Jack Whitesell, long-time FCA pastor, professor and church growth advocate, died suddenly of a heart attack on May 1st, 2009 at the age of 82.
Jack’s ministry across the Fellowship spanned both American and Canadian churches as well as many other groups. A native of Alberta, he was the first dean of Chicago Bible College in the early 1950’s. He pastored such urban congregations as Beulah Gospel Temple in Chicago and Bethel Temple in San Francisco. He earned a B.Div. degree at Northern Baptist Theological Seminary and an M.A. from the University of California, Berkeley. Starting in 1979, Jack traveled extensively consulting with churches and fellowships in the area of church growth.
In 2001 his wife, Olive preceded him in death. They were the parents of three daughters: Ruth Wessels, Rebecca Zvirbulis, and Karen Mingione.
A memorial service will be held on Monday evening, June 8, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. at Bethel Christian Church in San Francisco (www.bethelsf.org), where Rev. Whitesell served as senior pastor from 1964 to 1979.
