To Know us is to Pray for Us!

GETTING TO KNOW 

MARC & JUDIE BLACKWELL

Marc has ministered internationally as an Independent Bible-believing Baptist Pastor, Evangelist, Bible Conference Teacher, Church Planting Missionary and Educator. Marc and his wife, Judie, have focused their ministries on personal evangelism, discipleship, Biblical Counseling, Leadership Training. Through the Church Ministries Institute (CMI) Marc has served on both graduate and post-graduate level and C.M.I.’s graduates who serve in America, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, South Africa and Zimbabwe. Judie has specialized in vocal music, and music ministries in local churches. She actively mentors Pastor’s wives and offers one-on-one discipleship with moms and their daughters. Marc & Judie primarily minister in the Afrikaans language (a Dutch dialect) and have a multi-lingual and international ministry.

Educational Background: Between 1963 and 1966, Marc prepared for Christian ministry through the Baptist Bible College, Springfield, MO and the Midwestern Baptist Seminary, Pontiac, MI. Judie studied at Baptist Bible College, Springfield ~ Music, and studied Business through a Business College in Peoria, IL. Marc served in two Pastoral Internships in Illinois, each for a duration of one year. Marc was ordained on the 7^th of July 1968.  Marc completed the Faith Baptist Counselling Ministry courses; earned the B. Th. - 1982; an Honours Degree (Ch. History) - 1986; the Masters of Theology degree – 1994; and most recently a Doctor of Theology (Ch. History) – 1, October 2003, from the University of South Africa, Pretoria. 

CHRISTIAN MINISTRY HISTORY: Marc & Judie are members of Faith Baptist Church, Lafayette, IN. Individuals and Churches support their ministries through prayer and finances. Our ministry is chronicled via the quarterly email - The Church Planter’s Journal. “Navigating Some Interesting Life-Seas” http://marcjudie.blogspot.com + http://forwardly.blogspot.com/ & E-mail: <drmsbsr@icloud.com>

As Independent Baptist Church Planters, they were used of the Lord to establish their first congregation in Sarasota, Florida, the Faith Baptist Church, from 1968 through 1973. Then, ministering as missionaries with the Independent Faith Mission, Greensboro, NC, 1974-1979 they planted the Baptist Bible Church in Salisbury (Harare), Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) assisting in establishing other congregations and their first Bible Institute. In 1980 the Blackwells moved to Durban, South Africa. Between 1980 and 1988 they served in a team with ABWE, IFM and others planting three congregations. Marc also encouraged church-based Bible Institutes in Durban and Johannesburg and Cape Town.

The Blackwell family relocated to the Northern Suburbs of Cape Town in 1988 where the Afrikaans speaking Tygerberg Baptiste Gemeente (Church) was planted as a team effort with Bryant and Sharan Crane. The Tygerberg Church is now autonomous, indigenous and is pastored by Chris Wilhelm (B.Th. Hon. B.Th, Masters) a graduate of the Afrikaans Branch of our (CMI /OBK) Bible Institute. Marc and Judie currently serve a number of church planting projects. Marc ministers along with seven other pastors in the Herald of Hope Bible Conference ministry in South Africa (the HoH ministry is an Australian based ‘End-times Conference Ministry’) Marc’s Ministry Resource Forum is a ministry encouraging church planters in Southern Africa and beyond.  https://www.facebook.com/MinistryResourceForumCapeTown/?ref=bookmarks >

ADDITIONAL MINISTRIES: Marc & Judie were involved in the Cape Association of Baptists Team from 1989 through 2014. From 1999 through 2016 Marc has taught both undergraduate and post-graduate studies through the Church Ministries Institute (Onafhanklike Baptiste Kweekskool -OBK) this ministry is licensed and accredited through the University of the Northwest. Marc has taught Pastoral Theology, Biblical Counseling, Church History, the History of Dogma, Systematic Theology and various New and Old Testament Exegetical courses.  Marc is a trustee of the Vision in Action Trust, S.A. a church building / construction ministry and is active in the Paardeberg Mt. Retreat and the South African Church History Society. Marc & Judie offer further leadership training through the Missionary Resource Forum offering personal encouragement to team-based church planting, church-based education and Bible-based counseling. They consider themselves blessed to serve the Lord alongside friends and previous students serving on every continent.

THE BLACKWELL FAMILY: Marc Stanley [b. 12, Nov., 1945 Detroit, MI.], and Judie Dene (Matthews) [b. 23, Nov., Blytheville, AK.]. Marc & Judie were married on the 3^rd of February 1968. 

Our three children (and eight grandchildren) all serve the Lord in South Africa. 

Marc Jr., is a graduate of the Church Ministries Institute and the University of Stellenbosch. Together with his wife Nancy (LaBonte), [Children: Nicole & Matthew] they have planted a congregation in Blue Downs ( a Cape Suburb). They are currently planting the Swartland Baptiste Gemeente (Church) and they are also ministering in a Pastoral Training ministry through Biblical Ministries Worldwide in Southern Africa

Michael, a graduate of the University of Purdue, and studies with Luther Rice Seminary. Together with his wife Heidi (Fielder), [Children: Tyler, Eric, Natalie) they have ministered in Christian camping at High Point Baptist Camp, PA and Paardeberg Mt. Retreat, South Africa. They were involved in church planting in Malmesbury, in 2002-03. Currently they are planting the Paarl Valley Baptiste Gemeente.  The Couple and their children relocated to to Pennsylvania and Michael is a District Manager for a Christian Education related business and he continues preaching in area churches.

Michelle, graduated with the B.A. & Honours in Missions and Bible through the Cape Church Ministries Institute / University of the Northwest, Potchefstroom. She served on the Cape Team in child and youth evangelism, discipleship, taught in Christian schools in the Cape, Pennsylvania and Johannesburg, South Africa and in supportive ministries in church planting. She is married to Deon Janse van Rensburg and they have three children, [Ruan, Jesse and Julia]. 

Deon has both the B.Th. and The Honours Bachelor of Theology through the Church Ministries Institute and served as a Pastoral Intern in Paarl and Malmesbury. Their family now serves in Church Planting, Camping in the Western Cape Province through Biblical Ministries Worldwide. They are also completing their Deputation Visits to potential supporting churches. .Deon serves as Programme Director of Paardeberg Mt Retreat, then served as as Interim Pastor for Grace Baptist during their pastor’s illness.Covid-19 has interrupted his Church Planting ministry but they are praying about their next steps.

Other living Relatives,  Marc’s sister, Pat, lives in Young Harris, GA., Her son Bret resides in Alaska with his wife, Michele,they have three children and one grandchild. Many cousins continue to bless our lives with their love for the Lord.

Marc and Judie Blackwell ...

 are committed to advancing local church-planting evangelism and discipleship together with local Church-based Leadership Training. Their involvement in the Ministry Resource Forum and with missionaries in South Africa, Spain, Ireland keeps them more than busy and truly appreciative of your prayers for them .