FORT WORTH -- As a missionary, Justice C. Anderson visited more than 60 countries, fled tear gas during a rebellion in Argentina and survived several government coups.
When he wasn't traveling, he taught future missionaries at the World Missions Center at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.Or he wrote books, including a landmark three-volume global history of Baptists in Spanish.The balance he achieved between theological excellence and practical ministry was recalled by friends and colleagues this week. Mr. Anderson died Saturday of a heart attack, colleagues said. He was 83."Often times, you go one direction or the other," said Dan Crawford, senior professor of evangelism and missions at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. "You've got the guys in the field doing the job and you've got the guys on the academic side. He was the perfect blend of both."After serving 17 years as a missionary in Argentina, he joined the seminary faculty in 1974. He served as the George W. Bottoms professor of missions and founded the seminary's World Missions Center in 1980 to train future missionaries and engage students and faculty in mission trips.After retirement, he taught at Dallas Baptist University, B.H. Carroll Theological Institute and Truett Seminary in Waco."He was very affirming, very friendly and very personable," said Daniel Sanchez, a professor of missions at Southwestern. "He was very interested in involving people in missionary projects and going to different countries to help with relief projects."Born Feb. 13, 1929, in Bay City, Mr. Anderson went to Baylor University, marrying Mary Ann Elmore while they were students.Ordained as a minister at 19, he earned bachelor's and master's degrees in English literature and history.He earned a master of divinity degree from Southwestern Seminary in 1955 and doctor of theology degree in 1965, according to the seminary.He and his wife were missionaries in Argentina from 1959 to 1974. He was a professor of church history and homiletics at the International Baptist Theological Seminary in Buenos Aires, and president of the Argentine Baptist Mission in 1965 and 1972."Justice Anderson left the mission field to come to Southwestern and place the cause of world missions in the hearts of all students," said seminary President Paige Patterson in a statement on the seminary's website. "Southwestern honors him for his faithfulness and wishes Heaven's comfort for the sweet family."In a 2007 profile in the Star-Telegram, Mr. Anderson spoke of the challenge of learning Spanish, recalling an incident in Costa Rica where he was trying to preach in the language. He mixed up the words pecado, which means sin, and pescado, which means fish.When he said "O Dios, perdonanos nuestros pescados," the congregation laughed. "Later, I found out I had said 'Oh, God, forgive us for our fish,' " Mr. Anderson said.Many former and retired missionaries attended his funeral Wednesday morning, friends said.Missionaries across the world benefited from Mr. Anderson's teaching. His three-volume Historia de los Bautistas, the Spanish-language Baptist history published in 1990, is used in seminaries in Spain, Mexico and South America. "You could not go anywhere where Southern Baptists have missionaries without Justice Anderson's name being known," Crawford said.In addition to his wife, survivors include children Sandi Phillips, Timothy Anderson, Brad Anderson and Suzie Person; a brother, Gene Anderson; and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.This includes material from Star-Telegram archives.Alex Branch, 817-390-7689Twitter: @albranch1Have more to add? News tip? Tell us
