Our Staff - BEME Latin America

Dr. Andrew Counterman

Senior Director

Pastor Counterman received Christ on October 6, 1973, in the parsonage of Calvary Baptist Church of Stroudsburg (West). As a new convert, he was catapulted into two weeks of revival meetings that resulted in the fruits of baptism and church membership. With very good mentors by his side, it became natural to share Christ with others. This passion grew to the place of going off to school to learn more of the Word. While under the teaching and direction of Pastor Ron Rice, the call to ministry became clear and later validated by his home church.

In 1981, he started Freedom Baptist Church with his family in Durhamville, NY. In the summer of 1994, he took on the pastorate of Anchor Baptist Church in Millersville, MD, and served there for almost 25 years.

Along with presiding over BEME Latin America, he recently served as Associate Pastor with his youngest son at Calvary Baptist Church of Burlington, IA. He has over 40 years of pastoral ministry experience, having served as a church planter, senior pastor, conference speaker, and adjunct professor. Pastor Andy also sits on the board of Maranatha Baptist University.

Jo Ellen Counterman

Jo Ellen is a talented conference speaker and experienced teacher who loves to serve the Lord in the local church. She provides invaluable administrative and clerical support to the BEME-LA home office in Minnesota.

Jo Ellen has been married to Pastor Andy for over 48 years. They have three married sons, all of whom are in full-time pastoral ministry, and are the proud grandparents of ten grandchildren.

Home Office Manager

Gene McAvoy

Administrative Assistant,
Remote

Gene’s interest in Latin American missions began in 2022 when he was invited to assist BEME Editor Christie Esparza with translations of the reports and correspondence received from the missionaries in the field. This experience deepened his interest in global missions, and sparked a desire to keep the Latin American people close to his heart.

After several years of translating national missionary reports and correspondence, he officially joined BEME-LA as Remote Administrative Assistant in 2023. He currently resides in Las Vegas, Nevada.