Cecil and Kathy Stalnaker
USA |
Our Story
Cecil came to know the Lord in his second year of college, while Kathy came to the Savior at a young age. While spending two years in the US military he was discipled through Campus Crusade for Christ. After graduating from college, Cecil and Kathleen were married (1972). Shortly after, Cecil entered seminary and was on the staff at Bethany Baptist Church in West Covina, CA. Kathy worked as a physical therapist for seven years before going to the field.God’s initial leading came through the Urbana college mission conference at the University of Illinois in Urbana (1970). Appointed by GEM to the French-speaking part of Belgium, they left for the field in 1978 with their eight month old daughter. Cecil began training French-speaking pastors, church leaders, and missionaries at the Belgian Bible Institute in the French language. They also became part of a church planting team in Roman Catholic Belgium, planting a church in an area that had no Bible-believing church for about 80,000 people.The Stalnakers moved to the Netherlands in 1997 to an English-speaking international ministry at Tyndale Theological Seminary, located near Amsterdam. Cecil was Professor of Intercultural Studies and Practical Ministry, equipping students for ministry in cross-cultural, missionary, and pastoral ministries (Cecil recently received the honorary title of Professor Emeritus of Intercultural Studies from Tyndale). Both Cecil and Kathy were very involved in local church ministries in the NL, Cecil as an elder and teacher in the church. Kathy played a crucial role in the worship ministry of their local church, Trinity International Church. She organized, administered, and played the keyboard for the music worship program of the church.Cecil and Kathy currently live in Santa Clarita, California and have two adult children.
Where We Work
In August 2012, the Stalnakers returned to the USA after 34 years of ministry in Belgium and the Netherlands. Although currently living in the States, they continue to be very committed to the making of disciples whether it be in the USA or Europe. Cecil is part of the GEM Mobilization team, working toward mobilizing people to serve the Lord in Europe. In addition, both Cecil and Kathy return to Europe on occasion for disciple-making opportunities. Cecil is also consulted by local churches in California to speak on missions and help train future missionaries.