Pastor Eric Monnier 1952 - 2012

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Elder Eric Monnier, former president of the Bangladesh Adventist Union Mission (BAUM). Elder Monnier passed away in Collonges-sous-Salève, France on Sunday, January 22 from a six-month battle with cancer.

Born in Paris, France on July 26, 1952, he lived an adventuresome life. He attended elementary school in Martinique and Haiti while his high school years were spent in Brazil and France. He earned Bachelor of Arts degrees in Theology, Business Administration and Education from Campus Adventiste du Salève (Adventist University of France - Collonges) in Collonges, France. He later earned a Master of Arts degree in Religious Education from Andrews University in Michigan, U.S.A.

His career spanned 35 years and two continents as he and his wife Francois devoted their lives to mission work. In their early twenties and having just begun their second year of marriage, they arrived at the Central Amazon Mission in the South American Division in October 1976. They spent a total of 30 years in SAD with Elder Monnier working as a departmental director for the Lower Amazon and Central Amazon Missions and later as president of the Central Amazon Mission, Maranhao Mission and Bolivia Union.

In 2007, the Monniers were invited to work in Bangladesh where Elder Monnier served as the president and Francois became known for her tireless work with the Orphans of Bangladesh program. Their selfless attitudes were readily apparent to those with whom they worked. BAUM Treasurer Sweetie Ritchtil commented that “if you want to know who Pastor Monnier was, you’ll find it explained in Matthew 5:39-42. Both he and his wife always tried to give, give, give. Much of the furniture in the office and even computers came from their generosity. I have never seen such an attitude of ‘what can I do for others’ rather than ‘what can I receive’. Rather than spend money on themselves, they kept even their clothing simple so they could help others. And for those times when he could not help in the way he wanted to, he always tried to at least help others laugh a bit to make life better.”

Elder Alberto C. Gulfan, Jr., SSD President, echoed those thoughts as he remembered Pastor Monnier's “fatherly wit and humor.” Further contemplating the legacy of Pastor Monnier, Elder Gulfan emphasized that he “lived a Christ-like life. We believe that Elder Monnier was ready. We believe that when that great resurrection takes place, he will be among those who will wake up and meet the Lord in the air. He died in the strongest faith on the assurance of Christ's second coming - a message which he so boldly and courageously shared in the countries where he served as a missionary.”

Francois Monnier wants to assure her husband’s friends and former constituents that he “left very peacefully and …is now resting without pain and suffering. He is now taking a good night of rest before he sees Jesus face to face. There is nothing better we can look for. …This thought comforts us very much.”

Described by his BAUM colleagues as “a man of principal yet a man who tried to give others second chances even when they made mistakes,” Pastor Eric Monnier will be remembered as a man of laughter, selflessness, compassion and mission.

He is survived by his wife Francois Massard Monnier, daughter Valerie, son Gabriel, sister Elisabeth Van Bignoot, brother Yves, mother Yvonne and beloved relatives.

A BAUM memorial service was held in Bangladesh on Sunday, January 22 to honor his work there. A funeral service will be held on Thursday, January 26 at 2:30 pm in the Saleve Adventist Campus Church in Collonges, France (7:30 pm Bangladesh time/ 8:30 pm Philippines time).  It will be broadcast via the internet at www.egliseducampus.org.

 - Teresa Costello