Skip to content
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
The Baptist Paper
The Baptist Paper
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds

Lessons from turbulent times on the missions field, in ministry

  • April 14, 2022
  • Shawn Hendricks
  • Alabama, Featured, International Mission Board, Latest News, Missions
Martin Elder
(Photo courtesy of Ellamae Elder)

Lessons from turbulent times on the missions field, in ministry

As the war rages on between Russia and Ukraine, Ellamae Elder finds herself, like so many others, praying daily for the millions impacted by the conflict.

The former International Mission Board missionary refuses to give up hope that God can do great things amid suffering and violence.

Martin and Ellamae Elder

Elder remains thankful God spared South Africa from civil war during the Apartheid years when the country was ensnared in a system of racial segregation and protests. She remembers time and time again how God protected her and her husband, Martin, from violent uprisings, a potential carjacking and various ministry challenges as they helped with church planting efforts and theological education. Through these ministries they saw many lives impacted for Christ.

Elder’s husband Martin passed away in November 2021. She recently reflected on some of the lessons she learned on the missions field and later as a pastor’s wife.

Expect great things from God

Sometimes, Elder admitted, she underestimated what God could do during turbulent times of unrest in South Africa. The couple served there from 1988-1999.

“I really thought the country would go to war, and it didn’t,” she recalled. “The churches really banded together and prayed.

“And I had never heard people pray like I’d heard these people of South Africa pray. And that was to just expect great miracles from God.”

Elder lamented that more churches need to pray that way.

“I don’t think there is the prayer life … like we need in the U.S.,” she said.

“I think it would be wonderful if the churches in the U.S. would band together and really pray for Ukraine and what God would do in that situation.”

God can deliver Ukraine from further violence, Elder noted.

“If it can happen in South Africa, it can happen again,” she noted. “It was a miracle of the Lord. It was just amazing to be there in those days and see what God did.”

Be calm in danger

Elder recalled that during their time in a South African city called East London, and later when they lived in Cape Town, she often was warned about the dangers of crime lurking outside the missionary gate. Among them was the continuous threat of being carjacked, she said.

“There was so much danger,” she said. “I was advised that once I left outside my door, left the security of my door of that iron gate, I was to look out for three men together because they usually worked in threes to hijack a car.”

Elder vividly remembers a potential carjacker approaching her one day.

“The man said he wanted [my] car and I got to witnessing to him, and it got him sidetracked away from what I believe he was trying to do,” she said. “I was at the grocery store in the parking lot. I can remember I was calm. I know it was the peace of the Lord that was on me at that time.”

“I just began witnessing to him. I saw an opportunity to witness. I don’t think I realized until later the danger I was in.”

Keep serving

Elder recalled the couple retiring from their missions work in 1999 “battered, bruised and broken” from years of ministry. But they continued to find ways to serve the Lord after relocating to Greenville, Alabama, in 2001.

Martin Elder served as a Sunday School teacher and eventually as pastor of Sardis Baptist Church in Greenville, Alabama, even after having a stroke that impacted the volume of his voice. He gave his farewell sermon in 2019 when he was 83.

Regardless of where she is serving, Elder said she still looks for opportunities to share her faith.

“Every time I’m around a person, I want to know where he [or she] stands with the Lord,” said Elder, who recalled recently having a conversation with someone at a store about how her husband “is with the Lord.”

“I speak openly about the Lord,” she said. “I just make it into my daily conversation.”

Elder reflected, “To this day I miss South Africa. … Missions was always at the heart of our lives. We really loved being in the ministry. We loved being missionaries.”

Share with others:

Facebook
X/Twitter
LinkedIn
Email
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email

Latest News

  • Study: Nearly 1 in 3 Americans consult astrology, tarot cards or fortune teller
    Study: Nearly 1 in 3 Americans consult astrology, tarot cards or fortune teller
    May 23, 2025/
    0 Comments
  • Jack Graham picked to serve on Trump’s new Religious Liberty Commission
    Jack Graham picked to serve on Trump’s new Religious Liberty Commission
    May 22, 2025/
    0 Comments
  • ‘Shocking act of violence’: 2 Israeli embassy staffers killed in shooting
    ‘Shocking act of violence’: 2 Israeli embassy staffers killed in shooting
    May 22, 2025/
    0 Comments

Sign up for the Highlights

Get all latest content delivered to your email a few times a month.
Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

Related Posts

Study: Nearly 1 in 3 Americans consult astrology, tarot cards or fortune teller

With tarot cards showing up on Barnes and Noble shelves, in viral TikToks and in cutesy Jane Austin-themed sets, perhaps it’s no surprise that 30% of U.S. adults consult a fortune teller, tarot cards or astrology on a yearly basis.

Jack Graham picked to serve on Trump’s new Religious Liberty Commission

President Donald Trump has appointed Jack Graham, senior pastor of Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas, to the advisory board of the newly established Religious Liberty Commission.

‘Shocking act of violence’: 2 Israeli embassy staffers killed in shooting

‘This is a shocking act of violence and our community is holding each other tighter tonight,’ said American Jewish Committee CEO Ted Deutch.

Supreme Court’s 4-4 split on Catholic charter school leaves unanswered questions

The Court’s one-sentence ruling noted, “The judgment is affirmed by an equally divided Court.”

Want to receive news highlights throughout the week? Sign up here!

Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

About

  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us
  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us

Explore

  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos

Submissions

  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy
  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy

Subscribe

  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
The Baptist Paper
Address:
3310 Independence Dr.
Birmingham, AL 35209
Copyright © 2025 TAB Media Group
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ

Email:
news@thebaptistpaper.org

About

  • Our Team
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Donate
  • Photo Galleries
  • Contact us
  • Hosted Church
  • Our Team
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Donate
  • Photo Galleries
  • Contact us
  • Hosted Church

Explore

  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your State News
  • Persecuted Church
  • Editorials
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Archive
  • Submit your news
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your State News
  • Persecuted Church
  • Editorials
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Archive
  • Submit your news

Subscribe

  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate

Log Out?

Lost your password?

Log In

Lost your password?

Log in

Become a part of our community!
Forgot your password? Get help
Privacy/Terms of Use

Reset password

Recover your password
A password reset link will be e-mailed to you.
Privacy/Terms of Use
Back to
Login
×
Close Panel