A TRIBUTE TO BOB MARSH

A TRIBUTE TO BOB MARSH

Epaphroditus went to Rome in the service of Christ. When he returned to his home in Philippi Paul wrote: “honor men like him” (Phil. 2:29). It is the purpose of this brief article to pay tribute to Bob Marsh for he is a man like Epaphroditus who deserves to be honored.

Bob was born in the small town of Pana, Illinois. From a young age he worked in a printshop. His attention to detail and desire for excellence led him to become a master printer. He learned to do everything associated with printing. He operated presses, made negatives and plates, proofread, and did everything with a desire for excellence that has characterized his life.

Bob didn't become a Christian until he was almost 40 years old. His commitment to Christ, however, reflected the same diligence and desire for excellence that defined his work in the print shop. Very soon after enlisting in the army of King Jesus he and his wife, Mary, felt called of God to serve Christ in Peru. So in a great venture of faith, he and his family moved to Arequipa, Peru in 1970. They ministered there for five years and then moved to Chiclayo and Lambayeque where they continued to minister for almost 15 years more.

Bob is a printer, not a preacher. Consequently his ministry for Christ involved printing tracts, hymnals, booklets, study guides, and anything else that would bring glory to Christ. He mastered the Spanish language with the same excellence he did everything else. Soon he was translating material into Spanish with an accuracy admired by those who are native speakers.

Unfortunately, his printing ministry in Peru was interrupted many times when Communist guerrillas blew up electrical power stations. So in 1989, he and Mary accepted the challenge to continue their ministry back in the states. He worked first in Indiana, and then with Spanish American Evangelism Ministries in El Paso, Texas. His move to Joplin, Missouri provided many other open doors for his talents. With the help of his supporters he has been able to volunteer his services to College Press, Literature and Teaching Ministries, American Rehabilitation Ministry, White Fields Oversees Evangelism, and has also done much translation work for Boyce Mouton. As always, he remains in the background and hardly anyone is aware of his work of faith and labor of love.

Bob is now over 90 years old but still mentally sharp and striving for the same excellence that has characterized his entire life and ministry. It is our privilege and duty to Christ to honor men like Bob Marsh!