Alan S. Williams, International Ministries Thailand Alumnus, Called Home

Alan S. Williams, American Baptist Foreign Mission Society (ABFMS), known as International Ministries, alumnus, passed away on February 18, 2025, at the age of 84, in Valencia, PA. Alan was born to his parents, Frank and Vivian Williams on March 31, 1940, in Erie, PA. Alan was the second of five children, having two brothers and two sisters.

Alan’s family moved from the East to California in 1947. He grew up in the United Methodist Church, active in the church as well as at school. During high school, Alan began to attend the First Baptist Church of Pomona, and wrote in his application for service, “I felt that I really accepted the Lord as my Savior during this time. I felt a real call to the mission field, although I had always felt that I would like to go.”

Alan was also encouraged to pursue missions through personal talks with his college minister, Rev. Bill Tipton. And in the summer of 1961, he participated as a member of a Gospel Team to Mexico which solidified his vision to serve.

Following graduation from Upland College where he earned an A.B. degree in Sociology, Alan joined the Navy and was commissioned as a line officer. He later retired as a chaplain. Alan married the love of his life, Diana Cole on July 10, 1965. While living in Coronado, California, they attended the First Baptist Church of Coronado. Alan served as the senior deacon and he and Diane worked with the college age group.

Alan and Diana took studies at Northern Baptist Theological Seminary in Lombard, Illinois. Alan received his M. Div. degree. After serving as pastor in North Providence, Rhode Island, he did graduate work in Religion and Psychiatry at Union Theological Seminary, New York City and received the S.T.M. degree. He earned a master’s in educational administration from the University of Pittsburgh in 1981.

In 1973, Alan and Diana were appointed for missionary service in Thailand with the American Baptist Foreign Mission Society (ABFMS). In 1974, Alan, Diana, and their three children spent a year in Bangkok, Thailand where they studied the Thai language while their children studied at the International School.

The family then moved to Namlat, in northern Thailand in 1975. Alan was appointed Education Advisor and Chaplain for the United Village School by the Karen (Tribal) Baptist Convention. Alan and Diana were active in the administration and teaching programs, as well as the Christian witness outreach of the school and the local church association. Much time was spent supervising the construction of facilities to allow the student body to increase from 270 to 580. This included a new two-story classroom with ten rooms, as well as a new dormitory for girls. There were over 370 students representing eight tribal or ethnic groups.

In addition to his educational work at the Namlat School, Alan and Diana were also active in evangelistic touring, especially among the Karen villages in the Chiang Rai area. In 1978-1979 they wrote: “We have found that many people feel that agricultural, medical, and educational work are separate from evangelistic work. But they are all in one package. When we go into a village, we work in all areas so that the people there might have a fuller life in the risen Savior.”

In 1983, the Williams family moved to Pennsylvania, where Alan was an interim pastor at First Baptist of Waynesburg for three months. He then joined the ABC home staff as Associate Director and Eastern Representative of the American Baptist of International Ministries Estate Planning. Five years later Alan joined the Public Relations Division of BIM where he was responsible for resource development. In this capacity he produced the World Mission Offering materials, printed materials, videos and mission displays. In 1991 Alan resigned and the Director of the Public Relations Division, Rev. Hugh Smith stated: “It would be hard to measure this influence of Alan’s ministry, both overseas and at home. It is an influence that will continue to produce results far into the future. “ Alan went on to serve with InterServe, USA as the Communication and Development Director until the mid-2003.

Alan and Diana fostered many children early in their marriage and again after they returned from Thailand.

In addition to his wife, Diana, Alan is survived by his children: Donald (Jennifer), Lynne, and Kathy, 14 grandchildren, and 2 great grandchildren.

Family and friends are invited to a Celebration of Life for Alan on Saturday, March 29th, at 1:00 pm at New Community Church, 3100 Wexford Rd, Wexford, PA 15090.