Famous Evangelist Ron Halvorsen Dies at Age 76
By AT News Team, May 17, 2015: Pastor Ron Halvorsen Sr., the well-known evangelist who baptized more than 11,000 converts during his career, died Friday after battling cancer. He had been diagnosed with multiple myeloma last November. On three previous occasions over his life he had been successful in fighting off cancer and he “believed that he would land on his feet again,” the Adventist Review quoted Ruthie Jacobson, a prayer ministries leader for the Adventist denomination who prayed with Halvorsen just an hour before he passed away. He was planning an evangelism campaign in Norway later this year.
“Just before they closed the door to the plane in Dayton, I received news that my dad has passed away,” his son, Pastor Ron Halvorsen Jr., wrote on Facebook around 8 pm Eastern Time on Friday. The son is president of the denomination’s Ohio Conference. He asked for prayer for his mother, Carrol, and sister, Diane, a chaplain with Adventist Care Centers. A global network connected on Facebook has been praying for the senior Halvorsen’s health since late last year.
Halvorsen grew up in Brooklyn in New York City and as a teenager he was a leader in the Beachcombers Gang, “always in trouble.” He went with a friend to visit a third friend at an Adventist high school and there heard Pastor Charles Kremer preaching for a Week of Prayer. He skipped school to come back each day and at the end responded to a call to conversion. The friend from the neighborhood who was with him did not respond and later ended up in prison for murder.
The young Adventist friend who first introduced him to the gospel and invited him to the Week of Prayer was Jim Londis; Dr. James Londis, a Bible scholar and theologian who served the denomination as a professor of theology and later president of Atlantic Union College, senior pastor of Sligo Church in Takoma Park (Maryland) and a faculty member at Kettering College and senior official of Kettering Medical Center Network. Londis conducted Bible studies with Halvorsen while they were both teenagers.
Halvorsen’s story was told in a biography entitled From Gangs to God published in 1973 by Review & Herald Publishing Association. He also shared his testimony on hundreds of occasions over the years, often using it as the basis to appeal to others to give their lives to Christ.
After completing a theology degree at Atlantic Union College in Massachusetts, Halvorsen served as a pastor in the Southern New England Conference and the Carolina Conference, as well as in Tennessee, Maryland and back in New York City. He was senior pastor for the Keene, Texas, congregation on the campus of Southwestern Adventist University, director of the Ministerial Association for the Mid-America Union Conference, and an evangelist for Faith For Today television ministry. The last 17 years before his retirement in 2003, he worked for the Southern Union Conference in the United States as an evangelist and conducting training programs.
Halvorsen conducted evangelism field schools for ministerial students for more than 40 years. He also trained more than 4,000 lay pastors for the Southern Union Conference. His last evangelism campaign was in Charlotte, North Carolina, in 2013.
Because he grew up in an inner city neighborhood, Halvorsen always had an interest in the needs of low-income families. “When we go out fishing for Jesus we often want to catch beautiful, tropical exotic fish to put into our church aquariums,” he explained. “But often God sends us dirty, stinky, common fish that need a lot of cleaning up and helping.” He was one of those rough people when Jesus found him, and he has always had a heart for reaching people for Jesus who did not seem to hold much promise until Jesus changes them. For example, one of the projects he started was a drug mobile unit to help street people.
Despite the fact that he was a regular on the independent Three Angels Broadcasting Network, Halvorsen was listed by a fundamentalist splinter group among “corrupt Seventh-day Adventist leaders” because he taught “prayer walking” and trained “prayer warriors.” It is unclear precisely why the group thought these things were not orthodox.
“A giant has fallen. A true giant,” John Bradshaw, director of the It Is Written television ministry, was quoted by the Adventist Review. Halvorsen worked with the ministry for more than a decade after he retired. “Ron believed in preaching the power of the gospel,” Bradshaw said. “It had changed him, and he knew it could change others. And as God worked through Ron, it did so many times.”
Evangelist Mark Finley told the Adventist Review that Halvorsen left an enduring legacy as a Christ-centered, fearless biblical preacher who loved people and had a passion for evangelism that was undimmed through the years. “He was consumed with the overwhelming desire to see men and women, boys and girls won for Christ,” said Finley, who called Halvorsen a dear friend whose life was intertwined with the Finley family for decades. “He was one of a kind but would to God we had 1,000 preachers like him whose whole life was consumed with winning the lost.”
Halvorsen is survived by his wife of 57 years, Carrol LaMountain Halvorsen; son Ron (Buffy Vercio) Halvorsen Jr. of Mount Vernon, Ohio; daughter Diane Halvorsen (Peter Tsichlis) of Apopka, Florida; grandson Ron (Josie Thamas) Halvorsen III of Glendale, California; William (Donielle Anavitarte) of Keene, Texas; granddaughters Kelsey Halvorsen (Ricky) Berkihiser of Inverness, Florida and Stephanie Halvorsen (Doug) Parrish of Sequim, Washington; great-grandson Noah Grey Halvorsen; great-granddaughter Katelynne Diane Halvorsen; brothers Bill (Ann) Halversen, Warren (Judy) Halversen, Richard (Mary) Halversen, and Elliot Halversen; sister Adele (Richard) Solimine; and nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Adele Halversen, sister-in-law Grace Halversen and beloved nephew, Jimmy Halversen.
A memorial service is scheduled for 4 p.m. on Sabbath, June 13, at the Forest Lake Church in Apopka, Florida, a suburb north of Orlando. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be sent to Ohio Evangelism, c/o the Ohio Conference, P.O. Box 1230, Mount Vernon, OH 43050.
Video and audio recordings of Halvorsen’s preaching are available many places on the Web. Many sermons are at adventistpreaching.com and a piece from his last evangelism campaign can be seen on YouTube.
This is indeed sad news. He leaves a great legacy for the Lord that we should all aspire to emulate in the ways God gives us to share His love.
My family was blessed by his ministry. Though I only met him once or twice during a Week of Prayer where he spoke at Southern Missionary College, I felt a special connection with him because several years later my wife and I worked with the Greater New York Van Ministry in New York City. I remember several times being in Brooklyn and looking around to realize we working for God in the very neighborhood where he had grown-up. We had a cassette tape of his testimony that we included in our collection of things to listen to as we and our children drove on long trips and, even into their teen years, they often asked to hear it again.
The life that he live, according to eye witnesses, be not sad, but glad to know he leave this world. Better coming, only for the righteous, and the time is seriously near for the appearance of Christ. If one truly Love Ron, if one truly love Jesus, then We should be happy to know that he is Gone out of this world, resting a short time to gain everlasting life. We who are alive, should not be worried but press on, in faith. Repent daily, live not for this world, LOVE LOVE LOVE… Humility, Head in the hills, fast, pray, meditate. Do nothing to gain earthly rewards, but For God. No repentance is in the grave. THE INTERNET IS OF THE DEVIL. THE WHOLE WORLD IS TAKEN OVER BY THE DEVIL..MORE AND MORE PEOPLE GIVING UP, MORE AND MORE PEOPLE SELF RIGHTEOUS, ETC. Tribulation start. Blessed are those who have died in Christ already. Serious serious serious time. But worry not. Put your trust, faith and all in Jesus. Never feel too comfortable to say or think you are all righteous. REPENT. REPENT, REPENT. REPENT, REPENT, REPENT. Good works alone cannot save us.
What is meant when someone “baptized 11,000 converts? Is that one person individually baptizing them; or the candidates following an evangelist meeting? Is any one individual ever solely responsible for a single convert? If not, why such language?
What it probably means, Elaine, is that he baptized 11,000 people. If you invited the gay cousin of your daughter’s neighbor to a crusade conducted by Ron, and the gay cousin of your daughter’s neighbor met Ron’s criteria for baptism, Ron could have baptized him and that number might have been 11,001. Do you understand?
Interesting question.
When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John, (Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,) (John 4:1-2 KJV)
We should be careful how we question the work of God thru these servants.
Truly one of the brightest lights has gone out. His inspirational life will encourage many for years to come. One more of my heroes in this life has gone to sleep for a little while.
A Gentleman of great proportions, I was blessed to hear him many times. God Bless and keep his family
Who is willing to pick up the mantle ?
This man was one of my favorite pastors. He will truly be missed.
A gangster growing up, he continued his non-conforming gangster tactics as a preacher and an evangelist. Not necessarily a bad thing–just saying…
I was hoping there would be a picture posted of Ron. I am trying to remember what he looks like. Thank you. RJ
From Mauritius: I learnt with great sorrow last night over ANN of the passing away of Pastor Ron.I so much enjoy his preaching, specially his own testimony of his own life. This is what touches the heart.A soldier of the cross has returned back to the camp.Who will take up the torch? May our answer be ” Here am I , Lord, send me”
I can’t wait to see Ron again, and I know it will be soon. “Behold I come quickly.” Let’s don’t concentrate on the “11,000”, there will be many more than that on the “new” earth because of that man of GOD, Ron Halvorsen. I first met Ron after my baptism in 1979, and have followed him since. I know what you’re thinking. “Don’t follow a person” When you can look over a person’s shoulder and see that they are following JESUS, go ahead and follow them. Ron led me right to the Throne of GOD. GOD Bless your family Ron. See ya’ soon!!!! G.C.A.
What a man of God!!!
Truly this was a man of God. His sermons testified of this. I will truly miss him. Let us all be faithful, knowing that in a little while we will reunite with Pastor Halverson.
So sad to hear of Pr. Ron Halvorsen’s death. We used to listen or watch his sermons – He was like a Daddy to us – looking forward to meeting him in heaven – hope you put his pulpit and Bible in his coffin as he always said – so that when he rises up he may start preaching again….. we had good laughs when listening to his sermons – fortunately we can still watch them. sharing in your sorrow Halvorsen’s family!
Mahen and Havila Neeliah – Mauritius
it is written is one of my very favorite of all religious programming. I’ve only seenthis great heart speak on three occasions through bradshaws program.when I heard of his passing I cried like a baby for I had hoped to search outthis great man to witness to my beloved son who is so very lost. I know my son would have resonated to him. thank you for your marvelous television outreach i so wish there were a church nearby which I could attend. God bless you and Ron Halverson..
…and TBN for bringing His
joy to my heart.
A giant advocate for truth has fallen but by God’s grace he will rise again in the first resurrection. Henry J. Fordham, President, Allegheny East Conference
God bless his family
I had the privilege to meet Ron when he came. to Anchorage, AK. He could talk to anyone. He took time out to talk to me. I never forgot him. I really would love to meet him again. I truly look forward to meeting him again in eternity.
i was shocked today to learn that Ron passed on.i tell family members and all Adventist like me who like Ron’s sermons to take heart.He has slept and at the appearing of Jesus he will arise.So accept my heart felt condolences.i stilk watch his sermon on 3ABN,Hope channel.
When I first heard of Pastor Halvorsen’s passing, I went into denial, hoping that it wasn’t him, but it was. I will sorely miss him. He was one of the few preachers that I could listen to over and over again. He presented the gospel in a very radical, non-conservative, non-liberal way. I am of the younger, contemporary bunch but I deeply enjoyed his sermons. They made me think in a way that most don’t. Lord, you know why you allowed him to go. Thank you for the year and a half that I had to be acquainted with him through media. He sleeps in Jesus, peaceful rest. Till that great gettin up mornin.
Am enjoying watching it is writing on hope channel in Ghana and I decided to find more about this man, but only to found out that the man had long gone home. May God keep you safe till we meet at Christ second coming.