On December 8, 2009, Peter Stam left us to go to his heavenly home with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ at the age of 92. Peter was born in Paterson, N.J., on April 26, 1917, to Peter Stam Jr. and Margaret Gardenier Stam.

His father was also a Presbyterian minister who was involved in much of the great history of the conservative movement out of the Northern Presbyterian Church in the 1930s and 40s. Peter III was the first born and later was joined by John, Peggy and Ruth.

Peter was a graduate of Wheaton College, Illinois, followed by a Masters at Faith Seminary. He was an accomplished linguist having been under the teaching of some prominent teachers through the Summer Institute of Linguistics. Up to the time of his death he could handily quote Scripture and converse in the Bangala language of his people group.

At a very young age Peter determined to enter foreign mission service and, so he went with his wife, Mary Lou and one year old Sharon to Congo where he remained for 18 years. During this period three more children were born, Bruce, Marilyn and Peter Blair. After a number of episodes of tribal unrest forced them to leave for a time, they found themselves in Toronto where he became director of Africa Inland Mission for Canada. Ten years later he assumed the directorship of the mission for the United States, based in Pearl River, N.Y.

After mandatory age-related retirement they moved to Wilmington, N.C., to be near some of the family. “Retirement” included 4 years at Fourth Presbyterian Church in Bethesda, Maryland as Pastor of Missions and Pastor of Missions in Myrtle Grove Evangelical Presbyterian Church.
He taught Perspective on World Mission classes throughout eastern North Carolina.

Peter served on a number of boards including President of IFMA, International Foreign Missions Association. Others were local ministries, Radio Encounter, Seaman’s Center and Mission Board at Myrtle Grove Church. Barnabas International in Illinois was a long-time involvement. As you can see, his passion was missions until he took his last breath. He has remained a Teaching Elder in the Evangelical Presbyterian Church.

Mary Lou Kennedy Stam was his beloved wife for 45 years, working alongside him wherever God sent them. He was married to Jeanelle Jensen until her death parted them after 7 years. He is survived by his wife of 10 years, Anne Zillger Stam who has been privileged to be part of his life.

He is survived by Anne, daughter Sharon Rouse, husband Jim, son Bruce, wife Valerie, daughter Marilyn and son Peter Blair, wife Pamela. He was grandfather of 10 and great-grandfather to 15 at last count. Pre-deceasing him are his wives, Mary Lou and Jeanelle, sister Margaret Robertson and brother John.