First Baptist Dallas | Missionary News

Missionary News

After 24 years of serving in Southern Baptist churches as a minister of music and worship pastor,

Carl and his wife, Kerry, have answered God’s call to a new full-time ministry: reaching international refugees with the gospel of Christ. Their heart for reaching people from other countries and cultures has led them to step out in faith to serve as Mission Service Corps Outreach Planters with the North American Mission Board. Carl and Kerry have four children and their youngest son is a senior in high school. They reside in Richardson, Texas.

Carl and Kerry are members of First Baptist Dallas. First Dallas is endorsing their ministry through the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention and the Dallas Baptist Association. Carl and Kerry have worked in Dallas for three years in the most densely populated area in Texas called Vickery Meadow. They have worked with Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus and Christians from many different countries such as Burma, Burundi, and Iraq. Most recently they are working with refugees from Bhutan. Bhutan is a country wedged between China and India and is a Buddhist kingdom about half the size of the U.S. state of Indiana. It's considered one of the world's most isolated countries and the government strictly regulates foreign influences, including tourism, to preserve the country's Buddhist culture. Bhutan stripped the minority ethnic Nepali Hindus of their citizenship and forced them back into Nepali refugee settlements in the early 1990s, allegedly in an attempt to ensure a homogenous culture. The U.S. has offered to resettle 60,000 of the estimated 107,000 Bhutanese refugees of Nepalese origin now living in seven U.N. camps in southeastern Nepal -- their home for the past 17 years. Once they arrive, they will be sent to different cities around the U.S. Texas is scheduled to receive 24,000 of the 60,000 over the next five years. Currently there are about 800 Bhutanese/Nepalese refugees living in the Dallas area with families arriving daily. About 99% of the refugees from Bhutan/Nepal are Hindu.

Carl and Kerry work to develop relationships by meeting basic needs such as teaching ESL and delivering household items. They also do Chronological Bible Studies in the apartments. Their hope is to plant small house churches led by indigenous leaders.

Have you ever wanted to take a mission trip but just don’t have the time or money? This is a great opportunity for you to do just that without packing a bag or leaving Dallas! Contact Carl and Kerry Lorey; 501 Palomar Ln, Richardson, TX 75081; 972-951-9630;

Get to know Carl and Kerry Lorey, FBD Members and NAMB Missionaries working in Dallas.

Read a March 2010 Salvation story sent in by the Lorey's

Carl Explaining the Gospel Carl with Bhutanese Women

Bhutanese Woman and Kerry

Click here for more information on our Ambassador at Large, Larry Walker

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Currently in one of our mission homes:

(bio) I, Andrew, was born in India, to Christian parents. Through the ministry of Late Rev. George Hern, the pastor of Dellwood Baptist Church, Memphis Tennessee, and Late Dr. James Crichton, former president of Crichton College, I came to Crichton College to study music. Although I grew up in a Christian home, I was not a genuine believer. But at Crichton College, I accepted the Lord as my savior and dedicated my life to missions.

Lori was born in Detroit Michigan, and grew up in Southaven Mississippi. She gave her life to the Lord at the age of 5, in a Sunday school at First Baptist Church of Lincoln Park. In her early adult years she was a member of Central Church, Memphis, she rededicated her life to God and to full-time missions. The following Fall, she started her studies at Crichton College.

We became good friends at Crichton College. After I (Andrew) graduated from Crichton College, I started my M.Div. at Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary. At the same time, we started dating. Our relationship came to a turning point when I realized that I needed to convince my Indian parents that we were doing God’s will by dating and planning to be married. So, I took off a year from studies and went to India. While I was in India, both Lori and her mother came to visit India for the first time. Lori fell in love with India and wanted to serve the Lord in India the rest of her life [like Amy Carmichael].

After I returned, we got married under the blessing of all our living parents. The following year, we moved to Dallas where I received my Th.M. from Dallas Theological Seminary. We also adopted a son (Ethan) and had two biological sons (Micah and Jedidiah). Our adopted son and our first biological son are the same age, five days apart. So they grew up as non-biological twins.

Andrew and Lori Spurgeon In the year 1995, we joined Help for Christian Nationals, Inc. Duncanville, Texas. The following year, 1996, we went to India as missionary. We worked in Hindustan Bible Institute & College in Chennai (formerly Madras), India. I taught Bible seminary students and Lori taught orphan children and high school graduates. We returned to Dallas during the years of 1998-2000, when I finished all residency requirements for my Ph.D. from Dallas Theological Seminary (after returning to India, I completed the Ph.D.), and Lori completed her M.A. in Biblical Studies. In the year 2000, we returned to India. From 2000-2006, Lori taught religious education, English as a Second Language, and she counseled high school students at Hebron School, a missionary kids school. I taught in seminaries and pastors’ conferences in many cities in India and Asia. In the year 2006, the mission and we felt the need to relocate. So, we moved to Manila, Philippines and served there from 2006-2009. Lori taught ESL and Bible at Faith Academy, the largest missionary kid’s school. I taught at Alliance Graduate Seminary and Asia Graduate School of Theology (a consortium of nine seminaries).

This academic year, 2009-2010, we came back to USA on a one-year furlough for several reasons. Ethan and Micah are starting colleges. They have lived most of their lives in Asia and are nervous, so we wanted to be in the same continent. Second, Lori’s mother (Pat Wallstedt) has been fighting cancer for nine years and has been very close to death often. As I write this biography, Pat Wallstedt, has died (we were able to be with her for 8 weeks and Lori was with her when Pat died—major praises). Third, I wanted to refresh myself (like a battery going back to be recharged before used up again). Although we are on furlough, we have several plans. I have been appointed as the Missionary-in-Residence and an adjunct professor in the Missions Department at Dallas Theological Seminary. I will be teaching two courses this Fall. Lori will be taking three courses at Dallas Seminary in order to upgrade herself. Our older two will start colleges and our third son will go to Mesquite ISD.

God willing, we will return to Manila (Philippines) in August 2010 for one more year. At that time our third son also will graduate from Faith Academy. The following year, 2011, Andrew and Lori will return to India, for long-term ministries. Our hearts are in India, although India is a very hard place to ministry. The churches there need strengthening through theological education.

I have written a commentary on 1 Corinthians which will come out this year in India for the pastors and theological students to use.

We are very grateful for First Baptist Dallas' generous provision of the missionary house. You have made our lives easier, since all our earthly belongings are either in India or the Philippines. Thank you.