Wendell Kempton had a big heart for God’s work among the nations, and the local leaders who paid a price to evangelize, disciple, and lead their people had his highest respect. He genuinely looked up to them and felt like a grain of sand in the presence of those local pastors and teachers who served and suffered in hard places.
He had a unique capacity to love people across cultural, racial, and linguistic barriers, feeling on level ground with them whatever the economic or educational distance might be. Desiring to serve them in any way, he poured out his life and his resources to help them achieve their vision for the advancement of God’s work among their people.
Sometimes he even exceeded the normal financial guidelines, even to the chagrin of his colleagues, when local needs on various fields broke his heart and unleashed his generosity. Calvary love flowed through his compassion, and many international leaders were blessed with the resources he released by faith, and even by his personal sacrifice.
Around the world, Bible college and hospital buildings, literature programs, and varied local ministries thrive today because Dr. Kempton walked beside men and women of God there, heard their voices, and felt their passion for their people.
His high regard for international leaders even impacted his USA headquarters team, motivating him to bring veteran pastor and church-planter Rev. Po-Wan and Miranda Yeung from Hong Kong and Toronto into his top administration in 1997 to serve as director of International Chinese Ministries and executive administrator for East Asia.
Wendell W. Kempton leaves a legacy of compassionate, humble service, of generosity and kindness that spans the countries and continents of the world. His visionary leadership and his concern for the unheralded champions of the gospel worldwide continue to inspire followers of Christ from many cultures and colors. By God’s grace we will continue to build on that foundation, seeking to raise up church-planting movements and local missions movements among the nations until our Lord’s return.
“If you get close to the heart of God, you are going to get involved in missions. And the rest of your life, God is going to honor you and bless you as you, as an individual, promote the heart of God.” —Dr. Wendell Kempton
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4/16/12
Mary Lou Brownell passes away at 82
Brownell served in Bangladesh and the Home Office for many years.
3/27/12
Corabelle Stowell, wife of longest-serving Board member in ABWE history, passes away
Her husband, Dr. Joseph Stowell II, went home to be with the Lord in June 2007
