Dedicated to the Service of Her Lord
“While she was my secretary, the mission field was her daily subject. She often requested that I pray she would be accepted. Being a member of the Congo Mission Board, I wish Helen were going with us…”
2 Minute Read
By JoLene Lampinen
At age 15, Helen Haynes felt God calling her to global missions.
In 1957 just prior to her departure to the field with her husband Gerry, Helen shared in The China Inland Mission Millions Magazine:
The Lord had called me to be a missionary and I must train for His work, but where should I go and how would my needs be met? I felt some responsibility for my parents, and had no funds to take me through Bible school.
At this time of uncertainty, the Lord gave me the promise of Psalm 37:5 as my own: “Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass.” I committed my way unto the Lord. I trusted my parents into His care, having the assurance that if I obeyed Him, He would care for them much better than I ever could!
God’s Faithful Provision
God proved himself faithful in supplying all the Haynes’ needs in a couple of specific ways before they even departed for the mission field.
One time they were almost out of food and money, and the Lord prompted a friend to bring them a basketful of groceries.
God also provided in a very tangible way when their daughter Marcia was born. Though the Haynes had insurance, there were still some unpaid bills as they were not yet eligible for maternity benefits. Through some error, their outstanding bills were covered. Although the Haynes’ pointed out the mistake, the company insisted and the bills were paid!
42 Years of Missionary Work
Helen and Gerry served 42 years with the CIM/OMF in East Asia and in the US as OMF Representatives. Although Helen and Gerry’s officially retired November of 1999, they remained actively involved with OMF well beyond that, and Helen remained an active prayer warrior right up to the time of her death.
Billy Graham once stated, “Nothing made by the hand of man has ever been so beautiful as starlight on the water or moonlight on the snow. And the same hand that made trees and fields and flowers, the seas and hills, the clouds and sky has been making a home for us called heaven.”
And just imagine! Helen is now safely in that beautiful home called heaven. She has seen Jesus face-to-face and has heard Him say to her, “Well done, Helen! Welcome home!”
I began working with OMF in 1991 as the Assistant to the Administration and Finance Director. In 2005 I moved to Pennsylvania to live with and care for the last 28 retirees at the OMF Lammermuir Community until it’s close in 2008. Upon returning to Colorado, I was allowed to create a new position to care for all of our OMF retirees around the US. In 2014, I decided to really get serious about the Retiree Care position, and I married one of my retirees! We moved to Loveland, Colorado in 2017 to help care for my aging parents and are still residing here.
So good to read about Helen and Gerry. My husband Rob and I visited them once in Hong Kong and were impressed with all the ways they were serving the Lord.
So encouraging to hear that, thanks for sharing Colleen!
My wife Elaine and I got to know the Haynes when on H.A. decades ago. They were reps for the Midwest as I remember and arranged deputation opportunities for us. We enjoyed fellowship with them. They would speak their hearts but were humble. We kept in touch for some years afterwards. Lovely dedicated people.
Alan & Elaine Mitchell
Thank you so much for sharing this. We pray the Lord will continue to bless you, Mr. & Mrs. Mitchell!