Brazil & Missionary Acres Staff

Betty and Ed Walden were married November 15, 2008.  They met during her residence in Ohio and even dated casually during the time she was on deputation, but since the Lord had called her to Brazil and not him, the relationship went no farther.  When the closing of Fortaleza Academy became emanate, however, and Betty shared with Ed that the Lord was leading her back to the States for ministry, Ed began a campaign of regular phone calls that ended with their engagement upon her arrival.  They now actively serve the Lord together at Missionary Acres.

Ed Walden grew up in Medina County, Ohio.  he was saved and baptized at the age of six.  The Lord has used a wide range of job experiences to prepare Ed for ministry at Missionary Acres.  Among those were 5 years in building and ground maintenance and 16 years in the field of carpentry, primarily framing of new houses and building decks.  Some of those years he was in a partnership in which he also handled the accounting and employee payroll.

Auditing a number of Moody Bible Institute extension courses prepared Ed for the ministry of teaching the Senior Adults' Sunday School Class in his church, which gave him a love for the older generation.  He also operated the sound system for all church services and served as a trustee, calling upon his experience in building and maintenance to help the church in many renovation and building projects.

In November of 2003, Ed heard of the need for a man to work in the area of maintenance and construction at Missionary Acres, a missionary retirement community in Silva, Missouri.  Immediately sensing the call of God to this ministry, he contacted Baptist Mid-Missions and began the application and candidate process.  A visit to Missionary Acres assured him this was the Lord's leading in his life and he began deputation.  In June of 2007, the need became even more urgent, Ed was asked to go short-term to the Acres, and within weeks the Lord had provided the funds to do that.  More than a year of serving at MA, has confirmed this is God's will.  The present need is for financial and prayer support for a permanent ministry here.

Betty Walden grew up in Muskegon County, Michigan, accepting Christ at the age of 13.  Graduating from Central Michigan University, she taught first in a Christian school in Iowa, where she learned of Fortaleza Academy in Fortaleza, Brazil.  Two years of short-term teaching at the Academy gave her the desire to serve the Lord there.  She taught two more years in Massillon Christian School, Massillon, Ohio, before attending Faith Baptist Bible College for a year and joining Baptist Mid-Missions in 1982.

During the past 23years, the Lord has used Betty to touch the lives of numerous MK's, many of them now serving throughout the world.  At the same time she worked in Brazilian churches with national pastors in ministries such as Sunday School, AWANA, music, and church construction.  Her many and varied interests have prepared her for a wide range of ministries at Missionary Acres.