Beloved
Mission
Leader
Dies at
99
On March 5, 2016, our beloved Dr. Wesley L. Duewel, 99, passed away. Born on June 3,
1916, in St. Charles, Missouri, to the late Louis and Ida Luelf Duewel, Dr. Duewel heard
God’s call to India at the age of five in Nashville, Illinois, while playing in his sandbox.
Dr. Duewel gave his heart and soul for the cause of Christ and world missions for the
past 75 years, serving faithfully with One Mission Society, along with his wife Betty for 68
of those years before she died in 2008. Dr. Duewel later married his longtime secretary,
Hilda Johnecheck, also an OMS missionary.
Following ministry in India for nearly 25 years, Dr. Duewel served as President of OMS
from 1969-1982. Most recently, he served as President Emeritus and special assistant to
the President for evangelism and intercession. He was also working on his autobiography.
His writings and poems on the Holy Spirit, revival, and soul winning call God’s people
back to prayer. More than 2.5 million of his 10 books are now in circulation in 58 languages
worldwide.
Recognized as an authority on missions, Dr. Duewel served for 16 years on the board
of directors of Missio Nexus (formerly the Evangelical Fellowship of Mission Agencies),
serving as president from 1969-1972; 19 years on the North American Board of World
Evangelical Fellowship; 20 years on the board of National Association of Evangelicals; and
as a life trustee of Asbury Theological Seminary. In 2007, Missio Nexus honored Dr. Duewel
with its first-ever Lifetime of Service Award. In 2009, the Evangelical Fellowship of India
presented him with the Lifetime Service Award in recognition of his servant leadership.
Go here to view Dr. Duewel’s 2007 Lifetime of Service Award video.
Go here to donate to the Dr. Wesley L. Duewel Memorial Fund.
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