Author Topic: Neal Wilson - 1920-2010  (Read 2010 times)

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Mimi

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Neal Wilson - 1920-2010
« on: December 14, 2010, 06:57:59 PM »
Former GC President Neal Wilson, 90, died today. He lead denomination from 1979 to 1990. Story to come.  about 7 hours ago  via web   - Twitter




Tuesday, December 14, 2010
BREAKING NEWS: Former Adventist Church president Neal Wilson died today

Former Adventist world church president Neal C. Wilson died today, according to Adventist News Network. He was 90 years old.

Wilson served as president of the Adventist world church from 1979 to 1990. His son, Ted N.C. Wilson, is the current Adventist world church president.

Adventist News Network first broke the news on Twitter today at 2:52 p.m.

  For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven. Psalm 119:89 

Mimi

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Neal Wilson - 1920-2010
« Reply #1 on: December 15, 2010, 01:36:09 AM »
From Adventist News Network:


Neal C. Wilson, former Adventist Church president, dies at 90
Father of current church president led denomination from 1979-1990
14 Dec 2010, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States
ANN staff

Neal C. Wilson served as president of the Adventist Church, overseeing the creation of the church's Fundamental Beliefs, as well as the relocation of its world headquarters. He also helped to further mission in the former Soviet Union by obtaining permission to establish a seminary near Moscow two years before the fall of communism in 1989. [photo courtesy GC Archives]
ncwilson-246.jpg

Neal C. Wilson, who served as president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church from 1979 to 1990 and the father of the denomination's current president, died today at a care facility in Silver Spring, Maryland, United States. He was 90.

As president, Wilson furthered the church's mission in the former Soviet Union two years before the fall of communism there, helping obtain permission to establish an Adventist seminary and administrative headquarters near Moscow in 1987. He also oversaw the 1980 adoption of the church's Fundamental Beliefs, the creation of Adventist World Radio, and oversaw the relocation of the denomination's world headquarters from Takoma Park, Maryland to its current location in Silver Spring.

During his tenure, Wilson visited 170 countries where the church operated institutions of healthcare, education, evangelism and publishing. He was known to remember thousands of people, even after brief meetings.

"I regard him as one of the outstanding leaders in the history of this church," said Bill Johnsson, former editor of the Adventist Review. "I asked him once how he remembered people's names so well and he said he just made a point of it."

After retirement in 1990, Wilson pastored churches in California and served as an adviser to the denomination's Euro-Asia Division. The U.S. Department of State would periodically call him regarding situations in the Middle East based on his understanding of the region from a 15-year post in Egypt, Johnsson said.

"He could have been a statesman or a diplomat but he chose to give his talents to the church and we were all blessed by that," Johnsson said.

Neal Clayton Wilson was born in Lodi, California in 1920, the son of a missionary and church administrator. Wilson attended schools in Zambia, Malawi, South Africa and India before earning a bachelor's degree from the church-owned Pacific Union College in Angwin, California in 1942. In 1944, he earned a degree from the Adventist Theological Seminary, then located in Takoma Park, Maryland.

Wilson served the church in Egypt from 1944 to 1958, first as a pastor and evangelist and later as the regional administrative president. He then worked as an administrator in California and Maryland before his appointment as president of the church's North American Division in 1966. He served in the post until his appointment as president of the denomination.

Wilson's son, Ted N.C. Wilson, was elected president of the Adventist world church in June.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be sent to the Adventist Development and Relief Agency, Adventist Heritage Ministry, Adventist World Radio or Christian Record Services for the Blind.
  For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven. Psalm 119:89