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Dick and Linda Gerbrandt served as a young pastoral couple to churches in San Jose, Calif. and Sawyer, N.D., then they served with MBMS International as missionaries to the Comanches at Post Oak Mission, Indiahoma, Okla.
In 1945, they arrived at Post Oak Mission with three young children to begin what would become 10 years of missionary work. According to Linda, one of their most significant experiences was adding to their family of five children by unofficially adopting six Comanche children who had been abandoned.
"It was with great joy," Dick said a month ago, "when in 1995 we were able to return to Post Oak with three of our children for the 100th anniversary celebration of the Post Oak MB Church. A highlight was a reunion supper with our Comanche children and their families, many of whom still live in the area."
In 1955, MBMS International asked the Gerbrandts to take a new assignment in Nuevo Ideal, Mexico. They spent two years teaching in a school and helping the church ministry.
From 1958-1976, they established three MB churches around Oklahoma City. In July 1976, they accepted another assignment with MBMS International in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, where Dick was the director of Lincoln School for English-speaking students from kindergarten to grade 12. In 1979, they returned to Oklahoma to serve as pastoral couple for visitation in Enid MB Church.
In 1983, they moved to Fresno, Calif. to be nearer their children. They continued to serve the Lord through outreach to neighbours and strangers and through prayer ministry for individuals, the church, MBMS International and Conference schools.
"Dick was a true missionary at heart," stated Harold Ens, General Director of MBMS International. "Sharing the gospel of Christ was a life-long commitment that called them to look beyond cultural and social barriers, to accept all people as God's children."
The Gerbrandts were to celebrate their 65th wedding anniversary April 29, 1999. To mark the occasion, 41 of their 42 children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren attended a family gathering in June.
"Alvin and Vera [Voth] were dedicated servants of God and true pioneer missionaries," said Ens. "Alvin was willing to take on many roles that were required within church and community, whether in Colombia or North America."
Voth studied at Winkler (Man.) Bible School for three years. After a term of service with Mennonite Central Committee in the US and Europe, he studied nursing.
Alvin and Vera were married in 1958. Then in 1960, they were sent as missionaries to Colombia's Choco region, where they carried forward existing church programs and established new ones. According to Alvin's family, the work in the Choco region was often challenging, but the couple held firmly to the promise in Isaiah 55:11.
Following their assignment in the Choco region and again 1974-1985, they served in the cities of Cali and Medellin, where Voth filled numerous roles including Bible teacher, church planter, administrator, counsellor and handyman.
In 1985, they faced the decision whether to begin a new ministry in the Choco region or to return to Canada. After much prayer, they decided that God was leading them back to Canada.
Voth had worked as a nurse while living in Canada 1971-74. Upon settling in the Niagara (Ont.) Peninsula in 1985, he studied nursing for one year and was recertified, later becoming nursing supervisor in several senior citizens' facilities.
Although formally retired from their careers as missionaries, the Voths continued ministering through Bible studies and giving assistance to Spanish-speaking immigrants.
According to Alvin's sister Herta Voth, Alvin was named after Alvin Miller, an MCC administrator who supervised relief efforts during the Russian Revolution and ensuing famine. She wrote, "Our parents' hope that their son would become God's servant to bring hope and help to others was amply fulfilled in their son's lifetime."
Brad Thiessen, MBMS International
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