Danny and Karen, natives of Southeast Texas, have spent most of their married life involved in ministry. They met while students at East Texas Baptist University and married in August of 1978. Danny graduated from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1983 and was ordained to the gospel ministry in 1984.

The Hesters served 22 years of their ministry in the upper Midwest where Baptists represent a small minority of the small percent of evangelicals. Fifteen of those years were as Mission Service Corps (MSC: see note under photos at right) Missionaries in three churches and a large Baptist association.

While serving as associate pastor of an inner-city church in Chicago, Illinois, Danny gained valuable experience coordinating ministries and mobilizing mission volunteers helping minister to the lost and needy. While effectively mobilizing hundreds of mission volunteers and collegiate missionaries, God developed Danny’s passion to mobilize missionaries.

The Lord led the Hesters to Wisconsin for six years where Danny pastored in churches and served as Volunteer Coordinator for the Minnesota-Wisconsin Baptist Convention. They returned to Chicagoland in 1998, when Danny was called to serve as Volunteer Coordinator for the Chicago Metropolitan Baptist Association during the Strategic Focus Cities effort. This role transitioned into a North American Mission Board (NAMB) Missionary appointment (2001) as the Regional Volunteer Coordinator for the Illinois Baptist State Association (state convention).

In May of 2007, the Hesters moved to South Carolina where Danny served the SC Woman’s Missionary Union as WMU Associate over Co-ed Organizations and Ministry. He learned much about missions education in that role that he plans to use in Alaska. Danny, Karen & Nathan have grown spiritually, and been strategically involved in First Baptist Church of Gilbert, SC during their three years there.

The Hesters first heard what God is doing in Alaska in June of 2009. In November of 2009, they began praying about serving with the Chugach Baptist Association (CBA) based in Anchorage. Danny and Karen were officially invited by CBA’s Director of Missions, David George, in February, 2010, to join the CBA staff (as MSC Missionaries), for Danny to serve as Associate Director of Missions/Missions Specialist: to help with CBA administration, promote missions education in the churches, develop and implement an Anchorage missions strategy, and help NAMB Missionary, Brenda Crim, recruit and mobilize volunteer mission teams. Danny’s experience fit this ministry opportunity, and is one of several confirmations of God’s call to this role.

Through all the years of marriage, Karen has been Danny’s missions partner while homeschooling their three sons (Marc, Alex & Nathan), tutoring math students, and in recent years, teaching math at local community colleges. Marc and his wife, Sheena, live with their son, Locke (11/09), outside Chicago, where Marc works for Tyndale House Publishers. Alex is involved in missions while he considers seminary and career opportunities. Nathan is developing his musical gifts/skills while he uses them for the Lord.

The Hesters request that you do these three things:

  1. Pray for God to lead and use the Hesters strategically as they serve the churches and help on-mission Christians reach unchurched people of Alaska.
  2. Ask God how He wants you to partner with them in their ministry.
  3. Obey what God impresses you to do.

The Hesters trust God to provide their needs to accomplish the ministry He has called them to do, using those He chooses to partner through prayer and financial support. They know God as Provider because they’ve seen Him use the faithful obedient giving of those He chooses to provide for those who are obedient to His call. So do what God leads you to do, and know your partnership is appreciated. Be sure to share your commitment and contact information with the Hesters on the “Partner With Us” page so they can keep you informed of God’s working.