By Diane Emeott
“Most people don’t realize, it’s as hard to go out as to come back,” said new Senior Pastor at First Baptist, Deerfield Beach, Deron Peterson, about his time on the mission field in Argentina.
He said it takes about 6 months after you return to get acclimated, that something as simple as going to the mall – where you expect them to be speaking Spanish to you, and they’re speaking English,” takes some getting used to.
Pastor Daron and his wife Beth were missionaries for nearly 10 years — for 6 years in Buenos Aires (the capitol of Argentina) with Word of Life ministries. [He was Director of a Bilingual High School there.] and for 3 ½ years with the International Mission Board in Corrientes, where he provided Leadership Training.
He called the two places completely different in spirit and attitude, comparing the suburbs of Buenos Aires to downtown Miami. “It was the mouth of Argentina.” Corrientes, a city of about 500,000 felt more like Deerfield Beach. He called it “the heart of the people.”
“Eventually, you get to the point where it’s your home. We loved living there as much as we do here.”
He said people going on short-term missions trips are always worried about what they’re going to do. He said just by getting on a plane and going, you are already doing more than expected. “Anything you do is beneficial. Through the simple things, you learn a lot.”
He encouraged anyone going on a short-term mission trip to stay long enough to have to buy toiletries.
Family
The Petersons have three adopted children: Samuel, 13, born in Argentina, attended K-3rd grade here in the states. Isaiah, 7, was born in Philadelphia. Anastasia, 3 ½, was also born in Argentina. She has a genetic disorder called Williams syndrome which makes her unusually gifted in languages. The three children are bi-lingual, although Isaiah is beginning to lose his Spanish, he said.
Pastor Deron is a Leukemia survivor.
He said his wife Beth was nicknamed “squirrel” in Argentina because she is always on the go. She is a runner who ran in Dunn’s Run and recent marathons in Miami and Ft. Lauderdale. “Everywhere we’ve been, she has gotten involved in the community and the church.” She helps out at Crossroads preschool, in addition to focusing on raising three children.
From missionary to pastor
Pastor Deron said it was his first Sunday at First Baptist [June 2010] that Pastor Jeff Knight announced he was leaving. He said he was surprised to hear of Pastor Jeff’s departure. That his first thought was just to be available to help out or be a presence in any way he could.
Initially, the Peterson family was simply looking for a place to stay while working with the Florida Baptist Convention on church planting in Miami. In August, First Baptist, Deerfield Beach, asked Deron to teach the Wednesday night Bible study. The end of October, they asked him to fill the Sunday pulpit for November and December, later extending it to January and February. Jan. 18, the deacons and elders unanimously voted for him to be Pastor. Jan. 23 was his first Sunday preaching as the new Senior Pastor.
“I really didn’t think this was going to happen. I was surprised. I’m still a little surprised and very excited! He said his master’s degree is in Leadership rather than the usual Master of Divinity degree associated with pastors. He also served as Youth Minster for 15 years — 4 of those at First Baptist of Dallas, TX.
Pastor Deron said his message is: “I don’t care what you did last night, the day before. I care about the truth – the word of God – you are hearing this morning and what you are going to do with it. Jesus taught about external change = false righteousness vs. internal change, which calls for a loving response to others… My job is to teach the truth,” he said.
