Multiplying His Influence
Mark Ring’s Ministry to Central & South America

Listen to Mark Ring (’89) very long and you’ll quickly realize that he’s a man with goals. His biggest goal for 2007 is to distribute 50,000 Spanish CDs, most of them south of the U.S. border. Where did this burden come from?

The Beginning of a Burden

During the time he was working on his graduate degrees in the early 1990s, Mark made a music tape and gave a copy of it to Eliseo Cuenca (’81). Eliseo, then a GFA missionary to Mexico, told Mark how valuable such a tape would be if it were in Spanish—it could be used as an outreach to Spanish-speaking people in the States and elsewhere. 

Mark couldn’t get away from that idea, and three years later his first Spanish tape, Sublime Gracia (“Amazing Grace”), was released. It was sold for a low price or given away because the goal was not to make money but to get Christ-honoring music out to the Spanish world.

Continuing Opportunities

So, what next? Not satisfied, Mark started thinking of a Bible story tape in Spanish. With the voice and language talents of Dr. Dick Mercado (Hon.), Historias de la Biblia para la familia (“Bible Stories for the Family”), including a clear presentation of the Gospel, was born.

Mark found his burden for Hispanic peoples growing—not only for those in the States but also for those in Central and South America. In January 2003 the Lord opened the door for him to go to Lima, Peru, for the Baptist Mid-Missions Pastors Conference. While there, he stayed with Jim Carlton (’78). Mark remembers well a conversation he and Jim had while driving past the beautiful Peruvian scenery. Mark says, “It was the first time I had seen the mountains, the ocean and the desert all in one view.” He told Jim of the burden he had to get at least 10,000 of the Bible story tapes into each capital city in Central and South America. But how?

Jim had a solution, at least as far as Lima was concerned—the public schools. Coming from the U.S., Mark hadn’t considered that option; but he learned that if he got the proper permission, the public schools in Peru would allow him to bring the Gospel to the students. Since then Mark has learned that nearly 55 percent of the Peruvian population is 15 and younger—what an opportunity! 

Jim talked to fellow missionaries about the possibility, and they were immediately enthusiastic. Could Mark get the tapes to them before April? If so, college students who were part of the Arriba internship program sponsored by Baptist Mid-Missions could distribute them in the public schools before returning home in May. BJU and Suber Road Baptist Church, pastored by Chuck Bonadies (’04 G), helped raise the funds; Mark sent the materials after returning to the States; and nearly 5000 tapes were duplicated and distributed in Peru. In one school a young girl asked permission to speak after receiving the tape. She stood and said, “Thank you for coming and telling us about Jesus.”

A Wide-Open Door

Since then the door has continued to be wide open for this type of ministry. In addition to a second trip to Peru, Mark has presented the Gospel and distributed the tapes (which are now CDs) in Mexico, Chile, Bolivia and New York City. Total given out so far? Over 35,000! And Mark says experts in the field estimate that you can assume five listeners per CD. 

As this issue goes to press, Mark is preparing to go to Panama with 5000 CDs. He’ll be giving them away in a fair booth next to a petting zoo. “In the providence of God,” he says, “there will be people coming by the booth who otherwise wouldn’t hear the Gospel.”

Of course, the question that comes immediately to mind is, “Who’s paying for all of this?” Ask Mark that question and you’ll get an enthusiastic response: ultimately this is the Lord’s doing, but He uses a variety of churches and individuals. Mark, who runs his own custodial company and releases children’s drama stories on CD in English to supplement his work with Hispanics, says, “It’s all about multiplying your influence.” But he can’t do it alone. Other churches and individuals need to get involved. You can get involved. For example, Mark suggests that if Spanish-speaking people in your area have an ethnic festival coming up, you could set up a booth and give away the Bible story CDs.

“I’m trying to be a voice for the Spanish world,” he says. “Spanish-speaking people are at our back doorstep, and whether you speak Spanish or not, you can take things like this and reach them.” Mark concludes with thoughts typical of someone with a soulwinner’s heart: “This is my generation, and I have to do everything I can to reach it. Now is the time to reach these young people—before their hearts are scarred by sin and hardened by life. If we sow bountifully, we will reap bountifully.”