Joy Bausum Has Finished Her Course on August 18, 2010
Joy Bausum went to be with the Lord while serving as a SOWer in a children's home for Burmese refugees in Malaysia. Only 26 years old, her life was brief, but certainly full. She traveled more miles, visited more countries and touched more people with the love of Christ than the vast majority of Christians who live three times as long.
When I met Joy for the first time and interviewed her at School of Missions in 2009, I was very impressed by her enthusiasm to take on any challenge and travel to any location in order to serve the Lord she loved. Later that year we met again in Nepal, where I was impressed by her spirit of service toward the people she worked among, her cheerful willingness to endure hardship, and her keen insights into the culture. Energetic and irrepressible, Joy took great delight in sharing the love of Jesus.
The last time we met at School of Missions a few weeks ago, we were making plans for the mission to Malaysia she was about to embark upon, and I told her how much I admired her courage and her commitment to Christ.
Joy was an inspiration to colleagues who served with her all too briefly, and she will be greatly missed. She finished her course all too soon, but finished well. While her family and friends back home will endure great grief and sorrow at her passing, they can be proud that Joy laid down her life in service to the gospel, and met the Lord while doing what she wanted to do in the place she wanted to be.
I pray that Joy’s example will inspire many others to follow her to the mission field. Lord, send us many more like her, if You can find them!
Russell Board
++++++ What happened?
On Monday, August 16, 2010, I received the following e-mail from Dr. Harold Dalton, the assistant director of World Missions Ministries for the IPHC:
Many of you will remember Joy Bausum from Passport and School of Missions. She is a SOWer.
The week after School of Missions Joy left for Malaysia where she was working at an orphanage near Kuala Lumpur run by our national leader, Henry. This past Saturday, Aug. 14th she fainted. They thought it was heat or exhaustion. She was taken to a doctor and then admitted to a hospital. She is now in ICU. They have discovered a blood clot on her brain. At this moment they are waiting for additional tests and then will determine what to do. Please stop and take a moment to pray for her.
Joy first became part of the IPHC in Bluefield, WVA, under the ministry of Preston Mathena. Her family now lives in Biscoe, NC.
Thanks for your prayers,
HAROLD DALTON, D.Min.
Assistant Director
World Missions Ministries
++++++ What you may do to express your love and sympathy to Joy's family
You may wish to take a look-see at the article and photo of Joy Bausum on the World Missions Ministries website: www.wmm.iphc.org
Here is a part of what I read about how you and I can get involved in honoring the life of this vibrant, young missionary:
"To leave a message of encouragement to Joy's family, join the Facebook group "Pray for Joy Bausum."
In lieu of flowers, the Bausum family has asked for donations to be given to the Joy Bausum Memorial Fund. You can do that on line when you go to the World Missions Ministries website.
Or, you may make your check to World Missions Ministries, earmarked #98007P and mail it to:
IPHC World Missions Ministries
P. O. Box 270420
Oklahoma City, OK 73137
Posted on
Wed, August 18, 2010
by Hugh Morgan