Narrative Summary
Interview Kathy Merritt by Rachell Gawlik
Kathy Merritt was born and raised in Cumberland Maryland. She grew up in a strong
Lutheran family and was brought up with very strong Missouri Synod Lutheran beliefs and
views. From a young age Kathy felt called to ministry. She always knew that she was meant to
be a missionary in Africa. Today she claims to have no idea where that desire originated, she just
always felt that desire and felt as though that was where she was being called to.
Inspired by a woman in her church Kathy eventually made her way to Concordia
University in Chicago to study teaching. It was at this Lutheran college that Kathy met her
husband, Ron Merritt. As faith would have it, her husband also felt the same calling and desire to
be a missionary. After meeting with a missionary from New Guinea the pair of them were called
to Nigeria Africa where Ron was to be a teacher and assist in translating the bible.
The two of them traveled to Connecticut to further their studies and train for their work in
Africa. They studied logistics for translating and also learned how to teach literacy in Africa.
They then traveled to England for a summer before heading to Nigeria to finish their studies and
preparations for their work in Africa. Ron and Kathy spent 13 years in Africa, where Kathy gave
birth to two sons and made lifelong friendships with the other missionary families that were there
with them.
Kathy’s missionary work and involvement in the church is in no way limited to foreign
countries and long ways from home. Kathy is heavily involved in her local chapter of Luther
Woman’s Missionary League (LWML) where she is able to continue on in her loving ways.
Through LWML Kathy and the other members have been able to start Sunday schools, build
Missouri State University
Spring 2014
Religious Lives of Ozarks Women
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churches and spread the love of God to everyone they meet. Kathy is a very well respected and
admired member of her congregation at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Springfield Mo. She
strives to live every day in accordance with God’s will for her and to share the good news of
Christ’s love with all. Kathy is a great example of the spectacular things that religious women in
the Ozarks can accomplish.
Missouri State University
Fall 2008
Religious Lives of Ozarks Women