Celebrating the Life & Testimony of Timothy Neal Joyner
Timothy Neal Joyner was born on 6 December 1958 in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, USA. He was the youngest of Robert and Mamie Bradley Joyner’s three children. His parents, his sister, Cindy Joyner Holloman, and his brother, Michael Leonard Joyner, had all preceded him in death. At the time of his death, he was survived by his wife, Jeannette Joyner; his sister-in-law, Joan Joyner Estabrook; his niece, Michelle Briley; his nephews, James Holloman and Timothy Daniel Holloman; and his “Ugandan son”, Kwikiriza Amos, and Amos’s family.
Faith & calling
Tim came to trust the Lord as his personal Saviour on 8 December 1978 through the witness of his brother, Mike. He attended a Sunday service at Falls Road Baptist Church in Rocky Mount, where Frank Hamrick was preaching. Two years later, while a missionary from Ivory Coast was preaching there, Timothy surrendered to missionary service after hearing the words of [Isaiah 6:8], “Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.”
Marriage & ministry
In 1982, the Lord led him to prepare for ministry at Bob Jones University, where he obtained an associate degree in missions. While studying there, he attended Faith Baptist Church, where he met Jeannette. As Tim completed his degree, Jeannette served in Kenya, East Africa, for two years. They were married at Faith Baptist Church on 5 June 1987. Timothy was ordained there before they returned to Kenya in November 1988. There, they established Faith Baptist Church in Ongata Rongai. That ministry later began Mars Hill Baptist Church in Kiserian.
Open Door in Uganda
In 2005, the Lord used the closure of their mission in Kenya and a tax situation to direct them to Entebbe, Uganda. After registering Open Door Baptist Missions, they began Open Door Baptist Church in Lyamutundwe, Entebbe, in February 2007. In 2018–2019, they purchased additional land for a new church plant in Kasanje.
Final days & remembrance
In 2021, Uganda was experiencing the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Tim and Jeannette were ill during the week of 1–4 June and began treatment. Tim received additional treatment over the weekend and was admitted to Emmanuel Medical Centre on Tuesday, 15 June. The following day, he was transferred to UMC Victoria in Bokoto, Kampala. On Saturday, he was moved to the intensive care unit. Jeannette was able to visit him on Sunday morning. He ate some watermelon and drank some water. She shared Scripture with him, encouraged him and assured him of her love. Thirty minutes later, she was told that he had gone into cardiac arrest. Ten minutes after that, the doctor told her that they had been unable to resuscitate him. He went to be with his Saviour at 9:33 a.m. East Africa Time (2:33 a.m. EST/USA).
He was laid to rest on Tuesday, 22 June 2021, in Kanyandegeya, Fort Portal, Uganda. The memorial included a request for prayer that God’s grace would comfort and sustain Jeannette.
[Psalm 116:15] - "Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints."