Volunteer Missionaries

John and Judy were born in Pembroke, Ontario and raised in Chalk River. They were married in 1967 while living in Ottawa, where Judy worked in a bank and John was on the Ottawa City Police Force. They were blessed with 2 children: Tim in 1970 and Debbie in 1972. They had always had a deep respect for and faith in God because of their upbringings, but it was in 1974 that they, together, responded to an altar call. At that time, John recommitted his life and Judy gave her life to the Lord. From 1974 to 1982, they experienced many fields of service: community volunteering; youth leadership; group home relief parenting; and foster parenting. In 1982, they were invited to sing at Guelph Correctional Centre. To their surprise, they felt very at ease sharing with the inmates and continued as volunteers for the next 2 years. In 1984, they made a decision to start working full-time with inmates and ex-inmates.

In 1985, they felt led by the Lord to join SCA then called Shantymen Christian Association. Their ministry, directed by the Holy Spirit, has included programs in many different federal and provincial institutions. They functioned as team members with chaplains and community workers. The programs they provided include: Sunday worship services, Bible studies, one-on-one visits and correspondence (to encourage men and women in their spiritual walk).

John and Judy also have a follow-up ministry from their “Hospitality Home” in Wateloo, Ontario, for ex-inmates and their families who contact them. Here, the ex-inmates were helped with job search, nutrition, budgeting and Christian family counselling. Follow-up correspondence, phone calls and visits were also an integral part of the ministry. John and Judy have formed lifelong relationships with many ex-inmates and their families and were like parents or grandparents to many.

Past Ministry:

For almost three decades, John and Judy Shultz have served the Lord through SCA International (known as Shantymen Christian Association when they joined). They have served Him well. They have served Him in a very difficult ministry – ministering primarily to inmates in Ontario’s Correctional Institutions serving and helping to disciple them, along with many ex-inmates. In fact, that aspect of the work continued to develop to attract and include other ex-inmates that John and Judy had not worked with previously in the prisons, as well as their families. God is good. On January 1, 2013, John and Judy’s status as “active SCA employee missionaries” changed to approved “Volunteer Missionaries” and continued much of their work with the full blessings of our SCA Board. The Shultz no longer received a regular missionary salary; however, SCA continued receipting donations for their ministry to cover directly related approved ministry expenses. We believed in what they were doing and wanted to support in this way. They are now fully retired and no longer receive support.

From John & Judy: We have thoroughly enjoyed our years as SCA International Field Missionaries. We have had experiences that others only read about – some were exciting, some were scary, some taught us humility, and others taught tenderness and grace. All have showed us the power and love of our Heavenly Father that is available to every one of His children.

Our donors and supporters allowed us these experiences! Without your donations and prayers, we could never have continued through all the years in ministry. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts! God has worked through you and us and it’s amazing the people that have been reached for Christ.

John & Jean Tibbles

John and Jean Tibbles were both born in Quesnel, BC. John came to know the Lord as an adult, Jean as a child. In 1970, they married and moved to Clearwater, BC. They have two adult sons: Michael is married to Cathy and they have three daughters: Haley, Emma, and Megan; Alan is married to Jesi and they have one son, Wyatt.

In 1984, the Lord moved John to leave a career position in corrections to attend Peace River Bible Institute for 4 years. During the summers, the family ministered in the Fort St. James area. During the fourth year, when seeking the right place of ministry, John & Jean received a call from the Northern BC field director of Shantymen. They joined Shantymen in May 1988, moved to Prince George in August of that year, and have since moved to the Hixon area of BC.

Their goals were twofold: to win people to Christ and to disciple them. In John’s words we needed to do what Jesus told the people when He raised Lazarus back to life again, “loose him and let him go.” Ministry, through prayer and counselling, was one of their strong points as well as counseling and disciple-making through activities such as small group Bible Studies and one-on-one sharing of the Gospel.

PAST MINISTRY:

For almost 2.5 decades, John and Jean Tibbles have served the Lord through SCA International (known as Shantymen’s Christian Association when they joined). They have served Him well. They have served Him in a very difficult ministry – ministering primarily to individuals, couples, and families in British Columbia whose lives have either been shattered by a personal loss or ruined by an unwise decision or just dealt a heavy load by life itself and its circumstances. John and Jean have worked, and continued to work with them, showing them there is hope and a future when they turn their lives over to Jesus Christ. The need for that type of work continues to grow in our world today and John and Jean were committed to continue doing their part.

On January 1, 2013, John and Jean became “Volunteer Missionaries”. This means they continued their current ministry work as much as possible (depending on health and energy). The Tibbles no longer received a regular missionary salary. However, SCA continued receipting donations for John and Jean’s ministry to cover directly related approved ministry expenses. We believe in what they were doing and wanted to support it in this way.

From John & Jean: Ministering as field missionaries with SCA International has been a wonderful blessing to us. We have seen the LORD work in many people’s lives, bringing them to know Him, grow in their faith, and receive His healing. Your prayers and support have made this possible, and how thankful we are to you!

There are still people in our area who have not met Jesus as Saviour. We also see a great need for ongoing discipling. We long to be able to do everything our health permits to continue reaching these people.

John and Jean has fully retired and Jean is now home with our Lord and Saviour Jesus.