Bob Mortimer (evangelist)
Encyclopedia
Bob Mortimer is a Christian evangelist living in Gig Harbor, Washington, United States
. He is a triple amputee who became a motivational speaker to churches, schools, prisons, and military bases.
, Ohio
. He has four older brothers and one younger sister. His father died of a drug overdose when Mortimer was 16 and his family then moved to Hoquiam, Washington. Mortimer began drinking and using drugs and these addictions worsened during the next few years.
When Mortimer was 21, he and his brother were driving home after a night of partying. The car veered off the road and hit a power pole, knocking the wires down. Mortimer walked into the live wires and was severely electrocuted. Over the next few months in the hospital, his legs were amputated above the knee and his left arm was cut off above the elbow.
In 1979, he met his future wife, Darla and accepted Christ a year later. They married on June 6, 1981 in Auburn
, Washington.
He moved to Gig Harbor, Washington in 1992 and made it his ministry headquarters. Since then he has traveled internationally to work as a motivational speaker for the military and as a missionary, while continuing his local ministry. He also frequently shares his message at Luis Palau
festivals across the country.
Mortimer and his wife now have three children: Nicole, Grant, and Chanel.
on May 17, 2008. Mortimer rode a three-wheeled handcycle customized for triple amputees. He and his family pedaled from their hometown, Gig Harbor to New York City
and stopped at churches along the way. They reached the Statue of Liberty
on September 12, 2008.
In April 2011, Mortimer published a book about this trip. It also tells the story of how he lost his limbs and became a Christian.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He is a triple amputee who became a motivational speaker to churches, schools, prisons, and military bases.
Early life and accident
Bob Mortimer was born July 25, 1954 in North LimaNorth Lima, Ohio
North Lima is an unincorporated community in central Beaver Township, Mahoning County, Ohio, United States. Although it is unincorporated, it has a post office, with the ZIP code of 44452...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
. He has four older brothers and one younger sister. His father died of a drug overdose when Mortimer was 16 and his family then moved to Hoquiam, Washington. Mortimer began drinking and using drugs and these addictions worsened during the next few years.
When Mortimer was 21, he and his brother were driving home after a night of partying. The car veered off the road and hit a power pole, knocking the wires down. Mortimer walked into the live wires and was severely electrocuted. Over the next few months in the hospital, his legs were amputated above the knee and his left arm was cut off above the elbow.
In 1979, he met his future wife, Darla and accepted Christ a year later. They married on June 6, 1981 in Auburn
Auburn, Washington
-Parks:Auburn has an extensive system of parks, open space and urban trails comprising 29 developed parks, 5 undeveloped sites under planning, 2 skate parks, 2 water roatary parks, and over of trails , and almost of open space for passive and active recreation.-Environmental Park:The Auburn...
, Washington.
Ministry growth
After Mortimer was released from the hospital, he was invited to tell his story to students at the local high schools and middle schools. Eventually he chose speaking and ministering to be his full-time career and started traveling throughout the country.He moved to Gig Harbor, Washington in 1992 and made it his ministry headquarters. Since then he has traveled internationally to work as a motivational speaker for the military and as a missionary, while continuing his local ministry. He also frequently shares his message at Luis Palau
Luis Palau
Luis Palau, Jr. is an international Christian evangelist living in the Portland area in Oregon, United States. He was born in Argentina and moved to Portland in his mid-twenties to enroll in a graduate program in Biblical studies....
festivals across the country.
Mortimer and his wife now have three children: Nicole, Grant, and Chanel.
Hope and courage across america
Mortimer and his family started riding their bikes across the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
on May 17, 2008. Mortimer rode a three-wheeled handcycle customized for triple amputees. He and his family pedaled from their hometown, Gig Harbor to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and stopped at churches along the way. They reached the Statue of Liberty
Statue of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty is a colossal neoclassical sculpture on Liberty Island in New York Harbor, designed by Frédéric Bartholdi and dedicated on October 28, 1886...
on September 12, 2008.
In April 2011, Mortimer published a book about this trip. It also tells the story of how he lost his limbs and became a Christian.