Life and Legacy of Don Newsom

by Executive Director John David Smith

This month we honor the life of Missionary Don Newsom, who served in the Philippines for 43 years, a fact that requires no narrative and speaks for itself. However, I would like to add comments on his profound legacy. 

A native of El Dorado, Arkansas, Bro. Newsom and his family were sent as BMA missionaries in 1978. Instrumental in inaugurating BMA work on the island of Mindanao, Brother Don spent most of his ministry on the island of Panay. His Gleaner (now mission:world) articles make it evident that the Lord used Brother Don in great ways 

First of all, his ministry was marked by church planting in both the lowlands and in the mountains. He worked in places like Iloilo, Manaripay, Lublub and other locations that most of us cannot pronounce much less locate on a map. However, hundreds of people impacted by his ministry from these little-known (to us) places now have eternal relationships with the God of the universe.  

Also, he was influential in helping start an estimated 30 churches on Panay, and Missionary Sam Freeman stated that over 20 of those are still very active congregations. Part of church planting is developing leaders, and Brother Newsom led a Bible institute in Antique for many years.  According to Brother Sam almost all of those churches are pastored by men who studied at that institute. 

Another important part of Brother Newsom’s ministry was helping others to help others. He was known for encouraging and assisting many to attend nursing school and make a difference in communities. The Dorcas House, led by the Newsoms for many years, was a special place for boys and girls who did not have a home. 

The following is from Newsom’s Gleaner article of February 1983: “Our mountain ministry continues to be the most challenging and rewarding I have ever worked with. We just returned from another four-day tour of some of the work. Brother Melvin Meade went with us to help organize two of our mountain missions into churches. We first went to Soppanga. This is about a seven or eight hour walk from where we park the car. As usual, it rained and the trail was very muddy. Seventy members went into the organization of this church.” 

The ministry of empowering local leaders (ChangeMakers) to carry on ministry has been part of BMA Missions DNA since the beginning. Brother Don Newsom exhausted his life in the mission of God. We rejoice in his legacy that lives on in a vibrant ministry on an island in the Philippines and beyond.