“Experiencing God” author Blackaby is being remembered

Henry Blackaby, author of “Experiencing God” is being remembered after his passing

“We are deeply saddened to hear the news of the passing of Henry Blackaby,” Ben Mandrell, president of Lifeway Christian Resources, Blackaby’s longtime publisher, said in announcing the author’s death on Saturday. “He was a great man of God and minister to the body of Christ, beginning with his time as a local church pastor and continuing through his ministry as an author and Bible teacher.”

“He will be greatly missed, but his influence on the lives of untold numbers of people through his Bible teaching will live on,” said evangelist Franklin Graham in a post on Twitter.

“Only eternity will reveal the extent of Henry’s impact on the church. I know of no published material that has impacted more churches in more ways than Experiencing God,” said Lifeway President Emeritus Jimmy Draper.

Blackaby was serving as pastor of a church in California when he was asked to return to his native Canada and assist a small church in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, that was on the verge of closing. At the time, Faith Baptist Church in Saskatoon had 10 members, according to a history on the website of Blackaby Ministries International. Under his leadership, the church not only grew; it eventually sponsored a college and 38 other churches.

Blackaby, with the help of co-author Claude King, would distill the lessons from his pastoral experience in a Bible study called “Experiencing God: Knowing and Doing the Will of God.” The Bible study would go on to sell more than eight million copies in English alone, according to Lifeway, and was translated into more than 75 languages. Blackaby later founded a ministry to spread the message of the book and spent years as a popular speaker. He also served as director of prayer and spiritual awakening for the Southern Baptist Convention’s North American Mission Board.

The study sold more than 8 million copies.

In the statement announcing Blackaby’s death, his son Richard, who is now president of Blackaby International Ministries, said: “Early this morning, our dad went to be with his Lord. He helped countless people experience God. Now he is experiencing God in ways that surely surpass even his most cherished dreams. We were privileged to have a spiritual giant for a father. Hopefully we will honor mom and dad for the spiritual legacy they faithfully handed down to us. Funeral arrangements will be forthcoming.”

“He helped countless people experience God,” Richard continued. “Now he is experiencing God in ways that surely surpass even his most cherished dreams.”

Blackaby was the founder and president emeritus of Blackaby Ministries International (BMI), an organization built to help people experience God. His other books include Spiritual Leadership, Fresh Encounter, and A God-Centered Church.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Marilynn. Survivors include five children and 14 grandchildren.

–Dwight Widaman | Metro Voice