October 27, 2008
Mrs. Ruth Nelda Amstutz, retired missionary to Chile, entered into the presence of the Lord on Tuesday, October 21, 2008. She was 92.
Before her marriage to Mahlon in 1941, Ruth was a high school teacher in Kansas. Both she and Mahlon attended Asbury College and Nyack Missionary Training Institute before their appointment as Alliance missionaries to Chile in 1945. They were stationed in Temuco, serving in teaching ministries at the Bible Institute and itinerant evangelism among the Chilean churches. They also produced a weekly gospel radio program and were involved in field leadership responsibilities.
In later ministry years, they were engaged in church planting and were the first Alliance representatives in the city of Antofagasta where they experienced fruitful establishment of churches. Most of their service took place in Chile, except for six months in Argentina overseeing the Bible Institute in Buenos Aires.
The couple retired in 1988, but continued to travel overseas periodically in various ministry capacities. Ruth was said to be sincere, earnest and desirous of God’s best in all things. She took care of their five children and household, but also played a vital part in ministries to young people and women. Whether it was Sunday School, VBS ministry, or women’s Bible studies, she was faithful to the mission of seeing Chilean’s of all ages come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
Mrs. Amstutz is survived by her husband Mahlon S. Amstutz; sons Mark R. Amstutz, Samuel W. Amstutz, and James Amstutz; daughters Carolyn R. Mizzau and Nelda L. Johnson (C&MA missionary to Ecuador); 13 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren.
A memorial service was held Saturday, October 25, 2008, at Eastminster Presbyterian Church in Wichita, Kansas. Memorial gifts may be made payable to The Christian and Missionary Alliance with “Ruth Amstutz Memorial” in the memo and sent to the attention of Donor Accounting at The Christian and Missionary Alliance, PO Box 35000, Colorado Springs, CO 80935-3500. This will be used for the Chile national church women’s ministries.