In Memoriam: Rev. Dr. John Loum
/On Wednesday, October 26, 2022, our friend and colleague, Rev. Dr. John Loum, left us to be with his Heavenly Father. Born into a Muslim family in The Gambia, he became a believer in Christ after having come into contact with a missionary associated with the Islam in Africa Project, then based in Nigeria. Shortly thereafter, having endured persecution from his family, he left for Sierra Leone where he became involved in evangelistic mission work, primarily among the Mende people.
He also enrolled in the Sierra Leone Bible College. Always eager to learn more, especially about Islamics and missions, he subsequently earned diplomas and degrees from Immanuel Bible College in Ibadan, Nigeria; Birmingham University, England; the University of Oxford, England (BA with honors); Hartford Seminary, Hartford, Conn. (MA), and a Ph.D. in missions from Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, IN.
Prior to the conclusion of his Ph.D. studies at the Ft. Wayne Seminary, Rev. Loum accepted a call from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis to serve as the Director of its EIIT (Ethnic Immigrant Institute of Theology) program. He served in this position for 14 years. During this time he also became very much involved with the Christian Friends of New Americans (CFNA) mission society, serving as a Board Member and Vice Chairman for more than 12 years.
Dr. Loum was first, last and always a missionary, and spent his last years as an LCMS missionary (part time) in The Gambia carrying out evangelistic work among the very people who rejected him as a teenager.
Moreover, he will always be remembered as a great advocate for missionary service among the refugee people among us. Dr. Loum provided great advocacy and leadership for the establishment and expansion of CFNA work in St. Louis and beyond during its early years. He will be greatly missed, and we praise God for his time among us. We also extend our sympathies and condolences to his wife Hannah and their children John, Hans, Cyril and Donald.