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Matthew 19:21 Jesus said unto him, if thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
God has allowed me to spend the last 25 years of my life building a career in the automotive industry as a consultant for both Acura and Lexus Automobiles on the dealership fixed operation level. I have worked my way up from a parts delivery driver to the management levels of directing an entire facility. I have enjoyed my time in the corporate world and climbing the ladder of success, that is until God spoke in my ears and opened my eyes to the eternal need of the people of the Western Province of Papua New Guinea. We will now embark on a journey of faith as we desire to follow the next step in our lives as we follow God’s will.
Below is a small synopsis of that call enjoy reading…
Doug and Amy Burton
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Since before we got married, Amy and I have believed that God would allow us to serve Him as missionaries. We started to prepare ourselves by attending Bible Institute classes and serving in the church. However, our real learning came as God moved us to San Diego to sit under and learn from Pastor Doug Fisher.
We arrived in San Diego, California in March 1999 and immediately our family went to work. We started going out on the church soul winning bus every week, and Amy got involved in the Ladies Soul Winning daytime ministry.
Shortly after joining Lighthouse Baptist Church, Amy and I became teachers in the Beginner Department teaching 5 year olds. Abigail and Drew became junior leaders in the Children’s Department and when Elizabeth was old enough to help, she joined in also. We continue to be active leaders and teachers at our church.
After a couple of years in the Children’s Department, Amy and I began working with the teens. We then moved up to the Young Adults Ministry. We started with the Singles director a Singles Sunday School class that the Lord allowed me to teach. How exciting it was to pray over this class and watch it grow to nearly 30 people in weekly attendance!
Regarding the physical property of Lighthouse Baptist Church, I have, over the course of 12 years, been able to be in charge of the Security Ministry, be a facilities assistant, special events organizer, and in charge of the lock down of the 8 acre facility.
Amy has been blessed by being a high school teacher and school administrator for four years at Lighthouse Christian Academy, and is currently organizing our home school group co-op within the church. She has been a church greeter and special events volunteer, worked in the Single Mothers’ Ministry, and has led our children in holding annual week long Bible Club meetings during the summer in various neighborhoods around San Diego as a part of Lighthouse’s soul winning endeavors.
Soon after coming to Lighthouse we enrolled in Lighthouse Baptist Institute and became alumni three years later graduating together in 2003.
In 2006 the Lord allowed us to take a missions trip to Papua New Guinea. We had saved money to go to Alaska, but felt strongly impressed of the Lord to go and help a missionary family we knew from Lighthouse. So, in November, Amy, our son Drew and I flew over to Papua New Guinea and spent a month with the Jason Russell family.
We enjoyed the time we had to serve the Russell’s as they’d been struggling somewhat with a new work they had started. Brother Russell later said that our visit encouraged them greatly by putting the “God can” and the “God will” back into them. We truly had no idea that the Russell’s were dealing with discouragement, we were just being obedient to the Lord’s call.
In August of 2007 while watching a presentation with a friend on Papua New Guinea (PNG), I heard that still small voice say, “I want you to go.” I paused, and like Samuel, I heard it a second time, “ I want you to go and Jason will call in 2 days”. I laughed like Abraham because Jason only came out of the bush every two months and I just spoke to him the week before.
Two days later Jason called and said, “Brother Burton, I have to tell you about a blessing that only you can appreciate, because you have been here.” He told me a very unusual story about something that normally doesn’t happen in Papua New Guinea, but was a needed blessing. As we rejoiced together I said, “Brother Jason, can I ask you a question?” “Sure” he said. I asked, “Are you doing something different in Wipim than you were doing last year when we were there?”
Jason’s answer was, “Yes, brother, I forgot to tell you last week, but would you please pray for me? I believe God would have me to start a Bible School here in Wipim to be a base to train and then teach men and send them out of Wipim to villages throughout the Western Province.” He then said, “Brother , would you please pray, because I can’t do it alone, I’m gonna need some help. Would you pray that God would send forth laborers to help?” I smiled and said to him, “Brother, I think I’m that help”.
God had given me a verse a few years ago that I didn’t understand till then. In Genesis 12:1 God told Abraham, “Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee:” I personally enjoyed reading; Genesis 12:9 “And Abram journeyed, going on still toward the south” or in my case the South Pacific.
We have been preparing for the last couple of years by cutting back on our expenses, and selling what we have, so we can go to Papua New Guinea where He has called us and give ourselves to the poor in spirit who are looking for a Saviour.
At the end of last year I asked Pastor Fisher if he would support us in going out and he replied, “Yes, we will support you”.
We look forward to going where God has called us, serving the people God has called us to, and accomplishing the vision He gave us of planting churches, winning souls, teaching and training native men and women, and establishing Christian radio in the Western Province of Papua New Guinea.