointed through BWM in April of 1997 and were on deputation until June 2000.
Russia
Their first field of ministry was Siberia, Russia. They were there from June of 2000 until June of 2003. While there, their main focus was to learn the language, but they also helped out in a Baptist church that was already established by a national pastor. The Fruin kids took part in the music ministry and were active in the youth group. The family also started a tape ministry, in which they uploaded sermons on Sermon Audio to enable people around the world to listen to Russian sermons. Eventually an international Christian broadcasting network heard them and now those sermons are being broadcast all over Europe. Unexpectedly, at the end of their 3rd year, the government refused to renew their visas. The Fruins tried to find other ways into the country, but none were feasible. They returned to the States for furlough in June of 2003, praying that God would clearly direct and provide a way back to Russia, or show them if He wanted them to go in a different direction.
Cambodia
Early in 2004, the Fruins started receiving calls to consider going to Cambodia. First, Dr. Tom Johnson, who had been working there for 4 years, asked the Fruins if they would come to help him in the ministry. Then shortly after, Dr. David Cummins also asked them to consider going there. The Fruins took a survey trip in May of 2004 and believed that God was redirecting them to Cambodia.
Ron and Tina arrived in Cambodia in October, 2004. The Lord has truly blessed in the ministry. Since arriving, they have seen a number of souls make professions of faith and God has used them to be able to start a church in the city of Takhmau. The church has a little over 40 baptized believers, but runs between 50 and 70 in attendance on any given Sunday.
The Fruins have also been able to start a Bible Institute in which Ron trains men and women from the church in Takhmau along with 8 other churches which have been started by BWM missionaries. In addition to the Bible institute, which is geared for those who have limited free hours due to work or family and those whose educational capabilities are limited, Ron and Tina also began a Bible College.
In the Bible College, the Fruins train up to 10 students who commit to studying full-time for three years. The courses covered are Bible, English, Computer, History, Science, and Math, along with various other smaller courses. They study 24 hours a week, which allows the Fruins to pour their lives into the lives of these students. Upon graduation, the Fruins expect that the graduates will be able to either enter the ministry or the workforce fully prepared to serve God with their lives. They will hopefully also be a valuable asset to the local church in tithes and in teaching capabilities.
South Africa
Shortly after leaving the field of Cambodia, while still on furlough in the States, the Lord started burdening the Fruin's hearts about going to South Africa to work with Eric and Katie Graham in Cape Town. They took a survey trip there in July 2019 and received confirmation of the Lord’s leading. The Fruins have been there since 2020, helping the Grahams in their current ministries of strengthening the existing church as well as planting new churches in that area.
The Fruins have also started a Bible training facility much like they had in Cambodia, training the nationals to serve the Lord with their lives and helping the churches to become autonomous and indigenous. The Bible Institute is used to train church members and others interested in the Word of God, emphasizing the doctrines and principles that are contained in it, while helping the church members to apply these biblical truths to their lives. There are also special classes (both group and individual) for those who are desirous to enter the ministry.
In the technical school, Ron teaches technical skills to those in need (and as an outreach to those who are lost), while also having Bible classes to prepare these individuals to strengthen their faith and to help them serve the Lord in the workplace environment.
It wasn’t long after Ron’s salvation that God began to burden his heart about missions and the need to train for the ministry. Ron attended BJU from September 1993 until May 1997 which is when he graduated with a degree in missions. Ron and Tina were appointed through BWM in April of 1997 and were on deputation until June 2000.
Russia
Their first field of ministry was Siberia, Russia. They were there from June of 2000 until June of 2003. While there, their main focus was to learn the language, but they also helped out in a Baptist church that was already established by a national pastor. The Fruin kids took part in the music ministry and were active in the youth group. The family also started a tape ministry, in which they uploaded sermons on Sermon Audio to enable people around the world to listen to Russian sermons. Eventually an international Christian broadcasting network heard them and now those sermons are being broadcast all over Europe. Unexpectedly, at the end of their 3rd year, the government refused to renew their visas. The Fruins tried to find other ways into the country, but none were feasible. They returned to the States for furlough in June of 2003, praying that God would clearly direct and provide a way back to Russia, or show them if He wanted them to go in a different direction.
Cambodia
Early in 2004, the Fruins started receiving calls to consider going to Cambodia. First, Dr. Tom Johnson, who had been working there for 4 years, asked the Fruins if they would come to help him in the ministry. Then shortly after, Dr. David Cummins also asked them to consider going there. The Fruins took a survey trip in May of 2004 and believed that God was redirecting them to Cambodia.
Ron and Tina arrived in Cambodia in October, 2004. The Lord has truly blessed in the ministry. Since arriving, they have seen a number of souls make professions of faith and God has used them to be able to start a church in the city of Takhmau. The church has a little over 40 baptized believers, but runs between 50 and 70 in attendance on any given Sunday.
The Fruins have also been able to start a Bible Institute in which Ron trains men and women from the church in Takhmau along with 8 other churches which have been started by BWM missionaries. In addition to the Bible institute, which is geared for those who have limited free hours due to work or family and those whose educational capabilities are limited, Ron and Tina also began a Bible College.
In the Bible College, the Fruins train up to 10 students who commit to studying full-time for three years. The courses covered are Bible, English, Computer, History, Science, and Math, along with various other smaller courses. They study 24 hours a week, which allows the Fruins to pour their lives into the lives of these students. Upon graduation, the Fruins expect that the graduates will be able to either enter the ministry or the workforce fully prepared to serve God with their lives. They will hopefully also be a valuable asset to the local church in tithes and in teaching capabilities.
South Africa
Shortly after leaving the field of Cambodia, while still on furlough in the States, the Lord started burdening the Fruin's hearts about going to South Africa to work with Eric and Katie Graham in Cape Town. They took a survey trip there in July 2019 and received confirmation of the Lord’s leading. The Fruins have been there since 2020, helping the Grahams in their current ministries of strengthening the existing church as well as planting new churches in that area.
The Fruins have also started a Bible training facility much like they had in Cambodia, training the nationals to serve the Lord with their lives and helping the churches to become autonomous and indigenous. The Bible Institute is used to train church members and others interested in the Word of God, emphasizing the doctrines and principles that are contained in it, while helping the church members to apply these biblical truths to their lives. There are also special classes (both group and individual) for those who are desirous to enter the ministry.
In the technical school, Ron teaches technical skills to those in need (and as an outreach to those who are lost), while also having Bible classes to prepare these individuals to strengthen their faith and to help them serve the Lord in the workplace environment.
Location |
Field AddressRon & Tina Fruin
PO Box 332 Brackenfell 7561 Western Cape Republic of South Africa Phone: [email protected] |
Sending ChurchFalls Baptist Church
N69W12703 Appleton Avenue Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin 53051 Phone: (262) 251-7051 http://www.fallsbaptist.org |
Mission BoardBaptist World Mission
PO Box 2149 Decatur AL 35602-2149 Phone: (256) 353-2221 FAX: (256) 353-2266 https://www.baptistworldmission.org/ |