(From Mason-Woodard Mortuary)Harvey Ray Bacus was born on January 16, 1937 in Alton, IL to Ross and Frieda (Medhurst) Bacus.
Harvey grew up in Alton, IL and graduated from Alton High School in 1954.
After high school, Harvey attended Ozark Bible College in Joplin, MO. It was there that he became interested in global missions and using his life to make an impact.
After graduation from Ozark, Harvey traveled west to Escondido, CA where he served as a youth minister. Eventually though, Harvey felt called to serve in churches in Jamaica and Grand Cayman. While there, he was involved in multiple church plants, youth camps, radio broadcasts and more.
In 1961, he met Nancy Shafer while she was in Jamaica on a college internship. After months of communication through letters they were married on May 12, 1962. They spent the next few weeks raising funds so that they could both return to Jamaica where they served for another 10 years. They were married for over 60 years until Nancy’s death in October 2022.
While in Jamaica, Harvey and Nancy welcomed their daughter Jaqueline Rae in January 1966. Harvey loved taking Jackie throughout the island to church meetings and other events. Harvey’s impact across Jamaica and throughout the Caribbean impacted the poorest of families to members of the Jamaican government. He never met a stranger and welcomed everyone in with his smile and encouragement.
In 1972, Harvey moved back to Joplin to teach at Ozark Bible College. He taught there for over 30 years, impacting thousands of students. His specialties at Ozark were church planting, urban ministry, Christian education and global missions. For nearly 3 decades, Harvey led the Missions Department at the college. Harvey continued to help plant churches across the globe and was instrumental in the start of Bible colleges across the Caribbean.
While in Joplin, Harvey and Nancy welcomed their son James Harvey in October 1974.
Throughout the years, Harvey took students to local churches to serve on weekends through the Lord’s Reapers, traveled hundreds of miles each spring with van loads of students to help with church plants, inner city missions and a variety of projects throughout the US. He was an advocate and leader for the National Missionary Conference, served on the board of Good News Productions, many different global mission boards and helped with the founding of NALA in Joplin. In his summers, Harvey was often found in church camps, VBS programs and teaching at Bible colleges in Jamaica, Barbados and St Vincent. He led by example and shared his faith wherever he went.
Harvey retired from full-time teaching at Ozark Christian College in 2003, but his impact at the college never ended.
In 2004 Harvey was chosen as the Seth Wilson Distinguished Alumni at Ozark Christian College.
Soon after his retirement, Harvey and Nancy prepared to move to Amman Jordan and establish one of the first public libraries in the nation. Their project, Books and More was established and designed to be a bridge between all cultures and faith and continues to this day to be one of the few places in the nation where people of all nationalities and backgrounds can gather together to learn, train, access books and resources and build community.
In 1961, he met Nancy Shafer while she was in Jamaica on a college internship. After months of communication through letters they were married on May 12, 1962. They spent the next few weeks raising funds so that they could both return to Jamaica where they served for another 10 years. They were married for over 60 years until Nancy’s death in October 2022.
While in Jamaica, Harvey and Nancy welcomed their daughter Jaqueline Rae in January 1966. Harvey loved taking Jackie throughout the island to church meetings and other events. Harvey’s impact across Jamaica and throughout the Caribbean impacted the poorest of families to members of the Jamaican government. He never met a stranger and welcomed everyone in with his smile and encouragement.
In 1972, Harvey moved back to Joplin to teach at Ozark Bible College. He taught there for over 30 years, impacting thousands of students. His specialties at Ozark were church planting, urban ministry, Christian education and global missions. For nearly 3 decades, Harvey led the Missions Department at the college. Harvey continued to help plant churches across the globe and was instrumental in the start of Bible colleges across the Caribbean.
While in Joplin, Harvey and Nancy welcomed their son James Harvey in October 1974.
Throughout the years, Harvey took students to local churches to serve on weekends through the Lord’s Reapers, traveled hundreds of miles each spring with van loads of students to help with church plants, inner city missions and a variety of projects throughout the US. He was an advocate and leader for the National Missionary Conference, served on the board of Good News Productions, many different global mission boards and helped with the founding of NALA in Joplin. In his summers, Harvey was often found in church camps, VBS programs and teaching at Bible colleges in Jamaica, Barbados and St Vincent. He led by example and shared his faith wherever he went.
Harvey retired from full-time teaching at Ozark Christian College in 2003, but his impact at the college never ended.
In 2004 Harvey was chosen as the Seth Wilson Distinguished Alumni at Ozark Christian College.
Soon after his retirement, Harvey and Nancy prepared to move to Amman Jordan and establish one of the first public libraries in the nation. Their project, Books and More was established and designed to be a bridge between all cultures and faith and continues to this day to be one of the few places in the nation where people of all nationalities and backgrounds can gather together to learn, train, access books and resources and build community.
Harvey was a friend to all he met. Whether in a soup kitchen in NYC, a small church in the countryside of Jamaica, a classroom at 7AM in Joplin, MO, a Bedouin tent in the Middle East or a table at The Communities of Wildwood, Harvey made sure that the people around him knew they mattered and were loved.
Harvey leaves behind a great legacy and impact. His life and purpose are carried on by his students and family around the world. Harvey Ray Bacus touched the lives of countless people from January 16th, 1937 until his death December 16th, 2022. His legacy and life continues through his daughter Jackie R Bacus-Newman and her husband Jim and Jackie’s three children Laith, Jad and Zain as well as his son James H Bacus. He is also survived by his sister Linda and many nieces and nephews.
Harvey’s celebration of life will be held on Wednesday December 28th at the Chapel at Ozark Christian College. His son James H. Bacus will officiate. Visitation will begin at 10 AM followed by the service at 11AM.
All gifts to honor Harvey can be sent to Books and More Library projectjordan.org or to Ozark Christian College. The gifts sent to Books and More Library will be used to build a new auditorium, conference center and classroom space for the training of local leaders, teachers and children in Jordan.
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