Rev. Bill Bathman
Rev. Bill Bathman, was an extraordinary Evangelist, who ministered in 114 countries, throughout his long and productive life. He spent 22 years in Europe, working behind “The Iron Curtain”, serving the persecuted church in communist countries. He was ministering in Czechoslovakia when the Russians invaded in August 1968 and Romania during the Christmas Revolution of 1989.
Bill Bathman lived an action-packed life ministering throughout Europe in the aftermath of the Second World War and throughout the tumultuous events of the Cold War, ministering in Rhodesia during the Bush War in the 70s, during the Revolutions in Central America, ministering despite repression in Red China, ministering in the Revival in Zululand and the Revival amidst persecution in Sudan. When missionaries were denied a visa to certain danger areas, he went in as a ‘correspondent’ – often on a military flight.
Bill Bathman served in the US Navy, graduated from Bob Jones University and founded three Missions: Network, Pioneers and ITMI. He also poured his life into the Mission of Frontline Fellowship, especially during the seven years that he and his wife Harriet were based in Cape Town, from 2001 to 2008. For ten years, Bill was radio host of “In Touch,” a daily news and interview program heard on many US stations and in Africa.
Bill wrote and published Target Topics, a contemporary devotional exposition from God’s Word. He is the author of multiple books, including: Angola by the Back Door, Going On, Going Through and How’d You Hurt Your Hand?
Rev. Bill Bathman was a world-class preacher and an extraordinary Evangelist. However, one could never compare his preaching in the West with the incredibly anointed ministry God poured through him in Eastern Europe. Leaders in Romania, such as Rev. Josef Tson, Dr. Nicolai Gheorghita and Dr. Paul Negrut, in Oradea, said that the outbreak of Revival in Romania began while Rev. Bill Bathman was delivering a particularly powerful series of sermons, in January 1983, at Second Baptist Church (now Emanuel Baptist Church). It was an extraordinary Evangelistic Crusade which resulted in Revival blessings flowing across Western Romania.
It often seems that modern missionary volunteers just want to dabble in Missions - for the experience. However, Bill Bathman's books, Going Through - Even if the Door is Closed and Going On - With a Nod from God, present inspiring examples of dedicated discipleship and serious service, not just splashing in the shallows, but delving into the deep. Spiritually speaking, Missions need more than short-distance sprinters, it needs long-distance marathon runners.
In Missions, obstacles abound. Disappointments, dangers, difficulties and discouragements are occupational hazards of cross-cultural Missions. Bill Bathman persevered for 67 years, demonstrating that sacrificial service is the most eloquent sermon of all.
“Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honour, especially those who labour in preaching and teaching” 1 Timothy 5:17
Bill Bathman lived an action-packed life ministering throughout Europe in the aftermath of the Second World War and throughout the tumultuous events of the Cold War, ministering in Rhodesia during the Bush War in the 70s, during the Revolutions in Central America, ministering despite repression in Red China, ministering in the Revival in Zululand and the Revival amidst persecution in Sudan. When missionaries were denied a visa to certain danger areas, he went in as a ‘correspondent’ – often on a military flight.
Bill Bathman served in the US Navy, graduated from Bob Jones University and founded three Missions: Network, Pioneers and ITMI. He also poured his life into the Mission of Frontline Fellowship, especially during the seven years that he and his wife Harriet were based in Cape Town, from 2001 to 2008. For ten years, Bill was radio host of “In Touch,” a daily news and interview program heard on many US stations and in Africa.
Bill wrote and published Target Topics, a contemporary devotional exposition from God’s Word. He is the author of multiple books, including: Angola by the Back Door, Going On, Going Through and How’d You Hurt Your Hand?
Rev. Bill Bathman was a world-class preacher and an extraordinary Evangelist. However, one could never compare his preaching in the West with the incredibly anointed ministry God poured through him in Eastern Europe. Leaders in Romania, such as Rev. Josef Tson, Dr. Nicolai Gheorghita and Dr. Paul Negrut, in Oradea, said that the outbreak of Revival in Romania began while Rev. Bill Bathman was delivering a particularly powerful series of sermons, in January 1983, at Second Baptist Church (now Emanuel Baptist Church). It was an extraordinary Evangelistic Crusade which resulted in Revival blessings flowing across Western Romania.
It often seems that modern missionary volunteers just want to dabble in Missions - for the experience. However, Bill Bathman's books, Going Through - Even if the Door is Closed and Going On - With a Nod from God, present inspiring examples of dedicated discipleship and serious service, not just splashing in the shallows, but delving into the deep. Spiritually speaking, Missions need more than short-distance sprinters, it needs long-distance marathon runners.
In Missions, obstacles abound. Disappointments, dangers, difficulties and discouragements are occupational hazards of cross-cultural Missions. Bill Bathman persevered for 67 years, demonstrating that sacrificial service is the most eloquent sermon of all.
“Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honour, especially those who labour in preaching and teaching” 1 Timothy 5:17
