Words for the World
In Memory of Ed Guy
1934-2001
Seventy Ed Guy devoted his life to ministries of peace and justice through
compassionate service in developing Central and South American countries. He was
an advocate for the oppressed and spoke out for goodness, always with a twinkle
in his eye. His ministry was from his heart, and he was eager to serve the
church and God.
When he died in 2001, Community of Christ members were moved to find a
significant way to honor his memory. The 2002 World Conference asked the World
Church Leadership Council to find a fitting tribute for Guy.
Dedicated to sharing the gospel with people of other cultures, Guy chose to
live among the people he served, sometimes in poor living conditions. In a May
2002 Herald article (page 9), Apostle Jim Slauter described Guy’s
mission as one of “preaching good news to the poor, freedom to the captive,
sight to the blind, and liberty of the oppressed… Compassionate service was
present in his ministry over and over again as he shared the message of a
peaceable kingdom where all persons were of equal value and worthy of God’s
unconditional love.” He took Christ’s message and the vision of the church
and expressed it in his daily life, sharing with all who would listen (and
sometimes governments and officials who didn’t want to).
Words for the World will result in resources for the poor and oppressed in
numerous cultures and continue the legacy of sharing the gospel message to which
Guy dedicated his life’s work. In a November 1986 Herald article (page
25) about Guy’s missionary efforts in Central America, author and then Apostle
Lloyd Hurshman quoted Guy as saying, “Beyond all else that may be said, you
should have fun sharing the gospel and serving people.” Amen, Ed, Amen!
