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In Memory of a National Leader

Harold Ebersole

Pastor Ghuni baptizes a girl struggling with cancer
before the Lord took her home.

Just before noon on Wednesday, September 27, my phone rang. It was Uttam telling me that God had just taken his father, Pastor Guni, home to heaven as result of an inoperable brain tumor. Uttam had been at his father’s side as his breathing slowed and finally stopped. Pastor Guni went quietly and peacefully into God’s presence. We rejoice that this great leader is with Christ, but we will miss him greatly.

Pastor Guni served God faithfully for more than thirty years. He was chairman and director of ministries for a tribal association of churches in South Asia, as well as director of the tribal Bible school. He was also a founder and the first chairman of the local association of Baptist churches and pastor of one of these churches. He was a teacher at a Bible college and board chairman of a theological seminary.

A list of titles does not begin to describe the unique life and ministry of Pastor Guni. He was a tremendous Bible teacher. He spoke from the heart to the heart, and lives were changed. He was a wise and godly counselor who pointed people to Christ. Whenever a problem arose in any of the churches or ministries, our first response was to get Guni's advice or to ask for his help in resolving the situation. In many ways, he dealt with the problems and carried the burdens of the entire Christian community both in the hills and throughout southern Asia. Whenever I grew tired and frustrated by the line of people at my door, or the length of time I had gone without a day off, I would think of Pastor Guni and realize that I had nothing to complain about.

I worked closely with him in many areas: planning and problem solving, training evangelists and pastors, hiking to remote villages, and leading board meetings. I especially enjoyed the hours we spent talking and praying together in our gazebo. It was one of the few places where we could usually escape the interruption of yet another crisis. It was a great delight to hear him tell about new opportunities to share the gospel in the hills and a great encouragement to pray together for God's help in resolving problems.

Guni could truly say that "for me to live is Christ." As a result, we know that his death is gain; not just for him, but for the church as well. When Paul was facing death he was able to say that what was happening to him was really serving to advance the gospel. Most of the brothers in the Lord who knew Pastor Guni have been encouraged to speak the Word of God more courageously and fearlessly. Jesus said, "Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain" (John 12:24). We are waiting in hope for God to bring much fruit from Pastor Guni's life and now from his death. That fruit will come as men and women dedicate their lives to fulfilling Guni's vision of sharing the good news throughout the hills and all over South Asia. Please pray with us that God will raise up and empower many leaders for the church in South Asia.

Opportunity to Give:

The Pastor Guni Memorial Fund has been established to help see this vision fulfilled. All gifts will be used to fund seminars and training programs for tribal pastors in Southern Asia. Checks can be made out to ABWE and designated for the Pastor Guni Memorial Fund (#077113).

Donations should be sent to—

Association of Baptists for World Evangelism
PO Box 8585
Harrisburg, PA 17105-8585

Or give online at www.abwe.org/give