Our Testimonies

Jeremy’s Testimony:

I was privileged to grow up in a Christian home where my parents, Mel and Ellen Lockhart, sought to honor God and to train their children to serve God with their lives.  I was saved at the age of three and remember vividly the joy that flooded my soul.  From birth until the age of thirteen I was blessed to be a part of the Bible Baptist Church of Riverdale, Georgia where my dad was the janitor and maintenance man.  I spent much time with my dad around the church and Christian School and was trained to work hard at whatever God called me to do.  My pastor, Norman Pyle, was a godly man who preached God’s Word and helped to lay the foundation for a godly life. 

It was while I was in the fifth grade at Bible Baptist Christian School that God used a missionary presentation to burden my heart about the country of Brazil.  Ever since that time that burden has burned within my heart.  How thankful I am that God can work in the heart of a child!

At the age of thirteen, my family was directed by God to move to Shelby, North Carolina.  My dad became the maintenance man at Ambassador Baptist College and I was blessed to be able to go to the college chapels and learn from many of the men of God around the country. 

God eventually led me to attend Ambassador Baptist College where I received excellent training and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in pastoral studies in May of 2004. 

During my sophomore year at college, God sent me the best gift since salvation, my wife Esther.  She graduated from Ambassador in May of 2002 and the next summer we were married. 

Esther’s Testimony:

My parents were saved shortly before I was born, and I was raised in a godly home.  My parents taught me about salvation as I was growing up and I made a profession of faith early in my childhood.  When I was twelve years old I began to have doubts about my salvation and I realized that I truly had not been saved.  For about a year I struggled with the fear of what others would think, and I would not accept Christ.  Finally, at a Vacation Bible school meeting about a year later, I accepted Christ as my Savior and there has truly been a change in my heart!  I was baptized the following Sunday.
Because of different influences in my life throughout my teenage years, the Lord directed me to attend Ambassador Baptist College.  At Ambassador I majored in Bible and Music and was also blessed to meet my future husband.

Since our marriage in 2003, we have had the privilege to work together in various ministries of our local church.  God also blessed us with our first daughter, Aleithia Joy, in December of 2005.  We are expecting another girl this November 2007!

Our home church, Maranatha Baptist Church of Shelby, North Carolina is very dear to our hearts.  It was at this church that we were trained, discipled, and called to Brazil.  Our pastor, Frank Camp, has been faithful in teaching us the Scriptures and allowing us the opportunity to work in various ministries of our church.  It was in May of 2007 while sitting under our pastor’s preaching that God specifically revealed to us that it was time for us to leave home and go to Brazil.  On August 21, 2007 we were accepted by World Wide New Testament Baptist Missions, a ministry designed to help our local church in sending us to the field.

Presently, we are on deputation in order to raise the needed support to get us to the field.  We hope you will join with us in prayer as we seek to minister in churches around the country!