Ron Edgecombe: Missionary printer to Argentina

Many adopted children struggle with abandonment and identity issues. As an orphan raised in a number of foster homes, Ron Edgecombe was described as non-adoptable, possibly an imbecile, and mostly likely to be committed to an institution.  With undiagnosed dyslexia, no one would have imagined that Ron would one day receive a doctorate and serve as a missionary statesman 

Ron’s mom gave birth to him after having an affair.  After her husband returned home from serving in World War II, he angrily told his wife she would have to choose between the baby or him. His mom chose the baby, but a year later she placed Ron in an orphanage. At age two, he was adopted by Bill and Florence Edgecombe.  Sadly, at age five, his adoptive mother left.

In 1957, at age seven, while living with an aunt, Ron was invited to attend a local Sunday School where he first learned about God’s love.  At age nine, his dad remarried. Edna became Ron’s mother #3. Through his Sunday School teacher, Ron went at age ten to Anvil Island Bible Camp where he personally met Jesus.  

At age 12, Ron again became motherless, when Edna left, being tired of the fights and abuse. Being bounced around left Ron not knowing where he belonged – or if he even did.  Ron went to live with his Aunt Lil who became the closest thing to a mother he ever had.  While in High School, his adoptive dad Bill remarried, giving Ron mother #4. This time, Ron stayed with his aunt.  A life verse that kept Ron going was John 14:18 “I will not leave you as orphans. I will come to you.”

He and his wife Gloria were married in 1966, having met through Interschool Christian Fellowship at Van Tech High School. Gloria came from a warm, loving, stable family.  She observed, “With Ron’s background, he could have been a criminal, some sort of delinquent, a drug addict. It shows that when God puts his hand on you, nothing is impossible. God touched Ron’s life and made him the person he is.” 

Ron had studied Printing and Graphic Arts in school becoming a journeyman printer and a year after their wedding, they became missionary printers in Quebec in 1967.  Ron’s dynamism and sense of humour won the hearts of many Quebecois. Serving for 12 years by faith with no salary. Gloria soon learned how to speak French like a native-born speaker.  Ron commented, “Gloria is my partner, my helpmeet, and the love of my life.”  During Expo 67, Ron printed a lot of French bibles and pamphlets through Publications Chretienne that were given out at the Sermons for SciencePavilion. During their 12 years in Quebec, Ron was responsible for the distribution of 250,00 Gideon Scriptures. Ron has been a Gideon now for 50 years.

Returning to Cascade Gospel Chapel (Cascades Church) in Vancouver, Ron became their first full-time worker/teaching elder for six years.  A Plymouth Brethren church, they have a strong emphasis on daily studying the Word of God and sharing it with others. Enrolling in seminary, he received his Masters in Ministry at Northwest Baptist Theological College.  During this time, Ron became very active in the 1984 Vancouver Billy Graham Crusade.  Doug Todd of the Vancouver Sun wrote how Ron was used in the graphics printing for the BGEA outreach.  Following this, Ron was used by the Billy Graham team in numerous countries, in printing literature, photography, preaching, and in translation.  He remembers the late Billy Graham as “the gentle father he never had,” admiring his steadiness, uprightness, and simplicity.

Over thirty years ago, the Lord opened the door for the Edgecombe family to become missionary printers in Argentina.  It had been the farthest thing from their minds to actually go there.  Initially in 1985, they went for just fourteen months. Once again, they had to learn yet another language, another culture, and again be separated from family and friends. Being missionaries meant missing many family birthdays, Christmases, and loved ones passing away. Their close, strong marriage has been vital each time they entered a new mission field without knowing anyone else.

While on one of their furlough visits to Vancouver, Ron met his biological mother, who was living in Nanaimo.  The sealed adoption records had recently been opened.  He learned that his mother had strongly considered having an abortion in Calgary, but something stopped her from going through with it.  Knowing why his mother had given him up, and that she still really loved him, gave Ron peace.

Back in Argentina, Ron completed his Doctorate at Covenant Theological College in 1998.  Dr. Ed Penner fondly remembers visiting the Edgecombe family in 2018 on location in Argentina: “In order to reach Argentinian children, Ron built a pool, initially by hand before getting an excavator in.” For family reasons in 2000, the Edgecombes returned to Canada.  Since that time, they have returned to Argentina for three months every year (except during Covid). Their passion has been to help in camps for underprivileged Argentinian children.  All this mission work has been done by faith for fifty-five years with no salary.  God has provided year after year. Their third son and his family live and work in Argentina and are very active in the church there. It is a great joy for Ron and Gloria to be able to share life with this part of their family during the three months of the year that they are ministering in Argentina.

Nine years ago, Gloria had a bout with cancer, and in 2019, Ron had open heart surgery.  Gloria commented, “These were times when we had to lean heavily on the Lord, put our full trust in Him, acknowledging that He is in control.”

We thank God for Ron and Gloria Edgecombe, ordinary Canadians whom God has used in extraordinary ways on God’s global mission field.