Adventist Media Innovator Warren Judd is Dead
From News Release, May 27, 2015 [Updated May 28]: Despite a large, international prayer network, Warren Judd lost his battle with cancer yesterday and went to his rest in Jesus. Calling him “a visionary media professional,” an official bulletin from the North American Division (NAD) of the Seventh-day Adventist Church announced his passing last night “with deep sorrow.” He was an assistant vice president of the NAD who coordinated the Adventist media ministries based in the United States and Canada.
Judd was also responsible for the audiovisual operations of the last five General Conference Sessions including San Antonio in 2015, for which planning has been several years in the making. Judd started his service to the Adventist denomination in Australia and helped to found the Adventist Media Center there. He played key roles for decades at the Adventist Media Center in California which was closed down last year. He was a gifted producer in multiple media.
The son of a pastor, Judd trained as an X-ray technologist, but his first love was music. He was a church musician starting as a youth and became a very gifted arranger and accompanist. He started as a musician at the Adventist Media Center in Sydney (Australia) and with his technology training soon became a producer, and eventually the manager. He worked with evangelist John Carter and moved with The Carter Report team to the United States in the mid-1980s.
Judd became vice president for production at the Adventist Media Center in California in the late 1980s and was a moving force in the development of NET evangelism events, the Adventist Communication Network, global satellite evangelism campaigns and the establishment of the Hope Channel. He ran Adventist Media Productions for many years and served as a producer for scores of major video and film projects. He was a huge fan of gospel music and helped produce the Voice of Prophecy Family Reunion music videos, remembers Phil Draper, a veteran musician for the radio ministry. His wife, Jan, was also a musician and they often performed together. He was a “perfectionist,” Draper stated, “and eternally kind!”
“We offer our deepest condolences to the Judd family in this time of such great sorrow,” said Pastor Daniel R. Jackson, president of the NAD. “Warren was an accomplished media authority and talented musician. But most importantly, he was a devoted husband, father and a committed Christian. Warren helped significantly advance the use of audiovisual technology in the Adventist Church. He will be missed.”
Judd’s daughter, Andrea, posted the following statement through several Internet venues: “Dad went so peacefully at about 9:45 a.m. this morning, at home, family by his side. He must have been waiting for a clean shave, which precious Yonni was in the midst of doing when she noticed a sudden color change and a change in breathing. Mum and Marc were each holding a hand of his as he breathed his last breath. We cried and we thanked God for His mercy in allowing Dad to breathe his last so peacefully. We praised God that Dad’s breath is with Him. Only Dad’s earthly body has died, and with that, the cancer is defeated and forever destroyed! Praise God!
“Mum has been a rock through all of this. Certainly not without tears and great heartache, but with a greater faith! On top of it all, today is her 70th birthday. And she said, ‘I know many might feel differently and not understand, but I’m actually glad he died on my birthday. It makes it a very special and sacred day.’ God is good.”
A Celebration of Life for Judd will be held at the Loma Linda University Church in Loma Linda, California, on Monday, June 8, at 6:30 pm. Because of “Dad’s influence literally all over the world, we are going to … live stream … the service,” said his daughter Andrea Judd. It can be viewed on the web: www.lluc.org/article/40/media/worship-live
Judd’s widow has asked that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the media ministry at the Loma Linda University Church where he had planned to volunteer his time in retirement. Checks can be sent to Attention Media Department, Loma Linda University Church, 11125 Campus Street, Loma Linda, California 92354. Donations can be made electronically at the following web address: www.lluc.org/article/5/giving Be sure to designate donations for “Media.”
