Bivens Bio Info

Bud's father was a Free Will Baptist deacon for 45 years; his granddad was a lay Free Will Baptist pastor; and his great-grandfather was a circuit riding Free Will Baptist preacher in the McAlester, Oklahoma area near the turn of the century. Bud has served as a Free Will Baptist deacon for 20 years before his call to the mission field. He has a Batchelor's degree in Business Education and a Master's degree in Guidance and Counseling. He has several years experience teaching in Oklahoma, Kansas, New Mexico and Puerto Rico and 23 years experience as a State Farm Insurance agent and business executive.

Ruth has been able to keep herself quite busy, too, over the years

- as her proud sons are more than willing to tell you.

Ruth's parents are Howard and Willie Gage . Brother Gage pastored for 20 years before volunteering as Free Will Baptist carpentry missionaries to the Ivory Coast. Ruth's grandfather, Jake Gage, was an old-time Free Will Baptist preacher who preached until he was 90 years old. Her great grand-father rode a horse and preached in eastern Oklahoma and Western Arkansas. Ruth is a Registered Nurse and has worked in Public Health, hospital nursing & Home Care. Ruth is an author and continues to contribute articles for publication in various periodicals in addition to her weekly newspaper column "From My Pointless View" in The Banner published in Jay, Oklahoma and distributed in NE Oklahoma. She is frequently invited to speak for women's groups, seminars and retreats. She also contributes to "Co-Laborer", the Free Will Baptist national women's magazine.

Shortly after they were married, the Bivens joined the newly formed United States Peace Corps. They spent six weeks in Puerto Rico training in the Outward Bound program. Here they studied jungle survival skills, language and got hands-on experience in community service before their official assignment. From there they were sent to Bolivia where they served for two years. Bud worked with a community development group and taught and Ruth ran a small clinic in Coroico, Nor Yungas.

Returning to the states they moved to Taos New Mexico where Bud taught school and Ruth worked in Public Health.

After Monte was born, they returned to Puerto Rico for two years while Bud taught school on the Fort Allen Navy base. They lived in the small town of Juana Diaz on the south side of the island. During this time they worked with a small congregation up in the mountains in the Las Magas community. A Southern Baptist missionary asked them to take the work as he could not make it up there with his busy schedule. Bud and Ruth worked with the folks there in a little car port and helped them get a building fund going. Bud encouraged one young man who was interesed, and faithful, to preach. When they left they turned that church over to him and he is still the pastor there today and they have a lovely church building.

Returning to the states in 1970, Bud took a job as assistant principal at Douglas High School in Douglas Kansas. From there they moved to Tulsa in 1972 where he started his career as a State Farm Insurance Agent. For 23 years the Lord blessed this business and Bud and Ruth served in the East Tulsa FWB Church-which became the Woodcrest FWB Church. Bud was ordained as a deacon there and Bud and Ruth worked some 15 years as directors of Children's Church. Upon buying their dream home west of Pryor in 1983 they moved their membership to the Westside FWB Church where they continued to actively serve. During that time they began going to Central America on short term mission trips, making a total of 19 trips before answering the call to full time service in Mexico. Bud took early retirement from State Farm and they had the mother of all auctions, packed up and headed for the border. And, the rest is an exciting adventure of service to the Hispanic people in several different places.

The Bivens raised two sons, Monte and John, who are both quite proud of their parents. Monte lives with his wife (Diana) and their daughter (Maritza) in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas and works in the healthcare field. Diana is a teacher at a local christian school where their daughter attends. John and his wife (Paulina) are currently building Getsemani Children's Home in Morelos, Coahuila, Mexico. John and Paulina can be reached by mail at

Rainbow Ministries Tu Projimo

338 Monroe St. P.M.B. #373

Eagle Pass, TX 78852

or (Lord willin' and the creek don't rise) by phone at 830-352-4803

Over the years the Bivens have been blessed to travel extensively. Having learned Spanish in the Peace Corps, doors to minister have opened to them all over. They have friends and Christian Brothers and Sisters throughout the world, including even Cuba. Bud was also privileged to travel to El Salvador after a severe earth quake devastated the country, delivering relief supplies. One of the aftershocks knocked him out of bed early one morning !

Ruth says "Sometimes I just can't believe that the Lord would pick me to get to follow Bud around and do all of these wonderfu things." They give the glory and praise to the Lord.