CLEVELAND, TN—Rev. John D. Nichols, former assistant general overseer of the Church of God and founder of Care Ministries, died in the early morning hours of March 13, 2009 surrounded by his family which included his wife of 57 years, Norene.
Nichols’ life of ministry spanned nearly six decades and included a wide variety of appointments and elected positions. He was first known for his fiery brand of evangelical preaching which placed his early ministry in the spotlight. He pastored three congregations in the early 1950’s in his native California, including Visalia, San Bernardino and Baldwin Park. He spent one year in Alabama as pastor of the Church of God in South Park before he accepted the first of many appointments in his distinguished and diversified career.
Rev. Nichols’ first administrative position was as state overseer of Oregon at age 31. He served until 1964 and was appointed to North and South Dakota from 1964-68. After two years as overseer of Illinois he was elected to the post of assistant director of Evangelism and Home Missions at the General Assembly in 1970. He served eight years in the office, the last four as director. In 1978 he returned to leadership as a state overseer, accepting the appointment to Tennessee from 1978-82 and then Florida from 1982-86.
At the General Assembly of 1986, John Nichols was elected to the International Executive Committee of the Church of God as General Secretary-Treasurer. In successive years he would be elevated on the Committee, reaching the position of second assistant general overseer until tenure limitations in 1994.
It was in 1994 that the ministerial career of John Nichols took a defining turn. Upon leaving the Executive Committee he accepted the directorship of the Department of Benevolence, which at the time consisted primarily of the oversight of three children’s homes in the United States. Under Nichols’ 12 year tenure at the post, he greatly expanded the benevolence ministry of the Church of God. In 2000 the Church of God Division of Care was begun which today includes such departments and ministries as Ministerial Care, Chaplains Commission, Helping Hands Ministry, Ministry to Israel, Widows Ministry Center, Smoky Mountain Children’s Home, Heart of Florida Youth Ranch, New River Ranch and the North and South Carolina Homes for Children.
“The Benevolence ministry of the Church of God has suffered a tremendous loss,” stated Dr. Donnie Smith, current director of Care Ministries. “John Nichols was the father of the expansion of Care Ministries. He has been a model for each of us in demonstrated care and compassion for the hurting and oppressed.” Smith referenced a turning point for the benevolence ministry when a $5 million offering was received at a general assembly which made possible the establishment of 35 orphanages around the world.
Another highlight of Nichols’ legacy in Care Ministries is the establishment of Operation Compassion, a relief agency which has grown from one pickup truck back in the mid-1990s to an organization which has shipped over $1 billion worth of goods and supplies across the country and around the world. Since its inception, Operation Compassion has been on the scene of every major disaster and has spawned other independent agencies which work closely with Operation Compassion in relief situations.
A partnership cultivated by Nichols with the Lazarus Foundation of Bristol, Tennessee, has been a key element in the success of Church of God benevolent ministries. In 2006 Nichols accepted the invitation to become Executive Director of the Lazarus Foundation where over the last two years he helped establish and finance multiple benevolent projects both in and outside the Church of God.
Over the course of his life, John Nichols’ primary passion was for the salvation of lost souls. According to statistics on file at the Church of God Department of Business and Records, his ministry is credited with 8,836 sermons preached, 334 people baptized in water, 28 churches organized, 6,861 baptized in the Spirit and 9,938 converted or restored. In addition he served as chairman and liaison of the Lee University Board of Directors, chairman of the West Coast Bible College and Northwest Bible College boards of directors, and chairman of the World Missions and Evangelism boards. He was the recipient of the Litt. D. degree from Lee University and was honored with placement in the prestigious Hall of Prophets at the Church of God Theological Seminary.
Church of God General Overseer Dr. Raymond Culpepper said“ I have known John D. Nichols most of my life and have always known him to be a man of boundless Christian energy and a commitment to the cause of Christ. In all of these years I have never known Dr. Nichols to hit a life plateau. He has taken every appointment as a challenge to his faith and has excelled every place he has served. John Nichols leaves more than a mark—he leaves a leadership legacy for all of us to follow.”
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Dr. John D. Nichols leaves behind a loving family which includes his wife, Norene, who he married on June 16, 1951, and their two daughters, Jeanne Nichols and Judith Moore.
A memorial service was held Monday, March 16 at 7:00 p.m. at the Westmore Church of God in Cleveland, Tennessee. The family received friends and a viewing took place on Tuesday, March 17 from 3:30 – 6:30 p.m. at the Park West Church of God in Knoxville, Tennessee. The viewing was immediately followed by a funeral service at the church at 7:00 p.m. A private burial service was held on Wednesday, March 18. In lieu of flowers the family has requested that donations be made to the John and Norene Nichols Widows Endowment. A mailing address is 940 Westcourt Drive, Knoxville, TN 37919.