Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on. Blessed indeed, that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!" (Rev. 14:13)
1. Kenny Joseph died on January 12, 2017, at age 88. Kenny Joseph was a missionary to Japan from 1951-2012. He is the author of the books Combined Japan Missionary Language Handbook and Japan's Christian Roots. Black Christian News released his obituary.
2. Jeffrey Sorbonne died on February 4, 2017, at age 52, in a house fire. He was the founding pastor of Anchor Point Community Church in Duluth, Minnesota. Since 2013, he had served as the National Church Planting Director for the Evangelical Free Church of America. The God Reports blog reported on his death.
3. Wendell Broom died on February 18, 2017, at age 93. He was a pioneer missionary to Africa in the Churches of Christ. The Christian Chronicle featured his obituary.
4. H. Wilbert Norton died on February 20, 2017, at age 102. He was a missionary to the Congo, Africa with the Evangelical Free Church. He taught at numerous schools including Trinity College and Wheaton College. Norton helped organize Intervarsity Christian Fellowship's first student missions conference in 1946. Christianity Today shared his obituary. The Billy Graham Center Archives has a page dedicated to Dr. Norton.
5. John Seaman died on March 19, 2017, at age 69, from cancer. He was a minister and former missionary in the Church of the Nazarene in Africa. Since 2003, he had been serving as the District Superintendent of the Michigan District of the Church of the Nazarene. The Church of the Nazarene shared his obituary.
6. Sandra Callander was promoted to glory (died) on March 24, 2017, at age 73. She was an officer in The Salvation Army who achieved the rank of Lt. Colonel. Her ministry included service in the Australian Territory of the Salvation Army as well as the New Zealand and Fiji Territory. The Salvation Army in Australia released news of her death.
7. - 19. Thirteen Choir Members from the First Baptist Church in New Braunfels, Texas were killed in a bus accident on their way home from a retreat on March 29, 2017. The deceased include Howard Bryan Allen, 81; Rhonda Barlow Allen, 61; Harold Boyd Barber, 87; Margaret Robinson Barber, 82; Murray William Barrett, 67; Mildred Goodlett Rosamond, 87; Sue Wynn Tysdal, 76; Dorothy Fern Vulliet, 84; Martha Holcomb Walker, 84; Avis Scholl Banks, 83; Cristie Clare Moore, 68; Donna Elizabeth Hawkins, 69; and Addie Maurine Schmeltekopf, 84. Christianity Today released a news story on this tragedy.
20. Ethan Roser died on April 22, 2017, at age 19, from an accident at a track meet in college. Ethan was a student at Wheaton College and was fatally hit by a hammer at a track meet. His plan was to become a minister and he was majoring in Christian Education and Biblical Studies at Wheaton. Cincinnati.com shared the story of his tragic death.
21. Jay Carty died on May 4, 2017, at age 75, from cancer. Jay Carty was a former NBA player and basketball coach. He helped teach Kareem Abdul Jabar his hook shot while an assistant coach at UCLA for three years with John Wooden (See YouTube). Jay Carty became a well known author and traveling Christian Evangelist throughout the West Coast of the United States and founded Yes! Ministries. His obituary is at Hallels.com.
22. Nadine Foley died on May 13, 2017, at age 93. Sister Foley served as prioress of the Adrian Dominican Sisters from 1986-1992. She was a leader of religious women in her congregation and throughout the United States. Sister Foley was an editor of three books and wrote two volumes of Adrian Dominican history and a biography of Mother Mary Gerald Barry, OP, who was the longest serving prioress of the Adrian Dominican Sisters. Her obituary appeared in the Michigan Catholic.
23. - 51. Twenty Nine Coptic Christians were killed on May 26, 2017. Coptic Christians is the name for a group of Christians that are primarily based in Egypt. The group was on their way to a pilgrimage to pray at The St. Samuel the Confessor monastery when they were attacked and killed near Minya, Egypt. 10 of the 29 who died were children. News of this attack was shared by the Independent News and Fox News.
1. Kenny Joseph died on January 12, 2017, at age 88. Kenny Joseph was a missionary to Japan from 1951-2012. He is the author of the books Combined Japan Missionary Language Handbook and Japan's Christian Roots. Black Christian News released his obituary.
2. Jeffrey Sorbonne died on February 4, 2017, at age 52, in a house fire. He was the founding pastor of Anchor Point Community Church in Duluth, Minnesota. Since 2013, he had served as the National Church Planting Director for the Evangelical Free Church of America. The God Reports blog reported on his death.
3. Wendell Broom died on February 18, 2017, at age 93. He was a pioneer missionary to Africa in the Churches of Christ. The Christian Chronicle featured his obituary.
4. H. Wilbert Norton died on February 20, 2017, at age 102. He was a missionary to the Congo, Africa with the Evangelical Free Church. He taught at numerous schools including Trinity College and Wheaton College. Norton helped organize Intervarsity Christian Fellowship's first student missions conference in 1946. Christianity Today shared his obituary. The Billy Graham Center Archives has a page dedicated to Dr. Norton.
5. John Seaman died on March 19, 2017, at age 69, from cancer. He was a minister and former missionary in the Church of the Nazarene in Africa. Since 2003, he had been serving as the District Superintendent of the Michigan District of the Church of the Nazarene. The Church of the Nazarene shared his obituary.
6. Sandra Callander was promoted to glory (died) on March 24, 2017, at age 73. She was an officer in The Salvation Army who achieved the rank of Lt. Colonel. Her ministry included service in the Australian Territory of the Salvation Army as well as the New Zealand and Fiji Territory. The Salvation Army in Australia released news of her death.
7. - 19. Thirteen Choir Members from the First Baptist Church in New Braunfels, Texas were killed in a bus accident on their way home from a retreat on March 29, 2017. The deceased include Howard Bryan Allen, 81; Rhonda Barlow Allen, 61; Harold Boyd Barber, 87; Margaret Robinson Barber, 82; Murray William Barrett, 67; Mildred Goodlett Rosamond, 87; Sue Wynn Tysdal, 76; Dorothy Fern Vulliet, 84; Martha Holcomb Walker, 84; Avis Scholl Banks, 83; Cristie Clare Moore, 68; Donna Elizabeth Hawkins, 69; and Addie Maurine Schmeltekopf, 84. Christianity Today released a news story on this tragedy.
20. Ethan Roser died on April 22, 2017, at age 19, from an accident at a track meet in college. Ethan was a student at Wheaton College and was fatally hit by a hammer at a track meet. His plan was to become a minister and he was majoring in Christian Education and Biblical Studies at Wheaton. Cincinnati.com shared the story of his tragic death.
21. Jay Carty died on May 4, 2017, at age 75, from cancer. Jay Carty was a former NBA player and basketball coach. He helped teach Kareem Abdul Jabar his hook shot while an assistant coach at UCLA for three years with John Wooden (See YouTube). Jay Carty became a well known author and traveling Christian Evangelist throughout the West Coast of the United States and founded Yes! Ministries. His obituary is at Hallels.com.
22. Nadine Foley died on May 13, 2017, at age 93. Sister Foley served as prioress of the Adrian Dominican Sisters from 1986-1992. She was a leader of religious women in her congregation and throughout the United States. Sister Foley was an editor of three books and wrote two volumes of Adrian Dominican history and a biography of Mother Mary Gerald Barry, OP, who was the longest serving prioress of the Adrian Dominican Sisters. Her obituary appeared in the Michigan Catholic.
23. - 51. Twenty Nine Coptic Christians were killed on May 26, 2017. Coptic Christians is the name for a group of Christians that are primarily based in Egypt. The group was on their way to a pilgrimage to pray at The St. Samuel the Confessor monastery when they were attacked and killed near Minya, Egypt. 10 of the 29 who died were children. News of this attack was shared by the Independent News and Fox News.
52. Austin Silva died on June 15, 2017, at age 17. Austin Silva had dental surgery on June 6, 2017, and never woke up from the anesthesia. He died 9 days later. Silva attended Lake Highlands High School in Dallas, Texas and was a member of Watermark Community Church. He accepted Jesus as his savior in elementary school and after having worked at Camp Barnabas, a camp for children with special needs, he wrote in his journal, "This experience reminded me that Jesus Christ is real and certainly worth following." The Dallas News featured a story on his passing. His obituary is online at dignity memorial.
53. Megan Johnson died on June 27, 2017, at age 31. She died unexpectedly 7 hours after giving birth to her daughter, Eille Megan Kate Johnson. She was married to Nathan Johnson, a Christian musician with the rock band Meaning Machine. God Updates released information on her passing. There is also a blog created to tell Megan's Story.
54. Haddon Robinson died on July 22, 2017, at age 86, from Parkinson’s. Haddon Robinson served as the President of Denver Seminary from 1979-1991. He taught homiletics at Dallas Theological Seminary for 19 years and was a professor and former interim President at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. As a professor he was renowned in presenting the need for "The Big Idea" in Biblical preaching. He was listed by Christianity Today as being in the top 10 of its "25 Most influential Preachers of the Past 25 years." Robinson is the author of the classic preaching textbook called Biblical Preaching, which is still used in many seminary's. Christianity Today shared his obituary.
55. Chen Xizeng died on July 27, 2017, from colon cancer. He was a Chinese Christian pastor and Bible scholar. The Chinese Christian Daily released news of his death.
56. - 57. Newlyweds Austin and Rebekkah Wesson were in a car accident in Clearwater, Kansas on August 5, 2017. Austin died instantly and Rebekkah passed away two days later from her injuries. Both were age 19. The couple had met on a missions trip and had married one day before the accident. Rebekkah's father John Bouma said, "They both loved the Lord - they wanted to be the hands and feet of Jesus." The Gospel Herald released a story on the tragedy of these two sweethearts.
58. Glenn Campbell died on August 8, 2017, at age 81, from complications of Alzheimer's. He was a country music star who loved to sing hymns about his Christian faith. Over his career he made over 70 albums and 12 of them became gold. His signature song was, "Rhinestone Cowboy". In 1990 Campbell said, "I love telling people about Christ and what he's done for me and can do for them." Charisma News featured his obituary.
59. Ruth Pfau died on August 10, 2017, at age 87, from kidney and heart disease. Sister Ruth Pfau was born in Germany and was a medical doctor who devoted her life as a medical missionary to helping limit the spread of leprosy in Pakistan and treating eye disease among suffering people. She converted to Catholicism and became a nun in The Society of Daughters of the Heart of Mary and was known as, "The Mother Teresa of Pakistan." Pakistan gave her a state funeral, and she is the first Christian woman to receive such an honor from the Muslim nation. Christianity Today shared her obituary. The New York Times also released her obituary.
60. Sharoon Masih died on August 27, 2017, at age 17. He achieved academic excellence despite enduring years of being persecuted as the only Christian student in his class at his school in Pakistan. On August 27, 2017, he was beaten to death by his Muslim classmates. The British Pakistani Christian Association reported on his death.
61. Michael Cromartie died on August 28, 2017, at age 67, from cancer. Cromartie helped frame the Christian world view for the media over decades of work within the US Capital of Washington D.C. Christianity Today shared his obituary. The New York Times also featured his obituary.
62. Robert Jenson died on September 5, 2017, at age 87. Jenson was a Lutheran theologian who emphasized an ecumenical approach and was known for his contribution to systematic theology. During his career he taught at both Luther College and United Lutheran Seminary. He founded the Center for Catholic and Evangelical Theology in 1991 along with Carl Braaten. The books he authored include: A Religion Against Itself (1967), The Triune Identity (1982), and Systematic Theology (1999). Christianity Today and Christian Century shared his obituary.
63. Rick Stevens died on September 5, 2017, at age 77. He had been the lead singer in the band Tower of Power in their early years. Rick Stevens became a Christian while serving time in prison. SFGate.com released a story on his passing.
63. Rick Stevens died on September 5, 2017, at age 77. He had been the lead singer in the band Tower of Power in their early years. Rick Stevens became a Christian while serving time in prison. SFGate.com released a story on his passing.
64. Nabeel Qureshi died on September 16, 2017, at age 34, from stomach cancer. Nabeel Qureshi converted to Christianity from Islam and became a Christian apologetic, working with the Ravi Zacharias team. He was the author of the book Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus: A Devout Muslim Encounters Christianity and No God But One. Christianity Today shared his obituary.
65. David Mainse died on September 25, 2017, at age 81. Mainse was a Canadian pastor who started Canada's longest running Christian television show called 100 Huntley Street in 1977. He also founded Crossroads Christian Communication, Yes TV, and a prayer hot line that serves over 30,000 calls per month. Christianity Today shared his obituary.
66. Helen DeVos died on October 18, 2017, at age 90, from complications of a stroke. Helen DeVos was a Christian philanthropist who supported charitable and faith causes including children's charities, churches, and Christian Education. Her support led to the formation of one of the nation's leading Children hospitals located in Grand Rapids, Michigan called The Helen DeVos Children's Hospital. MLive released information on her passing.
67. - 92. Twenty Six Worshippers at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas
were gunned down on November 5, 2017, while they were attending a service at the church. Those killed included: Keith Braden, 62; Shanni and Robert Corrigan, 51; Joann Ward, 30; Brooke Ward, 5; Emily Garza, 7; Greg Hill, 13; Emily Hill, 11; Megan Hill, 9; Crystal Halcombe, 36; Crystal's Unborn Child; Bryan Halcombe 60; Karla Halcombe, 58; Marc Daniel Halcombe, 36; Noah Halcombe, 1; Sarah Johnson, 68; Dennis Johnson, 77; Hally Krueger, 16; Tara McNulty, 33; Robert Scott, 56; Karen Marshall, 56; Anabelle Pomeroy, 14; Therese Rodriguez, 66; Ricardo Rodriguez, 64; Peggy Lynn Warden, 56; and Lula White, 71.The attack was the deadliest mass shooting by an individual in the history of the State of Texas. More information on the shooting is on Wikipedia. Photos of those who died are on the following memorial video by NBC News.93. Shawn Jones died in on November 18, 2017, at age 32. Jones collapsed of a sudden heart attack on November 18, 2017, while in the midst of a Gospel performance. He was a Gospel singer and the founding pastor the New Thing Empowerment Church in Auburn, Alabama. CBN released a news story on his death.
94. Stan Toler died on November 18, 2017, at age 67, from cancer. Toler served as a General Superintendent in the Church of the Nazarene from 2009-2013 and was a pastor for over 40 years. He also taught seminars with Dr. John Maxwell's INJOY seminars. Toler authored over 100 books that sold over 3 million copies, including his last one God Can Do Anything But Fail: So Try Parasailing in a Windstorm. The Church of the Nazarene released his obituary.
95. Harry Blamires died on November 21, 2017, at age 101. Blamires was a student of C.S. Lewis and was a Christian author and scholar. He emphasized in his teaching that the church should have a Christian worldview in the midst of an increasingly secular society. He taught English at King's Alfred College in the UK. His most well known book of the over twelve that he authored is called The Christian Mind and is still in print. Christianity Today shared his obituary.
96. Jared Plesec was promoted to glory (died) on December 2, 2017, at age 21. Jared Plesec was a soldier in The Salvation Army, who was shot and killed in Cleveland, Ohio on Saturday, December 2, 2017, while on his way to volunteer at his church. He was wearing his Salvation Army uniform and grasping his Bible when he was killed. Jared Plesec was awarded posthumously the 2017 Soldier of the Year award by The Salvation Army. WKYC in Cleveland covered his funeral.
97. John Sherrill died on December 2, 2017, at age 94. Sherrill served as an editor and writer for the inspirational magazine Guideposts for over 66 years. He co-wrote the Christian books The Cross and the Switchblade with David Wilkerson; God's Smuggler with Brother Andrew; and The Hiding Place with Corrie ten Boom. Christianity Today shared his obituary.
98. Greg Wood died on December 5, 2017, at age 48, from brain cancer. Wood served as an International Missions Board missionary for 11 years, serving in an indigenous village in Mexico. The International Missions Board released his obituary.
99. R.C. Sproul died on December 13, 2017, at age 78. Sproul founded Ligonier Ministries in 1971 and served as its chairman throughout his life. He was a leader in Biblical teaching in the Reformed tradition and was renowned for his explanation of the implications of the sovereignty of God. Sproul was the author of over 100 books, including The Holiness of God; Essential Truths of the Christian Faith, and What is Reformed Theology? Christianity Today shared his obituary.
100. Na Hoku Hanohano died on December 16, 2017, at age 70. He was a Christian musician in Hawaii and was working on a project to raise funds to build a music school on the campus of Kalihi Union Church. The Star Advertiser reported on his death.
Dedication: This post is dedicated to some Christian friends who were promoted to glory in 2017.
This feature is part of an annual series that started in 2010. All the years of the series can be viewed at these links.
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