William J. Hopewell
Dr. William J. Hopewell, Jr.
1919-2010
Dr. William J. Hopewell, Jr., was graciously and gently promoted to Heaven on Saturday, March 6, 2010.
Bill Hopewell was born on December 1, 1919, in Wilmington, Delaware. He was a graduate of Wheaton College, Faith Theological Seminary, and the Medical Missionary Course of the National Bible Institute. During World War II he served as a US Navy Chaplain and saw active duty in the Philippines. He gained a love for the Filipino people and felt called to return as a missionary. Bill and his wife, Ruth, joined ABWE in 1947. When Baptist Bible Seminary and Institute was established in Manila following the war, Bill was sent out to be its first director. He and Ruth served in the Philippines for four years, developing the school into a degree-granting seminary. Before they left on their furlough, they had the joy of bestowing the first two degrees on qualified students in the graduate department.
After the country of Chile was opened, the Hopewells sensed God’s leading to that country and transferred to the new field in 1953 to serve one term. Bill then took an 11-year special assignment to teach missions at Baptist Bible Seminary in Johnson City, New York. Those years were crowned with a great outpouring of missionary candidates for sister agencies. He also earned a Th.M. degree from Winona Lake School of Theology in 1963.
Bill was called back to ABWE in 1968 to serve in the Home Office as deputation secretary. He blessed the lives of pre-fielders and furloughees through personal letters and phone calls. In 1977 ABWE president Dr. Wendell Kempton appointed him as executive administrator for all the fields located in South America, Europe, and Africa. It didn’t take long for the workload to exceed what one man could carry, and in 1982 the South America region was transferred to another administrator, while Bill continued to administrate Europe and Africa. Bill participated in survey trips to open Paraguay (1974); South Africa (1980); Norway (1981); Kenya (1983); England (1984); and France (1985). Bill was dedicated to the task of shepherding a large number of missionaries; he and Ruth prayed fervently for the missionaries under their care and provided wise counsel when needed.
Bill retired from his administrative duties with ABWE in 1986. The Hopewell family (children and grandchildren) continue to be a tribute to Dr. and Mrs. Hopewell's devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ and obedience in following the Scriptures. Though they deeply miss their father/grandfather, they “rejoice with the hope and confidence that he is now enjoying the fullness of the glory of his Heavenly Father.”
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