RADANK, JOHN & ROSE
John & Rose Radank
John Radank grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and enlisted in the United States Army in 1975. After his first tour of duty at Fort Benning, Georgia, he was assigned to Germany, where he met Rose. Rose grew up in Ohio and enlisted in the Army in 1978. John and Rose were married in 1979. Shortly after their marriage, Rose chose to leave the Army to become a full-time wife and homeschooling mother.
John trusted Christ as his Savior while the family was stationed in Michigan in August of 1982. Rose was saved earlier in life as a “bus kid” in Norwalk, Ohio. A few months after John’s salvation, they were once again assigned to Germany, this time in the city of Ansbach. In 1983 they began attending Berean Baptist Church (now Ansbach Baptist Church). It was there that Rose rededicated her life to the Lord and John followed the Lord in believer’s baptism. During their years at Berean, both John and Rose grew greatly in their walk with the Lord, culminating in John surrendering to the call to preach in 1985.
In 1996, after serving 21 years in the Army—with three tours of duty in Germany, several assignments in the United States, and numerous deployments including the first Gulf War and Haiti—John retired from military service. Just one year later, the Lord led the Radanks back to Germany as missionaries. They began their missionary ministry by attending German language school and assisting two German missionary churches, one in Ansbach and the other in Nürnberg.
In mid-1999, John was approached by a fellow missionary who recognized the need for a church ministry to the military community in Hohenfels. After much prayer, John and Rose moved to Hohenfels and conducted the first service of Hohenfels Baptist Church in January 2000. The church began by meeting in their living room. Eighteen years later, they turned the church over to Pastor William Ensley. William had attended Hohenfels Baptist Church while stationed in Hohenfels, where the Lord called him to preach. After his final military assignment, he retired from the Army and returned to Hohenfels. Following a period of service as assistant pastor, the church voted him in as pastor.
After transitioning leadership of the church, John and Rose spent a year traveling throughout Europe, helping and encouraging missionaries. They then returned to Ansbach to assist another military church. For approximately seven years, they served once again at the church where their own ministry for the Lord had first begun.
John and Rose have one son, Robert (Bob), who is married to Kelly. Bob and Kelly have three children, ages 18, 13, and 8. As “Oma and Opa” (German for Grandma and Grandpa), John and Rose joyfully consider grandparenting one of the greatest blessings and best jobs in the world.
John and Rose first became acquainted with Baptist Mission to Forgotten Peoples (BMFP) through the European Missions Possible Retreat. They attended the very first retreat and have participated every year since. Through these experiences, they have witnessed BMFP’s love for the Lord, passion for the spread of the Gospel worldwide, and genuine care for missionaries. They have come to see BMFP as a true family, united in serving God and one another.
Ministry Availability
John and Rose make themselves available to assist local churches in a variety of ways. John is available to help with Missions Conferences, missions training and organization, Sunday School ministry, or as a fill-in preacher.
Rose is an experienced teacher and is available to assist homeschooling families, teach English as a second language, help train and organize children’s Sunday School programs for all ages, and provide one-on-one tutoring. She is also a compassionate and motivating ladies’ speaker and is available for ladies’ conferences, ladies’ groups, or Sunday School classes.
Contact Information
Phone: 904-783-4007
Email: jradank@bmfp.org