Mrs Inez Ethel S. Arnot

Mrs Inez Arnot met her future husband at Brakpan Baptist Church where he served as pastor.

Inez Ethel Sturtevant grew up in a home in Mitchell, South Dakota, USA where no fewer than sixteen children were born and nurtured in the Christian Faith.

She was converted as a young girl and after attending Bible School in preparation for the mission field; she was sent to South Africa by the International Holiness Mission and was stationed on the East Rand. She was invited to conduct services in the newly- formed Brakpan Baptist Church. At this time the Rev. Author B. Arnot was Pastor of this Church and also of the Benoni Baptist Church. A warm fellowship developed them and resulted, in due course, in their marriage.

During the forty-five years that followed, Inez Arnot shared the burden of her husband’s ministry in eight further churches in South Africa and one in Canada. For three years during World War 2, she carried the burden of the loneliness of separation from him whilst he served as Chaplain to the Forces.

She was known as a “strong” woman; strong in her principles, strong in her purpose to serve Christ; strong in her companionship, and strong in her love of Christ. She was, in a very real way, a Mother in Israel.

It was under the ministry of George Bernard the Mrs. Arnot first found the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior, and it was her loyalty to that Cross that made her what she was --- a choice servant of Christ whop will be remembered by many throughout South Africa. She had a great ministry also, among the women folk, and in 1950/1, served as President of the SABWA.

Written by: Syd Hudson-Reed