Wendell & Jean Otteson: Because You Gave
In March of 1958, Wendell and Jean Otteson, two young American missionaries with the Bible Club Movement, now BCM International, and their two small children arrived in Brookvale, Nova Scotia. A Christian contact enabled them to rent a house, but the local pastor claimed the Ottesons were Communists. With this less-than-warm welcome, Wendell and Jean began a half-century of service as children’s ministry workers.
Though locals were suspicious of the Ottesons, as Wendell went door to door in surrounding farming communities, he found hearts hungry for the Gospel. As Nova Scotians got to know the Ottesons, they came to trust them. A Bible Club was started. The Ottesons were asked to start a Sunday school. This ministry blossomed into another Sunday school, daily vacation Bible schools, and rental camping.
Then Wendell and Jean heard about an 88-acre farm with a brook running through it for sale. With the support of BCM founder, Miss Bessie Traber, they were able to purchase it for only $2,500. That property became Mount Traber Bible Camp. Logs from the property itself became the camp’s first buildings, and in 1966, Mount Traber had its first camping season. Bible Clubs and Family Bible Hour were now offered at MTBC year-round. A couple years later, a gift of $3,000 from two churches in Michigan allowed Ottesons to add a 395-acre parcel of land across the brook to the camp property. Another gift added seventeen horses for a riding program.
Mount Traber Bible Camp
Over the years hundreds of children have heard the gospel and been influenced to follow Jesus Christ through Wendell and Jean’s ministry. After faithfully serving the Lord they love for fifty-one years, the Ottesons retired in 1998 to the Pocono Mountains, where they now minister to “senior saints” in their home church and enjoy being close to grandchildren. Not long ago, one of Mount Traber’s first Bible Club attendees wrote to thank them:
Dear Uncle Wen and Aunt Jean,
A few years ago, Pastor Goode sang, “Thank You for Giving to the Lord.” I thought of you throughout the entire song and what a difference you have made in my life. Because you gave:
- A little farm girl heard the message of salvation for the first time.
- A teenager had a “Christian home” a mile away from home where she knew she was loved and accepted—and had a toothbrush in the cupboard!
- A young lady had a discerning second set of parents to help her make life choices—and a place to bring her latest beau for the stamp of approval.
- A young mom had Christian role models to pattern herself after as a parent.
- A grandmother remembers all the love poured into her life and wants to love her grandchildren the way she was loved.
I love you, Uncle Wen and Aunt Jean!
Rita
