GENE (JENNY)
Lilia Geneva McIntyre Algandona Arguelles Garrido Bethancourt was born on April 19, 1968 in beautiful Panama City, Central America! But to the relief of many, these days she goes by either pastor or mama Gene McIntyre! She is the oldest of 6 brothers and 1 sister. For all intents and purposes, she was and still considers herself kind of a second mother to all her brothers and sister. She had an awareness of God very early in life but formally met her Savior at age 9. It took a couple of years for the rest of the family to catch on, but catch on they did! With them & her mom Elvia Rosa, Gene used to minister in the streets, parks, jails and hospitals as Siloe (Siloam, from the Bible). Siloam shared the gospel through dancing, singing and preaching - Kind of an urban ministry in the worst areas of Panama City. All of Gene’s family of origin still serves the Lord in Panama. In July of 2014, her sister Lacey Geannina became Mrs. Matthew Kramer and relocated to Minnesota. Although Gene’s dad walked without God for most of his life, he came to know Christ 3 months before passing away. He made it to Heaven!
JOHN
Reverend John Charles
McIntyre was born on August 1, 1961 in Pardeeville, Wisconsin but lived a great
portion of his life in Madison. He
attended University of Wisconsin and Concordia University where he obtained a
Bachelors of Arts. He came to the Lord
at 19 years of age. No one ever
witnessed to him. He searched and
searched and one day, despondent and desperate, he kneel on his couch and
prayed to a God he desperately needed.
He said, “Lord, I can’t live like this anymore. If you really are there, please come into my
heart!” The rest is history! His family thought he was going through a
“phase”. The phase is here to
stay. After a few years, John got
involved in Campus Crusade for Christ and Concerts of Prayer in university
campus. Later, John graduated from the Berean
University of the Bible and was credentialed as an ordained minister in
2004. John has a brother and two sisters
still living in Wisconsin. He had the
opportunity to lead both, his mom and dad, in acknowledging the Lord as their
Savior, during the last hours of their lives on earth.
JOHN & GENE MEET - AND THE MCFAMILY STARTS...
In April of 1998, Gene was
working as an attorney and employee & labor relations manager in Panama. John, on the other hand, held two jobs as a
certified nursing assistant for the disabled.
On April 26, they met on a website sponsored by Christianity on-line,
called Christian Connection. They
started corresponding and realized they shared their passion for Christ. They also shared their commitment to stay
single and not compromise their faith by marrying someone that would not share
that passion. When it became apparent
that their friendship was flourishing into something else, Gene had
hesitations. Leaving her country,
family, friends, ministry and career were not in her list of life goals. Yet, after a week of prayer and fasting and
incredible signs (we can tell you about those whenever), they were determined
to meet. Less than a month after they started corresponding, on May 23rd of
1998, John drove to Maryland, Aberdeen Proving Ground where Gene was participating
in a class. He already had tickets to Panama, but did not want to wait until
July of that year to meet her. When he got out of that rental car and
approached Gene, they walked towards each other and hugged. Both of them felt
there was a third person in that hug. There was no doubt Who that was! As soon
as the hug was over, John got on his knee, pulled out a ring and asked Gene to
marry him. Yes! It was the first time they ever saw each other in person and it was less than a
month since they had started corresponding. Gene amazed herself and said yes.
On December 19, 1998, they were married in Panama among family and friends. 10
days later, John and Gene McIntyre relocated as a couple to the US. Their marriage has seen trials, adjustments,
tears and laughter but today, they can say Ebenezer!!! The Lord has been
faithful. They both have grown incredibly and say that God has used each other
to sharpen & reshape who each were.
Rumor has it they are still madly in love with God and with each other. John
and Gene have two sweet babies: Astrid Victoria and JC. She is all girl and sweet, lover of Jesus, and
an emotional, expressive artist, just like mommy. He is all boy, rambunctious,
independent, fierce but sensitive, and passionate about Jesus, just like daddy.
Oreo Fluffy McIntyre, a beautiful Husky who was
abandoned and recently adopted by the McIntyres has also been part of the McFamily
for 3 months.
THE ALTAR
John & Gene have been
blessed with a burden to see others restored in their faith to Yahweh, the
Lord, who made the Heavens and the Earth. When JC was 3 months old (May of 2008)
they started a church in their living room, after being associate pastors and
serving in other traditional churches.
They called it The Altar – where the needs of men and the majesty of God
intersect! For the first 5 years, The
Altar met both in homes and also in a very humble area in Sarasota, Florida
called Newtown. The Altar did a lot of door-to-door sharing of the Word, charity
work, had a weekly Sunday service in the very heart of the neighborhood and
also worked to bring all the churches in the area together. Today, the McIntyre’s living room is still
His Altar. We are a small congregation, but we are on fire for the Lord. John & Gene give all glory to God and
consider themselves nothing but lovers and servants of Jesus and the Great I Am! Their goal in life is to bring increase to
the Lord's Kingdom and to cause decrease to the kingdom of darkness. They are
after a legacy of leaving behind an army of believers that will raise their
children and others as an army of believers, mighty in the power of The Spirit
of God and His Word. That the name of the Lord and His Word will be always
proclaimed in their household and those households they have touched. For John
& Gene, there is no life outside of our God. Make no mistake about it, though, they also
know how to have fun & enjoy life. They love parks, pools and the beach. They enjoy good movies. They love holding parties and entertaining
people. There is always someone other than their immediate family sharing and
living at their home. The McIntyres feel
blessed to serve that way. And the doors of their hearts and home are
always open for new friends…yes, that includes you!
