MINISTRY TEAM - White Fields

Pastors in rural villages should not serve alone. That’s why our ministry team is dedicated to connecting North American prayer and financial partners with national pastors who are starting new churches in their countries. We are following the example set by the churches in the Book of Acts, as described by Luke, regarding the ministry of the Apostles.

Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble. And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again. Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit.
Philippians 4:14-17

Stephen Wheeler, President

Steve’s first foreign trip to visit church planters with White Fields was in October 2000. His comment about that trip: “Twenty years ago, in October 2000, I made my first international trip to visit White Fields pastors in Japan and the Philippines. The trip was life-changing. I love the church, the bride of Jesus Christ. It is my joy to spread the gospel and bring more local churches into the world that will proclaim the gospel in hard-to-reach places.”

He brings 40 years of ministry leadership to our team.

Steve’s family heritage, spanning seven generations of missionaries, forged his deep commitment to foreign missions. His great, great-grandfather, John George Bausum, was the guardian of Maria Dyer, Hudson Taylor’s wife; they were missionaries in China together. Steve’s parents invited every missionary speaker at their church to dinner at their home, so Steve grew up sitting at the table, hearing missionaries declare both the struggles and the deliverance of God in their missionary ventures.

Steve’s upbringing ignited a fiery passion within him, shaping his vision of the gospel as a message meant to be shouted from the mountaintops and carried to the most remote corners of the earth!

Steve’s parents supported White Fields Ministry while he was growing up, so he is a second-generation partner to the national pastors. Steve was immediately drawn into youth ministry when he began college in the late ’70s. He also served as an associate pastor in his home church and then at Grace Community Church alongside Pastor John MacArthur. He also served as a senior preaching pastor for ten years while volunteering as a Board Member of White Fields. Being in the crucible of full-time pastoral ministry gives Steve the ability to come alongside our national pastors with empathy and understanding for the task before them, including starting new churches and the difficulties they face as shepherds.

Nearly four decades of ministry experience have deepened Steve’s passion for planting churches in the hardest-to-reach places. When he walks with our pastors into their communities, plagued by poverty, darkness, and evil, he is more deeply moved to establish a network of pastors who support and proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ. Through the gospel, these local churches transform new believers’ lives, and their witness and testimony wholly transform the entire community.

Steve’s wife, Coral, occasionally travels to the fields with Steve. The women of the churches, and especially the pastor’s wives, are excited to meet her.

When Coral is not traveling, she is maintaining the home base. Raising four children and now as a Grandmother, she has always provided strong support for Steve’s busy travel schedule. She also has time to listen to ideas and share how to help the ministry advance the Great Commission.

Together, Steve and Coral have raised four children, all now adults, and they are actively involved in the ministries of their local churches.

An excellent wife who can find?
She is far more precious than jewels.
The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain.
Proverbs 31:10,11

In-Office Bookkeeper/Editor

Our dedicated office staff coordinates our donation receipting and in-office bookkeeping. Contact them at info@whitefields.org for any questions.

Sarah, Communications

Sarah is a Senior Pastor’s wife and mom to two children. She is involved in various ministries at her local church, including teaching youth, young adults, and women in discipleship. She has also served on the board of PWF (Pastor’s Wife’s Fellowship), a ministry of the SBC of San Diego, encouraging and ministering to senior pastors’ wives. Sarah earned a degree in Graphic Design with a minor in Film, which grew from a background in fine arts. She has a heart for reaching the lost through art.

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