Lonnie James Burton, the son of Lonnie R. and Gail Burton, arrived in Venezuela as a two and a half-year-old child and was raised in Venezuela. He grew to be a youth pastor and musician in Barcelona and in other churches in eastern Venezuela where his parents ministered. He returned to the states when he was eighteen to attend Indiana Bible College, graduating in 1997. He then returned to Venezuela in the following fall as an AIMer, working in the Bible school in Valera. During that time he ministered on the weekends as an evangelist and started to open churches in the Andes Mountains. After starting a work he would pastor them until there was a graduate from the Bible school that wanted to pastor that work.
He later married Damarys Martinez, whose father was a pastor and sectional presbyter. Together they worked as caretakers, administrators and teachers at the National Bible School. During this time they were able to start four churches, all of which all are still growing and are beautiful congregations today. Lonnie and Damarys received their missionary appointment to Venezuela in February 2004 and started deputation in September 2006. Upon their arrival in Venezuela, November 2008, they were given immediate oversight of the Bible school in the city of Valera as the directors. In the last four years working with the Bible school, the Burtons have seen over 230 students graduate. They also pastored a church during this term in the Andes Mountains called La Puerta for over two years. Also, they are involved in the Education and Missions Departments in the Venezuelan church and are still helping to establish more churches in this nation. During 2013-2015 they came back on deputation to raise more funds and special projects for the Nation of Venezuela. Upon their arrival May of 2015 they continued their work as Directors of the National Bible School in Venezuela in the City of Valera. In October they moved to another city in the east of Venezuela called Barcelona/Puerto La Cruz. In this area is where their main focus has been since 2013 for a new Bible school. In the last four years, they have seen over 462 students graduate. In forty-two years, “The Conquerors Bible School” has Graduated over 1870 of which 80% of them are pastoring in works here in Venezuela and around the world. Venezuela is having revival!