Sherri Schneidermann-Kone was appointed with CBFMS January 28, 1987 to minister at the Baptist Mission Hospital in Ferkessedougou, Cote d’Ivoire as a nurse. At her appointment, Sherri made this statement:
“What motivates a person to leave the comforts of home and go to a country thousands of miles away where everything is unfamiliar and strange for the purpose of being a missionary? The answer is found in a song. The words to the song, When I Survey the Wondrous Cross sums up the reason.” said Sherri. “After all that Christ has done for me, my only loving response can be, ‘I’m totally yours, use me as You desire.'”
During her years as a nurse at the Baptist Mission Hospital, Sherri’s roles included teaching, administrating, crisis intervention, and being a loving example to the patients. She took a course in Tropical Medicine to better equip her to serve at the hospital. A special friend commented, “As a nurse, she never just focused on physical care of someone who was sick. Her heart reached out to touch the body, mind and emotions. Sherri was a gifted clinical nurse.”
Sherri resigned in 2003, and then returned to WorldVenture in 2006 to serve with the Mobile Member Care Team, based in Ghana. During her seven years with the team, her official role was that of office administrator, bookkeeper and trainer. Sherri worked tirelessly to set up training workshops across the West Africa region, handling all the registrations and logistical details and creating an atmosphere of care and trust for all the potential participants.
In 2010, Sherri married Gozie Kone. They returned to Cote d’Ivoire in 2013 to combine their skill sets in reaching kids through children’s ministry. Sherri resigned July 31, 2020 and returned to Cote d’Ivoire. A friend commented, “Sherri was one of those bright souls who sought to encourage and build up where and when she could. Sherri shined and brought encouragement to those she interacted with. She will be deeply missed. ”
According to her colleagues, “While she preferred to work behind the scenes, she was a capable facilitator and a compassionate and caring crisis debriefer when called on in these areas. Sherri lavished her gifts of practical helps on her teammates, support staff and the wider West African mission community. These gifts were demonstrated in a variety of ways such as designing a creative encouragement card for one of us or mentoring a staff member in her carpentry skills. Her infectious laugh would often ring out in our home and office and bring a smile to our faces.”
Please pray for family, friends, and the family of WorldVenture.
How did Sherri inspire you? Share your stories.
