1927-2018
Graveside services for William Donald Brown, or Bill to his family and friends, were held on Tuesday, December 11th, 2018 at 10:00 AM with US Army Honors at Ft. Gibson National Cemetery in Ft. Gibson, OK. His son David Brown offered the prayer of committal at Ft. Gibson. Online condolences for his family may be left at www.reedculver.com.
Bill Brown spent his life serving, loving, and celebrating Jesus Christ. After a childhood in Depression Era Illinois, Bill joined the 101st Airborne Unit of the Army, where he trained as a paratrooper. He fell in love with Lorraine Johnson, sold his clarinet to buy an engagement ring, and they got married in 1949. They spent the next 69 years in love and service together.
Bill was ordained as a minister in the Evangelical Free Church and our Lord called Bill into—and sustained him through—many different types of service. Bill and Lori worked in a Christian summer camp as newlyweds, before joining Latin America Mission and moving to Costa Rica in 1951. In Costa Rica, Bill and Lori learned the language and he became known as Guillermo or Don Bill to his Costa Rican friends. Together, they were assigned to the Youth Department and then led an orphanage—Roblealto—where they began their family with their first daughter, Jennie. Later, their son David, and their second daughter, Jeannie, would join them in Costa Rica.
Throughout his life, Bill’s God-given talents led him into three clear—and clearly intertwining—areas of ministry. First, he was called to evangelize. Bill told people about Jesus—about what loving and living in a relationship with Jesus was like, about sin and forgiveness, about heaven and glory. Bill told everyone: friends, acquaintances, crowds, loved ones, and strangers. Bill was given the gift of evangelism and he stewarded his gift well.
Second, Bill was called into the patient study of Scripture and theology. He received both his BA and MA from Wheaton College and his Doctorate of Ministry from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (1988). Building on this foundation, Bill served as a professor of Christian Education at the Seminario Bíblico Latinoamericano; then founded a seminary, Escuela de Estudios Pastorales (ESEPA) in Costa Rica; and helped found three additional Bible schools in Latin America.
And third, Bill was a pastor’s pastor. He mentored, trained, equipped, disciplined, encouraged, and tirelessly exhorted God’s servants throughout Costa Rica and Latin America. He traveled extensively to serve new pastors and their fledgling congregations. Bill also published Ministrando Juntos, a book designed to educate and encourage pastors and congregations in church governance and ministry.
Bill is survived by his wife, Lori Brown (who he so affectionately called “Brownie”), his children Jennie and David (and their spouses, Bill and Barbara), his nine grandchildren (Claire, Sarah, Zachary, Nathan, Jonathan, Katie, Robbie, Erin, and Lauren), and his two great-grandchildren (Jacob and Geoffrey). Bill Brown was a faithful and true witness to God’s goodness and glory.
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