Will God Protect You?
Roger and Mary Lou Skinner’s shared call to trust in God’s protection in ministry
OMS missionary Roger Skinner accepted Christ as a child and then recommitted his life to the Lord in the eighth grade. Soon thereafter, he felt a God-given call to ministry. After going through college and seminary, he and his wife, Mary Lou, served in a missionary-minded church to launch their involvement in disciple-making work. They later traveled to Ecuador to serve as missionaries after attending several One Mission Society (OMS) missionary conferences.
The Skinners faced many trials that made them dependent on the Lord during their nine-month missionary training at an assigned local church. One of the trials that led the couple to have a realistic training experience was a disagreement between a head pastor, who was walking them through the instruction.
“We never thought about quitting; we were just uncomfortable,” said Mary Lou. “The Lord used that experience to help us in our ministry in Ecuador, so we thank the Lord.”
The next challenge was raising funds. As answers to the couples’ prayers, God provided Roger with a job in the town they were going to be stationed at and, after asking for a house that would cost $50 a month, the Skinners were offered a house for only $40 a month rent.
“For Mary Lou, that was an affirmation that we were doing what God wanted us to do,” said Roger. “The Lord helped us to raise funds, and we were off to Costa Rica for language school in less than a year.”
While involved in missions, both Roger and Mary Lou’s faith was tested with the question, “Will God protect you?”
During an evangelism night put on by the Skinners and their team, a large group violently approached with sticks and machetes, intending to start an aggressive riot and end the Gospel-sharing event. A police officer attending the event confronted the group, and the conversation concluded with three mob members walking away and the rest of the group joining in the nights’ activities.
The night continued on as normal until everyone began to leave and Roger was told that the group seen earlier was waiting for them at the cemetery. Roger, with his team in their car, asked the police officer to walk them through the cemetery.
Roger noticed a thick line of debris blocking the road in his headlights, causing the team to stop and clear the road.
“I realized the plan of this group was to come in behind us while we were stuck with the debris,” said Roger. “However, with the police there, they weren’t going to do anything.”
After clearing the debris and safely driving away, the team dropped off a stranger that had asked for a ride, who was later identified as the head of the police co-Op for the local area.
“God provided the rural police officer and the head of the police co-op, who protected us,” said Roger. “So can God protect you? My goodness he can, and does it marvelously.”
Mary Lou also experienced tests of faith when Roger was terribly ill with hepatitis B after the birth of their fourth child. She had to leave behind their newborn daughter when she accompanied Roger to receive medical care in the United States.
“God miraculously healed him,” said Mary Lou. “His eyeballs were green from the hepatitis.”
After trusting in God’s hand over their missionary experiences, the Skinners believe that the young generation should submit themselves wholeheartedly to the Lord and become dependent on God’s plan for the bigger picture of salvation.
“The world needs to not only hear the Good News but to see it lived out in the lives of people,” said Roger.
The couple pointed to 2 Corinthians 6:2 that says, “Now is the time for salvation.”
Will you believe in God’s big picture?