Jim McKendrick

MCKENDRICK, James M.

Grand Rapids, MI

Jim at age 78 went home to be with the Lord September 4, 2021. He was saved March 18, 1951. “He looketh upon men, and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not;He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light.”Job 33:27, 28 Jim is survived by his wife, June; son, Mike (Dee) McKendrick; grandchildren, Caben McKendrick, Elena (Matthew) McCaleb, Breana (Carl) Mitchell; great granddaughter, Stevie Escher McCaleb; and sister, Mary Hill. A funeral service will be held Saturday September 18, 2021 at 11 AM at NW Gospel Hall, 1350 Garfield NW. Friends may visit with family beginning at 10 AM. A light lunch will be served at 12 PM. Interment will be in Fairplains Cemetery.

James McKendrick

On April 1, 1943, Jim was born to Jim (Sr.) and Peg McKendrick living in Chicago. It was a Christian home and on March 18, 1951. Jim was saved during a gospel meeting. The verses preached on was Job 22:27-28, "He looketh upon men and if any way I have sinned and perverted that which was right and it profited me not He will deliver his soul from death and his life shall see the light."

Around the age of 10, they moved to Garnavilla, Iowa. During Jim's youth, there was an active young people's group where he grew in his Christian faith.

In 1961-1965, Jim attended the University of Iowa in Iowa City, graduating with a Bachelors of Business Administration Degree. In August 1964, Jim married his 'honey', June Turgeon.

Jim's first working experience after college meant a move to Cincinnati, Ohio where he designed corrugated boxes. He was actively involved in the Sunday school, Bible studies and outreach at the Bible Chapel.

After about 6 months, Jim was transferred to New Jersey. Here Jim got involved in a High School Bible Study at atn Italian Assembly. Our taste for spaghetti and pizza still remains.

Soon we were off to East St. Louis as Jim was transferred again. Here he heard for the first time the clicking of prison doors behind him as he was introduced to the prison ministry. This was an eye-opener and scary realization for Jim as he preached the gospel to the prisoners. During this time, Jim was introduced and helped with the Bible Memory Association program.

In 1968, the company closed the plant and Jim got a job with Hallmark Cards and moved to Kirksville, MO. Here Jim was introduced to public preaching and took part in his series of gospel meetings. He was also involved in teaching Sunday school. Kirksville was also where Jim and June's son, Mike came into the world.

After working three years for Hallmark Cards, Jim left and moved to Kansas city where he got a temporary job at a small advertising company. He also attended conferences with book table displays for Walterick Publishing. During his time in Kansas City, Jim was the Sunday school teacher for High School kids. Also on Friday nights, Jim would rent a school bus, fill it with kids from a rough area of town and bring them to a club at Carriage Hill Bible Chapel. It was the highschool boy that Jim encouraged to help teach the younger ones, using his art ability that Jim recognized.

In the early 1970's, Jim heard of a need in Grand Rapids, MI. The Pell sisters needed help with running Gospel Folio Press. Jim became involved in Pell's bookstore and eventually the Pell's sold the store to Jim where he wrote numerous book reviews. After three years, he sold his bookstore. Then Jim was offered and became manager of Kregel's Bookstore. It was during these years that Jim spoke at various assemblies in West Michigan which led to quitting Kregel's and devoting his time to preaching. His preaching took him across the United States, Canada, as well as Japan, Honduras, Ireland, Scotland and the Bahamas.

During these years, along with preaching, Jim conducted Bible studies in his home as well as in various assemblies. Many of the Bible studies Jim had, has led to several coming to know the Lord and continuing in their faith and walk with the Lord.

In 2009, Jim was diagnosed with degenerative disk disease which took him off the road. This resulted in a move to South Carolina to help with some local assemblies. During his time there, Jim had 2 major back surgeries and open heart by-pass surgery. Jim was advised to stop preaching and teaching. These health issues resulted in a move back to Grand Rapids to be near family in 2017. In 2018, Jim was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease.

Jim's main love in life has always been with young people, books, preaching and teaching the Word of God and to be an encouragement to others in the assembly. On September 4, 2021, the Lord took Jim home to be with Himself.