In Memory of William MacDonald
January 7, 1917 — December 25, 2007

Emmaus Bible College mourns the loss of William MacDonald, faithful servant of God, former faculty member and past President of Emmaus Bible School.  Mr. MacDonald served as President of Emmaus from 1954 to 1965, and during his tenure he made significant contributions to the growth of the school.  He had profound input into the Emmaus Correspondence School through his writing ministry.  Mr. MacDonald led the School during the purchase of the 156 N. Oak Park facility and the merging of the Toronto and Chicago schools in Oak Park, as well as the purchase of the Groveland building in 1960.  It was MacDonald's leadership that brought the Emmaus student enrollment above 100 in the resident school and above 60 in the evening school.

To many, our brother Bill needs no introduction. Through his God-given gift of teaching and by his godly example as a devoted disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ for the past 7+ decades, Bill's impact in the life of others has been palpable.

Those who knew Bill acknowledge that he never solicited for funds and never made his needs known except to His heavenly Father who supplied him with everything he needed. He did not profit from his writings and refused to accept royalties for personal gain. When royalties were required he refused them for himself, but established a fund for the ongoing translation work of his Believers Bible Commentary into foreign languages.

Dave Glock, former student and disciple of Bill MacDonald writes,

"You find time to do what you really want to do."  These were the words of Mr. MacDonald in a class at Emmaus when I was a student at Emmaus (1958-61).  It was during these years that the Lord gave direction to my life through two men—Dr. H. Chester Woodring and Mr. William MacDonald.  Doc Woodring encouraged me to pursue additional training and then return to Emmaus to teach with him.  Upon his death in 1961, a result of a fatal auto accident, I received a letter from Mr. MacDonald encouraging me to pursue that goal of returning to teach at Emmaus. The guidance of the Holy Spirit through these two spiritual giants marked my path for life.  Mr. MacDonald has served to challenge multiplied thousands of people to be true disciples of Christ, and I trust that to some extent, I have been a follower of William MacDonald even as he was of Jesus Christ.  He found time to do what he really wanted to do—to teach the Word, to evangelize the world, to live a life of self denial, to write numerous works, to counsel those needing advice, to pray, and to worship—in short, to glorify God whether by life or by death.

David A. Glock
Faculty, Emmaus Bible College

Dan Smith, Chancellor of Emmaus Bible College, also reflects on Bill's legacy at Emmaus.

My earliest contacts with Emmaus Bible School were with Mr. William MacDonald, then the President of the School.  I had seen his written ministry in Emmaus Correspondence Courses, and met him when he spoke at several young people's conferences.  His warm and personal interest in me led to his request that I seriously consider teaching at Emmaus in the year that I was married, 1958.  Early in 1959 he extended a specific invitation that led to our joining the Emmaus faculty in that year.

Martha and I have wonderful memories of Bill in those early years at Emmaus.  As a mentor, friend and colleague he was the instrument of God in our lives, not only in the invitation to teach at Emmaus, but as a nourisher and encourager through the difficulties and blessings of our early years at Emmaus.

Over the years Bill has been a wonderful friend, modeling devoted service to Christ and the Church in such an outstanding way that I often said to myself, "There is something apostolic about Bill."  The impact of Bill's life on us and countless others is to the praise of God our Savior.

Daniel H. Smith
Chancellor of Emmaus Bible College

While we mourn the loss of this wonderful man and grieve with others who will miss him dearly, we rejoice in the blessed assurance that he is with the Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ, who has occupied his heart, his life, and his all.

[ Information about his memorial can be obtained here. ]