A Church Planting Story from Nicaragua

by David Carney

He has been a missionary for 44 years. The gray hair, the limp in his legs, and the constant battles with health that his wife endures form a triune testimony of lives lived in abandonment for the cause of Christ. I’ve never heard him complain about the cost, but I’ve seen tears moisten his eyes as he talks about the people he so dearly loves. As I sat in his office at BIMI’s World Missions Center in Chattanooga, he opened a drawer and threw a handful of titles on the desk. Officially, his title is Latin American Director of BIMI. However, the title on his stationary is a better explanation of who this man really is: Dr. Bob Dayton: Missionary to Nicaragua.

Responding to God’s call, Bob and Sabina went to Nicaragua in 1961. They worked with Frank and Dot Rosser in the Calvary Baptist Church. The Daytons immediately threw themselves into their calling, giving their hearts and lives to the people of Nicaragua. They chose to live in humble surroundings to identify with the impoverished people to whom they ministered (even going so far as to live in an old chicken-coop in order to win the hearts and souls of their neighbors). In his four decades of ministry in Nicaragua he has survived coups, dictatorships, earthquakes and hurricanes. A massive earthquake struck Managua, the capital, in 1972 and killed 6,000 people. It knocked down all of the existing church buildings, except two. Revolution followed a few years later, ending in a Marxist Sandinista government. During the decade of the 80’s, scores of pastors were interrogated, and seven Bible institute students were killed in the fighting. Only eternity will reveal the price that was paid, but the result can be seen today in the harvest of souls and churches that stand in tribute to faithful service to Jesus Christ.

Today, there are over 150 churches in Nicaragua that are the fruit of tireless years of toil and witness. Those churches are filled with more than 20,000 members, including 2-3,000 youth (1/2 of Nicaragua is under the age of 18). The Nicaragua Bible Institute that was started in 1970 has graduated 380 servants of Jesus Christ to date. Those graduates are responsible for starting 142 churches in Nicaragua, as well as 13 in foreign countries- including seven in the US. There are also 70 mission churches being led by the students. To be officially organized as a Baptist church, there must be 25 baptized members, and enough money to support themselves. These churches host an annual Pastors Conference that attracts 45-50 pastors and their wives. Continued on next page.

For the last 15 years, 30-40 churches sponsor and organize an annual evangelistic crusade that attracts thousands. Brother Dayton raises money to rent a gymnasium and 30 buses to bring the people in. Three or Four months beforehand, hundreds of teenagers prepare for this crusade with all night prayer meetings. Last year, an estimated 400 lost people attended the crusade nightly. There were 402 adults saved, and an additional 200 children made decisions for Jesus Christ. One of those sponsoring churches is the Liberty Baptist Church. Dennis Rios, a Bible Institute graduate, started it 10 years ago. After the Crusade, their church held a special reception dinner and had 40 converts from the Crusade attend. Their auditorium only seats about 200, but they average over 700 in attendance. They utilize homes throughout the neighborhood for their Sunday school classes.

So what does Brother Dayton say today about this ministry? He would be the first to ascribe all of the glory and praise to God. He also acknowledges the faithful efforts of missionaries like the Rossers, Martha Kunberger, and others that have joined in the work through the years. But the secret, according to Bob Dayton, is the nationals. They are the servants of the work. His heart for them is returned with deep respect and love. A missionary told me of a conference where some of the missionaries stayed in hotels while the nationals slept in lowly accommodations. He said he learned a valuable lesson about missions as he watched Brother Dayton choose to stay with his national pastors. This Spirit of Jesus Christ, sacrificing all for the sake of the gospel and others, has rubbed off on the Nicaraguan believers who are reaching their own and the world with the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Would you like to be a part of what God is doing across Nicaragua? Through the years, thousands of dollars have been given to build churches. Teams of volunteers from the US have helped in the construction of five church buildings in the last ten years alone. Many more are needed. If God moves upon your heart to help, contact Bob Dayton, BIMI Latin American Director…and Missionary to Nicaragua!