Richard and Joyce Pavlik

PRAIRIE CITY – Joyce Pavlik, a career missionary with World Gospel Mission to the American Indian Field, and her husband, Richard, a volunteer missionary with WGM, will speak at Grace Chapel, 154 E. Williams, Prairie City, at 11 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 2.

Joyce is a native of Richland, Iowa, and a graduate of Vennard College and William Penn College, both in Iowa. At Vennard, Joyce earned a bachelor’s of art degree in Bible, then a bachelor’s degree in sociology from William Penn.

After working as a social worker and administrator at WGM’s Fairhaven Home and Hospital for unwed mothers, she worked with the American Indian Field for 22 years and served as superintendent and dean of students. She also was at WGM’s former Southwest Indian School as hostess, secretary and prayer coordinator. As a volunteer, Richard has worked in security for Southwest Indian School and works with the pastor of a local Native American church, in addition to conducting a literature ministry.

After a period of deputation ministries, the Pavliks will return to the American Indian Field.

WGM’s first missionaries arrived on the American Indian Field in 1952 when the ministry consisted of Southwest Indian School, a boarding school for Native American children. Although SIS closed as a boarding school in 1998, the new Southwest Indian Ministries Center continues to provide educational and spiritual ministries to Native American children, youth, college and career young people.