Remembering AIM missionaries Warren & Donna Pett
A letter from AIM’s U.S. Director.

Dear Friends,

AIM missionaries, Warren and Donna Pett, were shot and killed on Thursday, March 18, 2004, after seven armed men wearing military uniforms raided the college near Yumba in northwestern Uganda, where the Petts taught. Also killed was Isaac Juruga, a student. These tragic events have left the families of Warren and Donna Pett and the Ugandan student, their church family, the AIM family and their African colleagues in shock and disbelief. The hurt of this wound is deep and too overwhelming for words. In the midst of this, I was reminded of a phrase in a popular song: “Light of the world, you stepped down into darkness, opened my eyes, let me see.” My prayer is that each person affected by this painful event would see God stepping into their darkness and pain. May we see and experience His healing, His perspective, His purpose and His mighty hand at work. May His kingdom come, may His will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

We are still waiting to understand more fully what happened on that day. The Ugandan police said the attackers looted the Esther Evangelical School of Technology, and set fire to a number of the staff houses nearby. The Yumba district is a remote area near Uganda’s border with Sudan. While rebel activity has been in the area for nearly 18 years, the local police said the area was peaceful and had not been subject to rebel attacks.

The Petts were on loan from AIM as agricultural experts to the technical school run by Here Is Life, a Ugandan Christian organization, in an effort to teach the Aringa people the skills necessary to find employment and support their families. Warren (age 49) taught agriculture and Bible courses, while Donna (age 48) taught cooking and tailoring classes at the college.

Prior to this Uganda assignment, the Petts ministered in Nairobi, Kenya, involved in both youth ministry and service to both AIM missionaries and nationals, through Africa Inland Mission’s International Services division.

"Donna and I do not necessarily know the road ahead, but we take comfort in knowing the One who made and is in control of that road."
- Warren Pett in a prayer letter before leaving for Africa
The Petts operated their family dairy farm in Wisconsin for 22 years before coming to Africa in 1997. They were members of the Elmbrook Church, Brookfield, Wisconsin, and shared the church’s vision of reaching the Aringa tribe with the gospel.

Scott Arbeiter, Elmbrook Senior Associate Pastor said, “They were salt of the earth people. Very authentic. They were vital and lived out what they believed. The news of their lives being taken has sent a shock wave through our church. We are a church in mourning.”

Donna’s brother, Richard Rageth, called his sister “one of the most caring Christian people you would ever meet – she believed in the Lord and followed Him wherever He took her.” He said his brother in law was the same.

Thomas Pett, referred to his cousin, Warren, as a “big, burly, joking and loveable guy who loved the Lord.”

Pastor Arbeiter said the couple were aware of the risks involved in mission work, but, “they weighed the risks [and they] offset those risks with the love for the African people. In the end, love won.”

Before going to Uganda, Warren Pett wrote, “There is an old Christian song ‘Trust and Obey.’ The last two lines say, what he says we must do, where he sends we must go, never fear only trust and obey. We take great comfort in that thought. Donna and I do not necessarily know the road ahead but we take comfort in knowing the One who made and is in control of that road.”

The AIM family extends their deepest love and sympathy to the immediate family, the Petts three grown children, Marita, Saul, and Ezra plus four grandsons.

There also has been an outpouring of love and concern from the leaders of other missions in many letters. I want to share with you thoughts from a few:

Oli G. Jacobsen, Chairman of New Tribes Mission wrote: “We heard of the situation in Uganda and want to express our deepest sorrow and condolences for the death of Warren and Donna Pett. Although we do not know them, we have heard reports of their testimony and example before their church in Wisconsin...

“We’re especially thinking today of Warren and Donna’s children and parents who are grieving and living with the pain of this earthly separation. Times like this are a brutally painful reminder that we were not created for sorrow and suffering and separation and death, and that we live in a cruel, fallen world. That stark reality makes the truth of what Christ has done for us all the more precious. It is a great comfort to know that Warren and Donna are standing victorious in the Lord’s presence today, rejoicing, and without a moment’s regret.

“In NTM it seems that we continually have occasion to count the cost and ask the Lord again that we might see all this from God’s prospective. As we hear this sad news we’re reminded of His love and the truth that He remains in firm control and wants only for our attention to be firmly fixed upon Him.

“Our prayer for the AIM family, as we mourn together this sad Sunday, is that we will all be spurred on once again to offer our lives more and more for Him.”

Malcolm McGregor, SIM International Director, expressed the following: “Greetings from SIM. I tried to get you on the telephone this afternoon to pass on the shock and deep sadness of the entire SIM family at the news of the killing of Warren and Donna Pett and one Ugandan student...I read news of this incident in the Saturday edition of the New York Times and it has been on my mind since then

“At our morning prayers today we prayed for the families involved, Elmbrook Church and the entire AIM community – may the Lord sustain and comfort each one involved. This has hit you all very deeply and we share in your grief.

“I believe these kind of incidents are going to touch us all in greater ways in the days ahead and we need to be ready to support and encourage each other through them....”

Michael G. Loftis, President of ABWE, writes: “Please assure the AIM family of the prayers of our ABWE missionaries and Board at this time of your loss of missionaries through the violence in Uganda. ...I have been seeking to challenge churches recently that there is no “safe or cheap way to do missions.” It cost the Son of God and it will cost all those who follow Him down the Calvary road. But that road is the only road that allows such affliction to weigh heavily with the weight of eternal glory.”

John Watters, President of SIL said: “We grieve with you, the AIM family, the Pett family and the Ugandan family. We would never choose these events, they are far too painful. But as you say, the Lord can work through them to deepen and widen His kingdom.”

The families of Warren and Donna Pett have set up a memorial fund with both Elmbrook Church and Africa Inland Mission. Should you wish to give a gift in their memory for ongoing mission work, please send your gift to either of these addresses: Pett Memorial Fund, Africa Inland Mission, P.O. Box 178, Pearl River, New York 10965.

The funeral for Warren and Donna Pett was held on Saturday, March 27, 2004 at 1 p.m. at Elmbrook Church. Lanny Arensen, AIM’s International Director, Steve Wolcott, AIM’s Uganda Branch Executive Officer, Don Dix and Paul Robinson, AIM U.S. Council Members, and I, attended along with other missionaries and representatives from AIM. Neither life nor death could stop the testimonies of Warren and Donna Pett from honoring the Lord Jesus Christ.

Yours in Christ,
Ted Barnett
U.S. Director