November 12, 2004
Dr. Louis L. King, recognized among evangelicals worldwide as a leading missions statesman, passed peacefully into the presence of the Lord on Thursday, November 11, 2004, at Shell Point Retirement Community, Ft. Myers, Fla.
Dr. King served as the seventh president of the U.S. Christian and Missionary Alliance from 1978 to 1987. He was born in Hurffville, N. J., on November 30, 1915, and was ordained 25 years later. He pastored churches in New York, Illinois and Nebraska before being assigned as a missionary to India in 1946.
He returned to New York to serve as vice president for International Ministries for seven successive three-year terms prior to his election to the presidency. Dr. King pioneered modern missions with his commitment to the development of national leaders and self-sustaining, independent, strong national churches.
In addition to authoring several publications on missions, he served as president for The Alliance World Fellowship and on the board of directors of the Evangelical Foreign Missions Association.
Dr. King married Esther L. Martz on April 14, 1939, and the two served their Lord together-in U.S. pastorates, on the mission field, and in positions of national leadership. Dr. King is survived by his wife, four sons and their wives; Paul and Genny, David and Sara, Stephen and Mary Ann, and J. Mark and Laura; ten grandchildren and six great grandchildren.
In The Alliance Witness, October 1, 1980, Dr. King summed up his contribution to world missions:
The indigenous church concept and our eventual faithful adherence to it is our crowning glory. Our early adoption of it has made us a unique phenomenon in missionary history. It should therefore be rehearsed in perpetuity . . . For us and for the national churches it has been like a mighty deliverance from bondage.
A public viewing is scheduled at Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, Ft. Myers, Fla., on Thursday, November 18, 4 to 6 P.M. The funeral service will be held at The Village Church at Shell Point, 10 A.M., on Friday, November 19. Donations in memory of Dr. King may be sent to the Great Commission Fund, The Christian and Missionary Alliance, P.O. Box 35000, Colorado, CO 80935-3500.