Russ and Lynn are both second generation missionaries. Lynn was reared in the mountains of Kentucky where her dad, Evertie Moore, went as a home missionary in 1961. Russ' family went to the Cayman Islands as missionaries when Russ was a young man. He spent his high school years helping in that ministry.

Russ and Lynn met at Tennessee Temple University in Chattanooga, TN, and were married in 1975.  After Lynn's graduation in 1976 and Russ' graduation in 1977, they made application for missionary service in Costa Rica. They were duly accepted and began deputation. Thirteen months later, on November 13, 1978, the Turners arrived in Costa Rica and began Spanish language school. During the time of language study, they worked in another missionary's church in Heredia, Costa Rica.

In 1981, after finishing language school, the Turners moved to Limon on the Caribbean coast and began the Los Corales Baptist Church. They rented a piece of property and built a temporary building. Many people were saved and baptized during their four years of ministry there. Later the church purchased another piece of property and built a permanent building. This church continues to thrive with their own national pastor and has started other missions. 

In 1985, the Turners moved to San Ramon, a town of 150,000 inhabitants, and began Calvary Baptist Church. Students were trained in the Bible Institute to preach, teach Sunday school, lead singing, and evangelize. These students helped start several mission churches in other villages. Calvary Baptist also sponsored a daily radio program "Victory In Jesus" which reached many homes in the surrounding area. The Turner's ministry has involved evangelism outreach, tract distribution, church planting, Bible Institute training, youth camp activities, pastors' conferences, construction of sister churches, and supporting national missionaries who serve in other countries.

The Turners have three children who were raised and home-schooled in Costa Rica. All three have gone on to graduate from college and graduate school in the USA. Lathan, the oldest son, is a Lt. Colonel in the Air National Guard after having served in USAF for 10 years during which time he was deployed for two tours in Iraq, three years in England and is presently living and working in Washington, D.C. Richard, the second son, is a former Marine. He rose to the rank of major in the USMC during his years of service. He is married to Elizabeth and they have one daughter. Rachel, our daughter, has completed her Masters Degree in Communications. She has served in China and Thailand as an English teacher, and  in various countries of Latin America as a photo-journalist. She is married to Trevor, a Major in the US Army Reserves. They have three daughters.

The Turner's present ministry is reaching and teaching the indigenous tribes in remote areas of Latin America. This outreach includes Costa Rica, Panama, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Colombia, Peru and Brazil. Continue to pray for these new opportunities of evangelism, discipleship, and church-planting.

Those who have been saved are so thankful that the gospel reached them and changed their lives. Families have been restored, alcoholics have been delivered, children now have Christian homes, and older people have found Christ before their death. Obviously, the devil doesn't take this with arms folded. He seeks to disrupt, deceive, and destroy. But God gives the victory! "Greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world."