West eulogized as word spreads of his death

Prayer warrior Doug West died Aug. 3 in a London hospital. He was 51.

West, director of student advancement at Corban College, was in London on a short-term mission trip, cut short by a heart attack. His main responsibility was to set up a prayer walk in a Muslim area of Great Britain’s capital city.

“Doug to me personified the meaning of our new name, Corban, in the sense that his life was truly dedicated to God in all he did,” said Reno Hoff, president of Corban College. “I never met a person more interested in prayer and getting others involved in prayer.”

West died as he had lived: praying. He slumped to the ground after leading the mission team in a time of prayer at Woodgrange Baptist Church. Philippians 1:21 – “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” was the theme verse for the day. Before he left on the mission trip he had emailed Tom and Barbara Ward, the missionaries he had gone to serve, about a street near their home that is similar to a street in Pakistan: “It wouldn’t be a bad thing to die on Green Street.”

“Doug is a good friend who understands and supports our passion to tell about the love of Jesus to this neighborhood,” Barbara Ward wrote in an email. “His servant’s heart made him a real example to us.”

She wrote of his enthusiasm and passion for prayer, missions and Christian camps, then added: “We are thanking God for a faithful, consistent life of service that can only seem tragically cut short to us who do not see as God sees. Our trust is in Him and we know He is trustworthy.”

West was the coordinator for the missions team, prayer team facilitator and men’s Bible study leader at Jefferson (Ore.) Baptist Church; he had been a member with his wife and three children – Rebecca, Joel and Mackenzie – for 10 years. He was involved in ministry  in Sierra Leone and Senegal, both in Africa, and had trips set for this fall to both places, as well as his ongoing work with the Wards in London.

“Doug was one of the champions in our church who loved the Lord, had a great commitment to the missions ministry of our church and who served in a variety of ways in our church body with a great sacrifice of time,” said Dee Duke, Jefferson Baptist pastor. “I will miss him very much as a close friend and a partner in the ministry of our church.”

At Corban College, West screened all applicants, coordinated orientation, supervised the freshman core groups, and oversaw the camp team ministries program. West advised undeclared transfer students, oversaw spring break and summer student mission teams, hosted Christian Camp Day on campus, and was master of ceremonies for special campus events such as the annual Turkey Trot.

Two summers ago he started a 30-minute, noon-time weekly prayer time open to everyone on campus.

“I learned more about prayer in five years from Doug than 20 years prior,” said Daren Milionis, director of career and academic services. “I pray more, and more seriously, more confidently. I pray on my knees more. These are all things I do since I met Doug. … He just walked close with the Lord and was compelled to pray often, for much.”

West settled into his multi-faceted role on campus after graduating with the Class of 1996. He liked to refer to himself as “Director of Student Success,” Milionis said.

“He was all for the students,” Milionis said. “He gave; he just gave. His resources were for others to use. Freely.”

Coworkers spoke of his t-shirt ministry, a “business” he ran out of his garage. He would buy t-shirts at wholesale, and at the request of student groups would develop artwork that he would print on the shirts, which he would sell at cost if not give away.

“His t-shirt ministry for me demonstrated the generosity of Doug’s heart,” said Tamara McGinnis, assistant professor of English and director of Corban’s drama program. “He deeply wanted to support the ministry of others. He had just finished doing the t-shirts for theatre camp, and discounted the bill dramatically. When I asked why he was giving another discount, he said, ‘I wanted to help you and be a part of what was going on.’ That epitomizes Doug. He was a background ‘I want to be there to help’ person.”

The camp team ministries program led by West was a significant part of Corban’s outreach each summer, said Marty Ziesemer, dean of enrollment management. With his Christian camping background, West developed a program in which four or more teams of four students each would serve for six to eight weeks each summer at camps throughout the Northwest.

“Doug was able to think outside the box,” Ziesemer said. “When we went to him for advice, he always wanted to know the purpose behind the event. He knew it wasn’t enough just to have an event. It had to have a purpose.

“Doug was a very highly respected person who loved the Lord like crazy and showed it in his walk with the Lord,” Ziesemer continued. “He’s a good friend, a quality person. He’ll give you the shirt off his back to help you.”

West’s ministry began in Christian camping and youth ministry. He served in several camps in California before going to Prescott, Ariz., to work at Prescott Pines Camp. It was there he met his wife, Carrie, and they were married at the camp.

In 1978 he served as a youth pastor on the Oregon Coast, before starting at Camp Tadmor near Lebanon, Ore. in 1982 as program director. Later he was named camp administrator.

“Under Doug’s leadership we became known as one of the leaders in Northwest camping,” said Steve Ellingboe, a camp coworker. “We were always pushing the envelope —Wild West, Tom Sawyer, Every Day’s a Holiday, Mining Camp, and with those programs we would decorate the camp – grass huts, gold mines, whatever.”

West’s leadership spread to other camps through his involvement in the Christian Camp and Conference Association, said Dave Bertz, Camp Tadmor administrator.

“Doug's desire to serve others and have an influence on their lives through the ministry of Christian camping has been an example and encouragement to many camp and conference leaders,” Bertz said. “Doug had a way of giving an encouraging word or idea at just the right time.”

West left Camp Tadmor after 11 years as director, to complete his college degree at what today is known as Corban College. There he found a new ministry home.

“He was truly a joy to work with,” President Hoff said. “He had such a positive attitude about his job and what he was doing for the Lord.”

Memorial services will take place Aug. 23 at Camp Tadmor.

                                                                                                                                               -- By Karen L. Willoughby