Preacher Micky Bell succumbs to cancer
March 18, 2010
by Dale Jenkins
HOUSTON, Tex. (BNc) – Micky Bell lost a two-year battle with cancer last evening about 5:30. Micky moved from Nashville to Houston in Jan., 2008, to work with the Jersey Village congregation. He found out he had cancer in June of that year.
Micky’s faith and writings over the last two years have been an inspiration. His family has loved him and stood with him as has the Family at Jersey Village. He called it his greatest work.
Often in great pain and weak, he preached powerfully up until the last time he was able, 17 days ago. Read more
Earl Gieseke, gospel preacher, dies
March 13, 2010
GREENVILLE, KY. (BNc) — Elisha Earl Gieseke, 78, of Greenville, KY., died Tuesday, March 9, at Western Baptist Hospital in Paducah after a lengthy illness. He was a minister for more than 50 years and an Air Force veteran of the Korean War.
Survivors include his wife of 57 years, Gloria June Hunter Gieseke; a son, Rob Gieseke; two brothers, Bill Gieseke and Ray Gieseke; and two sisters, Lou Soaper and Mary Voss.
Services were at 1 p.m. today at Gary’s Funeral Home in Greenville. Burial was at the Unity Cemetery in Graham, KY.
Jim Bill McInteer, evangelist and publisher, dies at 88
March 9, 2010
By BNc Staff
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BNc) — Well-known Christian evangelist and author Jim Bill McInteer died on Monday, March 8, according to the website of 21st Century Christian.
Funeral services for McInteer will be held Wednesday, March 10, at 2 p.m. at Brentwood Hills church of Christ, 5120 Franklin Pike, Nashville, Tenn. Visitation opportunities will be on Tuesday, March 9, from 2-9 p.m. and on Wednesday, March 10 from 12-2 p.m. at Brentwood Hills.
McInteer preached for the West End church of Christ in Nashville for about 30 years. He was the former president and publisher of 21st Century Christian and Power for Today. He also served on the board at Harding University in Searcy, Ark., for many years.
Commenting on the passing of such a giant of the faith, Dale Jenkins said, “One of my heroes died today. Brother Jim Bill McInteer was a prince of a man, a gentleman, a man of God’s Word. Where do you start in remembering this godly man? He casts a long shadow and in the minds of many he the last of small group of preachers who so strongly influenced our brotherhood – Ira North, Willard Collins, BC Goodpasture, Batsell Barret Baxter and Jim Bill McInteer. His life entered into so many spheres.”
Like Jenkins, many Christians have been influenced by the dedicated service of McInteer. And though he has passed from this physical life, his work and legacy will continue to expand among those who have been touched by his life.
Paul W. Walden laid to rest
February 25, 2010
BRANDON, Miss. (BNc) – Paul W. Walden, gospel preacher and missionary from Brandon, Miss., passed away Feb. 19 at the age of 78.
Funeral services were conducted Feb. 22 at the North Brandon church with Milton Sewell and Paul’s son-in-law David Fields speaking.
Bro. Walden was born in Tupelo, Miss., on Sept. 13, 1931. Brother Walden accomplished much for the Lord in his life. He is perhaps best remembered for his work as an interim preacher in the middle Mississippi area, having served a number of congregations in this capacity.
He was serving the Lord’s church at Morton, Miss., at the time of his death. He also did a tremendous amount of mission work in the Caribbean, especially in Cuba. He made many trips to this island, where he taught and baptized hundreds.
Paul leaves his wife Larue, two sons Wayne and Wade Walden and one daughter Rene Walden Fields and eight grandchildren. He also leaves hundreds of grieving friends and brethren.
Paul was a unique, very godly man who had a burning desire for souls. He is already being missed. “Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them,” (Rev. 14:13).
Dr. Henry Farrar dies
February 22, 2010
by Barbara A. Oliver, managing editor
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BNc) — Dr. Henry Farrar, long-time medical missionary and surgeon collapsed while working at Carthage Hospital on Feb. 17, and as a result suffered a serious spinal injury. He was taken to the St. Thomas Hospital in Nashville, where he died on Feb. 22 at 1:25 a.m.
Dr. Farrar was the founder of the Nigerian Christian Hospital, served as a board member for Healing Hands International and was an elder at the College Hills church in Lebanon, Tenn. Farrar also spent a year at Chimala Mission Hospital in Chimala, Tanzania and a year at the China Medical University. Read more
Ralph David Underwood dies at 81
February 16, 2010
FLORENCE, Ala., (BNc) — Ralph David Underwood, 81, of Florence, Ala., passed away Feb. 12. He was born in 1928 in Colbert County, Ala., to Robert and Elizabeth Underwood.
Underwood earned degrees from Freed-Hardeman College, Harding College and Harding Graduate School of Religion.
He began his preaching ministry at age 20. He ministered throughout the U.S. and held full-time preaching positions in Comanche, Okla., Germantown, Tenn., and Sheffield, Ala.
He served as a missionary throughout the Caribbean and in West Africa and served as an elder at Chisholm Hills Church of Christ in Florence, AL for 25 years. Underwood was also Professor of Bible at Heritage Christian University for 35 years. Read more
Willard Tate has gone home!
February 16, 2010
by Jerry Lawlis
ABILENE, Tex. (BNc) – Willard Tate was special! When we began the Red River Family Encampment in 1987, one of the very first speakers we invited was Willard Tate. Willard was already well known among us as an ex-coach, faithful Gospel Preacher, and entertaining/motivational speaker. He was in high demand from coast to coast.
He did not know me from Adam…he certainly knew nothing about RRFE since that was to be our first year of existence. Yet, he graciously accepted my invitation when he could have gone so many places and earned good money. He came, he inspired, he entertained (who can forget the joke-telling contest between Willard and George Goldtrap, the MC for the Amazing Grace TV program, in the parking lot of the Ponderosa Lodge?!). He endeared himself to all the campers that first year, and for the next 20 years he made RRFE one of his priorities. Read more
Jack Hardeman Exum Sr., dies
February 14, 2010
contributed by Glenda Williams, BNc correspondent
LAKE CITY, Fla. (BNc) – Jack Hardeman Exum, Sr., 81, died Sunday, Feb. 7, at the Lake City Medical Center.
He was a native of Nashville, Tenn., the son of the late Fred E. and Alma Jewell Selley Exum.
Exum moved to Lake City, Fla. in 1993, from Royston, Ga. He was a member of the Central church (New Horizon church of Christ, where Jack Exum, Jr. is the minister).
Exum was a retired minister, an author of more than 39 books and a recipient of an Amy Award for religious writing. He also wrote a column that appeared in the Lake City Reporter each Saturday.
An avid reader, pool player with his friends at Eastside Village, golfer, coach (football and basketball), Mr. Exum enjoyed walking, cycling, fishing and any outdoor activities. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. Read more
Carolyn Sanders Benson dies at 69
February 4, 2010
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (BNc) – Carolyn Benson died on Wednesday afternoon, Feb. 3, in a city hospital. She died minutes before surgery on her shoulders was to have begun.
Carolyn was the widow of Byron Benson, a faithful gospel preacher who died Aug. 24, 2009. They had been married for 52 years. She was 69.
Carolyn was a talented person. She loved to paint. She developed educational material for the Grady, Ala., congregation where she and Byron had labored for 36 years.
She had retired from her position at the Faulkner University Library. Read more
Missionary S. F. Timmerman dies
December 28, 2009
SEARCY, Ark. (BNc) – S.F. Timmerman, a pioneer in French missions, faithful and bold preacher of the gospel, loving husband, father and brother ended his difficult battle with cancer today at noon. He was 92. Read more