PHILOSOPHY OF MINISTRY
Our God is a mysterious God. He called me when I was not seeking Him and brought me to places that I did not expect. God has drawn me into vocational ministry for the purpose of training, teaching and equipping other believers to complete the good works that God has for them to do. This is my joy and my burden.
The Almighty chooses to use certain individuals for certain purposes. Thus, I desire no more that to pour my heart, strength and tears into whatever it is that God would have me do in this life. I labor with the conviction that God must be glorified through His unworthy servant and want only to hear, “Well done my good and faithful servant.”
God has given to me gifts for the benefit of His church. These gifts are teaching, encouragement and mercy. God has also sanctified innate abilities to associate and make friends with almost anyone, to think through problems and to resolve conflict. Lastly, I have truly found that the joy of the Lord is my strength!
DREW’S PERSONAL INFORMATION
- Childhood: I was born into a nominal Roman Catholic family on March 7, 1975. My parents were divorced soon afterward.
- Conversion: I walked away from Roman Catholicism in high school with an understanding that God is real but very distant. Jesus is real as well but inaccessible to an average person like me. One day a friend, who was a believer, asked me to come to church. I thought, “Why not, what else to I have to do Sunday mornings?” Well, one Sunday morning God turned the light switch from “off” to “on” and I realized that hell awaited me unless I repented and followed Christ. So I did repent and have followed Christ ever since.
- Marriage: My lovely wife is the second greatest blessing in my life. Teresa impacted me from the first moment that I laid eyes on her. We were joined in holy matrimony on May 26, 2001.
- Children: The Lord blessed us with two wonderful boys and two precious girls: Roger James born on 1/03/05,Reid Jerry born on 7/5/06, Reina Linda born on 8/1/08 and Rachel Deborah born on 9/16/10. Hobbies/Interest I have always had a tremendous love of food, friends and fun. At this point in my life I also enjoy exercise and various video games. Surprisingly, I have also discovered that I love to work with my hands.
TERESA’S PERSONAL INFORMATION
- Childhood: I was born into a very strong conservative Christian family on May 18, 1976. In November of that same year my parents moved to Uruguay, South America to serve as missionaries. I grew up in Uruguay and my parents still work there as missionaries.
- Conversion: I came to know the Lord as my personal Savior at the young age of six years old. My younger sister, Tammy, was scared of the storm and my mother told her that God promised to care for His children. Tammy immediately responded by saying that she wasn’t God’s child. I realized, as well, that I was not God’s child. We both came to the Lord that night.
- Marriage: I knew within a few months of dating Drew that he was the man I was going to marry. God then allowed us to spend a lot of time getting to know each other’s hearts and falling in love before we even got engaged. After a very romantic engagement and wedding we settled down to reality and the reality was that God has given me a husband that is more than I deserve and a husband who fits me better than I ever imagined he could. I love Drew very much and marriage to him just keeps getting better and better.
- Children Before we even got married, Drew was praying that we would get pregnant right away. I was desirous of waiting a little bit before getting the kids, and God apparently was too because He sent us to seminary. The time has come, however, and God has given us four children that we praise Him for! Their names are Roger JamesReid Jerry , Reina Linda and Rachel Deborah Rietjens.
- Hobbies/Interests: After much soul-searching I realized that the three things I love doing the most is Cooking, Singing and hanging out with other women. My other interests are varied, but I love doing crafty things and hanging out with my husband and reading a good book.
EDUCATION
- 2001 – 2005 Dallas Theological Seminary
Dallas, TX
Master of Theology - 1999-2000 Crossroads Bible College Indianapolis,
IN
Non-degree program
12 hours in Bible backgrounds and specific New Testament books - 1998 Indiana University Purdue University
Indianapolis, IN
Graduate Non-degree
24 hours in biology, health and pharmacology - 1993-1997 Illinois State University Normal,
IL
Bachelors of Science in Chemistry
Graduated with University Honors
Organic Scholar of the Year (1995)
Undergraduate research of platinum complexes
American Institute of Chemists Foundation Award
MINISTERIAL EXPERIENCE
- 2008 - present Twin Valley Church Bellevue,
NE
Solo Pastor - 2006 – 2007 Spring Hill Baptist Church
Spring Hill, KS
Solo Pastor
Ministry of the word through sermons and Bible studies to a variety of ages
General counseling: engaged couples, the depressed and the grieving
Performed five weddings and one funeral
Representative to the community: civil functions and aid to the needy
Participated in development and maintenance of all programs - 2003 - 2005 First Baptist Church of Murphy Murphy,
TX
Children’s Minister
Oversaw and implemented ministry for up to 55 children and youth
Recruited, trained and guided up to 15 ministry volunteers
Managed and maintained a balanced budget of roughly $20,000
Reported directly to the Senior pastor
Strived to let ministry volunteers develop their interests and distinctiveness - 2002 Fellowship Bible Church of Dallas Dallas,
TX
Founding member of multicultural fellowship
Welcomed and assimilated internationals into the church body - 2000 – 2001 Chinese Christian Church of
Carmel Carmel, IN
Bible study leader
Befriended Asian international students
An evangelistic and discipleship focused program
Ate many new dishes with a smile on my face - 1998 – 1999 Castleview Baptist Church
Indianapolis, IN
Singles Bible study leader
Taught weekly Bible studies
Organized social events - 1996-1997 Northside Church of Christ Bloomington,
IL
Student leader
Taught weekly Bible studies
Representative to the student council at Illinois State University
MISSIONS EXPERIENCE
- 2005 University Professor Zhoukou, Henan
(China)
Linguistics Instructor
Exploratory trip for future missionary work br /Relational witnessing to Chinese students and teachers
Fellowshipped and learned from veteran missionaries
Beijing International Christian Fellowship West demonstrated such unity in the midst of diversity, truly a life changing experience - 2004 Iglesia Biblica en Parque Batlle Montevideo,
Uruguay
Traveling Biblical instructor
Taught history of doctrine evenings and weekends for a month
Traveled throughout Uruguay and into Argentina
Preached and gave my testimony
Worked through an interpreter - 2002 SER ministries Acuna, Mexico
Assistance to children’s ministries
Aided in the existing children’s ministries
EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE
- 2003 Dallas Theological Seminary Dallas, TX
Library aide - 2002 Aqua Care Pool Company Plano, TX
Pool man - 1999 – 2001 Indiana University Indianapolis,
IN
Research Technician
REFERENCES
- Rev. Eric Hartman Senior Pastor of Providence Church Pastor@providencechurch.info
- Dr. John Hannah Distinguished Research Professor at Dallas Theological Seminary Jhannah@dts.edu
- Rev. Jerry Glass Church Planter in Montevideo, Uruguay Jglass@biblicalministries.org
- Dr. James Williams Associate Professor of Anatomy and Cell Biology at IUPUI Williams@anatomy.iupui.edu