Marty and Debbie Shilling

Ministry Focus

TeachBeyond - Dorm parents at Black Forest Academy (BFA).

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 active roles 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 in ministry service.

They have two sons, Eric and Donnie, who have both accepted Christ as their personal Savior. Betsy, Eric’s wife, also knows Christ personally. Marty and Debbie are proud grandparents of Sophia Grace Shilling, born Febuary 2, 2011. 

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 God wanted us to be missionaries.

Eric, Donnie and Betsy have all graduated from Black Forest Academy (BFA). We have lived in Germany (currently), France and Croatia. We have studied French and Croatian. Currently we are learning German through everyday life and interaction. 

Fruits of Our Labor

We are “Mom” and “Dad” for 21 high school guys here at Sonne dorm. At least one is a professed non-believer. Some have a very dynamic and growing spiritual life. Others are apathetic in their Christian life. Most of the guys’ parents are missionaries in countries that are either “closed” to the Gospel or do not have strong schooling for the upper grade levels. By our caring for these missionaries’ sons, it allows them to focus and serve where God has placed them. When the students leave our care at the dorm they literally will disperse around the world. They will take with them what they have learned both academically and from living in a Christian community.

Prayer Requests

• Wisdom for overseeing and nurturing 21 teenage young men in Biblical principles with Godly love.
• Strength, stamina and endurance for keeping up with 21 teenage guys.
• Marty’s prostate cancer, that it will not grow or hinder his ministry service. 

Support Needs

• $9,500 outstanding deficit with Proclaim International (prior mission agency)
• Monthly ministry finances are being fully met!

Gifts can be given through:
TeachBeyond
PO Box 6248
Bloomingdale, IL 60108-6248
or via
Christian Family Chapel
10365 Old St. Augustine Rd.
Jacksonville, FL 32257