Missionary Support

 Prescott UMC is pleased to be a covenant congregation with the General Board of Global Ministries, supporting two missionaries overseas.  One of those missionaries, Tim Boyle, grew up in our church!

Dr. Timothy Dale Boyle

The Reverend Timothy Boyle is a General Board of Global Ministries missionary assigned to the Tsukuba Christian Center in Japan with his wife, Yuko (Juji).  They work under the auspices of the Kanto Conference, focusing on the Ibaraki district, where they serve as district-wide missionaries.  The Boyles are under dual appointment with both the United Methodist Church and the Presbyterian Church USA, which both work in Japan under the auspices of the United Church of Christ in Japan (Kyodan).

Their work is centered in Tsukuba Science City, a new planned city touted as Japan's "window to the 21st century."  At any one time, there are well over 5000 foreign researchers and students from all over the world in Tsukuba, with some staying for only short periods while others stay for several years.  Thus, a significant portion of the Boyles' ministry is devoted to meeting the spiritual needs of the "temporary" residents through English language worship, Bible study, orientation to life in Japan, and counseling.

Mr. Boyle devotes a large portion of his time to writing, with publications in both English and Japanese.  He has published booklets and other materials in Japanese on the "pseudo-Christian" cults (Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons and Unification Church) as well as a full-length book entitled, "Bible Stories Hidden in Chinese Characters," detailing the development and make-up of the many Chinese characters also used in Japan that perfectly illustrate biblical truths.  He also serves as the editor of an 8-page monthly newspaper serving the foreign community in Tsukuba.

The primary emphasis of Mr. Boyle's current work is publishing materials on science apologetics, the use of the most recent discoveries of science to promote faith in God.  With degrees in physics as well as theology (together with living in Japan's "Science City"), Mr. Boyle has the unique background to wed the two together, he believes. "Science has often been portrayed as somehow being a potent enemy of faith, but actually, the exact opposite is true.  Properly expounded, the facts of science are a powerful ally and can be utilized with great evangelistic impact," he says.

Prior to this assignment, the Boyles served for 3 ½ years in a small rural church in the town of Shintoku, in Mrs. Boyle's home conference of Hokkaido.  They have been in their present assignment since 1986.  Mr. Boyle served as a lay missionary to Japan from 1971-74.

Dr. Romeo L. del Rosario

Romy serves as an instructor at Sabah Theological Seminary.  STS is sponsored by the Basel Christian Church in Malaysia, the Protestant Church in Sabah, the Anglican Church, Sidang Injil Borneo (Borneo Evangelical Church), the Lutheran Church in Malaysia and Singapore, the Evangelical Lutheran in Malaysia and Singapore, Sabah Evangelical Mission, and Grace Chapel. There are 164 students coming from eleven tribal or racial groups in the six-year old seminary. Forty percent of them are women. Seven of the fifteen full-time faculty are women. The full-time and part-time faculty are comprised of Malaysians, and missionaries and visiting lecturers from nine different countries.

Previously, Romy served in Jerusalem, West Bank, as liaison person between the United Methodist Church and the Middle East Council of Churches. He represented the United Methodist Church in ecumenical circles and organizations involved in human freedom, justice and peace issues. He was a consultant assisting the leadership of programs/projects supported by United Methodist churches in the Middle East in the preparation of proposals, fundraising and other development activities. As a United Methodist minister, he helped United Methodist visitors and residents in Jerusalem understand the conditions and issues as well as the involvement of the United Methodist Church in relief efforts

From 1985 to 1988, Romy served in Freetown, Sierra Leone, West Africa, where he taught at Theological Hall and directed the Theological Education by Extension Program. Before his appointment to Sierra Leone, he served as a pastor in two churches in his home Conference, California-Pacific. He also worked as a community developer with the Filipino Caucus in that conference.

Born in Manila, Philippines, he received a B.A. degree in Psychology from Philippine Christian University; a Master of Divinity degree from Candler School of Theology, Atlanta, Georgia; and a Ph.D. in Theological and Religious Studies (major in Ecumenics and Missions) from Boston University.

(The above information was taken from the web site of the General Board of Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church.  Visit it here.)