James Edwin Bertsche, 91, left a 65-year legacy of mission leadership when he died February 27 at Greencroft Health Care in Goshen, Ind., after a three-month illness.
Bertsche’s theme song throughout his life has been “‘Wonderful Grace of Jesus’ that transforms lives and situations,” said Rod Hollinger-Janzen, current executive coordinator of Africa Inter-Mennonite Mission, a position that Bertsche held from 1974-1986.
“Jim has left an indelible imprint, both on the Mennonite Church of Congo and on Africa Inter-Mennonite Mission,” Hollinger-Janzen said. “His unassuming spirit and ability to treat all persons with dignity have earned him deep respect and the listening ear of many, both on the African continent and in the larger Mennonite family in North America.”
Adolphe Komuesa Kalunga, president of Communauté Mennonite au Congo (Mennonite Church of Congo), said, “Jim Bertsche worked both during and after colonialism to defend the church in Congo. A valiant warrior for the gospel, he risked his life and that of his family. He sowed seeds that will last forever.”
Bertsche demonstrated a direct connection between faith and risk taking, Hollinger-Janzen said.
The Bertsche family served in what is today’s Democratic Republic of Congo during politically volatile years following the country’s independence. In 1964, members of a political opposition movement burned the Kandala mission station, where the Bertsche family was living. Rebels threatened the missionaries with death. After three days of uncertainty, the Bertsche family, along with other missionaries, was evacuated by United Nations helicopters and re-stationed in Nyanga where they continued their ministry.
“After living through events like this, many missionary families would choose not to recommit to service in such an unstable situation. It can only have been the powerful grace of God, coupled with healthy doses of stubbornness and courage, that enabled Jim and Jenny [Bertsche’s wife] to remain in the place of trauma and continue to serve,” Hollinger-Janzen said.
Mutombo Mpanya, professor at California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco, said that Bertsche touched the lives of many in the Congolese Mennonite community. In 1960, when Bertsche was a mission school inspector for the Belgian administration in Congo, Mpanya heard about Bertsche before he met him.
Download full-resolution image.“He stood up for the education and the welfare of the Congolese people,” Mpanya said. “I appreciated his gentle and serious way of relating to people.”
Bertsche was born June 20, 1921, in Bluffton, Ohio, to Emma (Steiner) and Harry Bertsche. He attended Taylor University in Upland, Ind., where he met Genevieve “Jenny” Shuppert. They were married in 1946. Bertsche continued his studies at Northern Baptist Theological Seminary in Chicago. In 1948, the Bertsches joined Congo Inland Mission, now known as Africa Inter-Mennonite Mission.
For the next 25 years, James’ ministry included village itineration, teaching, preaching, mentoring mission personnel and Congolese church leaders, translation of biblical materials, and legal representation for the mission and the Congolese Mennonite Church.
In 1963, Bertsche graduated with a Master’s degree in cultural anthropology from Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill., and was awarded an honorary doctorate by Taylor University in 1968.
In 1974, Bertsche was called to become the executive secretary of Africa Inter-Mennonite Mission in Elkhart, Ind. Under his 12 years of leadership, the mission expanded its ministry into Botswana, Burkina Faso, Lesotho, and the Transkei region of southern Africa.
After retirement in 1986, Bertsche wrote a history of the mission, which was published in 1998: CIM/AIMM: A Story of Vision, Commitment, and Grace. Bertsche continued to be an active advocate for mission, traveling widely and sharing stories of faith and God’s goodness until a few months before his death. He played a large role in preparations for last year’s centennial celebration of Congo Inland Mission/Africa Inter-Mennonite Mission. His contributions included writing for and co-editing The Jesus Tribe, a collection of short biographies of influential Congolese Mennonites.
Bertsche is survived by his wife, Jenny, and three children: Sandra (Rod) King of Goshen; Linda (Jim Yoder) of Port au Prince, Haiti; and Tim (Laura Gilbertson) of Morton, Ill.; a sister, Ruth Covington; and seven grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Evan Bertsche.
On March 9, a celebration of James Bertsche’s life was held at Silverwood Mennonite Church in Goshen, where Bertsche was a member.
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Mennonite Mission Network, the mission agency of Mennonite Church USA, leads, mobilizes and equips the church to participate in holistic witness to Jesus Christ in a broken world. Media may contact Andrew Clouse at andrewc@mmnworld.net, 574-523-3024 or 866-866-2872, ext. 23024.
