“You and God” has published two previous installments about missionary Kelvin Krueger, missionary to South Africa under the auspices of Baptist World Mission, who recently was called home to be with His Lord and Savior. The last post was a eulogy about Kelvin and this post is Kelvin’s testimony in his own words. “He being dead yet speaketh:”
“Good evening, my name is Kelvin Krueger. I was born into a Christian home where my parents love the Lord. When I was young, I was interested in being a cowboy. At the age of four, I received Christ as my Lord and Savior. As soon as I received Christ, He gave me a burden in my heart for the mission field, so I changed my direction from being a cowboy to being a cowboy missionary. At the age of six I was diagnosed with brain cancer. I was operated on, and the doctors had to take out a good portion of my learning cells. After my surgery I was flown to Boston where a team of doctors were going to perform radiation therapy. My parents had to sign a release form saying that if I came through the therapy, which was doubtful, I would have the mental capacity of a six-year-old. The release was signed but fervent prayer made the difference. The Lord brought me through the surgery. The doctors said there was going to be some side effects of the radiation therapy which included: puberty, at an early age as you can see, I am shorter than my dad, but at least I am taller than my mom; scoliosis, it is hard to walk straight, and memory loss, where am I? It has been a long road to where I am today but thank the Lord for the paths He has led me by. I graduated from Marquette Manor Baptist Academy and went to Bob Jones University for part of my schooling. I received a Certificate of Children’s Ministry from Northland Baptist Bible College. At graduation Dr. Les Ollila presented me with the JOB award for accomplishments regardless of difficulty. I have been on mission trips to Mexico, Australia and Saint Kitts.
The Lord then gave me opportunity to go to New Zealand for a few months. When I returned home, I worked under the maintenance director, who was a also the children’s pastor at Marquette Manor Baptist Church. Through him I got involved with ventriloquism, and gospel magic, and also in my duration there, I was able to lead ten first graders to the Lord. Through the Lord I will be all He wants me to be. Isaiah 6:8 says, “Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, whom shall I send and who will go for us? Then said I, here am I; send me.” I believe the Lord has called me in the service of children’s ministry in South Africa. Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths.”
I was at Maranatha Baptist Bible College in Watertown, Wisconsin, for the Baptist World Mission annual conference meeting from October 22 through 25 of 2007. While at the conference I was interviewed two times about where I stood doctrinally, and I was questioned on key issues. I went into the interviews knowing the Lord was on my side. The last interview I had was in a room where all the board members were sitting down. I was asked to sit in a chair and give my testimony. I was asked why I felt called to the mission field, and why I wanted to join Baptist World Mission. I thank the Lord for His help and His guidance in leading me to Baptist World Mission and allowing me to join. I know that if we reach children with the gospel, that will give us an open door into the homes, and that will give us an opportunity to tell the parents the good news of the gospel.
There was a very brilliant Bible teacher, Robert Dick Wilson, born in 1856 and he died in 1930. By the time he was 25 years old he could read the New Testament in nine languages. (I have trouble reading it in English). He could repeat from memory a Hebrew translation of the entire New Testament as well as a large portion of the Old Testament. One day while teaching his students he said, “Young men, there are many mysteries in this life I do not pretend to understand, many things hard to explain. But I can tell you this morning with the fullest assurance that Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so.”
“For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty…that no flesh should glory in His presence.” (I Cor. 1:26-29)
YOU and GOD 