SIM’s Missionaries-in-residence: Benjamin-Lee & Christine Hegeman

 

SIM’s Missionaries-in-residence: Benjamin-Lee & Christine Hegeman

 

Benjamin Lee Hegeman was born in Sioux Center, Iowa, USA in 1952. His primary education began in Genemuiden, the Netherlands (1957-1960) and was completed in Sioux Center, Iowa, USA. (1960-1964). Secondary education was done in 3 schools in 3 countries: Sioux Center Junior High School (1964-1966), Markham District High School, Ontario Canada (1966-1969), and Antwerp International High School in Ekeren, Belgium (1971-1973). Christine Elaine Fulton, whose parents were Inter-Varsity missionaries in Canada, was born and did all her education in Toronto, Canada.

Between 1974-1976, Hegeman devoted himself to undergraduate studies in Religion and Culture at the Wilfred Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. Upon a later completion in 1985, he earned a Bachelor degree (cum laud). In the same year, he also graduated with a Bachelor of Religious Studies from Central Baptist Seminary and College in Toronto, Canada. This was followed by a Masters of Divinity in 1986 from the same seminary. His master's thesis was in New Testament studies.

From January 1989 to June 1990, the Hegemans did French language studies at the University of Laval in Quebec City, PC, Canada. Between 1990 and 1992 they studied the Baatonu language in the north of Benin, West Africa. In 1994, he completed a doctorandus in missiology at the faculty of Godgeleerdheid in the Rijks University of Utrecht, the Netherlands. In 2001, he defended his doctoral PhD dissertation in missiology under Dr J.A.B. Jongeneel and Dr. Gerda ter Haar at the Rijks University.

In 1981, they married and welcomed 3 children: Tineke (85), Annamieke (86), and Martin (88). In 1984 Benjamin became assistant pastor in Melrose (Fellowship) Baptist Church, in Toronto. In 1987, Benjamin and Christine were appointed as missionaries with SIM-Canada and later sent out in 1990 to work at the SIM-related Baatonu Language Bible School (Baatònu Bibeli Keu Diru) in Bembéréké, north Benin. Throughout the 1990s, Benjamin has been a teacher, dean, church council member, occasional administrator and director of the school. Christine invested in a ministry of helps and hospitality, as well as participating in aspects of mission administration. In 1993, Benjamin was officially ordained in Toronto to the ministry by the Fellowship Baptist Church. As of 1992, Rev. Hegeman has also been the president of the Département d’Éducation Chrétienne with the SIM-related churches, the Union des Églises Évangéliques du Bénin (UEEB) in Benin. Being the only expatriate Protestant able to speak and teach in this language, Benjamin has dedicated most of his course writings to the Baatonu community of faith and Bible School.

In 2002 , Benjamin joined Philipp Hutter (SIM-France) and Martin Brown (SIM-UK), together with 5-Nigerien churches, in co-founding the French seminary in Niamey, Niger, now called ESPRIT.

In 2004, the Hegemans were posted on SIM’s behalf  at Houghton College, as SIM's missionaries-in-residence. Christine dedicates her time to mentoring and a ministry of helps and hospitality. Tineke and Annamieke attend the college and Martin is a senior at the Academy. In May 2005, Benjamin did Arabic language research in Fez Morocco and worked with Canadian teacher educator, Jim Vreugdenhil, in Niger for the month of August in Christian worldview teacher-training. Since 2004, Benjamin teaches as adjunct faculty in the Intercultural/Religion studies as an Islamic Missiologist. He teaches every spring semester in Houghton and in the Sahel interior of French West Africa every fall semester.

 

For more on the Hegemans see www.asyouread.blogspot.com