DENNIS HILMAN, BA, M.Ed., International Missionary Pastor, born in 1946 in the parkland of Alberta, Canada to second generation Finnish immigrants. Studied primarily in the US and began his teaching career there. Supported his higher education as a restaurant dishwasher, waiter, mâitre de and later manager for almost 10 years. Founding principal of Pan Terra Alternative School in Vancouver, WA at the age of 28 in 1974. Earlier went in search of his roots in Finland, found them and married there in 1967. They raised a family of four children, now grown, first in the US and then in Finland for 45 years. Ten grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. - who reside mostly in Finland. First wife Birgitta (Zilliacus) from Helsinki was taken suddenly in cancer in 2008. Remarried Marilyn (Stenersen) from WA/FL in 2014, also a dedicated woman with a true missionary heart.
After Pan Terra - Asst. English Professor and Dean of Students, Helsinki, Finland 1976-82. Then vice principal, and teacher of English and communication at the Lärkkulla Christian Academy in Karis, Finland for 17 years. In 1999 he was led to give up all things familiar - his long-term position at Lärkkulla, his home, most possessions, proximity to his family, friends and congregation - when called into full time international ministry, first in Russia.
In Ekaterinburg he was soon formally ordained as a Lutheran pastor, the head of a fast-growing new congregation which he served for 7 years, in addition to village, prison and other ministries. In Russian. Throughout his life the author has followed the example of Jesus in bringing the message of peace and rest to the less fortunate, imprisoned, maligned, rejected and the like (e.g. under-dogs) with a specific heart for the youth.
Counselor, mentor, teacher, preacher, pastor, father figure and friend on a global scale who has taken the hands-on Gospel of his Lord to nearly 30 countries. He was called and anointed into mission service abroad in 1990 in Riga, Latvia which dramatically confirmed a vision received as a 17-year-old in Goldendale, WA in 1963. Active servant of God's Word and disciple of Jesus Christ all of his adult life.
"YOU CAN'T LOVE TOO MUCH!!" This is the bearing theme imparted to the author by a man of faith, wisdom and years decades ago, again in the example of Jesus, This powerfully simple focus and chief inspiration for life, has certainly not made things easy many times, but has provided blessings in abundance as is evidenced by the fruits of his labors, yes also in this book. The author is now chief advisor to "The Resting Place Mission - Worldwide." The theme bears!.