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Our founders, Russ and Wendy Tatro met the autumn of 1976 in the inner city of Cleveland, Ohio, where they were both assigned to the same youth outreach program. Even as young Christians, both were being pulled towards a calling much larger than their obscure beginnings. Their shared passion for outreach would transform into a world missions calling.
Russ and Wendy were married in 1978 and put their education (Wendy, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Ed and Russ with a Master’s in Public Administration) to use in Cleveland inner-city schools. Little did they know that their experience in multi-ethnic schools was strategic to the work the Lord had in mind.
In 1983, Russ and Wendy relocated to Tulsa, Oklahoma. They graduated from Rhema Bible Training Center in 1985 and launched into hands-on missions.
 
They trained as missionaries in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala, where their daughter Rebekah was born.
In 1987, the Tatros relocated to Monrovia, Liberia, launching the future of Living Word Missions with the start of the Monrovia Bible Training Center.
 
Many blessings were born from the early days in Liberia. The Tatro’s second daughter, Elisabeth was born. Key friendships that would become lifelong partnerships were also formed with Pastor Jonathan and Verna Del Turco and Reverend Bert and Carolyn Farias.
 
In 1990, with the beginning of the Liberian Civil War, the Lord led the Tatros to relocate to the neighboring country of Sierra Leone and the Freetown Bible Training Center was launched.
 
Now, 20 years later, LWM’s two flagship schools have produced
over 10 generations of disciples; who in turn have founded over 500 Bible schools world wide; producing over 100,000 graduates. Many of these graduates now serve as ministers and missionaries worldwide. Meet a few of them here.
 
A mandate from the Lord to be “missionaries to missionaries” led the Tatros back to the U.S. in 1993, establishing Living Word Missions as a missions-service ministry.
In 2004, LWM headquarters relocated to Massachusetts to partner more closely with the
Del Turcos and International Family Church. Shortly afterward, the Lord directed the Fariases and Holy Fire Ministries to New England as well, bringing the collaboration that began 20 years ago full circle.
In June 2006, Russ went home to be with the Lord, leaving large shoes to fill.
The Lord made it clear, however, that the work was to continue, informing us that, “assignments don’t die, they are redistributed.” Wendy assumed direction of the ministry and the team the Lord put into place banded together to continue the work. Wendy now serves as the International Director of Living Word Missions.
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Our Denominational Affiliation:
Living Word Missions is an interdenominational ministry, not affiliated with any one denomination, but striving to work in unity with others in the Body of Christ.
Our Doctrinal Statement:
We believe the Bible to be the inspired, only infallible, authoritative Word of God. We believe that there is one God eternally existent in three persons: The Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We believe in the deity of Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, and in His personal return in power and glory. We believe that the Baptism in the Holy Spirit is a gift from God as promised by the Lord Jesus Christ to all believers in this dispensation and is received subsequent to the new birth. We believe that divine healing for the physical ills of the human body is provided for in the atonement of Christ, and is the privilege of every member of the Church today. We believe in the resurrection of the saved to eternal life, and the everlasting punishment of those who have rejected God's forgiveness in His Son. |
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