Missionary of the Week     

Bud Talbert grew up in Charleston, South Carolina, in a religious (Roman Catholic) home. He heard the Gospel clearly for the first time at age 18. God worked in his heart, and Bud repented of his sins and accepted Christ as his Savior at age 20.

Debbie came to know the Lord at age 6 through the influence of her recently saved mother and was reared in a Bible-teaching church. Bud and Debbie met at Bob Jones University and were married in a double wedding with Bud's sister and her husband in 1979. Bud and Debbie have a son and four daughters.

The Talberts arrived in Calgary, Alberta, Canada in March 1988 and started Foundation Baptist Church in June of that year. The work has grown to about 100 people. In January 2008, Foundation Baptist Church was turned over to Pastor Michael Miller.

Burdened that independent pastors have the opportunity for fellowship and accountability, Bud and Pastor Tim Friesen founded the Western Canada Baptist Fellowship in 1993. For a number of years, the area pastors have recognized the need for a solid Bible college in western Canada to train men for ministry and prepare lay people to serve in local churches.

The Lord used the encouragement of a number of godly men to call Bud to start the Foundation Institute in Edmonton, Alberta. The college completed its first full year at the end of April 2010. Bud will soon complete his doctor of pastoral theology degree.