Portrait of James Clarence Lance. IMB Photo

James Clarence Lance, an International Mission Board missionary emeritus who shared the gospel in Burkina Faso, died Feb. 4, 2025, in Dalton, Georgia. He was 83.  

Clarence was born Nov. 29, 1941, in Wilkes County, Georgia, to the late Boyce P. and Sara Bell Lance. He graduated from Washington-Wilkes High School, received the Master of Science from the University of Georgia in Athens and the Doctor of Philosophy from Auburn (Alabama) University, and attended Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. 

He attended Cliffords Grove Baptist Church from the time he was 4 years old and came to faith in Christ around the age of 10. During college he met Lynne Jones, and they were married in December of 1964. After graduating with his doctorate in soil chemistry and plant nutrition, Clarence took a job with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in Arizona. They became involved in a local church, and it was there he first began to learn about foreign missions.  

While seeking missionary appointment he wrote, “During an invitation after a mission emphasis program we responded to an invitation to come forward if we would be willing to go as foreign missionaries if we could discern a call from God. … I did not really think that God could use a soil scientist in foreign missions, so I did not think too much about that commitment in the beginning. However, I began to feel a stirring in my heart about missions.”  

In 1984, Clarence and Lynne attended Foreign Mission Week at the Glorieta conference center in New Mexico and made the decision to step out on faith and see where God would lead in foreign missions. He resigned his position with the USDA, and they moved to Fort Worth to attend seminary. While seeking appointment he wrote, “I believe that the career with USDA and our work with local churches through the years were a time of preparation for the new career in missions.” 

In 1986, the International Mission Board appointed Clarence and Lynne missionaries to Burkina Faso, where they served for almost 20 years in agricultural evangelism.  

He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Barbara Lynne Jones Lance.  

A graveside service was held Feb. 10 at Cliffords Grove Baptist Church Cemetery in Washington, Georgia.  

Donations in his memory may be made to the Lottie Moon Offering, IMB, 3806 Monument Avenue, Richmond, VA 23230, or online at Generosity Resource Center – IMB Generosity.  

Read an obituary here.