The Alexander Clan
Shawn's Testimony
My parents were Godly people who lived their Christianity faithfully and consistently. I never doubted their love for Christ nor their devotion to raising their children to know Him. Grateful to not have had the opportunity to taste the pleasures of worldliness I still had a sinful heart. I was sheltered from the world even though the world had crept into my heart as a teenager. Hiding behind the mask of a good family made my sincerity more believable by those around me. The awareness of inward rebellion to the Christian life my siblings and parents lived became the impetus for seeing me for who I really was. It wasn't until my senior year of high school that the Holy Spirit began breaking down the shell of resistance. It was then that I began to see my conformity to the Christian life as insufficient before God. Just four months prior to graduating from a private Christian high school I gave my life to Christ, repenting of all the sins I had committed against Him. He saved me that day on February 17th of 1979 and gave me a new life without the mask of pretending. I am thankful for God’s grace in saving me and His persistent loving call in bringing me to himself.
Donna's Testimony
From an early age I was blessed to regularly hear the truth of the Gospel at home and in church. A strong foundation of Biblical knowledge was built in my mind and God used His powerful Word to bring conviction of my own personal need of a Savior during a 5 day Bible Club that was held in our garage one summer. All week long I invited friends to participate because I was burdened for their salvation; however, the night before the final day of the club, I remember realizing that I had never trusted Christ to forgive MY sins. All alone in my bed, I received God’s gift of salvation and eternal life. Because I did not publicly confess that decision, I struggled with doubts for many years and allowed pride to rob me of assurance and joy. God graciously enabled me to resolve those doubts as a college student at a weekend camp retreat. Though undeserving, I am so grateful for God’s unconditional love in adopting me into His family.
How we met!
After graduating from college I went to work on staff at the Wilds Christian Camp in Brevard,NC. During a summer of counseling campers I noticed Donna as she worked with her campers and interacted with other counselors. I wanted to meet her so I calculated the time I knew it would take for her gather her laundry and bring it to the top of the stairs. It was there that I asked if she needed help carrying her laundry bag to the machines. What a romantic beginning it was! Our first conversation while washing dirty camp clothes. Our first conversation though was about missions ironically. I soon discovered that she had surrendered to missions that very summer during a message by Ron Comfort. Now I was really interested! For the next 4 months I purposed to know more about her. we found that we shared the same passion for the lost and the desire to serve God full-time somewhere in the world. God had put us together and we decided that we were going to serve him with our lives. In June of 1985 we married and headed off to First baptist Church of Troy, MI for a year before beginning deputation for Brazil in 1987. In April of 1988 we arrived in Brazil and assisted missionary Bob Jones while studying the Portuguese language.
Shawn Jr. And Susanna
Our oldest son Shawn and his wife, Susanna (far right) met for the first time interestingly. at the Wilds before attending college. Both had the desire to serve full-time in some type of church related ministry. After their marriage in 2010 they began preparing for their ministry of traveling for the Wilds Christian Camp as representatives. After two years of meeting with Christian schools, youth groups and churches they have settled down to the "regular routine" of the Wilds fast-pace life. As parents we couldn't be more thankful for their desire to serve the Lord ministering to every age group through camping. In January of 2015 Shawn and Susanna will make us grandparents!
Micah and Jessica
Micah and Jessica (far left) met in 2009 at the (again another son meeting his wife at camp) Anchorage Christian Camp in Waccamaw, NC. Over the next four years they grew in the Lord and continued meeting during the summers to counsel campers. Over time it became apparent that God was directing them toward serving in church work. Presently they are working jobs but have a strong church-related ministry in Hamptonville, NC at Swan Creek Baptist Church. They both have invested themselves in the church they presently attend and we are thrilled at how God is using them. Soon they will be free of college bills and pursuing where the Lord would lead them to serve full-time.
Jordan
When Jordan (middle) was in his last year of home school in Brazil he asked if he could help in the inauguration of a new church plant in our city along side a Brazilian pastor. So for the year following that request he faithfully engaged in ministry work with youth and children at Igreja Batista da Fe (Faith Baptist Church) in Sorocaba. Thrilled that as a senior in high school his heart was already showing a desire for church planting he soon headed off to begin his Bible training. In the summer of 2011 he returned to Brazil to continue his ministry with Faith Baptist. This semester (2014) he will complete his undergraduate degree in Bible and soon begin classes in graduate studies. His desire is to return to Brazil someday as a church planter. Oh, I should mention that he is highly interested in the young lady that he is presently dating, Kimberly Knudsen.
Andrew and Anna Shae
God gave us with two more children later in life and they truly have been a blessing to Donna and me. Andrew (10) came 13 years after Jordan. So going back to diapers and bottles was interesting. Anna Shae (8) is our adopted daughter from China. She has brought great joy to all of us especially her brother Andrew. We call them Team B. They help in every way possible in the ministry - going on visits, cleaning the church and helping us remember that we are still young enough to ride bikes, play soccer and hike. Both have accepted Christ as their Savior and show progressive signs of spiritual growth.
My parents were Godly people who lived their Christianity faithfully and consistently. I never doubted their love for Christ nor their devotion to raising their children to know Him. Grateful to not have had the opportunity to taste the pleasures of worldliness I still had a sinful heart. I was sheltered from the world even though the world had crept into my heart as a teenager. Hiding behind the mask of a good family made my sincerity more believable by those around me. The awareness of inward rebellion to the Christian life my siblings and parents lived became the impetus for seeing me for who I really was. It wasn't until my senior year of high school that the Holy Spirit began breaking down the shell of resistance. It was then that I began to see my conformity to the Christian life as insufficient before God. Just four months prior to graduating from a private Christian high school I gave my life to Christ, repenting of all the sins I had committed against Him. He saved me that day on February 17th of 1979 and gave me a new life without the mask of pretending. I am thankful for God’s grace in saving me and His persistent loving call in bringing me to himself.
Donna's Testimony
From an early age I was blessed to regularly hear the truth of the Gospel at home and in church. A strong foundation of Biblical knowledge was built in my mind and God used His powerful Word to bring conviction of my own personal need of a Savior during a 5 day Bible Club that was held in our garage one summer. All week long I invited friends to participate because I was burdened for their salvation; however, the night before the final day of the club, I remember realizing that I had never trusted Christ to forgive MY sins. All alone in my bed, I received God’s gift of salvation and eternal life. Because I did not publicly confess that decision, I struggled with doubts for many years and allowed pride to rob me of assurance and joy. God graciously enabled me to resolve those doubts as a college student at a weekend camp retreat. Though undeserving, I am so grateful for God’s unconditional love in adopting me into His family.
How we met!
After graduating from college I went to work on staff at the Wilds Christian Camp in Brevard,NC. During a summer of counseling campers I noticed Donna as she worked with her campers and interacted with other counselors. I wanted to meet her so I calculated the time I knew it would take for her gather her laundry and bring it to the top of the stairs. It was there that I asked if she needed help carrying her laundry bag to the machines. What a romantic beginning it was! Our first conversation while washing dirty camp clothes. Our first conversation though was about missions ironically. I soon discovered that she had surrendered to missions that very summer during a message by Ron Comfort. Now I was really interested! For the next 4 months I purposed to know more about her. we found that we shared the same passion for the lost and the desire to serve God full-time somewhere in the world. God had put us together and we decided that we were going to serve him with our lives. In June of 1985 we married and headed off to First baptist Church of Troy, MI for a year before beginning deputation for Brazil in 1987. In April of 1988 we arrived in Brazil and assisted missionary Bob Jones while studying the Portuguese language.
Shawn Jr. And Susanna
Our oldest son Shawn and his wife, Susanna (far right) met for the first time interestingly. at the Wilds before attending college. Both had the desire to serve full-time in some type of church related ministry. After their marriage in 2010 they began preparing for their ministry of traveling for the Wilds Christian Camp as representatives. After two years of meeting with Christian schools, youth groups and churches they have settled down to the "regular routine" of the Wilds fast-pace life. As parents we couldn't be more thankful for their desire to serve the Lord ministering to every age group through camping. In January of 2015 Shawn and Susanna will make us grandparents!
Micah and Jessica
Micah and Jessica (far left) met in 2009 at the (again another son meeting his wife at camp) Anchorage Christian Camp in Waccamaw, NC. Over the next four years they grew in the Lord and continued meeting during the summers to counsel campers. Over time it became apparent that God was directing them toward serving in church work. Presently they are working jobs but have a strong church-related ministry in Hamptonville, NC at Swan Creek Baptist Church. They both have invested themselves in the church they presently attend and we are thrilled at how God is using them. Soon they will be free of college bills and pursuing where the Lord would lead them to serve full-time.
Jordan
When Jordan (middle) was in his last year of home school in Brazil he asked if he could help in the inauguration of a new church plant in our city along side a Brazilian pastor. So for the year following that request he faithfully engaged in ministry work with youth and children at Igreja Batista da Fe (Faith Baptist Church) in Sorocaba. Thrilled that as a senior in high school his heart was already showing a desire for church planting he soon headed off to begin his Bible training. In the summer of 2011 he returned to Brazil to continue his ministry with Faith Baptist. This semester (2014) he will complete his undergraduate degree in Bible and soon begin classes in graduate studies. His desire is to return to Brazil someday as a church planter. Oh, I should mention that he is highly interested in the young lady that he is presently dating, Kimberly Knudsen.
Andrew and Anna Shae
God gave us with two more children later in life and they truly have been a blessing to Donna and me. Andrew (10) came 13 years after Jordan. So going back to diapers and bottles was interesting. Anna Shae (8) is our adopted daughter from China. She has brought great joy to all of us especially her brother Andrew. We call them Team B. They help in every way possible in the ministry - going on visits, cleaning the church and helping us remember that we are still young enough to ride bikes, play soccer and hike. Both have accepted Christ as their Savior and show progressive signs of spiritual growth.