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Duane and Char Anderson
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Our Testimonies
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 Duane's Testimony:
As a young man in my teens I attended the local Baptist Church. I was active in Daily Vacation Bible School, Sunday school and the Youth group. I attended all the Evangelistic meetings, tent meetings and revivals that went on in our area. Two of my closest friends were Christians and it was because of them that I stayed out of trouble. I lived thinking I was a Christian until 1965 when my dear wife-to-be, helped me realize that I had never really personally accepted Christ as my Savior and Lord.
After my testimony to the church, I was immersed in the waters of Baptism in the Milltown Baptist Church.
As time passed, I began teaching Sunday school and over-seeing the bus ministry. Later I became the Sunday school superintendent. I also served as a deacon and my wife Char and I became leaders of the Youth Group.
In 1976, we moved to Cody, Wy and became members of the First Baptist Church. Our children attended the church school and we again became involved as youth leaders. I served as a deacon and Sunday school superintendent also.
Several years later, we joined the Grace Baptist Church of Cody because of the school's ability to handle special needs of one of our daughters. All three of our children graduated from the Grace Baptist Christian school.
There my wife served as the church and school secretary and I served several terms as a deacon and head usher.
Many times, while in Cody, we tried to get into a youth camp-ranch ministry but it just was not God's timing.
In 1998 we moved to Canon City, Colorado. Again I served as Sunday school superintendent and deacon. My job with the Colorado Department of Corrections transferred us to Buena Vista, Co in 1991 where we now reside.
After learning about Baptist Youth Mission, God gave us a special burden, but did not call us to Sidney. Later when BYM moved to Sinclair, they put out a call for someone to help them who had land and building experience. I began to pray, not knowing that my dear wife was also praying. One Saturday we decided to talk it over and we felt that God had spoken to both of us and that His call was to join BYM in Sinclair. Our wish now is to serve in a way that will allow more young people to hear and receive the Word of God. I believe that their eternal lives and our nation's future depend on the youth of America hearing the Gospel of Christ.
Char's testimony:
I was very blessed to be reared in a wonderful Christian family in a little town in Frederic, Wisconsin on a dairy farm. We were always very involved in our church. We attended First Baptist Church of Milltown which was about 11 miles away from our home.
At the age of five years old I knew I was a sinner and needed to repent of my sins and ask Christ to come into my life. When I was old enough to attend Bible camp, I attended Chetek Baptist Bible Camp. I went on to beome a counselor and staff at the same camp. While a camper at age 13 I realized I needed to totally dedicate my life to Christ, which I did. At that time, I told God I was willing to do whatever He wanted me to do.
As a teenager I was very involved in our Young People's group. I remember as "President" of the group I helped with Crusaders for Christ getting together once a month for Bible studies and activities. Our group sponsored several banquets and activities.
After Duane and I got married and started our own family we became youth leaders. We would have college students live with us on weekends and during summer vacations.
As our own children became teenagers and attended a Christian School in Cody, Wyoming we were again youth sponsors. I was secretary for the church at that time and later became secretary of the Christian School.
Our hearts have alway been open to youth and their needs. We had talked many times about working at a camp or ranch for youth. After visiting our daughter Missi and her husband Mark at Baptist Youth Mission the Lord started tugging at our hearts saying "remember your desires - here is your opportunity!" My vision has changed somewhat over time. I have a real burden for the wives of our missionaries who need encouragement as they serve alongside their husbands in ministry. With the Lord's help that is what I want to do for BYM and my Lord and Savior. I want to give back what was given to me all these past years.
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