Introduction:
Glenda and I were
first approved May 1967 as BBFI missionaries to Ethiopia. Though our
ministry there lasted only 2 1/2 years, God used those early years
to prepare us for a ministry in that country 30 years later. In
1977, a Marxist dictator overthrew the government of Haile Selassie
and brought a revolution that brought great oppression to the
people. At that time, the BBFI missionaries felt that it was best to
leave the country. For next 30 years, we served in Norway, Ohio, and
England. In 1997, God spoke to us about returning to Ethiopia. We
made a survey trip that confirmed that call and made very clear the
great need in that country. For the next 10 years, we assisted
churches, trained pastors, Sunday School teachers, served as the
head of the Bible College, and established a ministry to the
Sudanese refugees. In partnership with Frank Auterson and Rex
Switzer, trips were made to the Dimma Refugee camp, and later to
Gambella where there was a heavy concentration of refugees. Today
there are 18 churches in Sudan and Ethiopia as a result of this
ministry.
In 2006, Gene & Glenda
returned to the States because of health problems, and while they
were there, Glenda developed a very serious heart and lung problem.
She was in intensive care for 10 days on life support. God spared
her life, but because of the high altitude and lack of medical
facilities, she was not able to return to Ethiopia. Gene made four
more trips to Ethiopia working with the refugees and turning the
ministry over to the Switzers.
In 2007, because of
Glenda’s health, we realized that our ministry as full time
missionaries could not be continued. We retired as active BBFI
missionaries in April 2007 and have been assisting our home church
in Princeton, NC since that time. We continue to pray for and
promote the work in Ethiopia and assist the ministries there, as
much as we possibly can.
Family:
One son: Ron Worley is married to Vivian, and
they have two children: Kai and Aila
They live in Bergen, Norway.
One daughter: Katherine is married to Brian Wilson,
and they have six children: Briana, Stephen, John-Scott, Samuel,
Ben, and Ellora. They live in Princeton, NC
Ministry:
1964 - 65 Grace Baptist Church, Princeton, NC Associate
Pastor & Youth Director
1965-67 Organized the Sanford Baptist Temple, Sanford, NC. It is now
the Maranatha Baptist Church.
1967 - 71 BBFI missionaries to Ethiopia.
1971-76 BBFI missionaries to Norway
1976 - 81 Pastor of the Carrollton Baptist Temple, Carrollton, Ohio
1981- 97 BBFI missionaries to England.
1997 - 2007 BBFI missionaries to Ethiopia.
2007 – Retired as active Missionaries
