Missionary Bio:
The Dittmars' home town is West Lafayette , Indiana , and their sending church is Bible Baptist in Kokomo , In.
Marty's family faithfully attended church most of his life, but it was a mainline liberal denomination and he does not remember hearing the Gospel from that pulpit. When he was a sophomore in high school, Marty began to seek the truth. One Saturday while playing basketball, a friend shared his testimony and gave Marty a tract. That night in his room, Marty read the tract again and again, until he finally realized his need of salvation and invited Christ into his life. Marty attended BBC in Clarks Summit, PA, where he received a BRE in pastoral studies. He also spent two years in the School of Theology at Clarks Summit. While he was a student at BBC the Lord burdened his heart for missions.
Brenda was raised in a Christian home and saved at six years of age. It was while she was a student at Baptist Bible College that Brenda discovered how to make Jesus a part of all her life. Brenda graduated from BBC with a BRE in teaching.
The Dittmars spent 4 1/2 years at Bible Baptist Church in Kokomo , with Marty serving as youth minister. Then they spent 4 years in Italy serving in the International Student Fellowship with Evangelical Baptist Missions. In 1987, they began working at Purdue under the ministry of Kossuth Street Baptist Church. Initially, their desire was to work with international students, but they were later encouraged to reach out to American students as well. Through the years they have also had oversight and counsel for the church's college ministry, Salt and Light Christian Fellowship.
They involve themselves in the lives of the students through hospitality, tract distribution, home visits, Bible studies, retreats, mission trips, and accountability. There are three campus houses that are used for meetings, Bible studies, socials, and other events, as well as providing housing for some of the students.
About 10 years ago, Marty had the opportunity to become the chaplain of the football program at Purdue. He now serves as chaplain to the basketball team as well, and the ministry to athletes has grown to include women's basketball, men's and women's track teams, and the Cross Country team. These programs along with coaches, family, trainers, managers, administrators and more make up approximately 500 people to whom they carry on an active outreach and teaching ministry through chapels, evangelism, Bible studies, accountability and counseling.
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