(AgapePress) - Steve Thompson knows what it's like to be a prisoner. Like all Christians, he was once a prisoner to sin. But after committing his life to Christ, Thompson embarked on a journey he never dreamed would find him in other prisons. He and his wife, Carol, have been missionaries in Ecuador for 16 years, the last four with Global Outreach International.

In Ecuador, Steve encountered new kinds of imprisonment. He was once held prisoner by an Indian tribe, and he was incarcerated by civil authorities because a building contractor he'd hired did not have a legitimate government permit. Both situations were unpredictable and explosive, but they only served to deepen Steve and Carol's faith.

Danger and imprisonment are minor bumps in the road for the Thompsons. They would rather be nowhere else than teaching life skills to native jungle tribes. Or overseeing construction of a conference center for churches and pastors. Or mentoring a pastor and planting a church.

Steve was first called to Ecuador when he made a "mistake" during routine hospital visits as a staff member at Kountze, Texas, First Baptist Church. He went to visit a church member. Somehow, room numbers got switched and he met a patient he didn't know and hadn't intended to visit. As they talked, the lady told Steve he should be a missionary to Ecuador. Her son had been among the very first missionaries there.

Steve and Carol are transparent in their love for Ecuador and its people. They live in Ambato, about four hours south of Quito. Steve says Ecuador is truly a Third World country. Runaway inflation and political instability have left 70% of the people living below the poverty level. Natural hazards include frequent earthquakes, landslides, volcanic activity and flooding. About 95% of the people identify with the Roman Catholic faith.

Planting Churches
If there is a definition that encompasses all the Thompsons do in Ecuador, it is planting churches. First Baptist Church in Patate is a case in point. In the early 1990s, Steve began discipling Gustavo, a local believer. They started with a home Bible study through which Gustavo's wife soon came to the Lord. They invited neighbors and the group grew until in 1994, they were ready to establish a mission.

"On November 12, we had planned our very first meeting," says Steve. "We had permission from the city to show the Jesus film in the street right in front of our building.

"Over 200 people came -- with rocks, sticks and gasoline. They broke out all the windows of the building and our vehicles, and they threw gasoline on everyone there. Gustavo's wife lost an eye when a rock hit her in the face."

The little band of believers regrouped, and began ministry again just two months later. "We went back in full force," says Steve. "We had vacation Bible school and revival. We continued to receive minor persecution, but things have improved ever since then."

Jungle Villages
Ministry in jungle villages is a more recent arm of the Thompsons' ministry. There they are intent on helping villagers learn better ways of life -- physically as well as spiritually. At a camp in the jungle, Steve hopes to bring pastors for training and discipleship.

Now, they're raising fish at the camp, and offering 200 fingerlings to families who commit to raise them to feed their families. His plan is to start village churches and schools. "Christianity combats syncretism and animism in Ecuador," he says, "but in some places there is no resistance because no Christian has ever been there yet."

Thompson doesn't take church planting lightly. In fact, he uses stringent standards for founding a local congregation. First, he establishes a preaching point to introduce the Gospel and develop relationships. When the time is right, he begins a home Bible study. Third, he begins a mission, a "formal" step by a group whose goal is to become a church. For a mission, he requires three things: doctrinal soundness, financial responsibility and solid internal leadership.

Once those three things are evident, the mission is ready to move ahead and become a church. Steve works with numerous denominations, and allows different groups to choose their own direction in that regard. He says denominational identification is desirable for doctrinal soundness and continuity in the local church.

Conference/Retreat Center
Near Patate, the Thompsons have begun construction of a conference center that will serve many needs of the Body of Christ in Ecuador.

"We had our first retreat -- 150 people -- out here on December 29," he says. "It was a fellowship retreat. We're looking to start a program where we will have staff that will live at the camp, trained staff to be our counselors and Bible teachers."

When they reach that level, they can offer churches many options -- Bible studies, discipleship retreats, prayer retreats, youth programs and more. Currently, the camp site has one large building that houses dormitories and kitchen, and a large open-sided pavilion. The center will also be a place to equip pastors for ministry, and a place for pastors to come for rest. The long-range plan includes several individual family-style cabins for pastors and their families.

For the Thompsons, retreat cabins, fish farms and programs are only a means to an end -- building the Kingdom of God one life at a time. "The greatest joy Carol and I have," says Steve, "is to be able to see people come to Christ, be discipled, be baptized, and feel the call of God to full-time Christian service."