Portrait of Glenn Ingouf. Photo Provided
Glenn Green Ingouf, an International Mission Board missionary emeritus who shared the gospel in Indonesia and Thailand, died Nov. 10, 2024, in Decatur, Alabama. She was 92.
Glenn was born Jan. 23, 1932, in Decatur to the late John H. and Mabel Blackwell Green. She graduated from Decatur High School, and received the Bachelor of Arts from Alabama College (now University of Montevallo), Montevallo, and the Master of Arts diploma from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisiana, in 2023.
She grew up in a happy, Christian home, and while seeking missionary appointment, Glenn recalled her “especially radiant Christian mother.” Through children’s discipleship programs at church, she felt the first stirrings in her heart toward missions. One summer as she embroidered a map of the world, Glenn wondered where God might want her in the world. When she was 16, she realized she did not have a personal relationship with Christ and came to saving faith in Him. Just a few months later, her mother died suddenly. Glenn wrote of her mother’s death, “I found strength only in Christ.”
The following year, in 1949, she entered college. Strong, godly friendships and leaders in her life continued to influence her interest in missions. Though she felt God might be calling her to ministry, she did not surrender to His call initially. After graduation, she became a teacher but experienced a growing conviction that God’s will for her was full-time Christian service.
In Jan. 1956, she met John Ingouf, and while seeking missionary appointment she wrote, “Our first serious talk included missions, and we found that both of us were willing to go to a foreign field if we felt God leading.” They were married on Aug. 14, 1956. The next spring they made public their decision to give their lives for foreign missions.
After seminary, Glenn served alongside John as he pastored several churches, but the urgency of the mission field remained. Glenn wrote, “It is our conviction that God wants us where the laborers are so few, and we pray that we’ll be usable wherever we are for Him.”
In 1960, the International Mission Board appointed John and Glenn missionaries to Indonesia. They lived in Thailand briefly before their arrival to Indonesia, where they served until 1989. She then related to the South and Southeast Asia Regions as John served at the offices of the IMB in Richmond for 10 years. During their years with the IMB, they served in various roles, including their ministry together leading workshops on marriage and family, Sunday school leadership, and discipleship.
Glenn is preceded in death by a son, Michael Jonathan Ingouf; and a daughter, Ann Catherine Ingouf.
She is survived by John, her husband of 68 years; and her children, Susan Lynn Lafferty [Todd], John David Ingouf [Casey], and Julie Glynn Ingouf; six grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
A celebration of life service will be held Nov. 26, at Central Baptist Church in Decatur, with burial in Decatur City Cemetery.
Donations in her memory may be made to the Lottie Moon Offering, IMB, 3806 Monument Avenue, Richmond, VA, 23230, or online at the memorial giving page In Honor of Glenn Ingouf.
Read an obituary here. You can also read reflections on Glenn’s life by her daughter, Susan Lafferty, on her personal blog site susanlafferty.com.