As Maranatha Volunteers International continues to follow God’s leading to support the gospel work around the world, the Maranatha team is expanding. Well-known speaker and mission enthusiast Dick Duerksen and his wife Brenda have joined Maranatha full-time to promote the Maranatha experience all over the world. Duerksen began working as assistant to the president in the fall of 2006.

The specific role of the Duerksens will be to reach large groups of people with mission stories and to motivate many people to a greater involvement with God through missions. They will be available for camp meetings, church presentations and seminars.

Duerksen will continue to host Maranatha Mission Stories, and the intent is for that program to become a weekly production. Duerksen is a master storyteller and telling the stories of mission for all age groups will help people better understand what God is doing all over the world.

“The rich background that Dick has in speaking, marketing and leadership is a perfect fit for this position,“ says Don Noble, president of Maranatha Volunteers International. “We are certain that God will bless this new adventure in mission for the Duerksen family and Maranatha.”

Most recently the vice president for mission development at Florida Hospital, Duerksen has always been involved in spiritual work. He has been the host of the Maranatha Mission Stories television show since its first episode. He and Brenda are pleased to join the Maranatha cause full time. “We are really looking forward to being able to focus our entire energy on one thing that we love deeply — the Maranatha ministry.”