Sam and June McVay
Appointed in
August, 1996 as general missionaries, Sam and June McVay began serving in Spain in
July, 1997. Their first term was mainly devoted to
language and cultural studies, attending Eurocentres
Language School, as well as the University of Madrid.
They have completed three 3-year terms in Spain and are
presently on Stateside Assignment (beginning April 1,
2008) to raise funds to return to Spain early in 2009.
Before leaving Spain in April, they were involved in
various ministries of the local church. Sam
was on the church
council and a member of the committee to oversee the
building of the new church in Villalba. He is the Spain
Field Council Chairman. June
helped with the
development and production of printed materials for the
church and missionary team, and sang with the Praise Group
at the church, and helped out with the pre-school class,
when needed. She is the Secretary and Treasurer of the
Spain Field Council, and keeps the webpage updated.
Sam was born in Andalusia, Alabama, but grew up in the
panhandle of Florida, in Pensacola and Crestview. He is the
son of Gaston and Mavis McVay. June was born in Greenville,
South Carolina, but grew up in Nashville, Tennessee. She is
the daughter of Dr. Robert and Clara Picirilli.
Before entering missions, Sam served as the pastor's
assistant/youth pastor of Cofer's Chapel FWB Church in
Nashville, Tennessee for more than twenty years. Sam
received a B.A. in Pastoral Administration and Bible from
Free Will Baptist Bible College (FWBBC), and a diploma in
Spanish Studies from the University of Madrid. June studied
at FWBBC and received a B.S. in Management of Human
Resources from Trevecca Nazarene University, and a diploma
in Spanish Studies from the University of Madrid. June
worked as an administrative assistant for Nortel Networks
for 8 years prior to leaving for Spain.
Sam and June have two daughters. Stephanie
is a 2001 graduate
of FWBBC with a major in missions. She spent a year in
Nantes, France (8/01-5/02) as a short-term missionary,
helping FWB missionaries Steve and Becky Riggs. She
attended the University of Nantes and studied in a program
for foreigners, which included French, geography, etc. She
recently graduated with honors (cum laude) with her
Master's Degree in Teaching French at MTSU (Middle
Tennessee State University) and has taught some high school
French classes. She is presently working as an assistant
manager at an office complex.
Suzanne went
to Spain with her parents during their first term,
graduating with honors from the Evangelical Christian
Academy in Madrid on June 9, 2000. She graduated with
honors (magna cum laude) from Free Will Baptist Bible
College (FWBBC) in May, 2005, with a major in elementary
education. She taught elementary school for three years in
Nashville. She married Jonathan Owen on July 21, 2007. He
is the son of former FWB missionaries to Uruguay, Dennis
and Trena Owen. They recently moved to Fort Myers, Florida,
and are expecting their first child (and Sam & June's
first grandchild) in March, 2009.