Rev. Andrew James Foster

Obituary Andrew James Foster was born November 15, 1936 to Reverend Robert Lee and Myrtle M. Foster in Ripley, MS. Andrew was raised on his family farm with his parents and was the youngest of seven siblings. Growing up he picked cotton, stacked hay, milked cows, and enjoyed playing with Doc and Dan, his mules. Andrew accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal Savior at the St. Matthew Missionary Baptist Church in Ripley, MS, sitting on the mourner’s bench at the age of 11 on that great Tuesday evening during a revival. Upon graduating from high school, Andrew served in the United States Army and spent his time serving in Germany. After receiving an honorable discharge, he moved to Kansas City, MO in 1957. Within a few days being in Kansas City, Andrew landed a job as a dishwasher and worked in that role for 7 years, 4 months, and 28 days. Also, he sold cosmetics and became an entrepreneur selling real estate. Later in life, if he heard of someone starting a new job, he would often ask, “Can you see if they have a dishwashing job for me?” On September 14, 1957, Andrew met Cora Sue Calhoun and realized after their first date, this beautiful woman would become his wife. Andrew and Cora married on December 5, 1957. They were just three weeks away from celebrating their 60th anniversary. To this beautiful union, Constance, Angela, Barbara, and Candace were born. He deeply loved his daughters and raised them in a loving and stable home. Andrew joined Morning Star Baptist Church under the Pastoral leadership of Rev. Simmons. Andrew actively served at Morning Star as a Sunday School teacher and he sung in the Male Chorus being one of the lead vocals. His dynamic voice would keep the spirit high as he believed in making a joyful noise unto the Lord. Andrew was called by God to preach the Gospel. On December 12, 1965, he preached his first sermon, “The Tragedy of a Wasted Life.” After preaching this spirit-filled message, he received his Certificate of License as evidence that God had called him into the Gospel Ministry, which allowed him the opportunity to exercise his gifts in the work of the Ministry. In June 1966, Rev. A. J. Foster was called to pastor the Second Missionary Baptist Church in Mayview, MO and served in that capacity for one year. On June 7, 1967, Pastor A. J. Foster accepted the call to pastor the Greater Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church, where he served faithfully and dedicated his life as pastor for fifty-one and a half years. Upon being introduced to the church in 1967, the church at that time had low congregational membership. The members met in an old, dilapidated building that used to be an old movie theater. When it rained, water would run along the north wall, appearing to rain more on the inside than outside. Also, the church was deeply in debt. Those problems did not deter Pastor Foster. He saw new possibilities and hoped for the future. He was determined to make something out of nothing. Not only did he guide the repairs, he worked closely with those laboring and invested over $2,000 of his own money. Pastor Foster did not accept a salary for many years from the struggling membership until the debts of the old church were paid and the church was financially solvent. Pastor Foster continued to persist. He increased the membership and began to formalize the dream of a totally new edifice. When the church was rejected for financing by local banks to build the new church, Pastor Foster put his own credit on the line to get a loan in the hundreds of thousands of dollars in order to start building a new church. After a mere four years at Greater Jerusalem Baptist Church, Pastor Foster realized a collective dream. He built a beautiful new church that currently stands today. In August 1970, the membership marched into the newly built edifice. Twelve years later during a joyous-celebration, the membership burned the mortgage, having paid off the mortgage in record time under the great leadership of Pastor Foster. During his early years pastoring, he completed courses at Western Bible College. Also, he graduated with a bachelor’s degree on May 6, 1972 from Calvary Bible College. As the years went on, Pastor Foster envisioned a clean, safer community around the church and purchased adjacent land north and south of the building for expansion. The building we enjoy today is the vision God placed on a young, country boy from Ripley, MS. He truly became a GREAT man of God. On Sunday, October 14, 2018, Pastor Foster publicly announced his retirement as pastor to his congregation. He served as a faithful, inspirational, dedicated, and servant leader for fifty-one and a half years to his congregation; a preacher of the Gospel, a friend to all, with a gentle-humble spirit, a heart of gold, compassion for others and has set the foundation for all of us to follow as a God-fearing man. 2 Chronicles 7:14 “If my people, who are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” Pastor Foster was also a family man, a loving husband, a great father to his daughters, and a supportive father-n-law. He enjoyed eating home cook meals; his favorite desert was a homemade caramel cake prepared by his personal chef, who is his loving and devoted wife, Cora. He also enjoyed fishing. He was truly inspired to study the bible and preach the Gospel to save souls. Pastor A. J. Foster was proceeded in death by his parents Rev. Robert and Myrtle Foster, five siblings, Martha Augusta, Elizabeth, Napoleon, John, and Hazel. Pastor Foster leaves to cherish his memories: his wife of 59 years Cora Foster; his four daughters, Constance (Kenneth) Shields, Angela (Michael) Basey, Barbara Foster, and Candace (JC) Crane; one brother, Fred Foster, two step grand-daughters; Sharese Shields and Shanese Shields, one step great grandson; Jie Shields Lynch, a host of nieces, two nephews, cousins, friends, his community, and the entire Greater Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church family. Funeral Service will be held 11:00 A.M. Saturday, November 24, 2018 at Greater Jerusalem Baptist Church 1610 North 10th Street, Kansas City, Kansas. Visitation(s) will be held from 5:00- 8:00 P.M., on Friday November 23rd., and at 9:00 A.M. prior to Funeral Service. Interment will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Monday, November 26, in Leavenworth National Cemetery. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Rev. Andrew James Foster, please visit our floral store. Read More

Rev. Andrew James Foster

November 15, 1936 - November 13, 2018