DeLonn and Valerie Rance

LaDawn, Jorel and Shayla

Mobilizing the Church to the Mandate

and Equipping the Called

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

DeLonn Lynn Rance was born in Cando, North Dakota on October 13, 1960.  He was the first of three sons born to Alver and Lynda Rance.  During DeLonn's early years he attended Bible school at Hub City Bible Institute in Aberdeen, South Dakota (Now called Trinity Bible College) with his parents as they prepared for ministry.  In 1964 his parents started pastoring an Assembly of God Church in Butte, North Dakota.  In 1966 they moved to Grafton, North Dakota to pastor the small Assembly of God work there.  DeLonn was saved in 1965 at the age of 5.  He was baptized in water and in the Spirit in 1968 at the age of 8.  In 1968 missionaries David and Ruth Kensinger, veteran missionaries to Central America held a missionary meeting in DeLonn's fathers church.  During this meeting DeLonn felt a call to become a missionary.  About 6 months later DeLonn's mother asked him how he would feel if the family decided to go to the mission field.  DeLonn responded "Great because I am going to go anyway!"  In 1972 DeLonn's family entered Costa Rica for the first time so that his parents could study the language.  They spent one year in Costa Rica and then three years in Quezaltenango, Guatemala.  Alver and Lynda served as

missionaries in Mexico (1977-1980) and then Belize (1980-1986). Lynda died of Cancer in 1986 at the age of 42. In 1989 DeLonn's father married Linda Moos and they served as missionaries in Belize from 4989-1992. They are now serving as missionaries in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, Central America.

The years spent in Central America were of great influence in DeLonn's spiritual formation and to his missionary calling.  He got to know and relate to some of the great missionary pioneers. i.e. Ralph Williams, Melvin Hodges, David and Ruth Kensinger, Perry Diamond, and John Franklin.  DeLonn and his dad would sit and listen to Uncle John (Franklin) talk for hours about his early years and his philosophy of missions.

In the years 1976 through 1978 DeLonn returned to North Dakota for High School.  This was the same school that his grandfather and father graduated from as well as Morris and Ward Williams (other Assemblies of God missionaries).

Of vital importance to DeLonn in fulfilling his missionary call was the ministerial training he received at Bethany Bible College, Santa Cruz, California (1978 - 1982).  He graduated from Bethany with BS Ministerial with an emphasis in Missions and Biblical languages.

Valerie Ann (Snyder) Rance was born in Escondido, California on October 19, 1956.  She is a third generation pentecostal and minister.  Her grandmother, Lovie Jacobsen (mother's mother) was a Foursquare minister who started rescue missions in the San Diego area.  Her Aunt and Uncle (mother's sister) were Foursquare missionaries to Japan.  Her father, Eugene Snyder became an Assembly of God minister later in life.  He was a Deputy Sheriff for the county of San Diego for 16 years.  After hurting his back, God called him at age 40 into full time ministry.  He served as an assistant pastor for five years at Calvary Temple, San Diego.  Then he became senior pastor at Bethel Assembly of God, Alpine, California.  He died of cancer in 1981 at the age of 51.  Her mother is now living in Saint Joseph, MO.

Valerie Ann:

Valerie has felt a calling to be a missionary for as long as she can remember.  She formally asked Jesus into her heart at the age of five.  God never told her ";Valerie, Go To Africa!" but seemed to guide her life toward the goal of missions.  After high school the doors opened for her to attend a Summer of Service in Youth with a Mission.

Those three monnths were a time of God showing her that she could be a missionary. She could live in a tent, eat only white rice three times a day and do one on one witnessing.

After this experience, God started dealing with her to go to Bethany Bible College, Santa Cruz, California.  She did not want to go to college; she just wanted to marry a missionary.  But after telling God that he had to show her a verse in the Bible that would tell her to go to college before she would go; she opened her Bible to Luke 24:50 which said " When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them."  So Valerie went to Bethany.  She only wanted to stay one semester to find "Mr. Right Missionary" but the one semester turned into five years.  She started with a Psychology major thinking that she could help her husband in the area of Christian counseling.  During her junior year God started dealing with her about her missionary calling.  He was calling her to be a missionary, not just a missionary wife.  She had to be willing to give up a husband and children and go to the field alone.  This was a major turning point in her life because her whole life goal was to be a missionary wife and mother.  She had to give her hopes and dreams of husband and

family to God. It was a struggle but she changed her major to ministerial. She was scared to death of being the only girl in a all male classroom; of preaching in front of a room full of men; of having to anser again and again why she wanted to be a ministerial major. The only answer she could give was "I don't know why, all I know is that God has called me and I have to answer his call." Valerie graduated from Bethany in 1980 with a BS, double majoring in Psychology and Ministerial.

DeLonn and Valerie met at Bethany in 1979.  They were both working on the yearbook and they had a mutual interest: missions.  DeLonn being a "know-it-all" missionary kid wanted to let this "romantic going-to-be" missionary know how hard the mission field really was.  But as hard as he tried he could not dissuade Valerie from her missionary calling. As time went on their mutual commitment to missions lead to a mutual love between them and on July 19, 1980 they were married.

After DeLonn graduated from Bethany in 1982 they received their licenses from the Northern California/Nevada district.  They then moved to Springfield, MO where DeLonn earned his MA in Missiology at the Assembly of God Theological Seminary.  This degree was directly related to future service in missions and was highlighted by missiological formation at the feet of a primer pentecostal missiologist and former missionary to El Salvador, Melvin Hodges.

During their time in Springfield two births occured, their daughter LaDawn Lynn (January 18, 1983) and the Missionary In Training

They applied before the program was fully approved.  They then moved back to San Diego, California hoping to work in a cross-cultural situation.  Several weeks later they received a call from John Bueno.  He told them about an urgent need in El Salvador because the only missionaries on field were going on furlough.  He asked them if they would be willing to go and serve in El Salvador.  Three months later, after committee approval, on May 4,1984; DeLonn, Valerie and LaDawn Rance arrived in El Salvador.

MISSIONARY SERVICE:

1984-1986 - Two-year term under MIT program:

On May 31, 1984 DeLonn (age 23) and Valerie (age 27) were picked up by Hermano Grande, the director of the ICI, Jimmy Swaggert office.  He drove them to the missionary apartment, next to the director of the Bible Institute, Hermano Jeremias Bolaņos house.  He told them that the stores would be closed for the next three days because of the inauguration of President Duarte.  He then took them to a grocery store to buy a few things then drove them home and handed them the keys to the missionary van and said "Goodbye.  The first three months were hard because there was no phone service, no mail (because of a postal strike), and their small amount of worldly goods sat in Miami.  Valerie was very sick because she was expecting their second child.  There were no other Assembly of God missionaries in the country and very few missionaries of any denomination because of the war.  Valerie, who did not speak Spanish, felt the isolation and culture shock more than DeLonn who jumped into the work from day one.

DeLonn served on several committees: he was invited to be a member of the National Executive Committee.  He was also elected to the Bible School Board of Directors.

Teaching is the work that was and still is closest to DeLonn's heart. He taught in Betel Bible Institute eight to ten hours each week.  He had as many as 94 students at one time.  He also served as supervisor to the students.

DeLonn was the field secretary\treasurer and responsible for all the funds coming into the country.  This included monies for the Jimmy Swaggert office, ICI office, Light for the Lost, Bible Schools and Special projects.

DeLonn was named the administrator of the conference bookstore and with the help of Valerie established a bookkeeping system, inventory control, held sales, painted and fixed up the physical plant.

DeLonn served as the assistant coordinator for the 12-outstation churches of the Evangelistic Center.  In this capacity they would visit one or two of these churches every week ministering in word or in song, encouraging the pastors and the people.  He visited the sick, installed and removed pastors, and held several board meetings.  He held workshops to help develop leadership in the newly formed churches.  He had Saturday prayer meetings with all the pastors and co-pastors of these churches.

In the spring of 1986, DeLonn along with Missionary Roger Simmons and Hermano Archilla put together the curriculum for the theology\missiology degree for the Assembly of God Christian University.  DeLonn also started teaching at the University.

DeLonn's heart burden was for third world missions.  He preached it everywhere he went.  The General Council in January 1986 was dedicated to missions.  DeLonn and Roger Simmons taught all the day sessions on missions.

DeLonn and Valerie along with Hermano Arturo Arias started a church in the Metropolis area.  They started with 10 adults and when they left six months later the church had grown to 120 adults and almost as many children. The

church is now called Apocentro Alto and is pastored by Hermano Cristobal Ramiras.  It has a beautiful building and school.

In the fall of 1985 two missionary families came to El Salvador.  John and Lois Bueno returned after almost five years in the States.  Roger and Norma Simmons also arrived.  John and Lois went back to pastoring the Evangelistic Center and eventually started a new work in San Banito, Templo Cristiano.  Roger and Norma worked in the ICI, Jimmy Swaggart offices.  He also taught at the Bible School and Christian University.

On December 10, 1984, Jorel Timothy Charles was born.  He was born in the Rance's home, which is now the ICI offices.  In October 1985 the Rances were robbed by four armed gunmen in their home.  But the Lord was with them and kept them and their children safe from harm.  After the robbery they moved to Condominio Mediterranio, colonia La Sultana.  This apartment had high security therefore DeLonn felt it was a safer place for his family to live.

1987 - Today - Fully Appointed Missionaries:

In April 1987, DeLonn, Valerie, LaDawn, Jorel, and Shayla flew to Costa Rica so that Valerie could attend language school. After eight months of language learning the Rance's returned to El Salvador.

During these past eighteen years DeLonn and Valerie have worked in many areas of service.

TEACHING:  DeLonn has taught missions and theology in both the Bible School and the Christian University.  DeLonn has also served on the Bible School board and as the dean of missions/theology department.  In 1992 the first eight graduates of the missions/theology dept. received their Licenciatura in missions/theology.  Valerie has also had the privilege of teaching in the English

department of the Christian University and at Josue Christian School.

MISSIONS:  DeLonn served as the president of the Foreign Missions Dept of El Salvador from 1987 through 1996.  El Salvador has sent out 29 missionary families to other countries of Latin America.  DeLonn has also held five School of Missions for the foreign missionaries of Central America.  DeLonn has taught in churches, held mission conventions, mission camp meetings, and mission retreats to try to help the church of El Salvador see the importance of missions. In January of 1996, DeLonn offically

resigned from the office of President of the Foreign Missions Dept. of El Salvador. The new President is Hno. Lisandro Bojorquez. DeLonn is still serving on the foreign missions board as missionary representative. Valerie set up the accounting system and served as the accountant of the missions' dept. for two years. In April of 1996 she trained a national account to take over the office.

BOARDS:  DeLonn has served on many boards and committees.  He has been a part of the national executive committee for the past seventeen years.  He has also been part of Bible School, Constitution Revision Committee, General Presbyters, Decade of Harvest, and the University Academic council. Valerie has served as part of the national Missionette board.

CAMAD: In June of 1996, DeLonn started CAMAD, Center for Missionary Training of the Assemblies of God. This Training Center has a physical place at Bethel Bible Institute in San Salvador. It also has a movable faculty that can go from country to country to hold missionary training seminars and Schools of Missions for third world missionaries. CAMAD has held more than 40 training seminars too date.

MISSIONARY FELLOWSHIP: 1990 - 1998, 2002 DeLonn was given the privilege to serve the missionary body as the Field Chairman.  DeLonn is serving again as Field Moderator which started in January 2002.

RECONSTRUCTION CO-COORDINATOR: After the earthquakes of January 13 and February 13, 2001 DeLonn has served as reconstruction co-coordinator for the missionary body and national church. 140 churches were destroyed. DeLonn is coordinating MAPS teams to rebuild 93 of these churches using the African Tabernacles. To date 93 churches have been rebuilt.

CONTINUED EDUCATION: DeLonn perused a second Masters in Church Leadership from Vanguard University and was awarded this second masters in 1993. In 1999 DeLonn was accepted into the Fuller Theological Seminary World Mission's PH.D. program. He is currently working on the tutorial part of his dissertation.

CHILD EVANGELISM:  Valerie has been able to help Don Triplett in his "Castillo Del Rey" program by using her gift in art.  She has painted the Castle and several murals to be used as stage backdrops. She has also used drawing to music to teach children about Jesus.

MINISTRY TEAMS: DeLonn and Valerie have hosted and helped with several teams from the states. These teams have included a Light for the Lost Prayer Task Force, Rocky Mountain WM's Maps team who painted murals for the Kings Castle, Woman's team from Caring First, St. Joe, MO who painted the Central Bible School, four Health Care Ministry teams, a building team that remolded the missions office from Faith Chapel, La Mesa, CA., a building team that built a cistern for the Central Bible school from First Assembly of God, Bettendorf, IA; and a building team who built a church in the jungle of Puerto Limera, La Moskitia, Honduras for one of El Salvador's missionaries from First Assembly of God, Muskogee, OK. From May 30, 2001 thorough June 24, 2002, DeLonn and Valerie have hosted 31 teams for church reconstruction with the help of two MA families, Andy and Robin Rogers and Bob and LeAnn Bachman.

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