NTM - New Tribes Mission | Planting Tribal Churches

John and Carol are second generation missionaries raised in Brazil South America.  John’s parents served with New Tribes Mission and Carol’s with Missionary Aviation Fellowship.  They met at an NTM school for missionary children in Brazil. 

After high school they attended the New Tribes Bible Institute in Jackson Michigan and married in 1976.  After the birth of their first child (Andrew) they enrolled in the NTM missionary training program which they completed in 1979.

In 1981 they left the US for their  first overseas assignment in Paraguay South America.  Their second child (Angela) was born shortly after their arrival and, a few years later, they were blessed with yet another daughter (Amber).

During the 21.5 years the Pierces served in Paraguay they were involved in various support ministries such as

• guest home hostess
• supply buyer
• field paper editor
• field leadership

but their primary ministry was that of Expanding the Reach of The Gospel to the Chamacoco people scattered in various villages along the Paraguay River.  John and Carol were blessed with NTM team mates and also Wycliffe Bible Translators Matt and Rosemary Ulrich.  The Ulrichs analyzed the sounds of the Chamacoco language, organized a workable alphabet, drafted and printed school materials and evangelistic tracts to help the people learn to read their own language, and translated many hymns and the entire New Testament and portions of the Old Testament.  All this they accomplished in roughly 12.5 years.

Not long after the dedication of the Chamacoco New Testament the Pierces and their co-workers moved out of the Chamacoco village where they had lived leaving the care of two fledgling churches in the hands of ordained native leadership. 

In 2002 John and Carol transferred from Paraguay to Brazil where they served as instructors to Brazilian missionary candidates in training at the Ebenezer Language and Linguistics Institute.  The institute later became a Portuguese learning center for foriegn missionaries coming to serve in Brazil and an English learning center for Brazilian missionaries going to serve abroad.  John served as the director of the institute and Carol was one of the English teachers.  The Ebenezer Language Institute is located on the same campus as the school for missionary children (where they met).  John served, for a time, on the school board.  Together they also served their local church as teen leaders and counselors for married couples.  John also served as a teaching elder.  These ministries were all very rewarding and today some of their Brazilian and American students are Expanding the Reach of the Gospel to tribal people groups in Brazil and Mozambique Africa.

In 2008 John and Carol transferred from Brazil to ministries with the Member Services Department at the NTM Home Office in Sanford Florida.  They assist missionaries serving at home and abroad by

• Obtaining legalized documents for visa processes
• Communicating with ministry partners and home churches
• Maintaining current contact information
• Facilitating ministry transfers
• Keeping personnel files up to date
• Rendering assistance (as needed) with seminars and conferences

John and Carol also assist John’s parents (Jack and Barbara Pierce) residing at the NTM retirement center and their daughters and granddaughter (Layla) living at home with them.