Biographical Information

Rev. Norman A. Nicklas (8-25-1941) and Evelyn (6-22-1940), his wife, were married June 20, 1964 and have three married sons, Michael, Robert, and Timothy. After graduation from Cedarville University in 1964 with a B.A. in Bible, he continued his training at Grand Rapids Baptist Theological Seminary where he earned a M.Div. in Missions in 1967. In October 1967, Norm and Evelyn were appointed to São Paulo, Brazil as missionaries under ABWE. They left for the field on July 31,1968. During their three terms of ministry as church planting specialist, they had the opportunity to plant four Baptist churches that are still growing today under national leadership. Those churches have planted six other churches and support Brazilian missionaries in Brazil and other countries.

Rev. Nicklas began his ministry as the Executive Director of the ABWE-USA program September 1, 1983. Since then, his area of Administration has been expanded to include Canada. He has overseen the planting and strengthening of over 80 churches that have sent out many missionaries and raised millions of dollars for worldwide missions. He is also the International Consultant for Evangelism and Church Planting.

Besides his administrative responsibilities with his North American missionaries, he is also called upon to speak at Missionary Conferences, hold Church Planting Seminars, and teach modules on Cross-Cultural Church Planting and Spiritual Warfare in the ABWE Candidate Seminars and in various colleges and seminaries

Evelyn's Testimony: I was born and raised in Sylvania, Ohio; 12 miles Northwest of Toledo on the Michigan border). My mother was my mentor. She played the piano at a neighborhood Good News Club where I trusted Christ as my personal Lord and Savior at age 12. Shortly after my salvation, I was baptized. My dad was a deacon and my mom taught Sunday School and was the president of the women's missionary group.

My folks had missionaries in the home from time to time and I still remember one missionary. She was from Baptist Mid Missions and her name was Leola Barnum. She knelt beside my bed and prayed that if it should be the Lord's will that I might be called into missions some day. I went to Christian Camp in Michigan. There, along with other young people around a campfire, I dedicated my life to be used in Christian service.

Following high school, the Lord led me to Toledo Hospital where I studied and became an RN. I passed out tracts as a student and a Catholic Supervisor helped me hand them out. Looking back, it is such a blessing to see how the Lord has guided me in my life. After graduating from the Nursing program, Lord led me to Cedarville College (now university) by the influence of my mother and a Godly Professor, Dr. Arthur Williams. Norm Nicklas was assigned to help new students register and transition. I was not only a student but I also was the college nurse for a couple of years. During a missionary conference at Cedarville, I dedicated my life to be used in missions. Norm was the leader of Cedarville's student missions prayer group and soon we began to date. We married three years later in 1964.

Norm then attended Grand Rapids Seminary in Grand Rapids, Michigan and I worked as a nurse at Pine Rest Christian Hospital. It was a good position, teaching LPN's and later becoming the Assistant Director of Nursing. Weekends were free allowing us to go out on preaching assignments. We started a young marriend's class at Calvary Baptist in Grand Rapids. It grew and the Lord has blessed. There are still couples there today, some 41 years later.

Norm graduated from Seminary in 1967 after the birth of our first son, Michael. We applied and were approved by ABWE to go to Sao Paulo, Brazil. It only took six months to raise our support and we were quickly on the field. We spent three terms in Brazil from 1968-1983 and started four city churches and trained seven pastors. The churches grew and multiplied and today there are now ten. We had a great time in Brazil! I enjoyed visiting in the homes, the evangelistic outreaches and the women's ministiries.

The Lord called us back to the ABWE Headquarters in Cherry Hill, NJ as the director of Church Planting, USA. Floyd Davis, the former director, had died due to cancer. The Lord led us into this ministry but it was difficult as our hearts were still in Brazil. It's always best to obey. After our move to New Jersey, I was diagnosed with Diabetes and was provided with a wonderful doctor. In our North American ministry we counsel church planters and assist them in starting churches. There have been 80 churches that have been started and strengthened since we began in 1983. Norm and I have three married sons, two of which live nearby. We are blessed for this since we have five grandchildren! I am grateful to the Lord for His keeping power in our lives after 41 years in the ministry. We hope to start four new churches this year. We appreciate you and your faithfulness in praying for our ministry. Isaiah 41:10 has been our life verse and we have it engraved in our wedding rings. It has especially helped me through many situations and circumstances in my life.