Gary & Joy Sprunger

TESTIMONY
Gary was born in Decatur, Indiana, on March 26, 1948. In 1959 the Holy Spirit dealt with him at a city wide evangelistic campaign while he was singing in the youth choir. Upon arriving home that evening, Gary knelt beside his bed and settled the need of his soul to be saved. That evening he accepted Christ as his Savior. While in high school, Gary surrendered his life for full-time service at a youth conference at Northwest Baptist Church in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Joy was born in Gateswood, Alabama, on June 3, 1948. When she was five years old, the Lord spoke to her heart about her needing Him as her personal Savior from sin. A year later she committed her life to Christ, was baptized and joined the church. During her adolescent years the Lord continued to speak to her heart about her relationship to Him. Finally, the summer after her year away at Bob Jones University, she confessed her sinful condition and trusted the Lord completely, not depending on her good works. She received the assurance of her salvation and has never had another doubt.

EDUCATION
Joy and Gary met each other while attending Bob Jones University. Joy finished her BS degree in Mathematics, while Gary attended Bob Jones University for only three years. After a serious automobile accident, he transferred to Tennessee Temple where he graduated with a BA in Bible. He and his wife, Joy, were married on August 1, 1970, and have five children.

MINISTRY
The Sprungers joined Baptist International Missions, Inc., in 1973. In 1975 they arrived in St. Thomas, USVI, and began their first term of missionary service. Gary was a missionary pilot and served fundamental independent Baptist missionaries throughout the Caribbean. During their first term they assisted Bluewater Bible College and helped Emmanuel Baptist Church in the Tutu area. At the end of their first term, they moved to Puerto Rico for logistic reasons and assisted in the establishing of Maranatha Baptist Church (a military ministry) in Fajardo. Later they helped to establish Iglesia Bautista Fundamental de Luquillo, which now has its own national pastor. After a couple of years, Marantha Baptist Church extended a call to the Sprungers to return and rebuild the ministry that had gone through some major problems. Under the Lord's direction, they returned and began a twelve-year rebuilding of this ministry. The Lord blessed and many souls came to know the Lord, and a Christian school of about 200 students was established. Gary also served as the Vice President of the Association of Christian Schools of Puerto Rico for several years. The Lord began to burden the Sprungers for the Spanish ministries in the Caribbean. Upon resignation of responsibilities at Maranatha Baptist Church, the Sprungers began to focus on the needs of the western side of Puerto Rico. There Gary served as co-pastor of Iglesia Bautista Nueva Vida in Mayaguez. Gary and Joy also started an English speaking church in Aguadilla that met on Sunday afternoons. Upon the return of another BIMI missionary, the Sprungers turned this ministry over to them since they lived in that area. In 2004 Gary became the Caribbean Assistant Director of Baptist International Missions, Inc., assisting Dr. Pat Creed.

PRESENT MINISTRY
In June 2012 the Executive Board of Baptist International Missions, Inc., approved Gary Sprunger to become the Caribbean Director of BIMI. There are approximately 80 BIMI missionaries serving in various parts of the Caribbean in church planting, Christian radio broadcasting, teaching in Bible colleges, soul-winning, and training of nationals.

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