He never made the headlines. He is not on the lecture circuits. To my knowledge, no books bear his name. He doesn’t even travel abroad, except for an occasional visit to friends and supporters in the United States. Yet for 35 years he has been an international missionary of Jesus Christ, a modern-day Apostle Paul carrying the simple gospel message to thousands of Muslims, Hindus and others who might never see a Christian preacher in person.
He doesn’t travel in jets like Billy Graham, or on horseback as did John Wesley. He rides the international mails, witnessing through correspondence courses which he carefully prepares for the particular recipients around the world. He regularly enters countries which prohibit missionaries, whose citizens often study the Bible at great personal risk. For more than a third of a century, thousands of them have found life in Jesus Christ through the quiet ministry of this one humble man. His name is Richard Kruse and he lives in Toronto, Canada.
He is not underwritten by any foundation, mission organization or wealthy benefactor. Without overhead or fund raising or promotional expense, he lives simply, even frugally, rarely asking anything for himself. His background is in the Churches of Christ, but Richard is no sectarian and his International Bible Correspondence School proclaims no denominational message. Sara Faye and I consider ourselves privileged to be among his long-time supporters. Perhaps you or your church would want to share in ministry with this hidden servant of God.
You may contact Richard and I.B.C. by e-mail at kruse@echo-on.net or write him at Box 98590, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M6N 4C0. (You should know that Richard did not ask me to tell about his work and he will be greatly surprised to discover that I have done so.)
