Above: Bethel Evangelical Secondary School, a school in Dembidolo, Ethiopia operated by the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus and supported in part by the PC(USA).
“Then children were being brought to [Jesus] in order that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples spoke sternly to those who brought them, but Jesus said, ‘Let the children come to me, and do not stop them, for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.’ And he laid his hands on them and went on his way.” – Matthew 19:13-15
Treasure In Heaven
From childhood, Jo Ann Griffith ’59 (1934-2024) dreamed of becoming a Christian missionary—or, as she called it as a little girl, a “Chrissionary.” She spent her early years saving, working, and studying with single-minded dedication to that calling. Yet, as a young adult, she still had no clear path to fulfill her dream.
That changed near the end of her undergraduate studies, when the Rev. Dr. W. Don McClure ’34—namesake of PTS’s annual McClure Lectures— visited her church to speak about his mission work in Ethiopia. From the pews, Jo Ann praised God for the door she saw opening before her. She introduced herself to Don after the talk and soon resolved to prepare for ministry at Pittsburgh-Xenia Theological Seminary (an antecedent of PTS), Don’s alma mater. The two stayed in close touch throughout Jo Ann’s seminary years. Upon graduating with her Master of Arts in Religious Education, Jo Ann wasted no time in booking a flight to Ethiopia, where Don and his wife warmly welcomed her. The couple was approaching retirement, and as a young missionary, Jo Ann benefited deeply from their mentorship, hospitality, and vibrant spirit during those early years.
Jo Ann went on to serve in three different locations across Ethiopia for 47 years. Thirty of those years were spent at Bethel Evangelical Secondary School (BESS) in Dembidolo, where she taught English, Bible, and home economics. Serving the students of BESS became the great joy and focus of Jo Ann’s life. She oversaw the preparation of nutritious meals in the dining hall, instilled healthy habits, and launched a seed-distribution initiative that reached both the school and the wider community—this effort earned her the nickname “the seed lady.” Students affectionately called Jo Ann “Misge” and spoke of her as a “lifelong mentor,” “second mother,” and “amazing teacher . . . with a big heart full of love.” In a memoir about Jo Ann prepared by one of her former students, BESS alums shared stories of the way “Misge” modeled “true leadership” and Christian love through simple acts of service—picking up trash, preparing treats, hosting Bible studies, and opening her home for games on Friday nights.
After retiring and returning to the U.S., Jo Ann continued serving others through local organizations, including Due West Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, Erskine College and Seminary, Cherokee Trail Elementary School, and others, but her heart remained in Ethiopia. In her later years, she enjoyed visiting former BESS students living in the U.S. and corresponding with others who remained abroad.
In her sunset years, Jo Ann chose to leave her remaining personal assets to institutions she believed in—among them Erskine College and Seminary (where she earned her undergraduate degree) and PTS. In her final months, Jo Ann shared with her sister, Jane, “Do you know why I did what I did with my money? I gave it to those who made me who I am.”
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