FAMILY HISTORY
Our Family
Since 1982, we have established our home and raised our 4 beautiful children in the Peruvian Amazon based on loving God and loving people. Our family motto from the time our children were very young was: Create a place for everyone in ministry.
From the time our first two daughters were very young, we would put evangelist tracts in their hands to get them involved in ministry. Ron would always say, “Our children have opened many doors of ministry for us…” As people were drawn to the little blonde kids, they would have a chance to talk to them about Jesus.
We began our ministry in Pucallpa, Peru working at a Discipleship Technical School teaching Wood Shop, Technical drawing, English and doing bookkeeping for the ministry in San Jose, Yarinachocha with John and Janette Hocking. Both Anna and Shelly were born while working there.
After a survey trip up the Napo River with two other missionaries, Ron’s passion was to move to Iquitos and travel the northern rivers of the Amazon basin and reach those unreached villages with the love of God. In 1988, after attending Victory World Mission Training Center, in Tulsa, OK, we renewed our vision to raise up indigenous leaders in the Amazon and returned to Iquitos, Peru. We purchased a wooden boat and began to work with a local pastor training young people in the mission school for the next 5 years.
In 1993, our third daughter, Natalie, was born and we founded Ciudad de Dios Church (City of God Church) in our front yard by winning our neighbors to Christ. Since then the church has grown and expanded to reaching 120 villages and planting over 55 churches in the Amazon Basin of Peru. Each of our children from early on have translated for teams, lead praise and worship, participated in evangelism through drama and outreaches and seen the power of God transform lives.
In September 2011, we accepted the directorship from New Life Children’s Home (NLCH) founders Jim and Georgia Lamont, Annette’s parents. Ron and Annette are fully engaged in the lives of these boys and girls. They find it a thrill to watch their children grow in stature, mature in faith and excel in their studies. Join them in this important ministry to empower the next generation.
Anna and Willie
Anna, our oldest daughter, served in Go Ministries, a traveling youth drama/music ministry for two years out of Minneapolis, MN; served One World Mission as a missions intern for four years; attended New Life Worship School in Colorado Springs, CO before marrying Willie Malpartida in Iquitos, Peru in January 2012. They currently serve as senior pastors of Kairos Church and Christian School in Iquitos and have three beautiful children.
Shelly and Richie
Shelly, our second daughter, served One World Mission for 4 years; attended Victory World Mission Training Center for 2 years; helped her parents develop AFCM International Training Center courses overseeing translation; finished her business administration degree on line and married Richie Hatch in El Paso, TX in 2017. They founded Total Defense Gym teaching Krav Maga, Israeli self-defense classes.
Natalie
Natalie, our youngest daughter, graduated from Oral Roberts University in Social Work and went on to Oklahoma State to finish her Master’s Degree. She works in Tulsa, OK.
Maicah
Maicah, our youngest and only son, born in 2001, grew up at New Life Children’s Home together with us since he was 10 years old. He helped in many ways including teaching and participating in dance, piano and guitar classes, English classes, leading praise and worship and translating for the many teams and outreaches. He is currently studying Music Production and Entrepreneurship in Tulsa, OK.
Future Adventures
We have enjoyed many seasons of different types of ministry through our 41 years of marriage and ministry. We sense a new season upon us to be able to travel and minister on a larger platform. Now that all of our children are on their own, we are more flexible to come and go as the Lord opens new doors of opportunity.
If you are interested in having us come and minister in your church, school or ministry, please don’t hesitate to ask.
- Ron and Annette Thiesen