OUR HISTORY
Brother Kelley was saved in 1971 at the age of 16. He met and married his wife Joy when they were both 18. Shortly thereafter, in October, 1974, he joined the US Army, which was truly a God-ordained move. When the Army sent them to Darmstadt, Germany in 1976, Bro. Kelley surrendered to the call to preach. While still in the military, he and Joy started the Maranatha Baptist Church of Oak Grove, KY. He pastored the church for two years, and then turned the church over to a full-time pastor, Lynn Parker. The church is still in existence, and is now pastored by Bro. Ricky Clark.
After turning the church over, and still in the military, they were sent to Fort Carson, CO. There they worked at the First Baptist Church of Peaceful Valley, pastored by Brother Kelley's mentor & sending pastor, Dr. Gene Woods. During a mission conference preached by Dr. Onsy Whicker, the Kelley’s were called to be missionaries to the US Military. On May 24, 1984, they were approved as missionaries and called by God to go to Augsburg, West Germany.
There, they established the Faith Baptist Church of Augsburg. The Kelley’s spent eight and a half years there pastoring that church. They saw over 2,000 saved & baptized and 40 men called into full-time service. Then, due to the military drawdown in Germany, God led them to go to South Korea.
The Kelleys arrived in Seoul, Korea, in November, 1995. During the 12 ½ years they were there, they started three churches. First, Uijongbu Baptist Church, which was the mother church for the other two. The second church, also in Uijongbu, was Emmanuel Baptist Church. It was for Korean nationals, and it was turned over to Brother Peter Kim. The current pastor is Bro. Barry Hoffman. The third church started was First Baptist Church in Tongduchon. It was another military church north of Uijongbu. It was turned over to Bro. Larry Ferguson, who, after the military started drawing down in Tongduchon, was led by the Lord to move the church to Taegu, where the troops were moving.
God blessed the Kelley's ministry with the military and the local nationals there in Korea. Many souls were saved, lives changed and marriages of military people held together through their ministry. Uijongbu Baptist also became self-supporting, and was turned over to Bro.Tom Vasel, who is still pastoring the church.
Now God has taken them on their third missionary journey? to the island of Guam ? where there are currently around 15,000 Air Force and Naval personnel, and 1,100 Army National Guardsmen. In addition, the U.S. government is moving 8,000 Marines and their families? also other military personnel and DoD civilians, totaling around 40,000 more people.
The Kelley's are very excited about the prospect of working with these military families and the local Chamorro people, and they feel this may be their most productive ministry yet! Thanks for your support and prayers as they work to reach your military for the Lord Jesus Christ!
After turning the church over, and still in the military, they were sent to Fort Carson, CO. There they worked at the First Baptist Church of Peaceful Valley, pastored by Brother Kelley's mentor & sending pastor, Dr. Gene Woods. During a mission conference preached by Dr. Onsy Whicker, the Kelley’s were called to be missionaries to the US Military. On May 24, 1984, they were approved as missionaries and called by God to go to Augsburg, West Germany.
There, they established the Faith Baptist Church of Augsburg. The Kelley’s spent eight and a half years there pastoring that church. They saw over 2,000 saved & baptized and 40 men called into full-time service. Then, due to the military drawdown in Germany, God led them to go to South Korea.
The Kelleys arrived in Seoul, Korea, in November, 1995. During the 12 ½ years they were there, they started three churches. First, Uijongbu Baptist Church, which was the mother church for the other two. The second church, also in Uijongbu, was Emmanuel Baptist Church. It was for Korean nationals, and it was turned over to Brother Peter Kim. The current pastor is Bro. Barry Hoffman. The third church started was First Baptist Church in Tongduchon. It was another military church north of Uijongbu. It was turned over to Bro. Larry Ferguson, who, after the military started drawing down in Tongduchon, was led by the Lord to move the church to Taegu, where the troops were moving.
God blessed the Kelley's ministry with the military and the local nationals there in Korea. Many souls were saved, lives changed and marriages of military people held together through their ministry. Uijongbu Baptist also became self-supporting, and was turned over to Bro.Tom Vasel, who is still pastoring the church.
Now God has taken them on their third missionary journey? to the island of Guam ? where there are currently around 15,000 Air Force and Naval personnel, and 1,100 Army National Guardsmen. In addition, the U.S. government is moving 8,000 Marines and their families? also other military personnel and DoD civilians, totaling around 40,000 more people.
The Kelley's are very excited about the prospect of working with these military families and the local Chamorro people, and they feel this may be their most productive ministry yet! Thanks for your support and prayers as they work to reach your military for the Lord Jesus Christ!