Quicklinks
Home > About Us > History Milestones > Expanded History
Expanded History
The Founding of the Mission
A young man from Ireland read a Thomas DeWitt Talmage sermon over 100 years ago. After reading the sermon, this young man called upon God and found Jesus Christ as his Savior. When he announced this to his parents the next morning at breakfast, his father told young Walter, "Walter, all Duffs are Christians. We attend church and give heavily to support it." Walter looked at his dad and responded, "I know, Father, but last night, God saved my soul!" Walter then proceeded to live what he made his life motto: "I would sacrifice my all for my Christ to be a soul winner."
Walter launched a full-time evangelistic and training ministry that became known as the Irish Christian Workers' Union. He married Mathilda Hamilton who had come to study and work for the organization. They had four children ' Helen, Evangeline, Walter, Jr., and Olive. Later in America, their second son, Haldane was born.
Walter Duff Sr. decided to take his family to America. The custom of the day was for the father to travel to America first, and then send for the family after all housing arrangements had been made. The year was 1912. The ship the Duff family was to sail on was none other than the Titanic...read more.
Expansion of the Ministry
Expansion Across the Country and into Canada
Through the vision of Helen Baugh, Mary Clark, and Rev. Walter Duff, Jr., and dependence upon God, a ministry uniquely suited to the needs of rural and small communities was developed. Couples were sought who were committed to both an evangelistic and pastoral ministry in rural communities. Some minimal salary support was provided so that the couples could minister full-time in their community. In the early years, the ministry was almost entirely financed as the project of Stonecroft Ministries. The first year the three couples who were friends of Mary Clark were sent out to rural America. Some of the early fields served by these and other pioneer Village Missionaries were:
- Joseph, Oregon
- Lostine, Oregon
- Mabton, Washington
- Canby, California
- Dillon, Colorado
- Arago, Oregon
- Fernwood, Idaho
- Skokomish, Washington
When the news began to spread of a missionary society proposing to send out pastors to closed and weak churches, Village Missions began receiving scores of letters asking for help securing a pastor for their church. By 1953, the responsibilities were increasing as more couples were placed, so Rev. Duff left his pastorate to give his full time and effort to the ministry of Village Missions. Rev. Walter Duff, Sr., challenged his son to "send out 100 missionary pastors to rural North America." Rev. Duff Jr. was able to send out over 600 rural missionaries in his lifetime...read more.
Transition from the Founder
Rev. Walter Duff Jr. officially retired in 1991. In 1993, Rev. Walter Duff Jr. was ushered into the Presence of God after leading Village Missions for 45 years. In honor of the one who he had served so faithfully all of his adult life, the Tempo magazine issue in May/June, 1993 headlines said just two words, "Well Done."
Rev Walter Duff Jr. was a man of conviction and prayer. His supreme goal, during his lifetime, was taking the Word of God, which alone can change lives, to those in rural areas who did not have access to a gospel preaching church, or a compassionate shepherd to help them in the crisis needs in their lives. He expressed his conviction in his simple admonition to, "Preach the Word and love the people."...read more.
Ministry in the New Millennium
The National Board of United States and Canada selected Rev. Brian Wechsler, as the new Executive Direct of Village Missions and he began his duties in November 2000. He and his wife Carole had been Village Missionaries since 1983, serving first in Iowa and then in Colorado.
Rev. Wechsler outlined a strategy of advance for Village Missions termed "F.I.R.E."
- "F" Finding New Fields
- "I" Investing in Individuals and Communities
- "R" Recruiting New Missionaries with a Passion to Preach the Word and Love the People
- "E" Equipping Missionaries and Churches to Reach Their Communities for Christ
Village Missions must advance in each area to continue its mission of revitalizing small churches and reaching communities for Christ. We must "find" new areas where a need exists to proclaim the Gospel and the local church is unable to secure pastoral leadership. We must "invest" in individuals and communities we are trying to reach with the Gospel through salary, logistical, and administrative support for Village Missionaries. We must actively "recruit" dedicated couples and single missionaries who God has called to our critical ministry. We must "equip" our Village Missionaries and the churches they serve with the tools to enable them to become effective, Biblically based churches...read more.
