ABWE is grieving the sudden loss of our sister and coworker Joanne Tompkins, who entered the presence of her Lord unexpectedly while serving in West Africa on Friday, October 17, 2025.
Joanne was first appointed with ABWE in 1992 as a short-term missionary and again in 1995 as a long-term career missionary. She faithfully served more than 30 years in The Gambia and surrounding West African contexts, ministering in a Muslim-majority region. With fluency in the local language and deep community relationships, Joanne served in evangelism, discipleship, and literacy development. She gave her life to making Christ known through the ordinary rhythms of life and service.
As administrator of a local-language adult literacy center, Joanne helped hundreds of Gambians—especially women—gain the ability to read and write. Through this program, which served over 150 participants annually, she not only equipped students with practical skills but also opened doors for gospel witness and spiritual conversations. She played a critical role in translating evangelistic and discipleship materials into the local language, including tools such as The Message of Hope.
Joanne also served as field treasurer and led the onboarding of new missionaries through language and culture acquisition. She discipled Muslim-background believers with wisdom and gentleness, and her life was marked by quiet perseverance and joyful sacrifice.
In 2018, President Paul Davis visited Joanne in The Gambia and met many of the Muslim women and villagers whose lives had been transformed through her ministry. One village leader pointed to dozens of women from his community who could now read and count—skills they had learned through Joanne’s faithful work.
She received the Ten-Year Service Award in 2014 and the Twenty-Year Service Award in 2022. Yet she never sought recognition. She lived simply and served humbly, investing in eternity in a place where few choose to go.
Joanne is survived by family in the U.S., including Ruth Wood, retired missionary to The Gambia and ABWE International Headquarters staff member, and a host of colleagues and national believers who considered her a spiritual mother, mentor, and friend.
We rejoice that Joanne is now with the Savior she loved and proclaimed. Her labor was not in vain. She has finished her race, and we give glory to God for her life of steadfast faithfulness. “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful servants” (Psalm 116:15).
