Susan Beth Swieringa

Susan Beth Swieringa March 17, 1948 - December 15, 2019 Susan was born and raised in Hammond, Indiana. She graduated from Wheaton College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. She pursued a master’s degree in Botany from Miami University of Oxford, Ohio. Susan began her lifelong career in missions with the mission board that was then International Missions, now Christar. She served for 31 years at Faith Academy, a Christian English-speaking boarding school, in Manila, Philippines from 1971 to 2002. She taught high school Biology and Bible followed by becoming a high school Guidance Counselor and Vice Principal. She poured herself into the lives of the students and they knew she cared deeply for them. She had a deep impact on many students who well remember her Bible classes and value the lessons they learned under her tutelage. During her time at Faith Academy, Susan launched Timothy Teams of students to serve first in the community around the school and then later expanded that reach beyond the school community into other parts of the city and even beyond. This gave students great opportunities to become involved in the world beyond the academic and sports activities at the school. Susan’s ministry extended beyond the school environment when she also led the effort to plant a church among the squatters in the village of Rosario in Metro Manila called Rosario Christian Fellowship. Over time, this church plant grew to involve other staff members from the school as well. Susan also served on the Christar Philippine Focus Council as the representative from Manila. Her perspective and godly counsel were greatly appreciated in those meetings. She was greatly loved by all both at the school and within the Christar Philippine Field as well. She was also a great story teller. At any time, Susan would launch into a story of some adventure, or more often misadventure! Her description of situations that she got into were always hilarious. At our annual conferences, “Saying” awards were given for the person who had the best story to tell for the year. There was only one occasion when it wasn’t Sue who captured that award. Susan was a highly respected teacher, administrator and friend to many and made an indelible mark on hundreds of students, parents and staff through the years. She was known for her devoted love for the Lord and continuous life of service to others. Susan then transitioned back to the United States in continued ministry for the next ten years from 2003 through 2013. She served in the Christar U.S. Mobilization Center, the first seven years in Reading, Pennsylvania then another three years after relocating the home office to Richardson, Texas. During these years, Susan’s graciousness, generosity and gift of hospitality was exemplified by her constant hosting in her home, her family, furloughing missionaries, and staff and guests of the home office. She developed a new (in Christar’s leadership structure) role as Director of Member Care. In doing so, she worked alongside the Church Planting Director to provide services that encourage spiritual health and well-being, emotional, physical and relational health. In the process, Susan inaugurated some of the services provided, including what is now known as the RENEW Retreat. Susan was creative and proactive in serving co-workers. She was quick to listen, slow to speak, and filled with wisdom from God. She retired from active service at the end of 2013, having served God, the least reached and missionaries and their families over the previous 42 years. Susan then moved to Orlando, Florida and resided with her sister and brother-in-law for six years until the Lord called her home to be with Himself in the early morning hours of Sunday, December 15, 2019. Susan’s life can best be described in the following two scripture passages: Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Colossians 3:23-24 (NIV) Susan’s master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ Matthew 25:21 (NIV) Susan is survived by her siblings Sharon (Jim) Smucker of Lorain, OH, Shirley (Larry) Sallee of Orlando, FL, Jay (Nancy) Swieringa of Fairport, NY, seven dearly loved nieces and nephews and her step-mother Miriam (Carl) Gustafson of Lancaster, PA. Her Celebration of Life will be Sunday, December 29, 2019 at 2:00 PM at Connection Church, 700 Generation Point, Kissimmee, FL 34744. The private interment will be at Osceola Memory Gardens Cemetery, Kissimmee, FL at the convenience of the family.