rietjensfamily@cebridge.net D R E W L. R I E T J E N S PHILOSPOHY 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 vocational ministers as well as lay leaders in the local and international church. 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, encouraging, exhorting, administration and the desire to be a help to others. 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 th, 1975. My parents were divorced soon afterward. Conversion Marriage Children Hobbies/Interest 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. 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 th, 2001. The Lord blessed us with two wonderful boys: Roger James born on 1/03/05 and Reid Jerry born on 7/5/06. 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 Conversion Marriage Children I was born into a very strong conservative Christian family on May 18 th, 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. 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. 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. 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 two children that we praise Him for! Their names are Roger James and Reid Jerry Rietjens. Hobbies/Interest 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 2006 August 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 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