Elwyn was raised in the NE Brazil town of Messejana, a suburb of Fortaleza.  His parents, Joe & Elaine Goossen first came to Brazil as missionaries under The Evangelical Union of South America.  A merger in the ’70’s changed their sending organization to Gospel Missionary Union, now Avant Ministries.

As a 7 year old, Elwyn realized that although his parents were Christians, that was not something he could inherit and that he needed to make his peace with God himself.  He prayed to God, asking Him for forgiveness for his sin based on Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross (Rom 10:9).

Elwyn graduated from LeTourneau University with a degree in Electronic Engineering Technology.  Believing the Lord calling him to use this training to run a radio station in Brazil, he also studied Bible at Grace University, graduating in 1994.

Linda was also raised in Brazil, the daughter of Wycliffe missionaries Ed & Jean Barkman.  At a very young age she understood that the only way to heaven was to trust in Christ as her savior, which she did.  Since the town where she grew up (Cuiaba)  was on the other side of Brazil, she and Elwyn didn’t meet until they were both going to Grace.  Linda first got her RN at Iowa Western Community College, and then a BS in Bible and nursing at Grace in 1990.

We were married in 1992, and the Lord has blessed us with two sons and a daughter.  In 1996, we arrived in Brazil, missionaries with Avant Ministries, with the intention of having a radio ministry in Fortaleza.

We now live in Nova Russas, 300 km from Fortaleza, where Elwyn is the manager of the Harvest Radio complex, two radio stations broadcasting the Good News of God’s salvation to the back lands of Brazil.

We also help out with a church-planting effort in Tamboril, a nearby town with less than 2% evangelicals.