NTM - New Tribes Mission | Planting Tribal Churches

Fifty years is a long time. In 1958 instant noodles went on sale for the first time. Elvis Presley’s mom died and country singer Alan Jackson was born. NASA was formally created by the United States Congress, and Dick and Lucy Bruce were married.

A Short History

Dick and Lucy (or Pop and Nan as their grandchildren refer to them) were high school sweethearts. After their marriage they settled down to an ordinary life on the outskirts of Jackson, Michigan, the town they had grown up in. Pop worked as a carpenter and block layer many of those years and Nan mostly stayed at home with their four kids. In 1982 God intervened in their lives in a huge way. Poppy found himself at home alone in the mornings when he was put on second shift as a millwright. One morning he made a pot of coffee and took the dusty family bible off the shelf. As he read though Ecclesiastes a thought struck him. His entire life to that point had been spent chasing the wind. He wanted to make the rest of his days count for eternity, not just for the here and now.

That was January. By August of 1982 the Bruce family had sold their home and most of their possessions and moved into the city of Jackson, where they started as freshmen at New Tribes Bible Institute, much to the shock of their children. After two years there, they attended NTM’s training center in Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania. Their entrance into full-time ministry in 1985 began a domino effect that would echo in the lives of their children and grandchildren.

Although it has not been easy, they have stayed faithful to Christ and to each other for many years. Their current ministry in McNeil, Arizona involves maintaining and improving the buildings and grounds at New Tribes Mission’s Aviation Center.

Eternal Impact

My Nan and Pop have been an inspiration and an example to me for many years. They’re finishing strong, serving the Lord for His glory and in His strength. I thank God for a rich heritage, the lasting legacy they leave for our family to follow in. Because of their ministry, people around the world have heard the name of Jesus for the first time in their language, churches have been established, and people will be represented before Christ’s throne in heaven. These things will last forever.

A peek at any one of their children’s lives reveals the awesome impact they have made on the world.

Joe and Jackie Bruce serve with NTM in Roach, Missouri training future cross-cultural church planters.

Tim and Sue Sanford serve with NTM Aviation in McNeal, Arizona heading up NTM’s worldwide flight program.

Rich and Rae Bruce serve with NTM in Jackson, Michigan where Rich teaches and Rae works in the Dean’s department.

Dale and Sherrie Magnusson serve with the Navigators at Michigan State University discipling and teaching college students.

Please join with us in celebrating their fifty years of marriage by contacting Dick and Lucy with encouragement and congratulations here.

See more pictures of their marriage over the years:

This entry was posted on Friday, February 8th, 2008 at 12:00 AM and is filed under News Article. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.