How it all started...
David and Dee Dee met in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma during the fall of 1994. She had come to Bible College after graduating from Nursing school to pursue a second degree in Missions. David was helping out on staff after graduating from Bible College earlier that spring . They quickly realized they had a lot in common due to job experiences in the medical field. Their first date was in January of 1995. David proposed in June of 1995 and they were married January 6, 1996 during one of the worst blizzards in West Virginia history.
After completing deputation their family of three left for the mission field of Siberia, Russia. They arrived in Krasnoyarsk on November 2, 1999. They would spend the next twenty-three years learning the Russian language and helping to start six different works in Krasnoyarsk and surrounding areas. They had to return to the United States in March of 2022 due to US sanctions placed on Russia as a result of the war against Ukraine. David and Dee Dee have three children - Rebekah (26), Ryan (22), and Timothy (20).
David was raised in Washington state by his Christian parents. He was at church with his parents from the first week of his birth. As a young child he prayed a salvation prayer with many other students as that was the proper thing to do. One of four very active boys he enjoyed spending time in the woods with his brothers and playing sports all through his school days. Growing up in an aerospace engineer's home with a love of flying, he intended to attend the United States Air Force Academy. During his junior year of high school, on the advice of his father, he ceased pursuing an appointment to the Academy due to political changes in the Air Force. After graduating from high school, he attended Oklahoma Baptist College on an academic scholarship. During his time at Oklahoma Baptist College David accepted Christ as his personal Savior. During college he worked in the bus ministry, preached weekly in a nursing home, and worked in Junior Church. Following two semesters of Russian language classes he was privileged to travel in the former Soviet Union which had just recently opened. Being able to distribute Bibles and Gospel literature to people for the first time in their lives was a tremendous experience. As he traveled through Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia he had a burden for these areas but did not yet feel called to Russia. The following year after much prayer and study he would know the Lord's calling to the Siberian region of Russia. After completing his studies he graduated with a degree in Religious Education with an International Emphasis. Over the next six months, David would travel with and work for an evangelist and substitute teach classes at Oklahoma Baptist College as needed. It was during this time that he met a beautiful young nurse from West Virginia who would later agree to be his wife.
Dee Dee was born in Charleston, West Virginia. She was raised by her mother who was left a widow eight days before she was due to be born. While returning from dropping Dee Dee's only sibling, a sister, off at majorette practice, their father was killed by a drunk driver. Dee Dee grew up in an abusive home as a result of her mother not knowing how to cope with the sudden loss of her father. At the age of fourteen, Dee Dee had to be removed from the home and was able to be taken in by her sister's family. Thankfully they had been saved through the ministry of Landmark Baptist Church in St. Albans, WV. They took Dee Dee to church regularly. She accepted Christ and was baptized a few years later at the age of sixteen. Her Pastor, Larry Conway, and his wife, Judy, became very influential in her life. Dee Dee knew she wanted to serve the Lord with her life after all He had done for her. She attended Nursing school the following fall after high school graduation. The summer after her Sophomore year of college, the Lord began to work in her heart about becoming a missionary. Following graduation from Nursing school. her Pastor encouraged her to further her education at another Bible college where she could take classes more focused on Missions. She then attended Bible College in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and was able to graduate with a degree in Missions. It was during her time there that she met the love of her life, David Sterling.
After completing deputation their family of three left for the mission field of Siberia, Russia. They arrived in Krasnoyarsk on November 2, 1999. They would spend the next twenty-three years learning the Russian language and helping to start six different works in Krasnoyarsk and surrounding areas. They had to return to the United States in March of 2022 due to US sanctions placed on Russia as a result of the war against Ukraine. David and Dee Dee have three children - Rebekah (26), Ryan (22), and Timothy (20).
David was raised in Washington state by his Christian parents. He was at church with his parents from the first week of his birth. As a young child he prayed a salvation prayer with many other students as that was the proper thing to do. One of four very active boys he enjoyed spending time in the woods with his brothers and playing sports all through his school days. Growing up in an aerospace engineer's home with a love of flying, he intended to attend the United States Air Force Academy. During his junior year of high school, on the advice of his father, he ceased pursuing an appointment to the Academy due to political changes in the Air Force. After graduating from high school, he attended Oklahoma Baptist College on an academic scholarship. During his time at Oklahoma Baptist College David accepted Christ as his personal Savior. During college he worked in the bus ministry, preached weekly in a nursing home, and worked in Junior Church. Following two semesters of Russian language classes he was privileged to travel in the former Soviet Union which had just recently opened. Being able to distribute Bibles and Gospel literature to people for the first time in their lives was a tremendous experience. As he traveled through Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia he had a burden for these areas but did not yet feel called to Russia. The following year after much prayer and study he would know the Lord's calling to the Siberian region of Russia. After completing his studies he graduated with a degree in Religious Education with an International Emphasis. Over the next six months, David would travel with and work for an evangelist and substitute teach classes at Oklahoma Baptist College as needed. It was during this time that he met a beautiful young nurse from West Virginia who would later agree to be his wife.
Dee Dee was born in Charleston, West Virginia. She was raised by her mother who was left a widow eight days before she was due to be born. While returning from dropping Dee Dee's only sibling, a sister, off at majorette practice, their father was killed by a drunk driver. Dee Dee grew up in an abusive home as a result of her mother not knowing how to cope with the sudden loss of her father. At the age of fourteen, Dee Dee had to be removed from the home and was able to be taken in by her sister's family. Thankfully they had been saved through the ministry of Landmark Baptist Church in St. Albans, WV. They took Dee Dee to church regularly. She accepted Christ and was baptized a few years later at the age of sixteen. Her Pastor, Larry Conway, and his wife, Judy, became very influential in her life. Dee Dee knew she wanted to serve the Lord with her life after all He had done for her. She attended Nursing school the following fall after high school graduation. The summer after her Sophomore year of college, the Lord began to work in her heart about becoming a missionary. Following graduation from Nursing school. her Pastor encouraged her to further her education at another Bible college where she could take classes more focused on Missions. She then attended Bible College in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and was able to graduate with a degree in Missions. It was during her time there that she met the love of her life, David Sterling.
Expanding the vision...
Text Coming
Where we are headed...
to be added.
