Irene Ballosh

Irene Jordan Ballosh was born in Memphis, Tennessee to Wilmer Clarence Jordan Sr. and

LuLu Belle Jordan on November 9, 1925.  She peacefully passed away on September 2, 2021 in Houston, Tx.

Irene was preceded in death by 3 of her children: Vicki Lynn McGee, Carol Sue Carpenter, Steven (Ingro) Jordan, and grandchild Alex J. Lofendo (wife Cindy).  She was also preceded in death by all of her siblings, which were Wilmer Clarence Jordan Jr., James Oscar Jordan, Helen Jane Wakat Jordan, and Billy Earl Jordan.  All of her half siblings had also passed away which were: Eldridge Brown, Weston Brown, and Beatrice Brown.

Irene is survived by 2 children: Debra Fox (husband John) and David Ingro (wife Tandy). She is also survived by 11 grandchildren and many great and great-great grandchildren. Her legacy with the Lord will be remembered by children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews.  She had the privilege and blessing to baptize in water my Aunt Ethel (her brother’s wife of James O. Jordan) a few years ago.  I’m not sure who was blessed more, my Aunt Ethel or Mom!  If it had not been for the amazing salvation of my mom when I was eleven, I doubt whether many of us would have come to know the Lord.

Irene was called to the mission field when she was in her mid forties.  My siblings and I can remember many long car rides from Houston to Del Rio (her home base for missions in Mexico).  I remember being amazed by the fact that my mom, along with Brother John Martinez (her husband), built all of the adobe bricks for their house with their feet.  Mom only had water coolers in her house, but that house stayed pretty comfortable especially in the evenings. It felt peaceful sleeping there with the floor-to-ceiling windows, a cool breeze, and crickets chirping.  After their home was complete, they also built the church in Del Rio.

My brother Steve helped build the church in Acuña, Mexico, and that church stands today and is a beacon for the Lord.  I have been to the church in Acuña many times, and several of the young women that mom mentored are still leading that church!  Many of these ladies consider my mom their “spiritual mother.”  Mom could no longer go to the church in Mexico the last 3 or  4 years.  The roads were so bad that they made her bones hurt, so her beloved trips there were no more.  However, she had peace knowing that the church was in good hands.

Many do not know, but Mom also was instrumental in building a church farther inland in Mexico.  She and Brother Martinez first went to this village and a “witch/voodooist” from this village threatened them with incantations and voodoo.  This did not intimidate them, however, many of the people in the community were terrified.  They went home and fasted for 21 days.  Upon returning to the village, the witch doctor and the rest of the village were saved.  Once again, Mom and Brother Martinez helped the village build a church with “feet-made” adobe bricks.  They also helped the village with gardens, health advice, and they even raised up an indigenous pastor.  That church is also still thriving today.

Brother Martinez and Mom had many healings over the years in their ministry.  She particularly told of one story where a man was raised from the dead!  Mom and Brother Martinez often participated in various healings together, with one getting a word from the Lord, and then the other one also receiving a word.  It was an amazing journey for both of them for 20 plus years until Brother Martinez went home to be with the Lord in 1992.  This did not stop my mom though.  She still preached, fed children, prayed for people’s lives, and ministered to the poorest of the poor!

Mom was the matriarch of our family, and led so many people to the Lord over the years.  In fact, just a month before she passed away she was sitting on a bench in Wal-Mart and led a man to Jesus.   She had such a profound impact on so many peoples lives.  She will be missed!

Matthew 25:21 “Well done, thou good and faithful servant, you were faithful over a few things now I will make you ruler over many things: enter into the joy of the Lord.”