Comments on: Veteran Missionary J. C. Choate Dies

By: Reynaldo F. Sienes, Jr.

Reynaldo F. Sienes, Jr. — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 13:47:32 +0000

Sister Betty:

Be strong and firm. Bro. JC is an excellent example of how God designs us to adore Him.
He will be in our hearts.

By: Gary and Kathy Walker

Gary and Kathy Walker — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 05:35:22 +0000

I thank the Lord for the pioneering work that J.C. and Betty have done in India evangelism. The effects of their work will live on for many generations. The countless books that he has published will continue to teach the gospel.

J.C. early on understood the unique challene of preaching the gospel in a poor country and did his best to promote indigenous works. His mission philosophy had a significant influence on me and my ministry in India.

His faithful life is an inspiration to me.

Gary and Kathy Walker
Elder at the Sunset Chuch of Christ
Director of India City Evenagelism

By: J. Randal Matheny

J. Randal Matheny — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 01:56:38 +0000

I have written a short piece at this address.

By: Enoch and Jeannine Thweatt

Enoch and Jeannine Thweatt — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 14:37:49 +0000

Betty and J.C. will always be remembered with love and appreciation. They have exemplified the best qualities of our brotherhood, and have stayed above the petty problems that most of us fall prey to. His servant heart, his dedication, his never-give-up tenacity to the work he chose and to the road he had set his feet upon are his legacy to the rest of us. May God bless his memory, and may He give to Betty comfort and heart’s-ease at this time.

By: Robert & Mary Martin

Robert & Mary Martin — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 14:09:29 +0000

Mary and I love J.C. & Betty Choate more than we can express in human words. J.C. & Betty nfluenced our lives when we were serving the Lord in the South Carolina mission field about the need for foreign missionaries. As part of our preparation for going on the foreign mission field, we read every one of the books that they had in print on foreign mission work. Mary and I gained much from their knowledge and wisdom about foreign mission work. It is because of the knowledge and influence of J.C. & Betty that Mary and I have lived and served the Lord on the foreign mission field in the Pacific Islands for thirty-five years. J.C. was a gentle giant of a man who loved and gave his life to foreign mission work. We will never forget this gentle giant of a missionary, because he continues to live in our lives and all we do for the Lord in the foreign mission field of the Pacific Islands.

WORKERS TOGETHER
for the cause of Christ,
Robert & Mary Martin
Missionaries in the Pacific Islands

By: Maxie B. & Fran Boren

Maxie B. & Fran Boren — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 03:58:43 +0000

Dear Betty,
It was with sadness that we learned of J.C.’s death. We loved and appreciated him so much for his work’s sake in the kingdom of our Lord. Only eternity will reveal the good that the two of you accomplished for the Cause we all love. But while we mourn his passing, yet we rejoice in the victory we believe he has obtained in Christ!
We have been praying for months on end that God would bless J.C. with recovery of his health, but always inserting “if it be Thy will.” Once again we are reminded that our Heavenly Father has something far better in mind for His family, to be realized in heaven! Won’t it be wonderful when all of His children are gathered home!
May God’s blessings abide with you, Betty, as you make adjustments in your life. Our thoughts, prayers, and kindest besh wishes abide with you.
In sincere Christian love,
-Maxie B. & Fran Boren

By: Ed & Dioly Maquiling

Ed & Dioly Maquiling — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 13:43:13 +0000

I don’t think sister Betty Choate knows us. I don’t think brother J.C. was familiar with me; we met only once or twice. But throughout the years I have been followings the steps of this man, and of his wife as well, of his journeys for Christ in many places in Asia, of his many efforts to support every work in places where Christ is now named. And as I read of the works he had been doing, my admiration for him grew.

J C talked about replacement missionaries who took over the work they left behind in Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka and other places. But JC could never be replaced in the hearts of those whose lives he had touched. There is only like him in the whole world.

His passing may be a great family loss. But his entrance into the great beyond is a cause of rejoicing among angels and departed saints. Everyone there would be proud of having JC among them.

Our family’s condolences to Betty, and our prayers as well.

Ed and Dioly Maquiling

By: Dereck & Susan Beukes

Dereck & Susan Beukes — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 05:12:56 +0000

I am the minister at the Bellville church of Christ. My wife and I met brother Choate many years ago when he preached in Benoni. We founf him the most amazing brother who just loved the Lord and wanted everyone to know about Him.
It is with sadness that we heard that our brother Choate had passed on but we know He is with Him whom He loved and who loved him.
Betty & we keep you in our prayers. To the church where he served we will ask God to continue to bless you as you work through this grief.
much love,
Dereck & Susan Beukes and the Bellville church of Christ

By: The bateman family

The bateman family — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 04:38:00 +0000

We have learnt much from JC’s lessons and books.
Now God has taken him to a well earned rest.
Rejoice he has fought the fight he has kept the faith.
What an example to us all. We are thinking of Betty
and the family at this time.
The Bateman family, Wellington New Zealand

By: Joel Stephen Williams

Joel Stephen Williams — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 03:58:48 +0000

J. C. Choate published a couple of my books when I was a very young preacher. He took me with him to India in 1985. We stopped here and there to visit missionaries along the way — Hong Kong, Thailand. As Ed Short noted, J.C. was an expert at getting lots of luggage through airports.

It took me a couple of weeks to figure out what he was trying to do as a missionary. I finally realized that he was trying to be (1) a good missionary in one location, (2) the Gospel Advocate publishing house for the whole mission field, and (3) the Herald of Truth for as much of the mission field as possible. While he wrote and published probably 50 of his own books, he also published many dozens of books by others. He had a hard time saying, “No,” to any good project and to a request for help. If a missionary needed help, J.C. would try to raise some money for him, get him some books, or do whatever he could. He always traveled economy, stayed in the homes of other missionaries if possible rather than a hotel, and was very frugal in spending money for himself. He will have no worry over the heavenly CPAs going over the financial books of his ministry.

Another preacher who was my mentor as a young preacher said that he knew J.C. when he and Betty went off to the mission field. This other preacher said to himself, “That won’t last long.” He told me, though, that year after year he kept on reading reports of J.C. from the mission field. After many years went by, he realized that J.C. would give his life to world evangelism and that his earlier hunch about him had been very wrong. J.C. will be missed.

Joel Stephen Williams