Bishop L. Bevel Jones, 1926-2018

An iconic leader of the church and of this organization passed away on Tuesday, March 6. Bishop L. Bevel Jones III was a longtime trustee of the Protestant Hour and the Alliance for Christian Media boards, a relationship that began when he attended the groundbreaking service for the Protestant Radio & Television Center on the Emory campus in the early 1950s. He was a major figure in the United Methodist Church as well as in the Atlanta community, as well as in Western North Carolina where he served as Bishop.

All of us at Day1 and the Alliance send our prayers and sympathies to his family, including our friend and trustee, Dr. David Bevel Jones.

A memorial service for Bishop Jones will be held on Saturday, March 24, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. at Decatur First United Methodist Church.

Here is a tribute from the United Methodist News Service:

http://www.umc.org/news-and-media/bishop-l.-bevel-bev-jones-ii-1926-2018

And one from Candler School of Theology:

http://candler.emory.edu/news/releases/2018/03/remembering-bishop-bevel-jones.html

You can read, watch, and listen to Bev's Day1 sermons here:

http://day1.org/208-bishop_l_bevel_jones

I personally mourn the loss of this magnificent leader in the whole wide world of faith. I first met Bev around 1970 when he came to Johnson Memorial Methodist Church in Huntington, WV, where my father was pastor, to preach a "revival" week. He was amazing (and yes I attended every evening--had to.) Bev was so impressed by the choir directors, Henry and Carolyn McDowell, that he asked Dad if he could "steal" them for Decatur First UMC, and subsequently they had a huge impact there for 30 years.

I next met Bishop Jones when I was interviewed by board members of the Protestant Hour for the job as executive producer in early 2001--and it certainly helped me that Bev warmly remembered my Dad! He loved to tell that story.

Bev became a wonderful mentor and friend over the years since, particularly after my Dad died. His encouragement, humor, and warmth will be deeply missed by me and by all he has come in contact with throughout his rich and meaningful life and ministry. I always enjoyed his frequent greeting, "Petah, I think of you every time I see you!"

God rest you, dear friend, and well done good and faithful servant. May you rest in peace and rise in glory.

_ --Peter Wallace _