Mission Profile: Marty and Debbie Shilling
Ministry Focus
Public evangelism through the arts, partnering with local believers.
Current Contact Information
Address:
389 Bell Branch Lane
Jacksonville, FL 32259
Phone:
Marty's cell: 336-509-8393
Debbie's cell: 336-543-7186
Email:
Marty: shillingmm@gmail.com
Debbie: shillingdp@gmail.com
Personal Journey
Call to Christ
Debbie and Marty both started their personal relationships with Jesus Christ when they were about seven years old. Marty received Christ when a Sunday School teacher shared John 3:16 with him. Marty wanted to experience the love that God offers through His Son. Debbie received Christ after coming home from Sunday School and asking her dad to come into her bedroom and pray with her. She wanted to make personal that which she had had learned so much about in Sunday School about Jesus. They have taken an active role in the churches in which they have attended with an emphasis on the junior and senior high. Debbie is a talented musician and singer, along with being very detailed and thorough in business. Marty is able to plan and organize with a background in computers. They have found all of their past experiences to be beneficial to the Proclaim! International team. Moreover, Marty and Debbie have found that God is able to use them in sharing Jesus Christ personally to Europeans. They have two sons, Eric and Donnie, who have both accepted Christ as their personal Savior.
Call to Missions Service
Our preconceived notions of what missionaries are like shattered as we got to meet real live missionaries (and their children!). We met the Bowers, Jenkins, and Robinsons all within a relatively short period of each other. We found out that they were ‘normal’ people, a lot like us. They had the same struggles that we had, same concerns about life, and the same family values. We went on our first short term missions trip together. While in Spain in ’92 we both became convinced that this was what God had in mind for us. Five years later we moved to Europe with our two sons, Eric and Donnie.
Fruits of Labor
Imagine a village located at the crossroads of two major streets. The immediate area has about 5,000 people living there. The country is mostly Muslim by birth. There are two missionary families that live in this village, one German family, and the other American. They invited the Proclaim! International team that included Los Vecinos (a Latino-style music group) and EPPIC (a pantomime group) to come, perform, and share the gospel. The groups performed for about 2,000 people! Following the two days of performances in the village, several people started a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. This is truly amazing given the risks that exist for those that reject Islam and turn to Jesus. It is exciting to be part of a team that helps bring these new believers to the saving grace of Christ.
I (Debbie) have found that teenagers all around the world are basically the same. They all want love, somebody who really cares about them, somebody that will listen, a fool/crazy person to have fun with them, somebody that will be honest. Whether American or Korean they all ask the same questions like: who is God? Is he real? Are we playing a game? I found, that if I am willing to be God’s instrument and be willing to go where he is already working, I can be thousands of miles away from Jacksonville and still have impact in teenagers’ lives. To me that is important because teenagers are our next generation.
Debbie and Marty are both developing in video ministry. Debbie has filmed, edited and produced video clips along with running cameras during live performances. Marty has done some filming and editing, but has mainly worked on live video mixing; integrating live camera shots with static photos, animated video clips and displaying lyrics in the local language. This media is another innovative way Proclaim strives to artistically present the Gospel message.
Proclaim! International continues to expand. We are looking for creative ways to present the Gospel. We are looking for new places to share the Good News. Europe is no longer the only continent on which we work. Proclaim performs outreaches in Europe, South America and several former Soviet Union countries. It is moving from the immediate borders of Europe to other parts of the world. This year we are planning to send a team into China. In 2003 we are planning to send a team into Peru. We are helping believers from other countries go into full-time missions work. Our borders continue to expand, but our focus is still on reaching the lost and strengthening believers in their relationships with Christ.
Financial Needs
- We are currently at approximately 90% of our monthly need for pledged support.
- We still have $3,500 in outstanding un-reimbursed expenses for ministry activities.
Gifts can be given through:
Proclaim! International
P.O. Box 56888
Jacksonville, FL 32241-6888
Prayer Requests
- The Adonai (Croatian band) tour to Poland in May. This is the second tour for Adonai to Poland, and we want to be an encouragement to the local believers.Opportunities and effectiveness as our video experience grows.
- God’s continued direction for us and in us in the coming months.
Care Package Favorites
- VHS Taped shows from America, such as: ER, Friends, Providence, 7th Heaven, Jag, College Football (U of M – GO BLUE!), Basketball, Hallmark movies
- Wrigley’s WinterFresh Gum (the blue one)
Sunday Service Times: 8:00 a.m., 9:30 a.m., and 11:00 a.m.