By Jeff Walsh, Director of International Missions

Former missionary to the Philippines Grant Robert Aldridge fell asleep in Christ on December 29 after a brief battle with cancer. I first met Grant in 2001. He was part of a joint New Zealand/America work team that came to the Philippines to help with building construction at Oro Bible College. During that trip, Grant asked me about the position of business manager for our mission team, a position we were looking to fill. I didn’t realize he was the one seriously interested. The following year Grant joined our Philippines missionary team as business manager.

When we rejoined the team in 2005, Grant was well-oriented to the work and already finding many extra ways of ministering.  Besides dealing with finances, banks and government regulations on behalf of our team, he was assisting at OBC’s library, speaking at churches and in chapel services, sharing his musical talent and investing as a mentor in the lives of some of the young male students. His intentional mentoring was very likely his greatest impact as a missionary. Even up to his final few days he continued to keep in communication with these young men and encourage them in the work of the Lord.

Being a missionary was not easy for Grant. Being the only Kiwi on an otherwise all-American missionary team was challenge enough. Then there were the many challenges involved in learning Filipino culture and the Cebuano language. And, like every missionary, he missed his family back home in New Zealand and struggled with loneliness. I am grateful to have known Grant as a missionary colleague. My favorite memories with him were the afternoon tea breaks we would have at his house. We would enjoy tea together and often a special snack he had baked. And we would talk about things other than the mission work – our respective families, countries and cultures. I thank God for having known Grant.

A service celebrating Grant’s life will be held at Titirangi Baptist Church on January 4 at 1 p.m. New Zealand time. You can view the live service by clicking here.