Fast Facts
Birthdays Bruce (8/26), Anita (10/11)
Anniversary (1/19)
Family Two grown children: Samuel and Amy
Education Bruce: B.A., 1963, Seattle Pacific College, Seattle, Washington; M.Div., 1969, Grace Theological Seminary, Winona Lake, Indiana; master of church music degree, 1983, Western Seminary, Portland, Oregon. Anita: R.N., 1963, Gothenburg Nursing School, Sweden; diploma, 1965, Institute for Higher Education for Nurses, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Appointed 1983–1993, reappointed 1997
Home Church Eastridge Baptist Church, Kent, Washington
» Prayer Letters
Ministry-at-a-Glance Primary Ministry Focus Church development: administration, evangelism, leadership training, education. Helping grieving children.
The People Church members from 10 different tribal groups, many of them subsistence farmers, but others are small businessmen and some trained professionals.
Major Challenges The volcanic eruption in Goma in January 2002 created
enormous challenges for the Baptist church community in Congo. The material losses for the church were staggering, amounting to nearly 2 million dollars. The Padens continue to be involved in long-term reconstruction efforts. The Padens are also seeking to help the "internally displaced people" from the Baptist church community who have had to flee their homes because of attackes on their villages.
Prayer Focus Pray for an end to the war and the hostilities in Congo. Pray for unity in the church. Pray for vision for church leaders and that they will be willing to make needed changes in the structure and organization of the church at the national level. Pray for the many orphans and widows and the dream Anita has to set up a center for grieving children in Goma, Congo.
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