a glimpse into the life of john + pam wollman
StoryWorthy serves as an avenue to share the abundant stories of the people of Grace. So much good takes place through everyday lives and it is just too easy to miss it! Telling the stories, passing them along is one of the best ways to promote connectedness and to inspire others. You never know who you might be sitting next to on any given Sunday!
The idea to share the story of John and Pam Wollman came through a StoryWorthy nomination. We depend on these nominations and invite you to take a moment and nominate someone to be featured in StoryWorthy!
We asked John and Pam to describe the timeline of their story and how it is playing out today. They humbly shared, "We began our journey as a couple in 1979 in Kenya. Both of us were missionaries with Africa Inland Mission. John was serving as a pilot with AIM Air and Pam was a teacher/dorm parent at Rift Valley Academy. As in all journeys there were curves and bumps and roadblocks with detours along the way. The door closed to our service in Kenya but opened for us in 1989 to "stand by the stuff" (I Samuel 30:24) at the Home Office of AIM in Pearl River NY. John ended up in the IT Department and Pam in Receipting. We loved being rope holders for our friends and fellow missionaries.
In 1995-1996 we packed up our boys and headed back to Kenya to serve at a young church in the north of Kenya. We called this our "Home Assignment" as we felt we had come home again! It was a joy to teach “Building on Firm Foundations” published by New Tribes Mission at 6 different gathering places each week.
The idea to share the story of John and Pam Wollman came through a StoryWorthy nomination. We depend on these nominations and invite you to take a moment and nominate someone to be featured in StoryWorthy!
We asked John and Pam to describe the timeline of their story and how it is playing out today. They humbly shared, "We began our journey as a couple in 1979 in Kenya. Both of us were missionaries with Africa Inland Mission. John was serving as a pilot with AIM Air and Pam was a teacher/dorm parent at Rift Valley Academy. As in all journeys there were curves and bumps and roadblocks with detours along the way. The door closed to our service in Kenya but opened for us in 1989 to "stand by the stuff" (I Samuel 30:24) at the Home Office of AIM in Pearl River NY. John ended up in the IT Department and Pam in Receipting. We loved being rope holders for our friends and fellow missionaries.
In 1995-1996 we packed up our boys and headed back to Kenya to serve at a young church in the north of Kenya. We called this our "Home Assignment" as we felt we had come home again! It was a joy to teach “Building on Firm Foundations” published by New Tribes Mission at 6 different gathering places each week.
Our path led us to GA when AIM moved its offices down in 2011. We have enjoyed worshipping and fellowshipping with the saints at Grace since then.
The Lord has blessed us with 2 sons, 2 beautiful daughter-in-laws and 3 precious grandsons. They all live up north - CT and IL and we miss them!
We retired from AIM at the end of 2022 and in late January were asked to return to Africa for 3 1/2 months to serve at Rift Valley Academy. Pam calls this her "bookend assignment", since she began there in 1974. What a privilege and honor it was to return again to Kenya. We had so much fun!! Thank you, Grace, for your part in making this possible.
We are now trying to get the dance of retirement down! A new challenge and new ways of trusting our great God who promises in Psalm 92:14 to give us fruit in our old age.
One thing we are enjoying during this season is serving at Grace. Whether it is greeting you as you come to worship, holding your dear children, passing out food at the Mobile Food Pantry, or doing odd jobs for widows in need, it is our desire to be the hands and feet of Jesus encouraging you along your journey. May we all grow in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus.
The Lord has blessed us with 2 sons, 2 beautiful daughter-in-laws and 3 precious grandsons. They all live up north - CT and IL and we miss them!
We retired from AIM at the end of 2022 and in late January were asked to return to Africa for 3 1/2 months to serve at Rift Valley Academy. Pam calls this her "bookend assignment", since she began there in 1974. What a privilege and honor it was to return again to Kenya. We had so much fun!! Thank you, Grace, for your part in making this possible.
We are now trying to get the dance of retirement down! A new challenge and new ways of trusting our great God who promises in Psalm 92:14 to give us fruit in our old age.
One thing we are enjoying during this season is serving at Grace. Whether it is greeting you as you come to worship, holding your dear children, passing out food at the Mobile Food Pantry, or doing odd jobs for widows in need, it is our desire to be the hands and feet of Jesus encouraging you along your journey. May we all grow in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus.
Finally, we asked John and Pam to share something that God has taught them along the way. Pam began, "Throughout our story, we have experienced the consistent love of God and His faithfulness in letting us be a part in His kingdom work." John reflected on a trial that required him to trust in the Lord sharing, "Not being able to return as a pilot, I often prayed throughout our time in the US that God would restore what I considered “ministry that the locusts had eaten”. Another missionary friend recently had the same thought about his ministry at times when it dawned on him that God had been doing that all along. I realized that it has been the same in my life and that God was answering my prayer all along. Praise the Lord for His goodness!"