Obituary for Dr. Arthur Carl Sommerville
Dr. Arthur Sommerville, a long-time resident of Paris France, and current resident of Anderson SC, went home to be with the Lord on May 4, 2020, due to complications from cancer.
He was preceded in death by his wife Irene Sommerville. He is survived by his sister Joy King of Clinton, Wisconsin and several nieces and nephews and great nieces and great nephews.
Following his graduation from Northwestern Bible School, Dr. Sommerville left home, sensing that God had called him to be a missionary to Europe. Unable to get a visa for Russia, he ministered in Czechoslovakia near the Russian border. When the iron curtain fell and he could no longer serve there, he ministered in deportation camps to refugees who had been forced by the Nazis to leave their home. A short time later, God burdened his heart for France. It was in France that he met Irene Cochran, a missionary to Africa, who spoke French. They were married on September 18, 1948, and the two of them began a successful ministry together in France that would last for over 65 years.
He first established a church in the city of Bordeaux. Sensing God’s leadership to start more churches throughout the country of France, he founded the Society for Europe’s Evangelization. He then established a church in Toulouse, where he also established a Bible school to train young people to serve the Lord in France. His unique ministry which included training young people from America along with young people from France together into “gospel teams” led to the establishment of at least 15 churches throughout France and hundreds, if not thousands, of people coming to know Jesus Christ as savior. Almost all the churches he started are still functioning today and many are still being pastored by men who were trained by Dr. Sommerville.
He was first and foremost a servant of the Lord who loved God and served Him faithfully for over 70 years in France. He was loved by thousands in both France and America and will be remembered most by those who love him as a man of tremendous vision, faith, and prayer, accomplishing things that many would have thought to be impossible. He was always trusting God to lead him in every endeavor he undertook. His wit and wisdom were always entertaining, and he will especially be remembered for his burden for souls and desire to see a “great gospel preaching church in the heart of Paris.” A great soldier of the faith has been called home. But like the Apostle Paul, Dr. Arthur Sommerville was able to say before his departure from this world to his glorious home in heaven, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.”
His body will lie in state at The Standard Cremation & Funeral Center 1621 Pearman Dairy Rd. Anderson, SC 29625, on Wednesday, May 6, 2020 from 9:00am -5:00pm. A register book will be available to sign.
A cryptside service will be held on Thursday, May 7, 2020 at 11:00 am at Oaklawn Memorial Gardens Mausoleum 2323 Highway 81 N. Anderson, SC 29621.
A complete obituary may be found by visiting www.standardfuneralcenter.com A message of condolence may be submitted on the website also.
Flowers are optional. Memorials may be made to: Society for Europe's Evangelization (S.E.E.) PO BOX 2886 Anderson, SC 29622
THE STANDARD CREMATION & FUNERAL CENTER
He was preceded in death by his wife Irene Sommerville. He is survived by his sister Joy King of Clinton, Wisconsin and several nieces and nephews and great nieces and great nephews.
Following his graduation from Northwestern Bible School, Dr. Sommerville left home, sensing that God had called him to be a missionary to Europe. Unable to get a visa for Russia, he ministered in Czechoslovakia near the Russian border. When the iron curtain fell and he could no longer serve there, he ministered in deportation camps to refugees who had been forced by the Nazis to leave their home. A short time later, God burdened his heart for France. It was in France that he met Irene Cochran, a missionary to Africa, who spoke French. They were married on September 18, 1948, and the two of them began a successful ministry together in France that would last for over 65 years.
He first established a church in the city of Bordeaux. Sensing God’s leadership to start more churches throughout the country of France, he founded the Society for Europe’s Evangelization. He then established a church in Toulouse, where he also established a Bible school to train young people to serve the Lord in France. His unique ministry which included training young people from America along with young people from France together into “gospel teams” led to the establishment of at least 15 churches throughout France and hundreds, if not thousands, of people coming to know Jesus Christ as savior. Almost all the churches he started are still functioning today and many are still being pastored by men who were trained by Dr. Sommerville.
He was first and foremost a servant of the Lord who loved God and served Him faithfully for over 70 years in France. He was loved by thousands in both France and America and will be remembered most by those who love him as a man of tremendous vision, faith, and prayer, accomplishing things that many would have thought to be impossible. He was always trusting God to lead him in every endeavor he undertook. His wit and wisdom were always entertaining, and he will especially be remembered for his burden for souls and desire to see a “great gospel preaching church in the heart of Paris.” A great soldier of the faith has been called home. But like the Apostle Paul, Dr. Arthur Sommerville was able to say before his departure from this world to his glorious home in heaven, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.”
His body will lie in state at The Standard Cremation & Funeral Center 1621 Pearman Dairy Rd. Anderson, SC 29625, on Wednesday, May 6, 2020 from 9:00am -5:00pm. A register book will be available to sign.
A cryptside service will be held on Thursday, May 7, 2020 at 11:00 am at Oaklawn Memorial Gardens Mausoleum 2323 Highway 81 N. Anderson, SC 29621.
A complete obituary may be found by visiting www.standardfuneralcenter.com A message of condolence may be submitted on the website also.
Flowers are optional. Memorials may be made to: Society for Europe's Evangelization (S.E.E.) PO BOX 2886 Anderson, SC 29622
THE STANDARD CREMATION & FUNERAL CENTER