Former Moline Baptist pastor the Rev. James Reese died Friday, July 5, at the age of 85.
He is survived by his wife, Adrienne (nee Kerr) of 62 years;
daughter Beth (Wes Woof), sons Paul (Lydia Lazar), son Steven, Dan (Melody Farr) and Phil (Shirley Conover), 14 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Born in Williamston, Mich., Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Harold (2001) and Margaret (1996) and two brothers, Tim (1987) and John (1962).
He graduated from Bryan College (TN) and Grand Rapids Theological Seminary (MI) and pastored four years at Moline Baptist Church. Moving to Canada in 1961 he served with Ken Campbell for 17 years with the Campbell-Reese Evangelistic Association, conducting about 500 evangelistic missions across North America and overseas. In 1978 he became a pastor at Benton Street Baptist Church in Kitchener for 25 years. From 2003 to 2015 he served 11 interim pastorates across southern Ontario.
Two years after Steven’s birth, Jim founded Christian Horizons in 1965 which now serves thousands of persons experiencing developmental challenges in Canada and several developing nations around the world.
The funeral celebration will be held at Benton St. Baptist Church, 90 Benton St., Kitchener at 2 p.m. Saturday, July 13. Reception in the Fellowship Hall to follow.
Memorial gifts to Christian Horizons or Benton Street Baptist Church would be appreciated.
Jim was the pastor at Moline Baptist church where he led me to Christ and to accept him as my savior when I was 8 years old. I am 72 now and remember that day as though it were yesterday.
Ms. Henry,
Thanks for sharing your story of accepting Christ. Your life has been richly rewarded because of it.