Remembering Voddie Baucham
He who numbers our days brought Voddie to salvation, set work before him, and called him home in divine timing.
By Madison Fossa
On September 25, the Lord called Pastor Voddie Baucham home at the age of 56. Though his wife, children, grandchildren, and countless Christian brothers and sisters mourn the loss of this beloved preacher, we know that Voddie is with the Lord in heaven.
I was moved to write this piece primarily because of the profound impact that Voddie made on my own life. I had the honor of hearing Voddie preach twice in person, but beyond this, the countless sermons of his that I have listened to over the years have challenged, convicted, and encouraged me in times of spiritual need. Though pastors at one’s own church are always the dearest and most trusted, Voddie was a preacher I trusted to speak in my earbuds, appear on my screen, and inspire my discussions when I wasn’t with my church family.
Furthermore, Voddie’s sudden passing is made more dramatic for the church as it follows the passing of John MacArthur and Charlie Kirk, two other pillars in the evangelical community. Though they each served the Kingdom in vastly different capacities, their work for Christ deserves honor and remembrance, especially from their brothers and sisters. (READ MORE: Charlie Kirk, RIP: Christian, Father, Friend to Democracy)
Work and Testimony
Voddie was not raised in the Church, but in South Central Los Angles by his Buddhist, single, teen mother. Later, he went on to play football at Rice University, where he heard the Gospel for the very first time. There, the Lord opened his eyes, and he was saved.
In college, Voddie met Bridget, his beautiful, godly wife. They married almost immediately and went on to have two children and adopt seven more. The couple were champions of adoption and godly family structure. Bridget and Voddie broke generations of divorce, single parenting, and familial destruction that preceded them. Though their families and environments were broken and lost, the Baucham family was enabled by the power of Christ to live lives that honored him. Their large, beautiful, godly family reflected their relationship with God.
Voddie’s love for God’s church was evident in his life and ministry. After his multi-university academic career, Voddie church planted, participated in missions, and wrote for the Church.
For almost ten years of his ministerial career, Voddie poured his efforts into missions in Zambia. In Lusaka, Zambia’s capital, he was the founding Dean and Senior Lecturer at African Christian University’s School of Divinity. In fact, the Baucham family only made their return to the United States last year.
The Lord gifted Voddie in preaching and powerfully spreading the word of God with conviction. His commanding presence and spirited demeanor captivated his congregants and listeners, but their focus was never on him. Instead, this preacher led sheep everywhere to the foot of the Cross, convicting them of sin, encouraging them towards good works, and proclaiming the good news of the Gospel. Voddie was an ardent defender of the Bible and did not shy away from speaking the truth in love.
Voddie clearly articulated the necessity of Biblical epistemology, womanhood, manhood, marriage, and thought. His reach even extended into the Social Justice Movement, which he wrote and spoke about frequently. (LISTEN MORE: Liberty Mail: Kimberly Begg on Conservative Women)
A Heartbroken Church
Though I have left out copious amounts of information about this beloved preacher, his love for and commitment to God and Biblical truth are of paramount importance. The day before Voddie passed, I was listening to a sermon of his about contending for the faith. Voddie not only preached about such things but lived them out with endurance and strong conviction.
This, then, is why the pain of losing Voddie, John MacArthur, and even Charlie Kirk , seems so great. In a world ever-more sold out to worldly living, sinful gratification, and compromise at every turn, such leaders are difficult to find. Voddie and these other men stood firmly rooted in the word and work of their God. No matter how unpopular their positions were, they did not waver in the face of criticism, knowing that they were called, as all believers are, to contend for the faith.
A Resurrection and a Hope
Voddie is now with his Savior in paradise. Our hearts may ache for his family, and even for the Church, but they must not ache for Voddie.
God’s will has been perfectly fulfilled these past few months. He who numbers our days brought Voddie to salvation, set work before him, and called him home in divine timing. The Church is built upon Jesus Christ’s work on the Cross, not on teachers, as beloved as they are. Kirk’s murder, MacArthur’s passing, and Voddie’s sudden death are trials and losses that the Church can only endure by leaning on Christ. READ MORE: (Charlie Kirk & The Great Awakening)
In closing, let this quote from Voddie himself encourage you:
“You are going to hear a rumor one day, that Voddie Baucham is no more. Don’t you believe it… Because though I die, I will rise with Christ. It will not be the end of me, because Christ is raised, and I too will be raised with Christ. Don’t you pity me. You pity the one who wants to hold onto Jesus without holding onto the resurrection…who has absolutely no hope because they have no resurrected Christ.”
About the Author
Madison Fossa is a senior Trustee Scholar at Grove City College majoring in Biology and minoring in Technical Writing.
In addition to working as a Marketing Fellow for the Institute, Madison is the president of Young Women for America’s Grove City chapter. This summer, Madison interned with the American Spectator as an Editorial Intern, and will continue to write for the Spectator as well as The College Fix.
READ MORE BY MADISON FOSSA: Trump Threatens to Revoke Transgender Right to Arms
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed are those of the writer alone and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Grove City College, the Institute for Faith and Freedom, or their affiliates.
Cover Image: Hope Reformed Baptist Church Wikimedia Commons (License) (Cropped)