by Chad Mankins, son of missionary colleagues and missionary with Ethnos360
Twenty-five years ago, my life went completely upside down.
The date was January 31st, 1993. My father was kidnapped at gunpoint and taken from his home in the jungles of Panama, where he was living in the Kuna village of Pucuro. I was studying linguistics here in Texas at the time.
The very next morning, I was called out of class. Fellow missionaries to the Kuna people and good family friends Keith and Wilma Forster met me outside the building and first broke the awful news to me. Absolutely shell-shocked, I dropped out of school and stayed with the Forsters for a week while I awaited the arrival of my mother and sister from Panama to the USA.
Fast forward another 25 years to just a few short weeks ago.
The date was January 31st, 2018. I learned that Keith Forster passed into the arms of Jesus.
Twenty-five years apart to the day---the loss of two very special men in my life. Two bona fide heroes. Two heroes reunited in the presence of their Savior.
Many of you knew Dad and his influence on my life. Many of you may not, however, realize the significance that Keith Forster has had for me.
I would strongly recommend that you read this amazing obituary. It offers a glimpse into the life of a fascinating man, and how God used him. Click here to read this: www.bible531.com And while you’re at it, check out the entire website and watch the videos, as I believe it would be well worth your while.
In this tribute, though, I’d like to share with you more about the impact Keith had on my life, as well as some of the qualities that I believe made him so special.
My father and his New Tribes missionary co-workers Rick Tenenoff and Mark Rich (who were held captive and later killed along with my Dad) were involved in church planting, Bible curriculum development and discipleship among the Border Kuna people. 14 years prior to my parents’ involvement in that ministry , Keith and Wilma Forster began their ministry among the same group. Keith translated the New Testament into not only the Border Kuna dialect (from the 70s until its completion in 1993), but also into the much larger San Blas Kuna dialect. (He was able to work concurrently on both dialects, starting that translation in 1982 and finishing it in 1995). Subsequently, Keith worked with a team of five Kuna men to complete the translation of the entire Kuna Bible (Old Testament and New Testament revision) for the San Blas dialect. Many of you may recall that I went to Panama in 2014 for the dedication of that translation.
From some of his earlier days in ministry, Keith wrote up a wealth of information on the Kuna language. Some of these papers, such as his pedagogical grammar of the language, were of great fascination to me when I first got my hands on them during my summers and school holidays spent in the village with my family. As I studied Keith’s linguistic work, I began to discover an interest in some day analyzing an unwritten language and translating the Word of God.
But Keith’s impression on me did not end with linguistics alone. Yes, he was a highly intelligent man. But more importantly, he never acted like he was. Keith was very humble and kind. He always pointed back to God and His faithfulness. He also reflected the love of God in the way that he really cared about people and made everyone around him (including me) feel truly valued. He encouraged me in my own gifting and desire to be involved in linguistics and Bible translation. I frequently left conversations with him feeling so uplifted. Keith had the very rare commodity of both a brilliant analytical mind and a caring heart toward others.
Another word that comes to mind as I think about both Keith and Wilma is perseverance. To say that they were not exactly welcomed by the villagers with open arms at the outset of their labors would be a major understatement. They toiled for years in a variety of challenging, difficult and even hostile situations. They even had to leave the village and operate from the city, and even out of the country at various points in their ministry. Yet what came across was not bitterness, resentment or a complaining “martyr’s complex” inviting sympathy and pity. No, they pointed to God and His faithfulness, even as He graciously enabled them, through their deliberate dependence upon Him, to remain faithful to Him themselves and faithful in working day in and day out through the years.
And by years, I’m not talking 2, 3, 5, or even 10 years. 20? No, more like 45!!!! People, that is what I call faithfulness and perseverance.
I don’t know about you, but for it’s almost hard for me to wrap my head around that. What does that mean for me? Well, I’ll tell you. Keith is a bona fide hero in my book, and I believe that God welcomed him into heaven with a “Well done, good and faithful servant”, and that he is now reunited with my father, who is also a hero to me and who I believe was similarly welcomed by the Lord. Those are the kind of men I want to “grow up” (that is, further mature as an adult) to be like. Those are the kind of men I’d like to see my 4 boys grow up to be like.
I miss you, Dad.
I miss you, Keith.
Can’t wait to see you both again. And for us all to enjoy HIM face to face.
Until that day, whenever it is, may God help me to follow your lead as you have followed Christ.
Chad