Robert “Bob” Finck, a 51-year-old missions volunteer from Fellowship Community Church in Salem, Va., was killed early Monday morning, Aug. 9, in an automobile accident in Zambia, west of the capital city of Lusaka.
International Mission Board missionary Melissa Frady of Tennessee, accompanied by church team leader Tim Rogers, was driving Finck to a hospital after he reported experiencing severe kidney stone pain. The truck went off the road in Kafue National Park. Finck was thrown from the vehicle and died at the scene. Frady and Rogers received bruises and scrapes.
The accident occurred about 2 a.m. Monday in a remote area of the park. Rogers stayed at the scene, while Frady walked along the road until she flagged down a driver to take her toward Lusaka, where she was able to pick up a cell phone signal and call for help.
Finck, Rogers and five other volunteers from Fellowship Community Church arrived in Zambia Aug. 6 and planned to stay until Aug. 14 to lead a Bible conference and minister to youth and children. They were about five hours from the capital when Finck asked to be taken to the hospital.
One of the team members reported over the weekend that three local people had made decisions to accept Christ as Savior. Fellowship Community Church, which will celebrate its 10th anniversary Aug. 11, was planning to have the Zambia team call in to report on their mission trip during the special service.
Stephanie Painter, the church’s director of missions, described Finck as passionate about missions and heavily involved in local and overseas ministry projects.
“He was very passionate about Zambia,” said Painter, noting that this was his third trip to the country. “He was very involved. Sometimes he’d come in the office and we’d share mission trip stories.
“He was always stepping up to the plate,” she added. “He was a special guy…. Everything about him was special.”
Finck is survived by his wife, Sandi, and three children — Amanda, 21; Brenna, 16; and Hunter, 10. Funeral arrangements are pending.
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Reported by the communications staff of the International Mission Board.
[Baptist Press]
Sorry for the loss of life. condolences to the family and to the church. Poor Zambian roads or speed could have caused the accident. Why were they not wearing seat belts? GRZ should fine those without seat belts. Sit belts can sometimes save lives. May his demise inspire more Americans from his church to come to Zambia for missions
he’s in a better place now
Should have stayed home! Clean up your house before you help clean other peoples’s!
That’s uncalled for! they are Gods people helping those needy people the MMD govt have been neglecting. Go to hell
Very sick mind! You need help!
To answer those ignorant questions, a tire blew out causing the accident and he was not wearing a seat belt because he was in extreme pain and had to lie down!!
May God take care of his family
Seat belts are not good in all situations . I think if my car was sinking in water, I may feel different about wearing a seat belt .If my car is on fire, a second can make a big difference in a situation. The way I see it is if God wanted him to live he would be alive if God needs you then you must go!
My heart goes out to his family! Enjoy every second you have is the message! And don’t take another second for granted! Treat others as you would like to be treated.
Its amazing how one can convert a starving person. Â The Truth about life is Simple , Religion brings “Hope”. Â
thumbs up to those that know and believe in HIM…….
I just read the article and am touched by the love for God shown by the man. To leave his own country and to go serve three times in another. As a Zambian i am humbled.May God bless his family and may his soul rest in peace…
May God be with you…
Reaching people for christ is not easy, brave man of God most of our Pastors can not take the step you took,May your soul rest in enternal peace.
life is precious always put on your seat belt