Garth Hunt, from Vietnam to Living Bibles to World Serve to an elder missions statesman 

At 10:51 on April 29, 1975, the American radio station began playing Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas”, the signal for American personnel to move immediately to the evacuation points. Garth Hunt, an Alliance Church (C&MA) missionary in Vietnam since 1957, was one of the last people to leave Vietnam during the fall of Saigon. No one could leave without an exit stamp. It became so dangerous that the official with the exit stamp left Saigon. On his way out, he gave Hunt the official stamp, allowing him to save 1,700 lives.

Early on, Hunt had been close to leaving Vietnam. He cried out to God, “Either you teach me this language or I’m going home.”  Supernaturally, God helped him speak so well that many nationals told him, ‘You speak Vietnamese better than we do!’”  Hunt was privileged to see over 10,000 Vietnamese soldiers come to Christ, many in a hospital setting. He was passionate about evangelism until the day he died. 

There had been an outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon seven Alliance missionaries after meeting in prayer for seven days. Over 180,000 Vietnamese came to Christ in the following season of revival. Hunt learned to lay down his Canadian cultural biases in order to serve the indigenous church overseas. He had seen first-hand the Gospel exploding in hearts throughout the Global South with phenomenal numbers of new believers, even in countries officially closed to traditional missionaries.

After leaving Vietnam, Hunt met with Jim Janz and several other Christian business people. They too experienced the same outpouring of the Holy Spirit that had happened to the Alliance missionaries in Vietnam.  These business people became his first board members for Living Bibles International of Canada, which translated and distributed Living Bibles in over one hundred major languages throughout the world.  Over one hundred million dollars was spent in accomplishing this global vision of putting a readable bible into the hands of people of all ages. In 1997, Living Bibles International of Canada became WorldServe. Hunt served with LBIC/World Serve for forty years until his death at 89 in 2018. As a missionary statesman he had a remarkable impact globally, being recognized by key leaders like Billy Grahamwho made wide use of the Living Bible in his Crusade materials.

Born in 1929 in Pembroke, Ontario, Hunt initially helped his dad out in their family restaurant and in-home bakery. While both his grandfathers had been pastors, he had not been raised in church.  Following a life-threatening car accident during his wayward youth, Hunt gave his life to Christ. After being chosen for the Detroit Red Wings farm team, his hockey career came to an end with a life-changing knee injury. The Lord whispered to him, “You’re not going to play professional hockey. You’re going to Vietnam.”  After finding his grandfather’s family bible, he began reading and memorizing it voraciously.  Hunt’s new love for the Bible defined the rest of his life and mission. Enrolling in the Canadian Bible Institute (later Ambrose College), he met and married the love of his life, Betty, with whom he shared sixty years of life and missions. When Hunt prayed so loud and so long, his future wife initially felt embarrassed for him and wished he would keep quiet. He was finally asked to pray in the CBI furnace room! Hunt was a diamond in the rough.

In the first Vancouver MissionsFest conference in 1984, Hunt was one of the plenary speakers. As the weekend was to begin, his parents were killed in a car accident in Ontario. He had to go back to Ontario, but returned for the final day of MissionFest. The organizers were surprised by the thousands from many denominations who turned out to learn about missions.  While rooted in his local Alliance congregation, Hunt had Kingdom vision to bring together the whole Body of Christ in fulfilling the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20). Dwayne Buhler, former Missionsfest Director, commented, “Garth, and his wife Betty, were such a godly couple, influencing many people for the Kingdom.” 

Married for sixty-two years, they were a remarkable team. Betty is fondly remembered for her thirty-five years of bible teaching at their local church, Peace Portal Alliance. As a teenager visiting Oliver BC, she was led to Christ during a musical outreach by the well-known entrepreneur and trumpeter Jimmy Pattison.  Many fellow congregants at Peace Portal still talk about how Garth and Betty as returned missionaries inspired them to have a greater passion for world missions. The Hunts helped give leadership at Peace Portal in serving the Vietnamese Boat People who came to Canada in 1978 to 1979. Their heart to serve others globally was contagious.

In 1995, Hunt recruited 70 medical personnel for a medical mission trip to Russia, following the collapse of the Iron Curtain.  This mission occurred in response to a request of Major General Nikolai Stolyarov who understood that in order to rehab his Afghanistan veterans suffering from PTSD, he needed a spiritual revival.  Dr. Ed Penner, a dentist from Peace Portal Alliance, fondly remembers the trip, seeing great reconciliation and forgiveness between Russians and Westerners.  During that mission trip, over 14,000 military-issue bibles were handed out.  There is such a hunger for the Bible in many communist and formerly communist countries. Many believers in these countries have no bible. “There is the power of the gospel”, says Penner, “To me, it was satisfying to see that it had a power that 70 years of godlessness could not squash.”  

Barry Borthistle, who joined Hunt on a mission trip to India, commented that Hunt was the most God-fearing man of prayer he had ever known. Hunt had an effervescent contagious enthusiasm and sense of humour. Many people still remember his hair-raising stories of narrowly avoiding secret police while giving away bibles. Hunt had one speed: fast, even as he spoke! His voice would go into a crescendo, he was so excited about the work of God around the world. He was literally a dynamo in motion. Jim Janz, his Board Chair for thirty-seven years, said that “no one charged a room like Garth did.  He was a godly man and a very human man.” As a person of great faith, Garth kept true to God’s Word. Garth and Betty’s granddaughter Jen Schneider is carrying on the family tradition as a missionary in Niger. 

Even with the passing of Garth and Betty Hunt, WorldServe continues to serve the world.  Its motto is “advance the gospel and impact nations.”  Rick Warren, pastor of the Saddleback mega-church, has publicly encouraged others to support WorldServe’s Lights of Christmas outreach to persecuted pastors in prison and their families. Brian Rushton, WorldServe President is passionate, like Hunt was, about strengthening God’s persecuted church.  

With a special emphasis in China, Cuba and Ethiopia, WorldServe empowers indigenous churches and church leaders to advance the gospel and impact nations. Through these indigenous partnerships, it is having a direct impact on 22,000 churches and Christian leaders and an indirect impact on more than three million believers. Just like their founder Garth Hunt, everything WorldServe does is rooted in prayer.

Through the WorldServe Thrift Stores in White Rock and Calgary, donated furniture becomes a bright future for people in Cuba who are enabled to start micro businesses. Serviceable housewares become hope for children in Ethiopia and Myanmar who receive education on their journey out of poverty. Gently used clothing becomes a camping ministry for migrant children in China. Bibles for believers, support for churches, relief for victims of natural disasters.

Mayor Darryl Walker of the City of White Rock commented, 

It is my pleasure to work with the local faith-based organizations who address those in need in our community.  Founded by Dr. Garth Hunt who passed away in 2018, WorldServe has continued its support of the community, both globally and locally, including through the WorldServe Thrift store, working alongside its neighbours and community partners. The sale of donated household items provides affordable purchases for people locally. These sales, in turn, create life-changing opportunities for people globally. Thank you for being a positive force in White Rock.

May Garth and Betty Hunt’s life and legacy inspire each of us to more passionately serve the world that Jesus loves.