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Ted W. Engstrom, former leader of several major evangelical institutions, including World Vision and Youth for Christ, died last Friday, July 14, in his home in Bradbury, California. Engstrom was 90.

As executive vice president, president, and chief executive officer of World Vision, Engstrom turned the fledgling and debt-ridden orphan agency into a major relief and development organization. Engstrom also served as editorial director and general manager of Zondervan Publishing House, executive director of Youth for Christ International, and interim president of Azusa Pacific University.

"Engstrom was best known for his uncompromising commitment to serving the poor and for helping others grasp God's perfect and immeasurable love," said Rich Stearns, president of World Vision U.S. "He also upheld a profound sense of stewardship and brought a business and managerial savvy to World Vision during his more than 20-year tenure."

Ted W. Engstrom

Two major contributions "Dr. Ted" gave to evangelicalism, said World Vision acting vice president for communication, John McCoy, was his promotion of standard business practices in ministries and churches, which had often neglected balanced budgets as they focused on ministry, and his combination of "social outreach with evangelism."

"His ability to integrate the gospel with everyday life was absolutely inspiring," said Dean R. Hirsch, head of World Vision International. "Dr. Ted made work and faith walk together."

Building evangelicalism's institutions
Born in Cleveland, Engstrom became a Christian during his freshman year at Taylor University. He recalled, "It was 10:30 in the morning, April 1, 1935, when I responded to the claims of Christ. I was released, and I rejoiced in the grace that God gave me that day. I walked out and the sky was never bluer; the flowers were never prettier, and the birds never sang better."

Engstrom's lifetime love of writing—he wrote or co-authored more than 50 books over his lifetime, including the popular 1967 volume Managing Your Time—blossomed during his 11 years at Zondervan, as did his love for evangelism.

Amid his book work (which also included editing The Christian Digest), Engstrom volunteered as director of the Grand Rapids chapter of Youth for Christ. In 1947, Engstrom invited the soon-to-be-famous evangelist Billy Graham to preach in his first city-wide crusade.

After the successful, 10-day crusade, Graham asked Engstrom to "set up my organization for me," according to biographer Bob Owen in  Ted Engstrom: Man with a Vision.

In 1948, Engstrom served as a delegate to the first World Congress on Evangelism, and three years later he became executive director of Youth for Christ International. He preached, toured, and wrote for the organization's monthly magazine, Campus Life (now a Christianity Today sister publication called Ignite Your Faith). Engstrom also recruited Harold Myra, now Christianity Today International CEO, to Campus Life in 1961.

Seeing red at World Vision
After health problems forced him to change his schedule, Engstrom accepted an offer from World Vision founder Bob Pierce (whom he had met at the World Congress on Evangelism) to be the organization's executive vice president. What he found upon arriving was disturbing. World Vision, notes Owen, "was nearly one half million dollars in debt and more than 120 days behind on some 'current' bills."

"Even if we sold everything we have, we couldn't liquidate our debts," Engstrom told the board. "We are behind on all our payments. We are behind on our child-care pledges to orphanages in Korea and elsewhere. We have not come even near paying for the Tokyo Crusade just a few months ago."

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July (Web-only) 2006, Vol. 50