Andy Bonikowsky
Today we are honoring a graduate who has expanded the Gospel’s influence in the nation of Spain. He grew up in a missionary home, and his life in the place of God’s calling began in 1972. God ultimately led him to Bob Jones University, where in 1985 he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Bible. That same year he solidified his connection with Spain by marrying a fellow “missionary kid” from the country. He then continued his preparation for his future ministry by completing a Master of Arts degree in Bible from BJU in 1987.
In 1989 our recipient returned to Spain as a missionary. He quickly began to expand his work by printing gospel literature for churches in the country. God then called the family to found Esperanza Viva Baptist Church in the interior of the Gipuzkoa province. Three years later, God continued to enlarge the ministry by providing the Aierdi farmhouse where the ministry hosts American church mission teams and interns, church fellowship activities, intensive institutes, missionary teen retreats, youth retreats, pastors and workers retreats, and more. In 2010 BJU Press published Just a Minute: Biblical Meditations in a Busy World, a devotional written by our recipient.
The ministry has grown to become a team of four families and a single lady. Currently they are targeting two new areas for church plants. Our recipient’s ministry is also expanded by his children—two of the four have returned to Spain to minister. All four have graduated from or are attending BJU.
In recognition of his steadfast, faithful service and of achievement in the calling which God has given him, it gives me a great personal pleasure on behalf of the Alumni Association Executive Committee to present this Alumni Outstanding Achievement Citation to Andy Bonikowsky.