Point of View

It was apparent by the packed church in the heartland of America that Betty Jo Lewis was a sweetheart of a woman. Memorialized on Feb. 14, the former first lady of the Home Mission Board held court at First Baptist Church in Centralia, Missouri where her beloved knight in shining armor, Larry Lewis, was plucked from a nearby farm and brought to church as a young boy.

Pointing to the now historic picture of himself taken with a gaggle of other young boys in front of that veritable church building—cowlicked bangs hanging in his bright eyes—Dr. Lewis missed the framed front page of the On Mission magazine nearby portraying Centralia's very own first couple on their debut in Atlanta those many years ago. He had left the presidency of Hannibal LaGrange College to serve as president of the Southern Baptist Home Mission Board in Atlanta, now known as the North American Mission Board based in Alpharetta.

Larry and Betty Jo, every one knew, were on fire for God, on fire for each other and on fire for people.

This kind of love is the sweetest and on Feb. 14—when most people are trying to think of sappy, sentimental things to say—the words in the church at Centralia rang loud and clear. Betty Jo loved her God, her family and sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Right up until the very end.

Six years ago she was diagnosed with chronic lymphatic leukemia and was given 18 months to live. At the memorial service, friends told of even how in her last days she was able to pray for and witness to those doctors and nurses who were there to take care of her.

I have no doubt.

In 1987 and throughout the past 20 years I have been privileged to also call Betty Jo a friend and an encourager. This Valentines Day my rose came from her precious, innocent young granddaughter who played a friendly sentry by Betty Jo's coffin at the graveyard.

At Betty's Jo's grave, I couldn't help but think again of another woman from Hannibal who passed away a few years ago who also shared Betty Jo's love of people and of Jesus—my dear Marti Hefley. Together, those two "Missouri" friends represented prayerful encouragement, inspiration and leadership in my life. Their care for me is irreplaceable. They also represent a great loss to the Kingdom.

As I thought about that loss, I had an overwhelming sense of panic at who will replace such greats as these? Who will be faithful to teach these next generations of girls and women about loving people, caring enough to give and caring enough to go? Who will emphasize the importance of missions? The importance of evangelism? The importance of telling the story?

Earlier that same week, I was also struck with the irony of working on coverage of a missions summit involving Bobbye Rankin, wife of International Mission Board president, Jerry Rankin, the day I received the news about Betty Jo's passing. The year Bobbye was introduced as Jerry's wife as he was elected in that position at the IMB, I met Bobbye—and Betty Jo Lewis and Marti Hefley and I met up in a different part of the convention center and prayed for her and the new opportunities she would have.

Admittedly, they mostly prayed and I mostly listened in awe. But, I have continued to pray for her and have admired her ministry throughout the years as she continues to inspire women by traveling alongside her husband sharing with women—in conferences, luncheons, seminars, and classes—about the efforts of Southern Baptist missionaries to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ to the people of every tribe and nation of the world.

Pray God will continue to raise up women—alongside the men who lead us—women who will be passionate about sharing the Good News about what God is doing—women who will give of themselves and women who will go and in turn, teach future generations.