Warren Wiersbe, a renowned pastor, author, and Bible teacher, died on May 2, 2019, at the age of 89. He was known as “the pastor’s pastor” for his influence on thousands of preachers and laypeople who learned from his biblical exposition and practical theology. In this article, we will look at his life, ministry, and legacy, as well as the cause of his death.
Contents
Early Years and Education
Warren Wiersbe was born on May 16, 1929, in East Chicago, Indiana, the youngest of four children of Fred and Gladys Wiersbe. His mother was of Swedish descent, and his father was of German descent. He became a committed Christian at a Youth for Christ rally in 1945, under the preaching of evangelist Billy Graham. He studied at Indiana University, Roosevelt University, and graduated in 1953 from Northern Baptist Theological Seminary in Lombard, Illinois.
Ministry and Writing
Wiersbe began his pastoral ministry in 1951 at Central Baptist Church in Illinois, where he served until 1957. He then worked as the Director of the Literature Division for Youth for Christ International until 1961. He pastored Calvary Baptist Church in Kentucky from 1961 to 1971, where he grew the church from 800 to 2000 members and broadcasted his sermons on a local radio station. He then moved to Chicago to pastor the Moody Church from 1971 to 1978, where he also continued his radio ministry on the national program Songs in the Night.
Wiersbe was a prolific writer, authoring more than 150 books, including the popular “Be” series of Bible commentaries, which covered most books of the Bible and sold more than 4 million copies. He also wrote bi-weekly for Christianity Today as “Eutychus X” from 1979 to 1982. He taught practical theology at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and Dallas Theological Seminary, and served on the board of Slavic Gospel Association. He was also the general director of the Back to the Bible radio broadcast from 1984 to 1990.
Personal Life and Death
Wiersbe married Betty Warren on June 20, 1953, whom he met at seminary. They had four children, nine grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. He died on May 2, 2019, in Lincoln, Nebraska, just a few weeks shy of his 90th birthday. According to his grandson Dan Jacobsen, he died of natural causes after a long illness. He was buried at Lincoln Memorial Park Cemetery.
Legacy and Impact
Wiersbe was widely respected and loved by many Christians, especially pastors, who benefited from his faithful preaching and teaching of God’s Word. He was called “one of evangelicalism’s giants” by Ed Stetzer, the interim teaching pastor at the Moody Church. He was also praised by Jerry Vines, a former Southern Baptist Convention president, who said Wiersbe changed his preaching from topical to text-driven. Wiersbe’s books and commentaries are still widely used and appreciated by many believers around the world.
Warren Wiersbe was a man who devoted his life to the study and proclamation of God’s Word. He left behind a rich legacy of biblical exposition and practical theology that will continue to inspire and equip generations of Christians. He was a faithful servant of God who finished his race well. He will be greatly missed, but not forgotten.
