John Glenn Connelly

John Glenn Connelly was born in 1963 to John and Louise Connelly in Williamsport, PA.  He joined three adoring big sisters.  His father was a pastor and Johnny definitely grew up in the “nurture and admonition of the Lord”.  His family lived in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Florida during his childhood.  He graduated from Altamonte Christian School in Altamonte Springs, FL and went on to graduate from Columbia Bible College, Columbia, SC.  At CBC, under the instruction of Miss Mary Faith Phillips, he learned to pull the truth from the Bible as few others can.  It was his love for teaching that sent him to Africa initially.  He found a brochure called “How Jerry Found God in the Public School” and learned he could teach kids the Bible, in English, in the schools of Liberia!  He later taught at the Monrovia Bible College and discovered he preferred the older students, eventually ending up teaching the Tom Riden Sunday School (affectionally called the Old Men’s) class at Madison Baptist Church.  He was so gifted and poured significant amounts of time and thought into the lessons.  He also took courses from Columbia University and Stanford University that helped him lead as Country Director in several organizations (World Relief, Habitat for Humanity, Food for the Hungry, Fellowship for African Relief, and Right to Care) over the course of his career.  Wherever he went he formed amazing life-long friendships which he savored. 

While at CBC he met and married Janice Busenitz.  Four beautiful, active sons were added to the family. He worked hard to provide for his family and loved them well.  He was so proud of his sons and enjoyed playing frisbee and soccer with them or splashing in the water at the beach when they were young, as well as discussing their interests as they got older.  He was extremely proud of each one and loved each of their brides.  Later, his grandchildren brought so much happiness to him.

After evacuating three times from Liberia, his work took the family to Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone, and Lesotho.  Assignments in Uganda, Ethiopia, Sudan, back to Sierra Leone and Liberia during ebola, Malawi, and Zambia followed. 

Though Africa flowed through his veins, he loved to travel anywhere.  He visited South America, Asia, Europe, and revisited Africa as often as he could. During retirement he kept busy with pressure washing, caring for the elderly, and assisting with funerals, along with the travel.

His last project was TheFinal5.org.  His concern for the most vulnerable took him to Zambia for the last time. He leaves behind his wife, Janice.  Sons, Josiah (Val), Jacob (Rachel), Kit (Mary Grace), and Nicolas (Emily). Grandchildren, Owen, Wallace, Ruth, Eliza, Liam, Lucia, Finn, William, and one more precious one he will not get to meet.  Sisters, Sherry (Peter) Elenius, Joy (Peter) Palmer, and Donna (Greg) Hall.  Along with his mother-in-law, Fran Busenitz, many dear in-law brothers and sisters, nephews and nieces.

More than anything we are so grateful for the hope we have of meeting again at the feet of Jesus. "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.  If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I choose I cannot tell.  I am hard pressed between the two.  My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better." Philippians 1:21-23  "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved."  Acts 16:31

The family invites you to celebrate John's life on Saturday, May 16th at 1:00 PM at A.E. Carter Funeral Home.  Visitation will follow the service.  The family suggests gifts in memory of John to Source of Light Ministries in lieu of flowers.  A.E. Carter Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

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