Collection 607
[April 19, 2005]
Atkinson, Herbert Andrew; 1931-
Atkinson, Frieda Elizabeth (Paul); 1930-
Interviews; 1930-1988
2 Video Tapes (0.04 cubic feet)
Brief Description: Interviews with Dr. Herbert Andrew Atkinson and his wife, Frieda Elizabeth (Paul) Atkinson, missionaries with Africa Inland Mission (AIM) in the Belgian Congo. Dr. Atkinson talks about his family background, conversion, Wheaton College, influence of his roommate Bill Kornfield and Dr. V. Raymond Edman, God's provision for his entering medical school, ministry in Oicha, obstacles in communication with the Congolese, lessons learned on the mission field. Frieda Atkinson describes her childhood and parents ministry in Africa, her call to medical missions, raising children on the mission field, village evangelistic work, Sunday school and church services, relationships with Congolese Christians, ministry with children and women in Michigan, the faithfulness of God.
Restrictions: None
Biography
| Full name | Herbert Andrew Atkinson | |
| Birth | May 27, 1931, Miles City, Montana | |
| Family | ||
| Parents | Henry Sheperd and Lilian (Hoagland) Atkinson | |
| Siblings | An older sister | |
| Marital Status | Married Frieda Elizabeth Paul, June 18, 1954, Wheaton, Illinois | |
| Children | David Henry, Daniel Paul, Ruth Lillian, Esther Elizabeth | |
| Conversion | At the age of 9 at home with the help of his mother | |
| Education | ||
| 1948-1952 | Wheaton College (BS degree), Wheaton, Illinois | |
| 1952-1956 | University of Illinois Medical School, Chicago, Illinois (BS & MD degrees) | |
| 1957-1958 | Baptist Bible Seminary, Johnson City, New York (now at Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania | |
| Career | ||
| 1956-1957 | Decatur & Macon County Hospital, Decatur, Illinois (Internship) | |
| 1959 | Commissioned by Hydewood Park Baptist Church, North Plainfield, New Jersey for missionary work with AIM | |
| 1959-1964 | 1st term. Medical missionary with AIM in Oicha, Belgian Congo (now Democratic Republic of Congo). | |
| 1966-1969 | 2nd term. Medical missionary in Nyankunde, Congo | |
| 1970-1973 | 3rd term. Medical missionary in Nyankunde, Congo | |
| Other significant information | ||
| Herbert's father was a pastor who died when Herbert was three years old | ||
| Full name | Frieda Elizabeth (Paul) Atkinson | |
| Birth | January 28, 1930, Aba mission station in the Belgian Congo (now Democratic Republic of Congo) | |
| Family | ||
| Parents | Samuel Austin Horn and Elizabeth J.A. (Riemann) Paul, Jr. | |
| Siblings | Older brother Harold and three younger siblings, Miriam, Victor, James | |
| Marital Status | Married Herbert Andrew Atkinson, June 18, 1954, Wheaton, Illinois | |
| Children | David Henry, Daniel Paul, Ruth Lillian, Esther Elizabeth | |
| Conversion | At the age of 4½ at home with the help of her mother after hearing a sermon by her father | |
| Education | ||
| 1944-1946 | Rethy Academy | |
| 1946-1948 | Westervelt High School | |
| 1948-1950 | Columbia Bible College, Columbia, South Carolina | |
| 1950-1954 | Presbyterian School of Nursing, Chicago, Illinois (RN degree) | |
| Career | ||
| 1953-1956 | Presbyterian Hospital, Chicago, Illinois (professional nursing) | |
| 1959 | Commissioned by Hydewood Park Baptist Church, North Plainfield, New Jersey for missionary work with AIM | |
| 1959-1964 | 1st term. Medical missionary with AIM in Oicha, Belgian Congo (now Democratic Republic of Congo). | |
| 1966-1969 | 2nd term. Medical missionary in Nyankunde, Congo | |
| 1970-1973 | 3rd term. Medical missionary in Nyankunde, Congo | |
| Other significant information | ||
| Frieda parents were AIM missionaries in Congo | ||
Scope and Content
Herbert Andrew Atkinson was interviewed by Lawrence Wesley Fountain on November 19, 1988 at the Atkinson's home in Stevensville, Michigan. The events described in the interview cover the time period 1931-1988.
V1 (65 minutes). Family background, conversion, Christian witness in high school, Wheaton College, influence of roommate Bill Kornfield, Jim Elliot, David Howard, attends the 1948 InterVarsity Christian Fellowship Urbana Conference, influence of Dr. V. Raymond Edman (President of Wheaton College), God's provision for his acceptance into medical school, impressions of Africa Inland Mission (AIM) orientation program, language school in Belgium, experiences in Africa, ministry in Oicha (surgery and medicine and evangelism), obstacles in communication with the Congolese, prayer before surgery, village work, evangelistic campaigns, evacuation from Zaire, lessons learned on the mission field, "Barnabas" philosophy, medicine an effective method of reaching people for Christ, current work he's involved in.
Frieda Elizabeth (Paul) Atkinson was interviewed by Lawrence Wesley Fountain, her nephew, on November 19, 1988 at the Atkinson's home in Stevensville, Michigan. The events described in the interview cover the time period 1930-1988.
V2 (70 minutes). Childhood memories, parents ministry in Africa, education at Rethy Academy, conversion, teaches Sunday school (at age 11), Raymond Stauffacher, circumstance surrounding her call to medical missions, experiences of growing up on the mission field, impressions of Congo after being away for over a decade, description of Oicha, political climate in Congo, her Christian influence on her children, impact of death of fellow missionaries on her children, ministry in Oicha, raising children on the mission field, works in a pharmacy, village evangelistic, difficulty in traveling by automobile, Sunday school and church services conducted by the Atkinsons, relationships with Congolese Christians, effect of Congo's Independence (1960) on Belgians and Christians living in Congo, ministry with neighborhood children in Michigan, organizes a women's Bible study class, faithfulness of God.
Provenance
The materials in this collection were given to the Archives of the Billy Graham Center by Herbert Andrew Atkinson, Frieda Elizabeth (Paul) Atkinson and Lawrence Wesley Fountain in January 1989.
Accession: 03-60
April 19, 2005
Wayne D. Weber
LOCATION RECORD
Type of material: Videos
Accession: 03-60
The Archives has one copy of each video, unless otherwise noted. The following items are in the Video FILE:
| Video # | Type | b&w / c | Length in minutes | Title | Date
|
| V1 | vhs | c | 65 min | None | Interview of Herbert Andrew Atkinson by Lawrence Wesley Fountain. | 11/19/1988 |
| V2 | vhs | c | 70 min | None | Interview of Frieda Elizabeth Atkinson by Lawrence Wesley Fountain. | 11/19/1988 |