HETTINGA, Justin and Tammy

Justin grew up in Saskatoon, Sask., while Tammy grew up in Chilliwack, B.C. and later (junior and senior high years) in the Peruvian Amazon as a Wycliffe missionary kid. This prairie boy and jungle girl met at Canadian Bible College in Regina, Sask. Their shared interest in South America and their desire to serve in cross-cultural ministry were two of many things that sparked their relationship, which resulted in marriage in 1994. They joined Wycliffe Bible Translators in 1997 and began their training with Wycliffe Canada’s training partner, the Canada Institute of Linguistics, in 1998. By 1999, they were on their way to Costa Rica for Spanish studies.

The following year, they began their first assignment in Peru as adult literacy specialists among the Quechua people. There they helped several indigenous organizations develop sustainable literacy and Bible translation programs. In 2007, Justin completed his master of arts in leadership degree (non-governmental organization specialization) from Trinity Western University (done mostly via distance while in Peru).

Having completed their project in the summer of 2010, they moved to Wycliffe Canada’s headquarters in Calgary, where they served on the leadership/administrative team for six years. In May 2016, Justin began serving as the Americas Area director for SIL (Wycliffe’s main field partner). In this role, he gives leadership to all of SIL’s work in North, Central, South America, and the Caribbean. Tammy is his administrative assistant, as well as part-time receptionist for Wycliffe Canada.  Although their roles have changed over the years, their vision remains the same: that all peoples on earth have access to the Word of God in a language they understand best, enabling them to flourish in life and know God. The Hettingas have two married sons: Caleb (& Alixx) and Jesse (& Jenni).