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 four 3-year terms in Spain and
returned in March, 2009 for their fifth term of service
in Spain.
During their last term, 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. This term, they will be more involved with
leadership development among the leaders and believers in
all of our FWB churches.
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 graduated with honors (cum laude) with her
Master's Degree in Teaching French at MTSU (Middle
Tennessee State University) in 2007 and is presently a high
school French teacher in Tennessee.
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 live in Fort Myers, Florida. Their
first child (our first grandchild) was born on March 4,
2009. His name is Elijah Adam Owen.