Rev. Dr. Jack Arnold (1935-2005) -- Part 2
I got to attend Jack's funeral. It was the most unique memorial service I've ever attended. Not just because of its length (2.5 hours!) but because of the tone of the service.
Jim Fitzgerald (pastor, Covenant Presbyterian Church) opened the service. Carol followed with her remarks of being Jack's wife for nearly 50 years. Jack's brother, Gary, followed with family observations. Then the 4 sons spoke (Mark, Brian, Arny, and Dean). Then Bob Saville (Jack's long-life friend); and Richard Pratt (Jack's protégé, colleague, and friend) closed.
The service was unusual in that there were not the three typical things that happen at a funeral service:
- There was no wailing about eternal matters. If there's ever been someone welcomed into Christ's arms, it was Jack Arnold.
- There was no crying about things left unsaid or undone. Jack had spent years resolving past undone relationships. He had made peace with everyone in his life.
- There was no telling of lies. It was interesting that there was even a lot of “roasting“ that occurred. Jack lived his life openly and was a man with “clay feet“. As a pastor, that's a difficult way to live. But he did it -- to his credit.
For those who couldn't attend the funeral, attached is the write up from the service.
The Life of Dr. Jack L. Arnold
Jack Arnold, born in California, accepted Christ while a student at UCLA through Bill Bright's first campus ministry. While at UCLA, he played varsity basketball under legendary coach John Wooden.
One of the students involved in that early Campus Crusade for Christ group was Carol Waite. Jack and Carol married and moved to Dallas TX, where he earned a doctorate in Systematic Theology from Dallas Theological Seminary. He wrote his dissertation on “The Pauline Doctrine of Progressive Sanctification” and won the Lorraine Schaefer Award for best student in Systematic Theology.
Jack briefly pastored churches in Kingsburg CA, Kernersville NC, and then served Grace Church in Roanoke VA for 16 years. At Grace Church he founded the Roanoke Institute for Biblical Studies (RIBS) and Grace Academy Christian School. He coached sandlot football and basketball. In Roanoke he raised his four sons: Mark, Brian, David (Arny), and Dean.
In 1982, he was ordained in the Presbyterian Church in America and pastored Shannon Forest Presbyterian in Greenville SC for seven years and then Howell Branch Fellowship (now Covenant Presbyterian) in greater Orland, serving as senior pastor and then Pastor-at-Large from 1986 until the day of his passing.
In 1997, he stepped down from the full-time pastorate to establish Equipping Pastors International, which provides practical theological and biblical training to indigenous pastors and their wives around the world. He served as seminary instructor in Kenya, Jordan, Ukraine, Singapore, Uganda, and South Korea. He and Carol also ministered in South Africa, Ghana, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, Romania, Mexico, Brazil, and India.
He was the guest speaker for many college campus groups, led marriage seminars all over the world, and served as keynote speaker for mission conferences in the states. He has been a visiting professor at Liberty University ,Shenandoah Bible College, The Orlando Institute, Knox Theological Seminary, Chesapeake Theological Seminary, New Geneva Seminary in Colorado Springs., Colorado. At Reformed Theological Seminary Orlando, Jack served as adjunct professor.
He wrote over 40 volumes of teaching materials on every major topic related to Christian theology and ministry. They have been distributed around the world and used enthusiastically by many pastors and layman. However, non of them have been formally published.
Jack and Carol were married for over 48 years. Together, they enjoyed four sons, their wives and twelve grandchildren.
Related Content:
Dr. Jack L. Arnold's Biography
Obituary from the Orlando Sentinel
Obituary from the Roanoke Times
A Response to the Media
For Those Who Are Curious
Gifts Towards Jack's Legacy
Jack Arnold's Essay in John Wooden Book