Joshua D. Hedges
Home Church: Bluelick Bible Church
1138 West Bluelick Road
Lima, OH 4580
I was born in Ohio on December 29, 1975. After years of hearing the Gospel, I trusted Jesus Christ as my personal Savior during my sophomore year of high school. A little more than a year later I was baptized and became a member of the Lima Baptist Temple in Lima, Ohio.
Almost immediately God began preparing me for missionary service. During the latter years of high school I served in my home church. Then I attended Northland Baptist Bible College (now Northland International University) where I majored in the Biblical languages. It was at this time that God gave me my wife-Barbara! I studied another three years at Central Baptist Theological Seminary where I received my Masters of Divinity.
Barb and I joined Baptist Mid-Missions in 2001. Our desire was to work with the Bible translation society of the mission-Bibles International. We spent the next several years raising support for our ministry, and we spent a year and a half studying French.
During all this time, the LORD blessed us with five beautiful girls: Abigail and Ruth (born in Minnesota); Rebekah and Elianna (born in Ohio during deputation), and Emma (born in Quebec, Canada during language school).
We arrived in Chad in June of 2008. I served as a Bible translation consultant for the Chadian projects, but I give special attention to the translation of the Day Bible. My desire is to complete this project within the next five years. In addition to the translation work, I have taught future pastors in the Theological School and have shared the gospel with my friends and neighbors.
Currently, we reside in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Unresolved health issues relating to my daughter Rebekah prevented our returning to Chad in 2013. Our sending church pastor and our mission administrators counseled us to spend our second term stateside. The logical location was Grand Rapids where the home office for Bibles International is located. This would allow time for Rebekah to heal. At the same time, I can continue to satisfy our passion for Bible translation ministry by continuing to serve as a translation consultant with my colleagues at the Grand Rapids’ office and by making regular trips to Chad.
1138 West Bluelick Road
Lima, OH 4580
I was born in Ohio on December 29, 1975. After years of hearing the Gospel, I trusted Jesus Christ as my personal Savior during my sophomore year of high school. A little more than a year later I was baptized and became a member of the Lima Baptist Temple in Lima, Ohio.
Almost immediately God began preparing me for missionary service. During the latter years of high school I served in my home church. Then I attended Northland Baptist Bible College (now Northland International University) where I majored in the Biblical languages. It was at this time that God gave me my wife-Barbara! I studied another three years at Central Baptist Theological Seminary where I received my Masters of Divinity.
Barb and I joined Baptist Mid-Missions in 2001. Our desire was to work with the Bible translation society of the mission-Bibles International. We spent the next several years raising support for our ministry, and we spent a year and a half studying French.
During all this time, the LORD blessed us with five beautiful girls: Abigail and Ruth (born in Minnesota); Rebekah and Elianna (born in Ohio during deputation), and Emma (born in Quebec, Canada during language school).
We arrived in Chad in June of 2008. I served as a Bible translation consultant for the Chadian projects, but I give special attention to the translation of the Day Bible. My desire is to complete this project within the next five years. In addition to the translation work, I have taught future pastors in the Theological School and have shared the gospel with my friends and neighbors.
Currently, we reside in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Unresolved health issues relating to my daughter Rebekah prevented our returning to Chad in 2013. Our sending church pastor and our mission administrators counseled us to spend our second term stateside. The logical location was Grand Rapids where the home office for Bibles International is located. This would allow time for Rebekah to heal. At the same time, I can continue to satisfy our passion for Bible translation ministry by continuing to serve as a translation consultant with my colleagues at the Grand Rapids’ office and by making regular trips to Chad.
Barbara K. Hedges
Home Church: Bluelick Bible Church (an independent Baptist church)
1138 West Bluelick Road
Lima, OH 4580
God began His work early in my life. I was born on October 23, 1974 in Lima, Ohio. At the age of 10, I received the Lord as my personal Savior during a revival service in 1985. Then I was baptized in 1987 at Bluelick Bible Church, an independent Baptist church.
In the following years, God called and prepared me for missionary service. My home church provided many avenues of service. As I approached high school graduation, my pastor counseled me to attend Northland Baptist Bible College (Northland International University) where I graduated in 1997. He then gave me a husband a week later-Joshua!
Step-by-step, the God led us to Chad, Africa. In 1998, He directed us to Minneapolis, Minnesota where Joshua studied for another three years at Central Baptist Theological Seminary. Believing that God was leading us into Bible Translation ministry we joined Baptist Mid-Missions during the summer of 2001. Our heart was for the Bibleless peoples of the world, and our desire was to work with Bibles International the Bible society of the mission. But we did not know where we would go. But during the course of our deputation we sensed that God was directing us specifically to Chad, Africa. In 2006, we moved to Québec, Canada in order to study French for a year and a half. Then, after spending another year back in the US we left for Chad in June of 2008.
During all this time, the LORD blessed us with five beautiful girls: Abigail and Ruth (born in Minnesota); Rebekah and Elianna (born in Ohio during deputation), and Emma (born in Quebec, Canada during language school).
Our first term in Chad was interrupted by a six-month medical furlough when we faced some health concerns related to two of our girls. Yet despite this and other challenges, we returned in 2010 and, by the grace of God, adjusted well to our new life and ministry in Chad. I spent most of my time managing the girls’ schooling and the kitchen. But I love to interact with the Chadian women (Christian and non-Christian) when I can.
In 2013 the LORD directed us to Grand Rapids, Michigan. Unresolved health issues concerning our daughter Rebekah prevented our family from returning to Chad at the end of our furlough. Our sending church pastor and our mission administrators counseled us to spend our second term stateside. The logical location was Grand Rapids where the home office for Bibles International is located. This would allow time for Rebekah to heal. At the same time, we can continue to satisfy our passion for Bible translation ministry. Joshua works out of the BI office and makes regular trips to Chad.
1138 West Bluelick Road
Lima, OH 4580
God began His work early in my life. I was born on October 23, 1974 in Lima, Ohio. At the age of 10, I received the Lord as my personal Savior during a revival service in 1985. Then I was baptized in 1987 at Bluelick Bible Church, an independent Baptist church.
In the following years, God called and prepared me for missionary service. My home church provided many avenues of service. As I approached high school graduation, my pastor counseled me to attend Northland Baptist Bible College (Northland International University) where I graduated in 1997. He then gave me a husband a week later-Joshua!
Step-by-step, the God led us to Chad, Africa. In 1998, He directed us to Minneapolis, Minnesota where Joshua studied for another three years at Central Baptist Theological Seminary. Believing that God was leading us into Bible Translation ministry we joined Baptist Mid-Missions during the summer of 2001. Our heart was for the Bibleless peoples of the world, and our desire was to work with Bibles International the Bible society of the mission. But we did not know where we would go. But during the course of our deputation we sensed that God was directing us specifically to Chad, Africa. In 2006, we moved to Québec, Canada in order to study French for a year and a half. Then, after spending another year back in the US we left for Chad in June of 2008.
During all this time, the LORD blessed us with five beautiful girls: Abigail and Ruth (born in Minnesota); Rebekah and Elianna (born in Ohio during deputation), and Emma (born in Quebec, Canada during language school).
Our first term in Chad was interrupted by a six-month medical furlough when we faced some health concerns related to two of our girls. Yet despite this and other challenges, we returned in 2010 and, by the grace of God, adjusted well to our new life and ministry in Chad. I spent most of my time managing the girls’ schooling and the kitchen. But I love to interact with the Chadian women (Christian and non-Christian) when I can.
In 2013 the LORD directed us to Grand Rapids, Michigan. Unresolved health issues concerning our daughter Rebekah prevented our family from returning to Chad at the end of our furlough. Our sending church pastor and our mission administrators counseled us to spend our second term stateside. The logical location was Grand Rapids where the home office for Bibles International is located. This would allow time for Rebekah to heal. At the same time, we can continue to satisfy our passion for Bible translation ministry. Joshua works out of the BI office and makes regular trips to Chad.