7 Prominent Missionary Statespersons Promoted to Glory in 2016

by Marv Newell.

As 2016 comes to a close, we pause to honor and remember those influential and distinguished missionary statespersons who dedicated their lives in the service of the Great Commission.

Ted W. Ward, 85, professor of education and missions, ministry consultant, and noted seminar leader, died on January 9, 2016. Ward was professor of education and curriculum research at Michigan State University. In 1985 he began teaching at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Deerfield, Illinois and soon was appointed professor of Christian education and mission, and later dean of international studies, mission, and education. Many considered Ward to be one of the fathers of Theological Education by Extension in the 1960’s, and he became one of the foremost authorities on non-formal theological education. Active on many ministry boards and a consultant to evangelical organizations, Ward influenced a generation of educational leaders to serve around the world.

Dr. Wesley L. Duewel passed away on March 5, 2016 at age 99. He was born June 3, 1916, in St. Charles, MO, to the late Louis and Ida Luelf Duewel. Dr. Duewel gave himself to world missions for 75 years. After ministry in India for nearly 25 years, he was the president of One Mission Society (1969-1982). In 2007 he was the recipient of the first ever Missio Nexus (The Mission Exchange at the time) Lifetime of Service Award.

Marjorie Alice Winchell, age 88, went to be with the Lord March 18, 2016 in Lancaster, PA. Marjorie was the devoted wife of Richard “Dick” Winchell, both being long time missionary statespersons with TEAM (The Evangelical Alliance Mission). She and Dick served as missionaries with TEAM in South Africa from 1950 – 1968, then at the International Headquarters of TEAM in Wheaton, Illinois. In 1975 Dick became the General Director.  Marjorie served with grace and distinction by his side as the “First Lady” of TEAM for 19 years.

Roger S. Greenway, 82, mission executive, professor, and author, died April 30, 2016, a resident of Rockford, Michigan. After studying at Calvin College and Calvin Theological Seminary, Grand Rapids, Greenway was ordained in 1958 and appointed by Christian Reformed World Missions (CRWM) and served in Sri Lanka and Mexico. He authored Discipling the City: A Comprehensive Approach to Urban Mission (1992) and Fish: The Call of the Master Fisher (2013), and was named CRWM’s Latin America secretary. Later, he taught at Westminster Theological Seminary.

Robertson McQuilkin passed away at age 88 on June 2, 2016. McQuilkin served as the third president of Columbia International University from 1968 to 1990 distinguishing himself as a spiritual and practical visionary. Under his leadership many were trained for missionary service. He resigned from the presidency to care for his wife, Muriel, who had reached the stage of Alzheimer’s disease in which she needed full-time care. Prior to becoming president of CIU, McQuilkin served for 12 years as a missionary in Japan. He was honored for his decades of work in Christian missions when he received the 2010 Lifetime of Service Award from Missio Nexus.

C. Peter Wagner (October 21, 2016) was a missionary, missiologist, writer, teacher, and church growth specialist best known for his controversial writings on spiritual warfare. Wagner served as a missionary in Bolivia under the South American Mission and Andes Evangelical Mission (now SIM International) from 1956 to 1971. He then served as Professor of Church Growth at the Fuller Theological Seminary’s School of World Missions until his retirement in 2001. Wagner authored more than 70 books. He was the president of Global Harvest Ministries from 1993 to 2011, served as the chancellor emeritus of Wagner Leadership Institute, and was the vice president of Global Spheres, Inc.

Helen Roseveare (September 21, 1925 – December  7, 2016) was an English Christian missionary, doctor and author. She worked with Worldwide Evangelization Crusade in the Congo from 1953 to 1973, including part of the period of political instability in the early 1960s. She practiced medicine and also trained others in medical work. In 1964 she was taken prisoner by rebel forces and she remained a prisoner for five months, enduring beatings and rapes. She left the Congo and headed back to England after her release but returned to the Congo in 1966 to assist in the rebuilding of the nation. She helped establish a new medical school and hospital, as the other hospitals that she built had been destroyed, and served there until she left in 1973. After her return from Africa, she had a worldwide ministry speaking and writing. She was a plenary speaker at the Urbana Missions Convention three times. Her life of service was portrayed in the 1989 film Mama Luka Comes Home. Although from Great Britain, across North America she encouraged many into missions.