| Homegoing of Bernie Northrup |
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 There undoubtedly were many important events that occurred in 1944—D Day and the invasion of Normandy for example. In the US, an event occurred that was to change the lives and eternal destinies of many people, although they were not yet aware of it. In that year, Miss Juanita “Nita” Eddy shared the news of salvation with a young man nearly her age, Bernard Northrup. He was so impressed with that message that he accepted the gift of salvation, forever changing his life. He must have been impressed with the messenger too, for the next year Nita Eddy became Mrs. Bernard Northrup. Bernard never lost the joy of those two events. He spent the rest of his life serving the Lord with Nita by his side. Following his marriage, Brother Northrup studied at many institutions of higher learning, eventually earning his doctorate of theology at Dallas Theological Seminary. He taught in Bible colleges and seminaries including Dallas Bible College; San Francisco Baptist Theological Seminary; Baptist Bible School of Theology in Clark’s Summit, PA, where he set up the seminary program; Central Baptist Seminary in Minneapolis; and finally at Shasta Bible College in Redding, CA, where he and his wife made their home in later years. During these years, he also traveled extensively within the US, preaching and lecturing on Creationism and the Young Earth. His travels were not confined to this country. He made several trips to Israel, Europe, and the Middle East. One trip was to have a profound impact on his life. A stint in India with Dr. Henry Osborn for the purpose of checking a Scripture translation forever changed his life. Rev. Fred Carlson, director of Bibles International at that time remembers, “he was gripped for missions in a passionate, emotional way.” Following that trip, Dr. Northrup returned to the US and began application to Baptist Mid-Missions for full-time ministry with BI. From 1988 until his health no longer permitted it, Dr. Northrup traveled overseas to India, Chad, and the Philippines, checking 22 BI Scripture translation projects. Bibles International was blessed to find a man whose skills met the challenges unique to Bible translation and whose heart was eager to use those skills in ministry. Even after Dr. Northrup was no longer able to travel overseas, he served as BI’s representative on the West Coast, presenting the BI ministry to churches near his home in California. Before the Lord called him home on April 16, 2008, Dr. Northrup had participated in archeological digs, preaching, lecturing, teaching, and writing poetry, dozens of articles, and a book, “Recognizing Messiah in the Psalms.” It seems safe to say that he has heard the words from the Savior he loved and obeyed, “good and faithful servant.” Dr. Northrup is survived by his wife, Juanita, his daughter, Joy Paswater, and son, Joel, all in California. |
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