Announcing the death of Jim Graham

Rev Jim Graham

19th December 1931 - 5th July 2016.

'Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful servants'

Psalm 116:15

 

The following statement is issued on behalf of Revd Jim Graham’s family. Jim was the Senior Pastor of Gold Hill Baptist Church from 1968 to 1994. All enquiries regarding the statement should be directed to Revd Malcolm Duncan at Gold Hill, who is acting on behalf of the family.

It is with a profound sense of both sadness and thankfulness that we announce the passing of our dad. He died peacefully at home on the evening of the 5^th July, surrounded by his children. We cannot begin to express how grateful we are to God for all that he meant to us. He was a deeply loved dad to us and our spouses and Papa to our children as well as a devoted husband to our mum, Anne, who passed away in 2012. His death leaves a great chasm in our lives but we are deeply comforted by the reality that he is now free from the restrictions of his physical body and that he is more alive and more fully himself than he has ever been. We take great comfort from our shared Christian hope and know that we will be united again.

We would like to thank all who have prayed for us and supported us as we have walked with dad. We are particularly grateful for the way in which so many have respected our privacy and given us uninterrupted and very precious time together as a family. We are so grateful to the Gold Hill Baptist Church family for their love, support and prayers for us all through this last chapter of dad’s life.

A private burial attended by immediate family only will take place in the course of next week. We will also be holding a service of thanksgiving for dad’s life at 2pm on Friday 22^nd July at Gold Hill Baptist Church, Gold Hill East, Chalfont St Peter, SL9 9DG. We warmly invite all who would like to celebrate dad’s life to join with us on that occasion. Accommodation is available for those who will require it and there will be an opportunity for food and time together afterwards. All enquiries should be made to the Gold Hill Baptist Church, where further information is also available.

Psalm 100 states, ‘I will enter his gates with thanksgiving in my heart, I will enter his courts with praise’. Dad did this. His last few days were marked with a deep sense of thankfulness to those around him and to God. We are not surprised by this, as our father was a man of deep faith, enormous grace and overflowing thankfulness. He recently published a paraphrase of some of Paul’s epistles entitled ‘The God-Life’. It feels right to give dad the last word. He paraphrases part of Philippians 3 in this way:

I want you to know that a single priority and a clear focus dominates all that I am; I have firmly and securely closed the door on my past and now my eyes are riveted on that yet-unreached horizon and every sinew and muscle that I possess is now concentrated on getting there….When I get out of bed each day, I do so for one purpose: to love, obey and serve God and his people. So it is onwards and upwards for me!!

Dad has now completed that journey.

-ENDS-

 

Notes to Editors

 

About Gold Hill Baptist Church

Gold Hill is a church family seeking to be an authentic, Christ-like community, encountering God, making disciples and transforming the world. Our main building is in Chalfont St Peter in South Buckinghamshire but we meet in small groups across Bucks & West London.

For more information or to discuss this statement, please contact:

Rev Malcolm Duncan, Lead Pastor  -  email [email protected];   tel. +441753 887173; Mobile +447717452463

Media Enquires: Rev Duncan in the first instance.

Comments

[Ross Dilnot]

So sad to hear this, but we know He has reached his eternal home with Jesus. He came to speak at Moorlands when I was there ... such a gentle and anointed man.

[Jim & Irene Murdock]

It's with great sadness I read this Jim was a Godly man whom both my husband and I looked up to he had a great way with him in speaking in Love and Grace and full of mercy truly a father of the faith that we will miss dearly Love and prayers to Jims family and his church family at Goldhill from Jim and Irene Murdock leaders of Ellel Ireland

[Lynn]

So very sad to hear this. Glad Jim is rejoicing in heaven! He spoke with such warmth and deep conviction of the eternal life for all who believe. I love hearing him speak. So gracious and so full of God. Prayers for the family.

[Doris MacKenzie]

Saddened to hear this, but gladdened to know that he is safe with Jesus. Became aware of Rev Jim when A friend sent me cassettes of his sermons while I was serving as a Missionary nurse in Malawi. A real blessings. Met up with him again at CLAN in St Andrews Scotland in 2001. Again such a blessing. My thoughts and prayers are with his family. Doris Mackenzie

[Ken roxburgh]

Deeply significant influence in our lives (my wife and I ) while at LBC and he married us in July 1977. Precious in the eyes of the Lord is the death of his saints.

[Richard Starling]

So grateful for Jim , full of grace and truth. His encouragement meant so much. Thankful for his memory. Richard & Juliet Starling

[Meg Edwards]

Lovely man. Baptised me many many years ago when he was minister at Viewfield Baptist Church in Dunfermline. My mum was his housekeeper for a while. X

[Maureen Buntting]

Dear Pastor Jim has died to Live! He was very precious to me. Reading his book Dying to Live prepared me for my son Trevor's Home Call age 26 years ago. I got the privilege of sharing many special times with Pastor Jim in Northern Ireland and at Conferences in England. Psalm 116v15 is on my son Trevor's headstone. Sincere Sympathy to you. Psalm 34v18.

[Kathryn & Peter Morgan]

Jim was the most Godly man I have ever met. During the 3 years when Peter was the student minister at Gold Hill, we were so blessed by Jim's biblical teaching. He was always encouraging, wise and gracious in guiding our early steps into full-time ministry. He will be missed by many, and we particularly send love to his family.

[Paul Lavender]

Jim was gracious and kind to me, and offered me some precious pastoral counsel at a crucial point in my ministry. I thank my God for every remembrance of him.

[Mitch]

So sad to hear of Jim's passing.
Such a wonderful man and encouragement to us in the early day of Crown Jesus Ministries.
Jim spoke with eloquence and conviction at our prayers events but he will also be remembered for the pastoral wisdom and kind nature off the platform. We have lost a general, a spiritual father to many and a friend.
Thoughts and prayers with the family.

Mitch
On Behalf of Crown Jesus Ministries
Belfast

[Dave Mansfield]

Jim was a precious and Godly man. I can recall a few occasions when his grace and his words profoundly impacted my life. Sorry for your loss. I pray that the God of all comfort will give you His peace.

[Bill Caldwell]

Jim was a gracious, godly man who, in the spirit of Barnabas, was a great encourager. I was privileged to know him as a beloved friend and a great teacher.

[Greene Bunn]

A wonderful gentle wise man of God who shone with the love and grace of Jesus wherever he went, whenever he spoke.

[Dan Yarnell]

Having known him mainly through his books and teaching, I was delighted to send time with him at Gold Hill some fifteen or more years ago as we began to dream about a new leadership MA, to become the Springdale College/ForMission work.. He exemplified the kind of wise, compassionate, kind, gentle and faithful leadership that I am always seeking to aspire to. His legacy in his preaching, his writing and especially his following Jesus is a real gift to many of us who have travelled on this Christian leadership journey. Blessings to God for him, and my prayers for the family.

[Ellen lord]

So sad to hear yet hes gone to a better place
I trust the immediate family will know Gods peace and that the bigger church family willcontinue to grow as Jim had worked hard to help them do
I had the privelidge of knowing him many yrs ago while a student nurse at hillingdon from 77-80 and i know many of my friends i trained with will be sending their condolences and be praying for you all
I cant get to the service but will be thinking of you he was a great servant of God and will be missed yet God will raise others up in his place
God bledd you all
Ellen lord nee caldwell

[Linda Rodman]

Saddened to read this news, but equally thankful for the life of a man who has been an incredible influence in the lives of so many people. I did not know him personally but know some of his immediate family. Be assured of our prayers David, Rhianonn, Andy and Angela. God Bless you as you mourn Jim's death but as you have written He is now alive with our Lord.
Love to you all
Linda Rodman

[fred wyatt]

jim graham was one of the best influences on my Christian life while he was pastor at viewfield Baptist church my thoughts and prayers are with you all at this time god bless

[Ian Macnair]

Godliness and grace personified. His ministry was probably the greatest influence under God on my life. Thanks be to God for such a life and ministry.

[Alan Ashton]

My wife and I had the privilege of welcoming Jim into our home on a number of occasions. We were serving as missionaries in Manila, Philippines at the time and he was with us visiting Karen, a Gold Hill member. His wisdom and graciousness were a huge influence on us. While the news is sad, we rejoice that Jim is with our Lord and reunited with many to whom he ministered so faithfully.

[Graham Nind]

Feeling very sad but so grateful to God for the life and ministry of Jim. I joined Gold Hill Baptist Church as a Christian of a few months and was immediately captivated by Jim's preaching and presence. My heart would often burn within me as he spoke and he 'infected' me with his love for the scriptures. Alongside that he ingrained in me a deep conviction that the power of the Holy Spirit is vital if we are to live effectively for Christ.

I left Gold Hill to go into Baptist ministry. Those twin emphases, on the Word and the Spirit, have shaped my own ministry over the years. I owe him a debt of gratitude I can never repay. Unfortunately I am unable to be at the thanksgiving service but I will be there in spirit. Rest in peace my dear friend.

[Tom Chacko]

Promoted to glory.

[Isobel Garriock]

I knew Jim Graham in the 60's when he was in viewfield baptist church- he was a wonderful, gracious man and we thank God for the influence he made on our lives then. Also through his many books. Praise God for his promotion to glory - all your physical struggles are over and the best is yet to be. 💕💕💕😇🙏

[David and Alison Goodyear]

Jim helped and encouraged us so much. We will always be grateful for his wise council, compassion and wisdom to us personally. When much younger, our two children were so impressed when he came to stay. He actually spoke to them and helped with the washing up! The only visiting speaker who ever had a conversation with them and made them feel important. They have never forgotten that. We will never forget Jim and Anne and will remember them with love, appreciation and thankfulness .May the Lord surround his family with His love at this time.

[Barry Cheesman]

I first met Jim at Spring Harvest 1984 just before I began my first ministry at Seer Green. He was to become my "senior friend". Our friendship began then and I was to learn so much from both his life and teaching over the next 30+ years. In each of my 3 churches Jim helped shape what those churches became through his inspirational visits amongst us. I counted it a huge privilege that he(and Anne before her death) prayed for me and my ministry each and every Sunday morning.I treasured our friendship and was so blessed by his loving care and godly example.Rest in peace my friend.