Jim Pettit departed this life recently at the age of 99. There are many aspects of Jim’s remarkable life that could be recounted personally, professionally, and in service to his country. I want to focus on his faith, his family, and the kind of friend he was to so many people. No one knew or loved Jim quite like his family. My prayers are with them as they grieve his passing and also find joy in knowing that Jim is in the presence of the Lord. His death truly marks the end of an era.

Jim and Lorraine Pettit were integral to God’s work at Cross Lanes Baptist Church from its early days in 1959. Over the decades, Jim served in numerous capacities, including as a deacon, Bible teacher for multiple age groups, church treasurer, and more. He was a giant in the faith, yet his life was characterized by a deep love for God, profound gratitude for God’s goodness, and genuine humility.

In late 2002, I was serving as the pastor of a beloved congregation in North Carolina. Through God’s call and a series of initial conversations, I was invited to visit West Virginia as part of the process of considering a call to serve as the pastor of Cross Lanes Baptist Church. The visit was arranged, and we arrived in early January 2003. The pastor search committee consisted of five men whom the church had entrusted with identifying a candidate to recommend to the congregation. I am eternally grateful for each of them, and two have now departed this life.

We gathered for a nice dinner at the Capitol Market in Charleston. Afterward, the plan was to return to the church for a formal interview and a tour of the facilities. As dinner concluded, Jim walked outside onto the platform. It was bitterly cold, and snow was falling lightly. He put on his coat, hat, and gloves, looked at me, and said, “Seth, I’ll see you when you get here.”

Now, bear in mind that I had not yet been formally invited to become the church’s pastor. The interview had not even taken place, and the congregation certainly had not voted to extend a call! Yet Jim spoke as though the matter were already settled. To this day, I can picture him standing outside in the cold, saying those words before heading to his truck and driving home.

Jim said that for two reasons. First, he was remarkably disciplined. He went to bed early, rose early, and had every intention of maintaining his routine that evening. Second, and more importantly, he was convinced the Lord was calling us to Cross Lanes Baptist Church. And he was right. The church subsequently extended the call, and I began my ministry at Cross Lanes at the age of 31. I had no way of knowing then the profound impact Jim Pettit would have on my life, my family, and my ministry over the next 24 years.

I have never had a better friend, encourager, or fellow laborer in Christ.

Over the years, I have heard countless testimonies from people who remembered Jim as the first person to welcome them to Cross Lanes Baptist Church. His warmth, hospitality, and genuine interest in others left a lasting impression. Jim’s influence extended across generations. He taught Bible classes for people of various ages, and those who sat under his teaching knew they were loved and cared for. His ability to remember names, families, and personal details, even many years later, was remarkable.

Jim was deeply devoted to prayer. If he told you he would pray for you, you could count on it. I am convinced that hardly a day passed without his praying by name for his family, his church, my family, and countless others.

Jim loved the Word of God. I have been blessed with extensive theological education and the privilege of studying under some outstanding men of God. Yet I have never encountered a professor or Bible teacher in all my studies whose knowledge of Scripture surpassed Jim’s.

In his later years, as he drew closer to Heaven, Jim had little interest in trivial matters. Our conversations almost always turned, at least in part, to the deeper truths of Scripture and what God was teaching him through His Word. He memorized vast portions of the Bible, including the book of Romans.

At one point in recent years, health challenges affected aspects of his memory, and he could no longer recall much of what he had memorized from Romans. As his health improved and his strength returned, one of his personal goals was to memorize it again! That was Jim Pettit. He never stopped loving, learning, and treasuring the Word of God.

Jim also had a deep burden for people who did not know Jesus Christ. He wanted others to experience the salvation and life with God that he had known. That conviction led him to diligently share his faith, pray for the lost, participate in mission trips, and invest himself in the work of the gospel.

Cross Lanes Baptist Church would not be the church it is today without Jim Pettit and others like him. Perhaps nowhere is his influence more directly evident than in the church’s Deacon Ministry, where he served well for so many years. Jim believed, as I do, that serving as a deacon is a calling from God to a particular ministry office within the church. Certainly, every believer is called to serve. But deacons are called to serve the body of Christ in a specific, biblical role.

Jim took that responsibility seriously. He invested himself in helping shape the Deacon Ministry according to the biblical model. He encouraged his fellow deacons, mentored those who followed him, and helped establish a legacy of faithful, humble service. A healthy, functioning Deacon Ministry is a tremendous gift to pastors and to the entire body of Christ. Jim understood this, and his influence will continue to be felt for years to come.

What a remarkable life this man lived! Jim would be the first to tell you that it was all by the grace of God. One of the last times I visited with him, he spoke at length about the goodness of God throughout his life. He said, “Seth, I have been so blessed in my life.” He gave all credit to God, and he meant every word.

One of God’s greatest blessings to Jim was his beloved wife, Lorraine, who is also with the Lord. She was such a special lady, always gracious, kind, and so supportive of me and my family. Together, Jim and Lorraine left an extraordinary legacy through their faith and their family. The picture here was taken in Jerusalem more than 15 years ago. I love it because it captures something of the beauty of the people they were, and the wonderful life they shared together for more than 70 years.

As believers in Jesus Christ, we do not say a permanent goodbye. We say, so long, until we meet again in the presence of our great God. What a glorious reunion that will be!

Thank You, God, for the life of Jim Pettit. Thank You for his faith, his friendship, his example, and the countless lives You touched through him.

“For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.” 1 Timothy 3:13

“And I heard a voice from heaven saying, ‘Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ ‘Blessed indeed,’ says the Spirit, ‘that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!’” Revelation 14:13