Staying Connected
Bill Boggess (ThM, 1980), a missionary in French-speaking Africa, is asking for prayer for the ongoing conflicts between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. He asks that you pray specifically for Esther, who is the fourteen-year-old daughter of his friend and ministry partner Elie and his wife, Sage. Fighting has been taking place close to their home, and Esther went missing for quite some time. Praise God that she has returned home safely. Pray for Esther and the safety of Elie’s family.
After serving in local churches throughout Connecticut and Ohio for thirty years and retiring from his position as a chaplain with the Ohio Air National Guard for thirty years, where he served for thirty-nine years, Curt Wagner (ThM, 1982) now serves with Global Training Network, training pastors throughout the Majority World. So far, he has traveled to Nepal and Rwanda. His wife, Becka, a retired Cedarville University teacher, travels with him, training pastor’s wives and women leaders.
In 2011, Seth M. Simisi (ThM, 2004; PhD, 2012), alongside a group of Baptist church leaders from Eastern Congo, started a Bible school. Their mission? To develop servant-leaders devoted to reviving believers in the Congo. The founding of that Bible school led to the founding of Virunga Christian University in 2013, which presented its first graduating class in July 2015. Around that same time, the university received some land that serves as their official campus. In 2017, Virunga Christian University was officially accredited by the Congo’s Ministry of Higher Education to offer undergraduate and graduate degrees in Bible, theology, and other degrees.
Samantha Childs-Clark (MACE, 2016; DEDM, 2024) facilitates Ministry in the Middle, a discipleship-based ministry where women grow amid life’s transitional situations, coming to know and understand Jesus more deeply throughout the changes.
Mark and Autumn (ThM, 2023) Bogner welcomed a little one into the world, making them a family of three! Praise God for the safe delivery of their little nugget despite a Missouri snowstorm. Pray for Mark and Autumn as they continue their studies, prepping them for fieldwork in PNG, especially toward the end of April when they, along with other families, will undergo a three-week wilderness survival training experience. Pray for them, too, as they begin the first wave of paperwork to travel overseas and as they are learning what it means to partner well with supporters.
Events
In Memory
Virginia “Ginger” Keown, Marvin’s (ThM, 1985) wife and ministry partner for forty-eight years, passed away unexpectedly on January 8, 2025. Ginger was known for her warm smile, infectious laugh, and her deep love for children’s ministry. She and Pastor Marvin served several churches during their life together, including serving at Grace Bible Church in Athens, Texas for the last thirteen years.
Mark Eldon Wilson (ThM, 1980) went to be with the Lord on January 30, 2025. He passed away at his home in Sioux City, Iowa, with Rae, his wife of thirty-eight years, by his side. Born on March 3, 1953, in Sioux City, Mark grew up on his family’s farm. He graduated from the University of South Dakota, where he also met the Lord through Campus Crusade for Christ. His faith led him to Dallas Theological Seminary, and a short-term mission trip to Haiti ignited his heart for global missions. After graduation, Mark joined SIM and completed a year-long pastoral internship in New York City. Mark later returned to Sioux City, where he was ordained and commissioned as a missionary. He also met Rae Riley. They wrote to one another, and after his three years of mission work in Liberia, they started dating. Mark and Rae got married on December 6, 1986, and moved to Chicago and then later to France to study language training. After two years in France, SIM sent the couple to Kankan, Guinea, where Mark and Rae served as church planters. In 2004, Mark founded the Maninka Audio Media Outreach, a recording studio dedicated to producing dramatic Scripture readings and other Christian materials, all voiced by native Maninka speakers. He continued directing (MAMO), until his lymphoma diagnosis in October 2017. Heartbroken to leave the mission field, Mark and Rae returned to the Midwest to seek treatment for Mark at the Mayo Clinic. Thanks to God’s mercies and dedicated medical staff, Mark experienced several periods of remission. In 2018, they moved back to Sioux City, where they continued to serve and minister in new ways. Mark is deeply missed by his whole family.
James Ardsley Wickstrom (ThM, 1958) passed away peacefully on January 26, 2025, at the age of ninety-seven. Jim ministered as a pastor and community leader. Born September 15, 1927, in Mora, Minnesota, Jim worked in his father’s Chevrolet garage until God called him into ministry. He graduated from Bethel College and Dallas Theological Seminary. In 1953, Jim married Phyllis Ellen Sanford. Phyllis led Bible studies and Sunday school classes at every church Jim pastored. They had six children together. Jim pastored several churches in Minnesota before relocating to Arroyo Grande, California, in 1968 to lead the First Presbyterian Church, which later became Grace Bible. In 1983, he founded Berean Bible Church, and though he officially retired in 2005, he continued to actively minister to others until the age of ninety. He also founded and served as the first superintendent for the Central Coast Christian Academy, now Coastal Christian School in Pismo Beach, impacting the lives of many. In his spare time, Jim was often found biking or taking long walks, chatting and praying with others along the way. Jim is missed deeply by his family.
Lois Widder went to be with Jesus on January 30, 2025, two months before her ninety-first birthday. The daughter of Frances and Elvyn, she was born in Sturgis, Michigan, on April 1, 1934, an Easter morning. Lois attended a college in Kentucky for a year before transferring to Northwestern College in Minnesota, where she majored in Christian Education. While cheerleading, she met a young man and fellow cheerleader, Wayne Widder (ThM, 1961). The pair married in August 1957 before moving to Dallas, where Wayne earned his ThM. While Wayne studied, Lois taught fourth grade in a local Christian school. After graduation, Wayne and Lois moved to San Antonio, and Wayne pastored Wayside Chapel Evangelical Free Church. They also welcomed their children, Patricia and Brenda, into the world. In 1965, Wayne accepted a teaching position at Fort Wayne Bible College. While in Fort Wayne, their third daughter, Donna, joined the family. During that time, Lois enjoyed attending her clubs and assisting with volunteer endeavors, such as the Christian Women’s Club, Bible studies, and Fort Wayne Christian School activities. She also finished her elementary education degree at Fort Wayne Bible College. In 1979, Wayne became a teacher at Moody Bible Institute, and the family moved to Wheaton, Illinois. Lois taught fifth grade at Wheaton Christian Grammar School. After seventeen years, they retired and enjoyed their summers on Lake Sommerset surrounded by their grandchildren. Lois is remembered for her smile, her love for her students, and her passion for Jesus.
James “Jim” Estal Lewis (MABS, 1978) was born to Estal and Christine on November 15, 1941, in Bryan, Texas. Jim, the youngest of two boys, and his brother, Ernest, were best friends. His parents modeled Christ-like love in their home, and that influenced Jim’s entire life. Music remained one of Jim’s steady passions during every era of his life. He and his brother, self-taught musicians, formed a band during their teenage years. Jim married his high school sweetheart, Sherry, in 1963, and they had four daughters: Dara, Jenna, Adria, and Amy. Jim loved his daughters. He was a nurturing, kind, wise father, and, of course, silly and fun, as every dad ought to be. The Lewis home often served as the central hangout for their four girls and all their friends, giving Jim a platform for his dad jokes and pranks, sometimes an embarrassment to his daughters but always a delight to their friends. Regarding his education, Jim earned a degree in accounting from Texas A&M. After working in that field for several years, God called him to pursue ministry. Jim received his MABS from Dallas Theological Seminary and then served as the senior pastor of Plano Bible Chapel, influencing many people through his lifelong service. Jim was passionate about studying the Bible, and he was a true lover of God and people. Jim excelled at making others feel valued. His passion for music complemented his ministry through singing, songwriting, and the guitar. Jim deeply loved his Savior and poured his whole being into the ministry. His life reflected a spirit of service, love, compassion, and grace. He is deeply missed by his whole family and others who loved him. They take comfort in knowing that Jim is now in God’s presence, surrounded by family and friends who have already gone to meet the Lord.
