By Wade Coggeshall
INDIANAPOLIS — Jeanne Acheson-Munos’ untimely death in Haiti’s catastrophic earthquake dealt a severe emotional blow to her church family at Westside Church of the Nazarene. But they’ve taken solace in the knowledge that she died doing what she loved.
Jeanne, 62, and her husband Jack served as missionaries in Haiti with Free Methodists World Missions for about five years, working with the national church in developing its presence there. Westside Church of the Nazarene, where Jeanne’s father, R.B., is pastor emeritus, helped support the couple financially.
“What I remember of Jeanne is she had a strong personality — a person whom I would describe as a servant leader,” said David Caudle, senior pastor at Westside. “She understood her call to ministry and that it involved being a servant and a leader.”
Jeanne and Jack were at their apartment in Port-au-Prince when the earthquake struck. Its 7.0 magnitude collapsed the building. Jack made it out with a broken leg and some internal injuries. Two other missionaries, Gene Dufour and Merle West, died with Jeanne in the building’s collapse.
“Those who did know Jeanne personally, it’s been quite a blow to them,” Caudle said. “They would all tell you the Lord has given them peace and strength. It’s kind of a deal where she died doing what God had called her to do and doing what she loved. She loved the people of Haiti and helping to meet not only their humanitarian needs but for them to come to know Jesus Christ as their personal savior.”
A photo on Free Methodist’s website showed graffiti spray-painted on a building across the street from the apartment building. It said farewell to Pastor Jeanne, and that she will be missed.
Westside Church of the Nazarene is saying goodbye in a memorial service scheduled for 6 p.m. Feb. 28 at the church, 8610 W. 10th St. It is open to the public.
“We’ve been hearing a number of people who are friends of the Achesons or Jeanne and Jack are planning to come,” Caudle said. “We’re hearing from people across the country who are planning to attend the service.”
A Haitian family who are church members will sing the song “How Much I Owe” in Creole that was requested by Jack. He is now recovering in Waco, Texas, and plans to attend the service if he’s physically able. Two representatives from Free Methodists will be there, as will the widows of Dufour and West. R.B. Acheson will give a eulogy. A reception with the Acheson family will follow.
Meanwhile, Westside hasn’t forgotten the misery that persists in Haiti. The church has assembled at least 75 crisis care kits containing hygiene products to be shipped there. They’ve also donated more than $2,000 through Nazarene Compassionate Ministries, their denomination’s crisis response organization.
Other church members are continuing the humanitarian calling Jeanne and Jack embodied. Caudle says a young couple there was recently approved to serve in Manila coordinating work and witness trips.
“We’ve been blessed to be a sending church,” he said.
Jeanne, Dufour, and West will be buried on the site of the Friends of Haiti Organization where they lived. It was Jeanne’s wish, clearly communicated to her parents, that she be buried in Haiti. The last time she was home, she told them they could have their furniture back home when they died.
“She said, ‘Dad we’re not going to need it because we’re going to die in Haiti,’” Caudle said. “They had such love and a heart for the people of Haiti.”
wade.coggeshall@flyergroup.com
