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The Beginning of DirectLine Ministry DirectLine Ministry has grown so much over the past 10 years. We praise God that we are now regularly sending 40ft containers to Honduras and Haiti. Our Bible Club project is being used to purchase and transport Bibles for India, the Philippines, Mexico, and several other countries. The Christmas Joy in a ShoeBox project is reaching children in 7 countries around the world. Last year we had over 5,400 boxes shoeboxes. This is how it all started:
Paul & Debbie Deem My family and I live in south east Ohio at Coolville, 25 minutes east of Athens, Ohio. We are members of Friendship Baptist Church in Little Hocking, Ohio. Our Pastor is Vernon Snell. I repented of my sins and accepted Jesus Christ by faith as my Savior around the age of 10 during a revival service. I was raised in a good Christian home. After graduating from high school I accepted a job at DuPont where I was employed for about 10 years.
On December 25, 1983 the Lord called me into missions. I was trained in a local Independent Baptist church Bible institute and later took correspondences courses through Bethany Bible College in Dothan, Alabama, where I received a degree.
The Lord has blessed me with a wonderful family. My wife Debbie was saved as a teenager. We have four children, Ruth, Angeline, Timothy, and Titus. Ruth and Angeline are both married and have families. Our oldest son Timothy and his wife Bethany are working with us in the Ministry. They are currently on deputation raising support. The Lord first led us to the Philippines in 1986 where we served several years as missionaries. He used us to start two Independent Baptist churches, two Bible schools, and several ministries. The works continue on today with the national pastors to whom we turned them over. There have been 21 churches started as the result of these churches and Bible schools. In 1997 the Lord led us to Saltillo, Mexico - a beautiful city in the mountains with a population of 700,000. I was working with another missionary who had already started two churches. We were there less than a year when my wife began having health problems. We stayed as long as we could, but ultimately had no choice but to return to the States. After returning home we were unsure of what God was doing in our lives. But after being back only a few months He started opening several doors. Pastors asked me if churches could use various materials in Mexico. One said his church had 9,000 Scripture booklets in Spanish, another said he had an overhead projector, chairs, and PA system. The Lord started giving us all kinds of materials that the churches in Mexico desperately needed. Then He gave me a 15-passenger Van in July 1999. September, 1999 — DirectLine Ministry is Born In September 1999, we delivered our first load of supplies to churches in Mexico. Our first trip was with a Van and a 2-stall horse trailer. In January, 2000 the Lord gave us a new 7x14 ft. box trailer. In March of 2001 He provided a 1991, Ford E350 diesel van. He also brought us into contact with new missionaries and national pastors with each trip. As the ministry grew so did the churches needs increase. After much prayer, in June of 2003 we invested in a 1995 GMC diesel 24 ft. box truck. The truck was rated for 22,000 lbs. We were renting seven storage units in Ohio, where we stored the materials until they could be delivered to Mexico. In 2003, the Lord provided the money and volunteers to construct a 40x80 warehouse where we could store all the materials under one roof. What a blessing, no longer have to pay rent! In 2004, we took a church mission group from Rincon, GA to Saltillo, Mexico. As the result of that trip the Lord laid it upon my heart to invest in a newer 15 passenger Van. In May, of 2005 we purchased a 2004 Ford 15 passenger Van which would better equip us to take mission groups to Mexico. As God has used such missions trips in the past to call believers into full-time Christian service, this would undoubtedly be an open door for similar wondrous occasions in the future. "The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;" (Matthew 9:37)We out grew the GMC box truck and needed a vehicle of greater weight capacity. In Feb. 2006 we purchased a 1999 Freightliner 22 ft. box truck rated for 33,000lbs. What a blessing!God is so good! As of today we are helping to supply hundreds of churches with the Gospel and other needed materials. Averaging 6-8 trips per year, since 1999, we have taken over 50 trips hauling materials to Mexico.The Lord has been opening doors for us to send materials to churches in other countries. In 2007 we began shipping Bibles, tracts and other supplies to the Philippines. We have also provided supplies for churches in Zambia, Malawi, Cape Verde Islands, Uganda and Mozambique, Africa. In November of 2007 we shipped our first 40ft. Container to Honduras. In May of 2007 we purchased property in Saltillo, Mexico. We will be using the property for a distributing center, training pastors, and a Christian School. Chris and Erika Lanier started a church on the property. They are working with the ministry and preparing to start a Christian School. As you can see, DirectLine Ministry has grown over the years and continues to grow. We are reaching millions of souls with the Gospel and providing materials to help the churches grow. There are missionaries and national pastors throughout Mexico and other countries in desperate need of materials to build their churches spiritually, physically, and numerically.
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