Victory Baptist Church in Carterville, Illinois, has figured prominently in nearly every important decision in Tim Zuck’s life. The first time he visited the church, as a young college student, he heard the gospel and accepted Christ. He was later called to preach at the church and met his wife there. Then in 1996, Victory Baptist Church commissioned Tim and Launa to go to the Ivory Coast as BIMI church–planting missionaries.
They eventually went into the interior of the African nation to the city of Gagnoa. People were immediately drawn by curiosity to the foreigners and actually knocked on their gate to get to know them. When they inquired as to why the family had moved to their city, Tim promised to explain it all the next Sunday. That next Sunday morning 41 people met with Tim and his family underneath some mango trees near their house. People were saved that very day, and a new church plant was begun. The work would eventually grow to include land and buildings and a Bible Institute. A practicing Muslim who attended one Easter Sunday trusted Christ and now pastors the growing church!
Even though the church saw tremendous growth, the missionary family had been under duress nearly the whole time. Political instability eventually led to widespread looting, ransacked homes, burning businesses, and dead people in the streets. In November of 2004, the Zucks “felt led to leave for a time when the fighting reached their yard.” They waited in Europe, filling in for a furloughing missionary. Eventually, however, six years after they had arrived, they sensed the Lord definitely leading them to leave the Ivory Coast.
They returned to the States and counseled with their pastor. After spending many days in prayer and fasting, they were convinced that the Lord was leading them to plant a new church near their homeland…in the heartland of America. Marion, Illinois is enjoying rapid growth, partly fueled by the recent development of the USA’s largest Walmart. Pastor Rick Dawson, from Victory Baptist Church, led his congregation to assist the Zucks in the new church plant.
An extensive Gospel literature distribution was conducted with the help of 58 volunteers from Victory Baptist Church. God also moved upon another church to lend a hand. Friends from Greater Cumberland Baptist Church in Hawkinsville, Kentucky, also participated in the distribution. Years ago while on deputation, Tim’s van broke down on the road. He led the transmission repairman to the Lord. The repairman joined Cumberland Baptist Church. He now owns a print shop and insisted on printing all of the literature for Tim’s new church plant! Volunteers from both churches helped Tim hand out 4,500 packages of information. After only three hours, the phone started ringing requesting additional information.
Heartland Baptist Church was birthed on Easter Sunday with 37 people in attendance and 19 signing the charter as founding members. The new congregation has already purchased an eight–acre property and is meeting in a 24x54 structure that they modified into a church. Tim’s daughter started taking piano lessons from a local teacher. When Tim invited her to church, she declined (she attends another church) but donated a baby grand piano for the new church! A local handyman (and new member of the church) built the pulpit.
Tim described the importance of the Reseeding America ministry in a recent letter. “It was a joy to have Dr. and Mrs. Bailes there to guide us in this start–up and we are thankful for his help in preparing us for the literature distribution. He has continued to provide wise counsel, for which we are thankful. It was a great blessing to receive $1,000 dollars from the Reseeding America Fund to help us with the cost of distribution materials. We are still seeing the results of this distribution and we are following up on leads that were produced.”
