Lonnie and Gail Burton
Lonnie Burton first arrived in Venezuela as a nine-year-old boy accompanying his missionary parents, James and Martha Burton. Fourteen years later, in 1976, Lonnie and Gail Burton, alumni of Conquerors Bible College, received their appointment as UPCI missionaries to Venezuela. Arriving in Venezuela in November 1977, the Burtons settled in the eastern side of the nation. At that time the area only had four works. Today it has over 40 works and is divided into two sections. Lonnie Burton is the director of the Bible school in Valera. Much of the growth of the Venezuelan church can be attributed to its ministerial training programs. Lonnie and Gail Burton pastor in Valera and are responsible for the development of many new works in their area.