VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABNS 7/30/13)—Becky and Larry Stanton, two of American Baptist International Ministries (IM) endorsed candidates, reach their next important milestone on August 1, 2013 by being appointed for service as missionaries in Liberia, West Africa. The couple’s home church is Pate Chapel Baptist Church, Murphysboro, IL.

As IM missionaries, the Stantons will work in partnership with the Liberia Baptist Missionary and Educational Convention and will serve at Ricks Institute, an English-speaking K-12 boarding and day school operated by the Convention. Larry will serve as Maintenance Supervisor overseeing the maintenance of the building and grounds of the campus serving 625 students and 135 staff. Becky will serve as an English teacher in the elementary division and will conduct weekly Bible classes on the campus.

“Network building has been a wonderful experience,” commented Becky. “We have visited over 40 churches and have almost 500 people who have joined our Network. We are excited about what the next few months will bring.”

The Stantons have five children, Caleb (20), Patrick (16), Ruth (5), Maggie (3) and Brandy (16 months). The three youngest will be going to Liberia with their parents. Larry, retired in 2005, was a Plant Maintenance Engineer and Fire Safety Officer at Illinois Youth Center, and is currently owner/operator of Able Dry Cleaners. Becky worked the past 12 years as a high school Language Arts teacher.

“We are excited that Larry and Becky have been endorsed by IM for missionary service to Liberia,” commented Dwight Stinnett, executive minister, American Baptist Churches of the Great Rivers Region. “The Stantons will join others who have been ‘raised up’ from our region and are already serving across the world. We rejoice with Pate Chapel Baptist Church and their pastor, John Pitchford, as evidence that God is at work within their rural church of less than 100 people.”

The Stantons were first endorsed by IM to form a Mission Partnership Team less than one year ago. Assisted by their Team and IM staff, the couple then began building a Partnership Network to secure commitments of prayer and financial support from individuals and churches. Having built a network sufficient for an initial level of support, Becky and Larry move from endorsement to missionary appointment on August 1, 2013.

Individuals and churches may learn more about the Stantons and their ministry in Liberia, their journals and opportunities to participate in their ministry as part of their Network on the IM website: www.internationalministries.org. Click on PEOPLE, then click on Stanton. Email the Stantons directly at stanton@internationalministries.org. Follow the Stantons on Facebook at www.facebook.com/hopingliberia and on their web site: www.hopingliberia.org.

For more information, contact Catherine Nold: catherine.nold@abc-usa.org

American Baptist Churches USA is one of the most diverse Christian denominations today, with over 5,200 local congregations comprised of 1.3 million members, across the United States and Puerto Rico, all engaged in God’s mission around the world