Todd Duston has filled many roles within New Tribes Mission since he joined almost twenty-three years ago. After Todd graduated from Moody Bible Institute, he became familiar with missions through different short term trips he took. Eventually he joined New Tribes Mission as an associate in Senegal, Africa. After a year there, Todd married his wife, Kelley, and entered New Tribes Mission’s missionary training program in Ontario. Since graduating, he has worked at New Tribes Mission Headquarters in Florida, the New Tribes Bible Institute Wisconsin campus, the training center in Ontario, and now here at our Michigan campus. Todd is the head of our Admissions department, faithfully seeking to bring more students to New Tribes Bible Institute and see them changed by God’s Word. He says that his thirteen years of ministry here in Michigan have been his favorite season so far.
Where are you from originally? Milwaukee, WI
When did you join the Jackson team? May 2004
What is your favorite thing about serving at NTBI? My favorite things are that I’m part of an awesome team, seeing God’s work in the lives of prospective students, and then seeing the fruit of our labor in those that come to attend here. He matures them in Christ and then motivates them on to serve Him.
What is something the student body might not know about you? I spent ten days in jail for traffic violations when I was 18.
At what point in your life were you convinced to become involved with missions? When I was 24, during a short-term missions course with New Tribes Mission called Destination Summit. I went on a work assist trip to Senegal, West Africa. I was in a remote tribal village called Chobo; it was the Budeik people group. I was building a house for a missionary family, and the first night the missionary that was there took us into the village. We sat around with these guys by the fire, and seeing the missionary interact with them and getting ready to teach them was really exciting. I was reading through Ephesians while I was there. In chapter two it talks about the Ephesians having been without hope before salvation, just like these people that he was about to teach. I thought, “Wow, this is so real, right before me.” Right then and there I couldn’t imagine doing anything else.
What’s your favorite place to eat in Jackson? The Grand River Brewery.
What pastimes do you enjoy? The first thing that comes to mind is building stuff. As a family we’ve built three houses. That’s kinda been my hobby. And watching my kids play soccer.
Do you have a “hero of the faith” that you admire, and if so, what about them is inspiring? My dad. He was saved when I was twelve years old. He was a racecar driver at the time, and he has always been really into cars. When I was fourteen he transitioned into rebuilding old cars and being an auto mechanic instructor. He’s just used his interest in cars for God’s glory. He gives out about 7,000 tracts a year at different car shows. He’s also a Gideon and he gives out Bibles in prisons and schools in the Milwaukee.
Who is your favorite author or musician? My favorite author is Warren Wiersbe.
Where is your favorite place to spend time? Mackinaw Island. We honeymooned there and we’ve gone back several times. We’re going back with our whole family this summer.
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