Introducing FirstBible International of Mongolia

The Lord has opened three great doors of ministry for FirstBible in Mongolia.

1. Printing Ministry -- Through partnership with Mickey Cofer in 2006, we shipped two 40-foot containers of printing equipment to the capital city of UlaanBataar. There is now a fully operational print shop where Jeff Kruchkow has spent several months hiring and training a team of Mongolian printers.
   
   
2. Bible Institute -- Through partnership with Martin White, there is now a Bible Institute where Mongolian men who are called to ministry are being trained. We are praying God will burden their hearts to reach not only their own nation, but surrounding nations with a church-planting effort.
   
   
3. Bible Translation -- Through partnership with several good missionaries and nationals listed below, a translation/revision of Scriptures is underway with the goal of giving the Mongolians a pure Word of God.

Mongolian Based Team

Mickey Cofer – General Director

I was saved in 1972 and served as a youth leader in my late teens. I graduated from Bob Jones University in 1985 with a degree in Christian Lay Leadership. I served for seven years at the Fellowship Baptist Church in Lebanon, Ohio as a deacon and Sunday school teacher while operating a 3-color web press for the Fellowship Tract League. I started a small business producing handcrafted pottery for galleries throughout the United States. God called me to Mongolia in 2000 out of the Winchester Baptist Church, Ohio. My wife Trina and I have four lovely children serving with us who have all made professions of faith.

Martin White - Mongolia Bible Institute Director

I was saved in June of 1976 and subsequently attended the Calvary Bible Baptist Church of Rochester, New York. Beth and I have four children. In 1981 I was hired as an assistant to the pastor and served Rev. Fred Simpson and our church for the next three years. In September of 1985, under the direction of Pastor Simpson, we started the Lighthouse Bible Baptist Church where I served for the next eighteen years. In June of 2003 I surrendered the pastorate to go to Mongolia as a missionary. We were fortunate to have a fine man right in our church to take my position, Pastor James Gugino. Our home church is our sending church; this is a situation we are very happy to have. We have been in the country of Mongolia for two years now and have been involved in the expansion of one church and the starting of another. We have seen souls saved and had the privilege of baptizing them as well. We look forward to many years of service reaching the precious souls of Mongolia.

Roland Gay – Translator

Matthew Patenaude – Translator

Matthew Patenaude was born in Florida in 1977, and raised in a Christian family. His father has served in the ministry as a pastor and is now a missionary to China (where Matthew spent his teen years). He was saved at the age of 17 and surrendered for the ministry shortly afterward. He earned his B.A. in Linguistics at Baptist Bible Translators Institute in Bowie, Texas, and has continued his linguistic studies. He is married with three children and now serves in Mongolia. He speaks Mongolian and Chinese. His sending church is Winchester Baptist Church, Winchester, Ohio, Rev. Steve Bankhead, pastor.

United States Based Team

Shane Skelton – Stateside Director

I grew up in a Baptist pastor’s home but it was not until October 1992, after being under conviction for three years, that I received Christ as my Saviour. Soon after, the Lord called me to preach. I attended Tabernacle Baptist Bible College in Greenville, South Carolina under the late Dr. Harold B. Sightler. There I met and married my wife, Danielle. Her home church was First Baptist Church of Milford, Ohio, with Dr. Charles Keen, pastor. We have three children, Abbey, Aubry, and Alivia. In 1998 God started dealing with my heart concerning the unreached peoples in the 10/40 Window. During our church's missions revival in 2004 the Lord began show us how we could effectively reach the unreached people groups primarily in the 10/40 window through partnering with Dr. Keen and FirstBible International to start FirstBible of Florida and represent the southeastern states.

John Harrison – Board Member

I grew up in a pastor's home, where I received a heart for ministry. I have spent thirty-six years in full time ministry. I currently serve the Lord on the pastoral staff at Canton Baptist Temple, Canton, Ohio as Senior Adult and Missions Pastor. Currently CBT supports 166 missionaries in 66 countries and the church gives more than $700,000 annually to missions. Missions is the heartbeat at Canton Baptist Temple and through our mission programs, partnering with missionaries, Mission / Vision Trips and special projects, I have the privilege to strive to "Make A Difference" for Christ around the World. Through these life experiences and the opportunity provided by Dr. Charles Keen, the Lord has placed in my heart a great desire for the people of Mongolia and for the work of FirstBible International.

Tom Murray – Board Member

Tom Murray was born in Sioux Falls, South Dakota in 1954. He was saved in 1973. He married his childhood sweetheart, Denise, in 1974. After 27 wonderful years of marriage, Denise passed away in 2000 due to cancer. They have four grown children. Tom currently lives in North Pole, Alaska, and has remarried a wonderful Christian lady. Tom founded Alaska Aerofuel Inc. (www.alaskaaerofuel.com) in 1981. He is currently semi-retired but continues to serve as Chairman of the Board. Tom attends Bible Baptist Church in Fairbanks, Alaska, Rev. Doug Duffett, Pastor. Tom spends half of the year in Alaska doing lay ministry and half of the year traveling to visit and support missionaries in foreign lands.

Robert Painter – FBI Mongolia Attorney

Robert Painter is an attorney in Houston. In 2005, in his seventh year of practicing at the mega-firm Fulbright & Jaworski, he left to start his own practice, The Painter Law Firm, where he represents individuals, businesses, and non-profit organizations. He has held various political positions from the international and national to state and local levels, through which he has known leaders such as Ronald Reagan, Margaret Thatcher, and Mongolian Prime Minister Elbegdorj Tsakhia. Robert is married to Taunya Painter, who is Director of International Trade for Wal-Mart. They have an infant daughter, Katherine. The Painters attend Christchurch Baptist Fellowship, where they teach a Sunday School class, and where Robert serves as a deacon.