_Jeffrey Bishop passed away from dementia-related complications on Thursday, May 21, 2026, while at home.
He is survived by his wife, Bobbi, two daughters, two brothers, a sister and seven grandchildren._
I have been entrusted with the sacred task of reflecting on the life of Jeff Bishop, a pioneer AFM missionary among the Gogodala people in Papua New Guinea’s southwest region from 1997-2002.
Revelation 14:13 says: “And I heard a voice from heaven saying, ‘Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ ‘Blessed indeed,’ says the Spirit, ‘that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!’” (Revelation 14:13 ESV).
“For their deeds follow them.” I can think of no single line of Scripture that more accurately describes the impact that Jeff has left behind.
I first visited Jeff and his precious wife, Bobbi, after speaking at their church following their acceptance into AFM. I later had the privilege of spending weeks with them as they prepared for their missionary service. On the professional level, Jeff came from a business background. But at the level of his heart, Jeff had one desire—to love and honor God by preaching the gospel where no one had yet proclaimed it. So when the opportunity came to share Jesus with the Gogodala through AFM, Jeff could only say, “Yes.”
Accepting a call to work in that remote region of PNG speaks to Jeff’s commitment. At the request of the Southwest Papua Mission, the Bishops moved to the isolated village of Kotale in 1997. There, they lived on an island-like parcel of land, surrounded by lagoons and rivers. Wind, rain, mosquitoes, snakes and crocodiles were an ever-present reality. Fibrous cooking bananas, greens, tubers, fish and sak-sak were their primary foods. Conveniences such as those available in the States were completely absent; there were no stores, post offices or medical care.
If the above was not enough, the local people were at best indifferent to their presence and at worst actively opposed. In those early days, they experienced threats to their lives and ministry, including an attempt to burn their house down. Undeterred, Jeff, Bobbi and their two adolescent girls settled into the community and began a ministry of love whose fruits continue to the present day.
Missionary colleagues remember Jeff’s smile, energy and entrepreneurial spirit. But above all, everyone remembers his love for God, for Bobbi, his girls and the Gogodala people. God used Jeff and Bobbi to reach across the indifference and hostility to build redemptive relationships that broke down the prejudice. For Jeff, each man, woman or child he met was a potential disciple of Jesus. Using every means at his disposal, he listened, learned, practiced, loved, served and invited people into a relationship with Jesus.
His love and persistence paid off; baptisms resulted, and discipleship training events took place. A church was born and grew as the love of God melted hearts of stone into vessels of grace.
Chronic illness led to Jeff and Bobbi’s return to the United States after five years of ministry. Yet the work among the Gogodala continues. Today, there is one church and approximately seven branch Sabbath Schools or churches, what we call hand-churches, filled with Seventh-day Adventist lovers of Jesus, where there were none when the Bishops first arrived.
I spoke with Bobbi this evening. I told her I would be writing this little article in tribute to Jeff’s life and asked her how she would like him to be remembered. “Only two things,” she said. “First, that he loved God with all his heart. Second, that mission was the most important focus of his life.” To the very end, his thoughts were consumed with the need to help more people know Jesus.
After an extended and debilitating illness, Jeff passed to his rest on Thursday, May 21, leaving behind a legacy of loving service. When news of his passing reached the Gogodala, tears flowed freely from the eyes of those who looked to him as their spiritual father.
Pastor Obed Yamasombi was a young pastor from the Sepik region of PNG when he first met Jeff. He serves today as the Discipleship and Personal Ministries Director of the South Pacific Division of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Over the years, Jeff and Obed developed a deep friendship forged in love for Christ and His mission. Reflecting on the impact of Jeff’s life, Obed had previously written to him:
“On behalf of our Papua New Guinea family, I want to say that you (Jeff) were more than a missionary. You were more than a brother and a friend. Jeff, you have a place in our hearts. Though your years of ministry and your visits to PNG may seem few, the impact you made is beyond measure. Only eternity will reveal the full story. One day, when the books are opened, and our Heavenly Father reads the names written in the Book of Life, we believe many will be there because of the seeds you planted, the prayers you offered, and the love you shared.
“Thank you, Big Brother, our chief and our hero, for sharing your life with us and for shaping our lives with your influence. If I do not see you again on my next visit to America, I will see you under the Tree of Life, sharing [its] fruit . . . and we will travel the heavens together for eternity. Until then, thank you, my big brother and chief. We love you.”
The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Philippians, said the following: “I thank my God for all the memories I have of you” (Philippians 1:3 GW). This is certainly true for Bobbi and Jeff’s girls and grandchildren. But it is also true for me, for his missionary colleagues, the Gogodala people, and the thousands of lives touched by Jeff’s inspiring life of loving service for Jesus. And so today we say along with Jesus:
“Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master” (Matthew 25:23 ESV).
We look forward to that grand and glorious day when we will meet you again.
