Ted & Annette Esler

April, 2000

Summary Bio-Sketch

 

Ted & Annette graduated from Mankato State University (1986) after being actively involved with The Navigator’s campus ministry.  During this time they began to see God’s leading toward missions.  They subsequently moved to Maplewood, MN, during which time Ted worked in the computer industry while participating in Grace Church Roseville’s Missionary in Training program.  This included a one-year Missionary training school at the International Cross Cultural Institute in Florida and Belize.

 

Ted and Annette moved to the Balkans in 1992 and lived in Croatia while the war raged in Bosnia.  When the Dayton Peace Accord brought stability to the region they were the first missionary family to move into the war battered city of Sarajevo.  They were asked to pastor the small Baptist church that was 120 years old but now had only 3 members; most of the original congregation had fled or were killed in the fighting.  After pastoring for a year and a half the church grew substantially and a national pastor was put into place.  During this time, the Pioneers team also established works in Zenica and Novi Travnik.  The Pioneers’ Bosnia Team grew to about twenty-two adults with over twenty-five children.  In the summer of 1999 Ted was appointed the Director of PIONEERS Canada.

 

The Eslers have five children, Caleb (11), Joshua (9), David (7), Sarah (6), and Abigail (3).  A large part of Annette’s ministry is homeschooling the children.  The Eslers lift weights, run, and enjoy travel and sailing.  Ted plays guitar and Annette plays piano.

 

1999   Appointed Director of PIONEERS Canada

1996   Appointed Bosnian Team Leader

1995   Appointed Team Leader Representative on the Pioneers' International Leadership Council

1995   Appointed Team Leader for Pioneers’ Croatian Team

1992   Began work in Croatia with Pioneers

1988   Founded Esware, a software-consulting firm specializing in Window’s software development.

1987   Project Manager for Cenex/Land O’ Lakes.  Developed accounting systems for medium-sized businesses.

1986   Product Support Specialist for Cenex/Land O’ Lakes.  Installed, supported and designed computer systems for small to medium sized businesses.

1985   Associate staff member of the Navigators.

 

Annette has a B.S. in Food and Nutrition.  She managed the Bosnian language course for the team and has spent the past seven years as a homeschool teacher.

Name:                          John Theodore Esler (Ted)          Address:           24 Meadowlily Road South

Date of Birth:               12/22/62                                                            London, ON  N6M 1C2

Name of Spouse:         Annette (Netty)                                                  ted

Spouses’ Birthday:       12/7/62                                                            

Anniversary date:        6/8/85                                                              

Languages:                  Serbo-Croat (Bosnian), limited German

 

1992-94       Two year Serbo-Croat Language course at the University of Zagreb, Croatia.

1992-95       Completed three correspondence courses through Reformed Theological Seminary.

1991         Certificate, International Cross Cultural Institute/World Outreach Fellowship, Orlando, Florida and Belize, Central America.

1989-91   Completed Grace Church Roseville’s theological training program for missionary candidates.  This was approximately 24 hours of graduate level study (Biblical Institute for Leadership Developement).

1988         Core classes in business program, College of St. Thomas. Employer sponsored business classes concentrating on accounting and financial management.

1986         B.S. Mankato State University, Mankato, MN.  Double Major in Computer Science (concentration in Management Information Systems) and Speech Communication.

 

Appointed Director of PIONEERS Canada

Ted was appointed to this position in August of 1999.

Planting of Sarajevo Baptist Church

Started with a 2-3 people and eventually handed over a congregation of 15-20 to a national pastor who we recruited and supported in the work.

Team Development

The Bosnian team grew from 3 units (singles or married couples) to 18 in a four-year period.  During this time the team was involved in numerous church plants.

The Kairos Center

The Kairos Center, in Sarajevo serves as the English as a Second Language institute for the Pioneers Team and is the home for the Baptist Church.  When started, The Kairos Center was little more than a bombed out shell.

International Church

Started an International Church (English speaking) for the large expatriate community in Sarajevo.  Current weekly attendance is over 50 people.

Fundraising

Raised well over a quarter of million dollars for humanitarian aid projects, The Kairos Center, Bosnian Bible translation and economic development projects.

Management of Humanitarian Aid Projects

Oversaw the distribution of humanitarian aid projects.  This included fund raising and facilities development, creation of financial control systems, and renting of facilities.

Building of Largest Playground in the Balkans

The organization “Kids Around the World” partnered with our team to build a playground as a platform for ministry in a Sarajevo suburb.

International Leadership Team

Participated as the Team Leader Representative for three years on Pioneers’ International Leadership Team.  During this time a “new” structure for Pioneers was created.

Vision Casting                          The ability to articulate a desired future or outcome and rally people to that cause.

Administrative Skills                The ability to put into place proper structures for the implementation of a vision.

Startup Ministry                       The ability to start ministry where none, or little, currently exists.