Rose Marie Miller: A Life of Grace and Courage
A Personal Tribute to a Life Shaped by Grace, Marked by Humility, and Lived for Christ
By Steven Childers
I write this with both a heavy heart and a full heart.
Rose Marie Miller—my dear friend, and the beloved wife of my dear friend and mentor Jack Miller—has gone home to be with Jesus. She passed away peacefully in her sleep in Spain at the age of 101, in the same country where Jack preceded her nearly thirty years ago.
I find myself deeply grateful to God for her life, even as I feel the weight of her loss.
A Friendship That Shaped My Life
Rose Marie and Jack were not simply ministry influences to me. They were friends who profoundly shaped my life, my marriage, and my ministry.
From the first time I met Jack in the early 1990s—when we co-taught church planting at Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando—I knew I was encountering something that would change me. But it wasn’t just what Jack and Rose Marie taught that left its mark. It was how they lived.
Rose Marie embodied what Jack often said: “Grace is courage.” And she lived that courage over the course of more than a century—not in dramatic displays, but in a steady, quiet, deeply rooted life of trust in the Father.
London, 1995 — “A Dying Man to Dying Men”
One of my most treasured memories with them comes from 1995.
Jack and I were co-teaching a church planting conference in London. His health was already failing, and he had to receive special permission from his doctor just to teach at this conference.
And he preached—just as Alexander MacLaren once described—“as a dying man to dying men.”
Those days felt sacred.
Rose Marie was there with us—steady, joyful, and fully present. Each evening, we returned to stay at their daughter and son-in-law’s home in Pinner. Those evenings were filled with laughter, reflection, and the kind of gospel-centered fellowship that leaves a lasting imprint on your soul.
Touring London—and Jack Debating History
During breaks in the conference, the three of us would explore London together.
One day we visited Westminster Abbey, and I will never forget what happened. As the tour guide explained the history of the Westminster Assembly, Jack simply couldn’t resist. He began—kindly but persistently—correcting and debating the details.
Rose Marie and I stood there, exchanging looks—somewhere between embarrassment and laughter.
It was classic Jack.
And Rose Marie delighted in him.
Photo Reflections from That Final Trip
These photos capture something of those unforgettable days:
Jack and Rose Marie with me outside where we stayed in London
Standing with Rose Marie with Big Bend behind us
Jack and me outside Westminster Abbey
At a restaurant in London.
Jack and Rose Marie in earlier years
Rose Marie in later years – still radiant and joyful
A Life Transformed by Grace
If you want to understand Rose Marie’s life, you have to begin here: she never thought of herself as a “great missionary.” In fact, she once said, “I don’t consider myself a successful missionary. I’m just there because God has me there.”
That was Rose Marie. Humble. Honest. Dependent.
Her life was a long journey—from fear to freedom, from self-reliance to resting in the Father’s love. And that transformation didn’t just shape her personally; it became one of the defining testimonies of their shared ministry.
Even in her later years, she remained engaged in ministry—serving among South Asian communities in London, building friendships, and quietly sharing the gospel. There was nothing flashy about it. Just faithfulness, over a lifetime.
What Marked Her Most
If I were to summarize what marked Rose Marie’s life, I would point to a few simple but profound realities:
A deep love for Jesus
A growing dependence on the Holy Spirit
A lifelong immersion in Scripture
A humble and honest walk of faith
A quiet but enduring courage rooted in grace
She once said that the most important things in life are the Word of God and the person of the Spirit.
And she lived that.
Resources to Know Her Story
If you would like to learn more about Rose Marie’s remarkable life, I encourage you to explore the following:
“100 Years of Grace and Courage” by Mike Graham
https://thejackmillerproject.com/2024/12/23/100-years-of-grace-and-courage-happy-birthday-rose-marie-miller/
Podcast Video Interview: “A Hundred Years of Grace” (Serge)
https://serge.org/podcast/a-hundred-years-of-grace-celebrating-rose-marie-miller/
In these, you’ll hear what I saw in her life—humility, honesty, and a deep, abiding love for Christ.
A Final Word
I grieve her loss, but not without hope.
As Scotty Smith so beautifully said, Rose Marie has now “woken up in the unfiltered glory and presence of Jesus.” And I believe that with all my heart.
Her daughter Barbara wrote that her mother was “full of love.” That is what we will miss most.
But one day, there will be no more goodbyes.
And until that day, I thank God for Rose Marie Miller—for her life, her friendship, and her faith. To God be all glory.
Steve Childers
President, Pathway Learning
