John "Tolibaga" Theodorus Johannes Dekker (28 December 1929 – 9 April 2024) was a Dutch-born Christian missionary.
Biography
editDekker was born and raised in The Netherlands before moving to Canada to study at Prairie Bible College. He later studied at the Summer Institute of Linguistics, Grace Theological Seminary, and Reformed Theological Seminary.[1]
He and his wife Helen served as missionaries with Regions Beyond Missionary Union.[2] They engaged in medical, linguistic, and church work among the Lani people of the Toli Valley in Western New Guinea from 1960 to 1981. As a result of their ministry, the Christian population among the Lani grew to 13,000.[1]
In 1985, Dekker wrote Torches of Joy which tells the story of his life and ministry to the Dani (Lani). After his retirement, Dekker lived in Montrose, Colorado.[3]
John Dekker died on 9 April 2024, at the age of 94.[4] He was the father of the Christian novelist Ted Dekker.[5]
References
edit- ^ a b "Support John Dekker". Partners International. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
- ^ Tucker, David A.; Knickerbocker, Arlene (2001). Circles of Blessing. William Carey Library. p. 61. ISBN 978-0-87808-605-4. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
- ^ Felming, Ann-Marie (1 February 2000). "Indonesia is calling for Montrose missionary". Montrose Press. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
- ^ "John Theodorus Johannes Dekker". Skyvue Funeral Home. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
- ^ Marrapodi, Eric. "Best-selling author shaped by cannibals, Christianity". CNN. Retrieved 17 September 2024.