Thanks for your site and for letting me post.

[GMM]

Hi, I am Garry Matheny.
I was born in 1950. When I was 18, I wrecked a brand-new car, which upset my dad. Almost died from that wreck and decided I would try to make my dad proud of me. He wanted me to join the Navy; I did, he wanted me to be a diver, simply because he liked watching a TV series (Sea Hunt), so I became a Navy Diver. “Honor your father and mother… the Fifth Commandment, but I did not know the Bible then, and the church we went to never told us how to be saved. I was saved in the Navy through God’s faithful witness.
I became a Navy Saturation Diver and was on the nuclear submarine USS Halibut 587, received the Legion of Merit, and surrendered to serve our Lord while in Siberia on a then-classified special op. I graduated from Pacific Coast Baptist Bible College in 1979, and Nancy and I were married then. We started a church in Poulsbo, WA, and got it self-supporting, then went off to Romania as missionaries for 30 years, starting three more churches and a Bible Institute. We are both in our 70s and trying to start another church, but it is going slow. Still, we are having fun; I could not be happy sitting in front of a TV set till I died. (^:
Thank you all for being lights for Jesus Christ!

 

[KenH]

Welcome to the Baptist Board!

 

[xlsdraw]

Hi, I am Garry Matheny.
I was born in 1950. When I was 18, I wrecked a brand-new car, which upset my dad. Almost died from that wreck and decided I would try to make my dad proud of me. He wanted me to join the Navy; I did, he wanted me to be a diver, simply because he liked watching a TV series (Sea Hunt), so I became a Navy Diver. “Honor your father and mother… the Fifth Commandment, but I did not know the Bible then, and the church we went to never told us how to be saved. I was saved in the Navy through God’s faithful witness.
I became a Navy Saturation Diver and was on the nuclear submarine USS Halibut 587, received the Legion of Merit, and surrendered to serve our Lord while in Siberia on a then-classified special op. I graduated from Pacific Coast Baptist Bible College in 1979, and Nancy and I were married then. We started a church in Poulsbo, WA, and got it self-supporting, then went off to Romania as missionaries for 30 years, starting three more churches and a Bible Institute. We are both in our 70s and trying to start another church, but it is going slow. Still, we are having fun; I could not be happy sitting in front of a TV set till I died. (^:
Thank you all for being lights for Jesus Christ!

Our College Vice President, Dr Jim Morgan, also spent 25 years or so as a Missionary to Romania.

 

[Kai]

Hello again, brother Gary.

I noticed that you shared this same message in your initial introduction thread. While I truly appreciate your heartfelt testimony, I would encourage you to explore other sections of the board where your insights and expertise could shine on the various ongoing topics.

 

[CoachedByChrist]

Welcome, Garry, and thank you for sharing such a full testimony. What a journey from that wreck and Navy service to decades of church planting and missionary work. Praying the Lord blesses this next church effort, gives you and Nancy fresh strength, and uses your story to encourage many here.

 

[Salty]

Glad to have you !
Since you were military - be sure to check out our Veterans page.

And was just curious - what mission board did you serve with?

And did you ever work a Christians Servicemen organization.
When I was at Ft Lee - I spent a lot of of time at the Servicemen for Christ - now know as
Armed Forces Baptist Mission