Thomas Grassano: His Legacy Continues
A faithful soldier of the Lord for the Church of God, Rev. Thomas Grassano, passed into eternity at 3:04 p.m. on Thursday, July 9.
Thomas Grassano was born on September 5, 1925, in Brooklyn, New York, to Benedetto and Camille Grassano. At the age of 11, he found Christ as his personal Savior shortly after the conversion of his mother. Eventually, the entire family was saved and dedicated their lives to serving the Lord.
At age 17, in a room of a Jewish Synagogue in Brooklyn (rented for their church), Thomas heard the voice of the Lord calling him to ministry. He began to preach the Word at 18 years of age, holding revivals that often lasted as long as three weeks or more. He married Atha Watts on December 20, 1947, and continued evangelizing until given the opportunity to pastor the Ware Shoals Church of God in South Carolina in 1950.
Rev. Grassano took a small congregation in Ware Shoals and built it up to 350 congregants with a new church building and parsonage. His tenure there was from 1950-1956, at which time he was asked to become the State Director for Youth and Christian Education for the Church of God in South Carolina. He served in that position for eight years (1956-1964).
In 1964, Rev. Grassano and his family moved to Wyandotte, Michigan, in Downriver Detroit to pastor the Wyandotte Church of God. In 1968, the church was relocated to a new church building and parsonage in Riverview. He served as the chaplain of the Riverview City Council from 1970-1972. His fruitful tenure as pastor of the newly-named Riverview Church of God was from 1964-1972.
Rev. Grassano was led of God to move to Greenville, South Carolina in 1972 to pastor the Tremont Avenue Church of God, where he served as pastor until December of 1980. He then was appointed as the Administrative Assistant of World Missions for the Church of God, a position which he held until 1990. His ministry with the missionaries was a highlight of his life.
Rev. Grassano was appointed as the State Overseer of the Church of God in New York from 1990-1994 and then in Pennsylvania from 1994-1998. He semi-retired in 1998, continuing to preach and to serve on the Board of Directors of Urban Harvest Ministries as a charter member of that board (1994). He and Atha became spiritual parents to the Harvest Church congregation in the Bronx.
Rev. Grassano was educated at Lee University (1944), Lighthouse Bible College (1947-1950) and at the graduate level at Furman University (1961). He served on numerous boards and committees, including as a member of the International Board of Youth and Christian Education from 1962-1966 and as chairman from 1966-1974, and the World Missions Board from 1976-1980. He also served on the Michigan State Council, the South Carolina Council and the Editorial Evangelica (Spanish Publications) Board.
He is the recipient of the National Youth and Christian Educations awards from 1955-1960, the Kiwanis Recognition of Service Award in 1970, as well as many other forms of recognition.
During his ministry, Rev. Grassano ministered in 70 nations and 49 states. He established 50 churches: 1 in South Carolina, 12 in Pennsylvania, and 37 in New York. Thousands of lives and families were changed, pastors and missionaries set forth, and communities impacted through his ministry. His legacy continues through his son and the many pastors and missionaries influenced by his life.
Rev. and Mrs. Grassano have been married 61 years. They have one son, Thomas David, a daughter-in-law, Lidia, a granddaughter Gabrielle Angelica (1990), and a grandson Thomas David Jr. (1998).
Rev. Grassano will lie in state at the Mackey Mortuary in Greenville, South Carolina. The viewing and visitation will take place Saturday, July 11, from 6:30 until 8:30 pm.
The funeral service was conducted at the Praise Cathedral Church of God on Sunday, July 12, at 2:00 pm.
Cards and condolences can be sent to Atha Grassano, 5 Dove Tree Road, Greenville, SC 29615.
The family welcomes your prayers.
–Dr. Tom Grassano, Urban Harvest Ministries
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Copyright 2009 Church of God World Missions
