Sylvia Beegle Miatke De Jong grew up in Ohio. She received her three year diploma from Samaritan Hospital School of Nursing in Ashland. In 1959 she married Ronald Miatke and they had three children - Rhonda, Ray and Rex. They lived in Illinois and Iowa where Sylvia was a pastor’s wife and nurse. They were friends with the De Jongs, (David’s parents) in Iowa. In 1971, God called Ron to his eternal home. Sylvia remained a widow thirty years during which time she raised her children, earned a diploma from Hawthorne Evening School of the Bible in New Jersey, served for five years as an urban missionary with Children’s Haven, Inc., and worked as a nurse for twenty years.

At age 52, Sylvia continued her education at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, for a Master’s degree in Urban Ministry/Pastoral Care. She was ordained and worked as a hospital chaplain for two years before she married David De Jong, a long time friend. She joined AIM to serve and travel with David. Her gifts of encouragement, teaching and evangelism are used in writing, speaking, Bible teaching and prayer. Sylvia has been writing Bible study materials for widows in Kenya since 2001. These studies were recently published in a book Widows of the Old Testament. This book is now being translated in a number of languages to be useful for widows in many third world countries. Sylvia directs the Prayer Partner program at Wooster Community Hospital where she previously was a nurse and Chaplain.

David P. De Jong grew up in Iowa and learned construction trades from his father. He has held general contractor’s license as well as plumbing and electrical licenses for ministry purposes only. He has a BA Degree in Bible and Missions from Northwestern Bible College in MPLS. In 1954 David and his wife Esther went to South Africa (SA) as missionaries where they served with Africa Evangelical Fellowship (now SIM) until 1971. He built churches, homes, clinics, hospitals, schools, mission buildings; and taught Bible classes. David and Esther raised a family of four boys - Paul, Tim, James and Mark. Their son Daniel died at age three in SA.

David founded and directed Helps International Ministries (HIM) for 16 years. In 1993 he and Esther joined AIM. Esther went to her home in heaven after 48 years of marriage to David. He married Sylvia Miatke in December, 2000. Sylvia joined AIM and together they have combined their gifts of encouragement and service in trips to South Africa, Kenya, Uganda, Jamaica and Mexico. Much of their ministry has been in Kenya where David preaches, teaches, gives counsel for building projects and encourages pastors and men’s groups. David has served on the Source of Light Ministry board for over ten years.