HISTORY OF THE MININGERS AND LLIM
Early Beginnings
Larry and Deborah Mininger began their ministry in 1975 as Assistant Pastors in Santa Cruz, California. On graduation from Bethany Bible College in 1977 they took their first senior pastorate in Folsom, California. From 1977 to 1990 they served as senior pastor to four charismatic churches.
Called To Missions
It was 1985 when missions was first born in their heart while on one of many 6 week trips to Brazil and Finland. Lamp Lighters International Ministries became a reality in the late 1980's.
In the beginning of 1990 the Lord spoke that they should get serious about a missions ministry. They obeyed and resigned from their church and made preparations for the field. They sold their home and proceeded to set their feet on the foreign soil of the USSR in January of 1991. It was a key time for preaching on the streets, in homes, schools, prisons and in churches that were coming above ground. Soon they were influencing new church plants from Estonia in the West to Siberia in the East and Ukraine in the South.
A Special Provision:
One hour of daily prayer for 365 days asking the Lord for a crusade bus yielded results. In 1993 Pastor Roger Halvorson from the Mininger's home church (Church of Living Waters) in Fresno, California caught the vision. He raised the monies needed in just four months. Larry and Deborah went to Luleö Sweden and bought a used full size Volvo diesel bus. They converted it to a crusade bus that sleeps 11 people with fully contained kitchen facilities.
The Miningers used the big Volvo to deliver bibles and humanitarian aid to out of the way places in the Soviet Union. The bus was God's special provision for church planting, street evangelism and bringing support and revival to existing churches. They often boarded translators, drama and worship teams with their sound equipment and instruments. There were times when 30 or more radical believers would take to the road and establish new works as the Lord directed.
During that time, God opened an effective door to Russian military bases for evangelism. When the gospel was preached literally hundreds were born again on each base. Many found their way to the newly established local churches.
Multiplied Fruitfulness
The Lord again changed the Miningers focus of ministry in 1999 by having them prepare a mobile school of ministry and take it to the nations. The instructions were further confirmed when Advantage College in Calfornia made them Directors of Leadership Studies. That authorized them to give every leader that completed the studies a General, Advanced or a Specialized Diploma of Ministry, depending on the courses offered in their region.
The Lord's Strategy
The School of Ministry is not intended to substitute for a Bible education but to supplement it for experienced leaders. The school is especially helpful to those who have discovered their practical limitations.
The Lord's strategy is to hold LISTENING FORUMS in the nations to discover problems that challenge His servants. Someone must begin listening when others hurt. Subsequently, unique seminars are developed that impart fresh vision and anointing. Pastors report that the school is on target in wisdom and spiritual impartation for this hour. Encouragement is given and leaders walk in new fruitfulness! The Lord said, "He wants to heal His leaders because they are worth it. When they are healed He will increase their effectiveness by twice as much in half the time."
Educational Progress
Even during an intense overseas ministry schedule and constant travel, Larry and Debbie felt the need to continue their formal education. Advantage College in Sacramento, Calfornia proved to have the program of study, flexibility and instructional assistance they needed. In May of 2002 they both graduated on the same day. Deborah received her Bachlor of Arts Degree and Larry received his Master of Arts Degree in Practical Theology.
The Mentoring Center
On April 26, 2004 Lamp Lighters International Ministries purchased an unfinished building to bring the first phase of the Mentoring Center into reality. It is located in the capital city of Tallinn, Estonia
about 10 minutes from the center. This purchase is the obedient response to the Lord's directive to open the Center. We pray to have pastors come from many nations to receive practical experience relating to their call to one of the five-fold ministries of our Lord.
Personal Information
Larry's Birthday December 1st
Deborah Birthday July 24th
Anniversary May 7th
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