News at ABWE
Tribute to Dr. Harold T. Commons
Dr. Harold T. Commons, President Emeritus of ABWE who led the mission from 1935-1971, peacefully entered the presence of His Lord Jesus on Saturday, July 21, 2007 at 101 years of age. His son, Dr. William T. Commons was with his father when he passed away in his summer home by Lake George near Ticonderoga, New York.
God raised up Dr. Harold T. Commons in a crucial day of the mission’s history while it was still called the Association of Baptists for Evangelism in the Orient. Dr. Commons guided ABEO through many difficult years, including the Great Depression and World War II. As he championed the cause of missions among churches across America, the scope and vision expanded beyond the Philippines, thus causing the Board to change its name to the Association of Baptists for World Evangelism.
“Dr. Commons assumed his role of leadership during a time of religious apostasy and controversy. He therefore took a very firm stand on the Word of God and pursued doctrinal integrity with passion, grace, and love. He was known as a missionary statesman throughout his entire tenure of thirty-six years. He was considered by the world of missionaries as a man of God and a gentle servant.”
—Dr. Wendell Kempton, President Emeritus ABWE
“When I arrived as the 4th President of the mission in 2001, Dr. Commons had been off the scene for thirty years. Yet when we met I was taken aback with the boldness and authority in his voice as he spoke of his commitment to the gospel of Jesus Christ and the Word of God. Dr. Harold Commons was a man with a large spirit and an even larger heart for the world that shone through the light in his eyes. He was very generous in his encouragement to me as a much younger man who succeeded his role in ministry. I recall his grace, eloquence, dignity, wit, and mastery of the English language. He was like a spiritual great grandfather to our entire mission family. We all loved him and we will miss him very much. I always came away feeling privileged for the treasured moments we had together. The last thing I ever heard him say was to quote the words:‘Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost but now I’m found, t’was blind but now I see.’”
—Dr. Michael Loftis, President, ABWE
“Dr. Harold Commons was an outstanding communicator who was highly skilled in his use of the English language. Even when treated unkindly he always took the high road in a poised and dignified manner. He was a gentleman among gentlemen who handled difficult and awkward situations adroitly. Over the years he demonstrated a sincere and personal interest in the challenges and problems of missionaries probably far more than they ever knew.”
—William M. Pierson, Vice-President, ABWE
“Dr. Commons was a godly man, a pleasure to work with. I served with Dr. Commons from 1956 to his retirement in 1971. He was so organized and an inspiration to others around him. When he dictated a letter he made it so easy on the secretary as he would put in all the punctuation and spell the difficult words. God certainly gave him a rich and full life.”
—Harold Amstutz, ABWE Candidate Secretary, retired
“On behalf of Dr. Danny Lovett, President, Dr. Susan Lovett, VP for Academics & Institutional Effectiveness, myself, Gregory Stephens, Acad. Dean of TBS, and the entire Tennessee Temple University family, please accept our deep condolences to the Commons Family and to the entire ABWE Board, Administration and Missionary Family on the passing of Dr. Harold T. Commons, 2nd President of ABWE. His is an enviable legacy imprinted permanently on his family and in the ministry of ABWE and the personnel that continue its ministry worldwide. Dr. Commons, like father Abraham, ‘…died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years; and was gathered to his people!’ Gen. 25:8. And like Moses, Dr. Commons, for 101 years, ‘…endured as seeing Him who is invisible.’ Heb. 11:27.
May our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, comfort and challenge us all with His faithful and forthright person and ministry, modeled so very well by Dr. Harold T. Commons.”
—Gregory D. Stephens, Academic Dean, Temple Baptist Seminary
“Dr. Harold Commons became the pastor of First Baptist Church of Johnson City, New York, in late 1933 and the President of Baptist Bible Seminary in June 1934. He was a man of intense conviction in public matters, but an approachable and humble man. Students remembered his compassion and utter devotion to the Lord. As a man deeply committed to missions, he became the President of ABWE in September 1935. At that time, he resigned as pastor of the church, stating, ‘Physical endurance will not long stand it, nor would it be fair to so attempt to divide my time between these three great pieces of work, that none of them would be done justice and my work would become slipshod.’ Even though he took an extended trip to the Orient in behalf of ABWE soon after becoming President, he maintained his role as Seminary President until June 1936 when he became Vice President. The early 30s were lean financial years for a newly-formed Seminary, yet due to the leadership of Dr. Commons, enrollment grew and BBC remained strong. God blessed BBC&S, ABWE and the churches Dr. Harold Commons served through His wise, godly and biblical leadership.”
—Baptist Bible College, Graduate School, & Seminary
Funeral Service
The funeral service will be held on Saturday, July 28 at First Baptist Church in Ticonderoga, New York.
First Baptist Church
108 The Portage
Ticonderoga, NY 12883
1:00 p.m. Viewing and visitation (at the church)
2:00 p.m. Funeral service
Committal will be immediately after the funeral service following by a fellowship supper at the church.
Memorial Gifts
The family is asking that in lieu of flowers memorial gifts may be made to the ABWE South Brazil Ministry account of Dr. Common’s granddaughter, and husband, Reverend and Mrs. Randy Richner.
US Donors
To send your tax-deductible gift by mail, please print this form and mail it along with your gift to:
ABWE Donor Services
PO Box 8585
Harrisburg, PA 17105-8585
Canadian Donors
For online gifts click the "Donate Now" button on the ABWE Canada home page, then choose ABWE Memorial - Dr. Harold T. Commons from the drop-down list.
To send your tax-deductible gift by mail, please print this form and mail it along with your gift to:
ABWE Canada
34-980 Adelaide Street South
London, ON N6E 1R3
Biography
Saved by God’s Grace
Harold Commons never heard the gospel of Christ during his formative years. In 1923 he entered Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts. During his sophomore year, Harold visited an uncle while on Easter vacation. His uncle was a Christian and he showed the young Harold passages dealing with salvation. At that time, Harold put his faith in Jesus Christ.
Prepared for Ministry
When Harold returned to Williams College, he became active in the Student Volunteer Movement with the desire to become a missionary to Africa. During this time he met Miss Corinth Tracy, who eventually became his wife. With the desire to acquire more theological training for the ministry, Harold entered Princeton Theological Seminary in 1927, and during his second year there the Fundamentalist-Modernist controversy in the Presbyterian denomination came to a head on campus. The men who left Princeton started a new seminary in Philadelphia, Westminster Theological Seminary, and it was there that Harold spent his final year, becoming part of the first graduating class of the new seminary.
Ordained for the Pastorate
By the time he graduated, Dr. Commons' perspective on his ministry had shifted. He was still vitally concerned with foreign missions, but realized that the cause of missions was irrevocably tied to the state of churches in the homeland. He decided he could best serve the cause of evangelical Christianity on the mission field by doing what he could to stem the tide of liberalism in the churches at home. Dr. and Mrs. Commons joined the Spruce St. Baptist Church in Philadelphia, PA. It was there that they were baptized and Dr. Commons was ordained. In July of 1930, Dr. Commons became the pastor of the First Baptist Church in Atlantic City, NJ.
Introduced to ABWE
Dr. Commons' relationship to ABWE began in 1931 via his friendship with David O. Fuller, an ABWE board member. Dr. Commons attended one or two of the board meetings by special invitation. Mrs. Peabody asked Dr. Commons if he could attend regularly and take the minutes, and from that time on, Dr. Commons became an active participant in the affairs of ABWE. He took over a good deal of the official correspondence between headquarters and the missionaries.
Elected as President
In 1933, Dr. Commons moved to Johnson City, NY, where he became the pastor of the First Baptist Church and president of the Baptist Bible Seminary located there. His relationship with ABWE continued, and he was elected as a board member and vice president in October of 1934. At the April 1935 board meeting Mrs. Peabody resigned and Dr. Commons was elected president with the understanding that he would give up the pastorate of the church and the presidency of the seminary to give full time attention to the mission.
Led with Endurance
It became obvious to Dr. Commons that the long-range financial stability of the mission lay not with individuals but with churches, and so he took to the road to broaden the base of support. He represented the mission work through public ministry, films, slides, and literature. Dr. Harold Commons guided ABWE through many difficult years, including the Great Depression and World War Two. When Dr. Commons assumed the office of president, ABWE was ministering in only one country (Philippines) with fewer than 40 missionaries. In 1971, when he retired, ABWE was ministering in 11 countries with over 300 missionaries. God blessed his able leadership over a period of 35 years. Dr. Commons once wrote, “The Lord brought us through many trials, both internal and external, and proved His faithfulness many times over.”