Ben Wolf, 1953-2020
James Benjamin “Ben” Wolf, an International Mission Board missionary emeritus who shared the gospel among the Southeast Asian Affinity Peoples in the Philippines, died Aug. 21, 2020, in White Settlement, a suburb of Fort Worth, Texas. He was 66.
After more than 20 years with the International Mission Board, he also served 10 years based in Singapore as area director for East and Southeast Asia with Baptist Global Response, the global relief organization that partnered with Southern Baptists.
Wolf was born on Oct. 31, 1953, in Hardtner, Kansas, to the late James and Patty Dell Wolf. At age 18, he entered the U.S. Navy. While serving, he also led Bible studies for military personnel with the Navigators. Following his marriage to Pam Blankenship on Aug. 7, 1976, he earned the Associate of Science in aviation technology and the Bachelor of Science in business administration from LeTourneau University, Longview, Texas. He also attended Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Kansas City, Missouri.
Following graduation Ben worked as a quality engineer for Mitsubishi Aircraft in San Angelo, Texas, until the Lord called him into full time international mission work. The Foreign Mission Board (now International Mission Board) appointed him and Pam missionaries in 1986. He ministered for 19 years in the Philippines and a year and a half as associate director of the International Learning Center in Rockville Va.
With BGR, Wolf’s passion was training people in community development and disaster response. Being with people and inspiring them in ways to share Christ motivated him, said his family.
He is survived by his wife, Pam; his children, Jim Wolf, Tiffany Smith (Scott), and Annie Green (Jimmie); a granddaughter; his stepmother; Mary Wolf; and sister Anna Dell Johnson.
A celebration of life was held Aug. 28, 2020, at Travis Avenue Baptist Church, Fort Worth, Texas.
Donations in his memory may be made to Baptist Global Response (gobgr.org) or Shevet Achim ministry (shevet.org). After Sept. 30, 2020, BGR will no longer accept donations but recommends giving to Send Relief, the compassion ministry for Southern Baptists at home and around the world.
Read an obituary here.