By Dr. John David Smith, President • BMA Global
BMA Global honors David and Shelley Dickson for their 52 years of service to our Lord and the churches of the BMA. You are invited to a reception hosted by their children at First Baptist Church, 318 E. Main St., Magnolia, on Jan. 20, from 2-4 p.m.
David and Shelley, along with Bill and Jeanette Gibson, will be recognized as Legacy Missionaries at the BMA national meeting in April.
David Lee Dickson was born in Stockton, Calif. Shelley Nelson was born in Prescott and grew up in Gurdon. David and Shelley met at Central Baptist College and married on May 21, 1971. They have four children: Aimee (Jason) Hughes (children — Aaron, Ashton and Chandler); David “Cito” (Stacy) Dickson (children — Lane and Abby); Jamie (Loren) Miller (children — Timothy and Sarah); Joshua (Anna) Dickson (children — Luna and Griffin).
This dynamic missionary couple was first elected in 1971. In their early missionary career, they served in Nicaragua and El Salvador. Bro. David often talks about the political turmoil that was the reason they had to leave these two countries, but for those of us who know him well, we have to think he might bear some responsibility for getting kicked out of two countries!
The Dicksons then served in Honduras from 1978 until 1990. After a short term of service in Guatemala, they moved to Puerto Rico and ministered from 1994-2009.
Here are some interesting facts about David and Shelley Dickson as they pertain to their missionary service:
• It would be challenging to find another missionary couple that has enjoyed the fruitfulness in ministry the Dicksons have experienced. They had a unique ministry among the Garifuna people, specifically in Honduras, as well as in other places. They were the first missionaries to reach the Garifuna people.
• Their missionary service has been marked in multiple places by the planting of thriving, multiplying churches that continue in that work today.
• Their ministry of over 50 years as BMA missionaries is remarkable.
• They served in five different countries — four in Central America and then Puerto Rico.
• They worked in countries torn by civil war, and they would describe times of their missionary service as difficult and draining. However, that speaks to their great faithfulness and resilience in ministry.
• Bro. David, who is a cancer survivor multiple times, has served as the senior field coordinator for Latin American missions.
• He has accepted a role as missions pastor at First Baptist Church in Magnolia.
We are confident that God will continue to use David and Shelley in His global mission. On behalf of our BMA Global team and our churches, we say thank you for all they have done.
