Leaders pay tribute to late missionary John Anderson
John Anderson, a long-time Nazarene missionary to India, passed away this summer at the age of 85. He was noted for his ability to identify closely with Indian culture. Many said he was far more Indian than American.John was 3 years old when his parents, John and Mary Anderson, who served long years in India, arrived there in the 1930s. He grew up there, and attended Woodstock, the well-known expatriate school in the Himalaya mountains. His facility with language, his childhood experiences of growing up in India, his deliberate intentionality of making India the focus of his life’s ministry, were all parts of what made up the soul of John Anderson.
In terms of career, John and his wife Doris were noted for their old-fashioned pioneering work of planting the church in north India, operating from the capitol city of Delhi. It is impossible to overstate or exaggerate how difficult this task was. He networked with government and business persons, started a church, began and pastored the international church (in this case with the target expatriates including several US Embassy personnel), etc. He began the district structure and trained leaders.
Later, the Andersons left Delhi and moved to Calcutta, replicating much of what they had done in Delhi, digging out the work under impossible conditions. Part of this was his relational investment into the current leaders for the work of India.
It is really difficult to overestimate the contribution of John and Doris to what we have now in central, northern and eastern India.
John and Doris are examples of missionaries who received very little public recognition, serving many years under difficult circumstances.
— Dr. Franklin Cook, former Eurasia regional director, who grew up with John.
June 24, 1989. 11:30 p.m. New Delhi railway station. Very noisy. Very hot and humid. My train was 15 hours late. I reached my destination after a 45-hour journey, tired, hungry and very worried. Worried, because at this hour I had no place to go.As I looked out of the train compartment, I saw amongst a sea of hundreds of brown faces, a white face with a broad smile, waving at me!
God’s angel? Yes!
My tiredness disappeared… no more worry!
Yes, it was John Anderson, waiting to pick me up. That day my long association and friendship with John and Doris Anderson began.
I had gone to New Delhi for my Masters in Public Health. During my two years in Delhi, I would spend every weekend at their home and every Saturday evening we would sit on their lawn discussing almost everything possible on this earth. I gradually realized that I was being spiritually mentored to play a role of leadership at a later stage.
I would address him as Bhai (a respectful term for big brother in Hindi).
He always emphasized the importance of being obedient to the Word of God. He had been exemplary by his “servant leader” lifestyle and had a great role in my life and my career by being a great role model.
I pay tribute to a great man of God, who always will be fondly remembered for his “Indian-ness,” his love for India, his humility, his dedication and, most of all, his faith in the Living God.
— Dr. Arun Noah
My memory goes down the lane when John’s parents came to India as missionaries. They encouraged me through thick and thin. In fact, it was at the behest of Mrs. Mary Anderson that I joined a seminary in south India and later was ordained as a priest.While I worked as a chaplain at Washim, Mr. Anderson, Sr. was the business manager at that time. He would often guide me in my work. Later, John, who studied in the U.S., then came to India. Our families enjoyed the camaraderie during their stay in Buldana, India. My children recollect some very fond, yesteryear moments.
John joined the Bible school along with me and how we enjoyed the fellowship. I would often take him to the villages.
There is no doubt in my mind that in the Kingdom of God this obscure-to-many, self-denying follower of the Lord Jesus Christ stood as a giant. I have met many preachers of the Gospel and many missionaries, but few have equaled the unflagging commitment of Rev. John Anderson to the calling of God on his life.
His missionary activity involved not only evangelism but also humanitarian work, especially among the poor and disadvantaged, promoting economic development, education and health care. There were mountain-top experiences and victories and the satisfaction of simply doing the will of God. Through it all, Rev. Anderson was steadfast, always keeping his eyes on the prize before him.
He pastored, did the work of an evangelist, taught pastors in a Bible school, expended himself and his finances in the gospel ministry. His passion for preaching the gospel in India was tied to neither health nor money. I feel certain that he did a lot more with a whole lot less than many others.
I was saddened to hear of this missionary’s death, but I also rejoiced. This battle-scarred saint was faithful until death! What more could be asked of a servant of our Lord Jesus Christ?
I learn he leaves behind a dear wife, the former Doris Dickson; daughters, Karen (Mike) and Mary Beth (Ken) (photo right); five grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
He also leaves behind for his family and friends an instructive memory of how a faithful servant of our Lord Jesus Christ should live.
Our Lord told His disciples in Matthew 16:24: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” As far as I can tell, Rev. John Anderson did just that.
– Rev. Dayanand Kharat, Buldana, India (former principal, district superintendent, pastor)
