CEM: How Did We Get Started?

Early Days:

In the early 1950s, the missionary couple Don and Ruth Luttrell moved to Vieques, Puerto Rico. They had a vision to reach the Caribbean with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Word of God. Don was a missionary bush pilot. Hopping from island to island in a small airplane, Don and Ruth challenged thousands of people in local rallies. Ruth also ran a public-health clinic for Vieques while Don served as acting chaplain for the U.S. Marines at Camp García. As time went on, they began to see the need for more discipleship and follow-up ministry.

BCS

In 1953, The Bible Correspondence School of the Caribbean opened. Dr. Luttrell and the missionary team began writing a series of lessons that were designed to get the student to dig into the Bible for himself. Not a "multiple-choice," but rather a "fill-in-the-blank" format, the lessons were meant to make the Bible an indispensable part of the learning process. This way, the student would become comfortable with the Bible as a whole, and learn the format, content, and makeup of the entire book. At first, these lessons were distributed at the rallies, local groups, and through churches. As the Lord blessed the ministry, it quickly became apparent that even more was needed.

Calvary Evangelistic Mission, Inc.

In 1955, the work on Vieques was formally solidified into CEM. It was incorporated in Puerto Rico for nonprofit, religious, and educational ministries. Based on the bedrock of the Holy Bible, CEM is interdenominational in scope. Recognizing that there is freedom in the Body of Christ to agree on the essentials of our faith, but to disagree cordially on smaller matters of choice, CEM believes that the way to show our faith to the world is to work in unity with every aspect of the Church Universal. CEM was founded as an evangelical, Bible-based, faith Mission.

Calvary Evangelistic Mission exists to glorify God by partnering with the Church Universal to fulfill the Great Commission of Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:18-19), with a historical focus on the Caribbean. Undergirded with prayer, and based on II Timothy 2:2, CEM challenges, trains, and motivates people to receive and serve Jesus Christ. Through its radio stations, Bible Correspondence Schools, and by sharing methods and materials, CEM seeks to impact the home, Church, community, region, and the world for Christ.

Don Luttrell, D.D., served as the first President of CEM, Inc. After his passing in 1987, his wife Ruth served as President until 2005. She then stepped aside and their daughter Janet assumed the office, which she fills today.

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Dr. Luttrell and Ruth arrive for an evangelistic outreach event in 1952.