Lewis Isham Myers Jr.

Rev. Dr. Lewis I. Myers, Jr., a former Baptist missionary to Vietnam and a longtime leader and innovator in spreading the Gospel in countries hostile to Christian missionaries, died surrounded by his family on August 29 in Richmond, Virginia, at the age of 91.

It is fitting that Dr. Myers’ last meal with his family was a bowl of pho, a popular Vietnamese noodle soup, given his life long attachment to Vietnam and love of his family.

Dr. Myers’ missionary service in Vietnam began in 1960 and focused on establishing churches and training emerging Vietnamese church leaders. His impressive mastery of the language and knowledge and love of Vietnamese people and culture enabled him to introduce Christianity successfully and to nurture Vietnamese Baptist congregations that emerged from his work. He was an effective Bible teacher who related the Gospel well to people in all stratas of society. Congregations he helped establish and leaders he trained remain active in Vietnam today.

With the change of government in Vietnam in 1975, Dr. Myers and his family were no longer able to reside in the country. Dr. Myers immediately went to work with Vietnamese refugees in the U. S. through a secondment to the North American Mission Board’s Language Missions Department. In 1977, he was invited to join the staff of the Southern Baptist International Mission Board, eventually rising to Vice President for World A Strategies. He was the founding director of a program to devise new ways to introduce people to Christ in countries and cultures that did not welcome Christian missionaries. This work to focus energies of Southern Baptists toward the unreached people of the world was among the most satisfying of his career. It included developing approaches to people in East Asia, Muslim countries and many other parts of the globe. That strategy enabled Baptist business leaders, teachers, agriculturalists and others to work in those areas to share the Gospel wherever possible in the course of their other duties.

Today, this is the predominant model of missionary service utilized by the Southern Baptist Convention’s International Mission Board.

During this period, Dr. Myers continued to assist Vietnamese Baptist congregations in the U.S. established by Vietnamese refugees. At the invitation of Baptists in Vietnam, he and his wife Toni also traveled to the country each year, well into their 80s, to help train new church leaders.

He was also respected as an insightful teacher of a thriving Sunday School class at First Baptist Church in Richmond — the Mustard Seeds — which he led for the last four decades.

Dr. Myers was born in Mississippi and grew up in the small town of Skene, the son of Lewis I. Myers, Sr., and Katy Myers, who were educators. Dr. Myers received his undergraduate degree from Mississippi College and later was conferred an honorary doctorate of divinity by that university. He earned his Master of Divinity degree from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky.

He pastored churches in Mississippi and Kentucky prior to his appointment for missionary service in Vietnam.

Dr. Myers was well known for his deep faith, intellect, Bible teaching, leadership skills, and abiding sense of humor.

Dr. Myers is survived by his wife and devoted partner of 70 years, Antoinette “Toni” Myers, also from Mississippi, and was a loving and dedicated father to his children Michael Myers (Kay Bellor), Laura Schultz (Tim Schultz) and Margaret Wilson (Rick Wilson). He was Gagai or Granddaddy to his six grandchildren and three great grandchildren who adored him. He is predeceased by his son Gray Myers. He also is survived by his sister, Mary Katherine “Kappy” Turnipseed of Russellville, Arkansas.

A service to celebrate his life will be held at a later date at First Baptist Church, Richmond, Virginia.

Contributions may be made in his memory to the Lottie Moon offering of the Southern Baptist International Mission Board.