Gifted Teacher, Church Growth Expert Bill Liversidge is Dead
September 25, 2015: Pastor William Liversidge, noted for his teaching style and Bible study, passed away earlier this week at his home in Palm Springs, California. He was 74 and died of natural causes, according to the announcement from his independent ministry, Creative Media Ministries, Inc.
Using an inductive approach to Bible study, Liversidge taught seminars for pastors and lay leaders on salvation in Christ, New Testament principles of spiritual growth, spiritual gifts and the ministry of all believers, inductive Bible teaching and understanding the Book of Revelation. He was often invited to be a guest speak for retreats, special weekends and camp meetings.
Teaching series on television featuring Liversidge are currently carried by the Loma Linda Broadcasting Network, the denomination’s official Hope Channel and the independent Three Angels Broadcasting Network. He wrote two books and authored six video series on DVD and ten audio series on CD. His best-selling book, Victory in Jesus is available on Amazon and all of his other materials are distributed by Creative Media Ministries.
A native of Melbourne, Australia, Liversidge went as a missionary to New Guinea in 1973 where he served as a pastor and directed the training of ministers at Sonoma Adventist College. In 1975 he transferred to the Western Pacific Union Mission based in the Solomon Islands and directed several departments.
Liversidge and his family immigrated to the United States in 1978 when he became pastor of the Central Adventist Church in Las Vegas, Nevada. In 1980 he was elected ministerial and lay activities director of the Southwestern Union Conference, where he began church growth research and the development of the seminars for which he would become famous within the denomination.
In the mid-1980s he brought his church growth training program to the Columbia Union Conference where he served as associate ministerial director. He pioneered a new format for public evangelism at the Silver Spring (Maryland) Adventist Church in which the meetings ran one night a week until an intensive closing weekend. The attendance was much better than when participants were asked to spend four or five nights a week for three or four weeks, a portion of time that contemporary busy lifestyles really do not allow for.
In 1987 he formed an independent ministry based in Silver Spring, Maryland, and initially incorporated as Creative Growth Ministries. Since that time he has worked as a self-supporting evangelist and resource person with what is now called Creative Media Ministries, a member of the Adventist-laymen’s Services and Industries (ASI).
Thousands, perhaps tens of thousands, of Adventists and other Christians have participated in his distinctive approach using inductive Bible study. They “make profound discoveries in the Word of God … through the group discovery process,” says his biography on the Creative Media Ministries web site. “Many have experienced life-changing encounters with God.”
His “commitment to the priesthood of all believers and the biblical blueprint for church growth” remained strong for Liversidge to the end of his life. He focused much of his life on “equipping believers with the biblical principles that … enable them to develop their spiritual gifts and move into effective ministry, so they reveal Christ and His character through His living Body, the church.” He never saw himself as a “hired gun,” winning converts for the church, but as one who empowered congregations and church members to engage men and women in a Christ-centered fellowship.
He attended Avondale College in Australia, the seminary at Andrews University (AU) in Berrien Springs, Michigan, and Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California; the largest evangelical graduate school in the United States. He also taught in the Doctor of Ministry program at AU.
A memorial service is scheduled for October 17 at the Vallejo Drive Adventist Church in Glendale, California. More information will be available on the Web at www.creativemediaministries.org.
Bill was a dear friend of many years. He will be greatly missed!
I believe Liversidge actually pastored the then Oakey Church in Las Vegas (named for the main street it sits next to). It has since been renamed the Mountain View Church.
I attended one of his teaching weekends when I was much younger. I found his style intimidating, however I know many who enjoyed his methods.
Some things are better left unsaid. Poor judgement on your part. There is no reason for you to leave any comment that isn’t 100% positive. And if you can’t do so, why leave any comment at all? Your arrogance is staggering.
Come on fellow, let’s not be so sensitive Merely saying he was intimidated was not that horrendous.
I have even another story which I won’t recite in deference to Bill’s recant demise.
“recant” should be “recent”.
So is yours to be sure!
I wondered how it would be taken.
I expect that at my funeral, people will be saying lots of nice things. But there will be one or two out there that say, you know, he use to have this peculiar mannerism that frustrated me no end. And you know, that won’t bother me in the slightest. Because it isn’t a put down. It is simply a reflection.
There nothing fear in bill teaching style. He made people strong in the Lord. God has said in his word ” He has not given us spirit of fear but sound mind” Those who knew him, he truely a man of God. He practice what he preach. He very loving and kind christian man. He help the fatherless, the widows, and those held capitive to Sin.
Randy
A dear man of God, so sorry to hear of his passing. He was or pastor in Las Vegas and very beloved by our family. Our hearts and prayers are with his loved ones.
Pastor liversidge anointed me with oil and had a special prayer for me. That was nearly five years ago. I am looking forward to worshiping with him again.
I went to many of Bill’s seminar the past 15 years, and I always came away with a more personal and deeper picture of Jesus. Bill was a master, led by the Spirit, within the inductive method. I will always treasure those experiences with those who also experienced the self discovery method. May God be glorified within all those he touched.
Kevin, thank you for your comment. I full agree with all you say about Bill. He also anointed me. Praise God for Bill’s ministry.
I never met Bill, but his sermons touched me in a way no pastor has ever done. He was a true man of God & his passing is a great loss to the world.
Pastor Liversidge’s Victory in Jesus series changed my life. I thank God for his ministry and prayers go out to his family. See you in Heaven, Bill.
Bill was a dear friend of our family. He was especially close to my two children. We all had a closer walk with Jesus and a better understanding of Christ’s Righteousness because of him. I went to many of his seminars and always came away blessed. I am so very sad but Praise God we will see him again . What a reunion that will be!
My husband and I were greatly blessed by Pastor Liversidge ‘ s ministry. His teaching was so inspiring and Christ centered. We were so blessed by this man of God. We feel his loss greatly by thank God for allowing us to be blessed thru this man!
A great story teller. (I can almost hear him laughing now.) R.I.P.
A Godly servant of our Lord. How blessed my husband & I have been as we’ve heard his messages & teaching seminars on TV. Loved him dearly from afar. We will miss his strength of leadership in directing for true service for God, understanding of the Holy Spirit’s role, & finding a genuine relationship with our dear Lord.
Praise God for the testimony of a life fully surrendered to Him. The clarity of the message of Jesus’ righteousness as the Father’s greatest gift to us changed my Christian experience. We now need to embody and share this message! It’s our turn now to step out in the faith Pastor Bill embodied. I was privileged to attend his final seminar, where the Spirit’s presence was palpable. My prayers are with his family, friends, and staff. Thank God, Jesus is coming soon. Can’t wait for that day.
Bill taught me how to make a faith statement. It changed my life. He never let us get away with quoting platitudes. He challenged, rebuked and taught us to think for ourselves. He taught us to not only think for ourselves but to experience God for ourselves. He never liked to give a straight answer but challenged us from God’s Word, to prove what it was we were saying.
The SDA denomination and all other churches for that matter would benefit from using the inductive method of teaching.
observe , interpret, apply
Acquire data, analyze data , apply data.
There are so many superficial, cliché phrases in presentations now that it is like someone speaking in tongues with no interpreter.
I met Pastor Bill in Palm Springs late July this year returning from the GC to LA.
Righteousness By Faith was a gift God blessed me with through his preaching that Sabbath.
What a wonderful Sabbath! I never felt the God’s presence like that before since being an adventist.
A truly remarkable man.
What a beautiful spirit. A modern day paul. Righteous ness through Jesus was truly the book that opened my eyes. A gift from God at just the right time.
So very sad and shocked hearing of Pastor Liversidge sudden death. A huge loss to all the seekers learning to follow the Lord Jesus more closely. My sympathy to his family
I was blessed by his seminars and preaching. My life WAS changed by what he preached on one of the seminars. He will be greatly missed and of course there will never be another Bill Liversidge. We are ALL human so for anyone who leaves a negative comment, look at your life carefully first, before you say anything negative about anyone but most especially this servant of God.
A true man of God. We had the pleasure of having him travel to Europe with us and he handled the spiritual events for the weekend. It was a true joy to have he and Sarah with us. May you rest until His soon return. Our sympathies to your family and what a dedicated man of God
26 October 2015 — I learned of Pastor Bill about a year ago while watching 3ABN. I truly believe it was not by accident, but at the right time, the Holy Spirit led me to this ministry. Just this past Sabbath, I watched Pastor Bill, as I usually do, before leaving for church. However, I am so, so sad to hear of his passing. I learned of his death on my way to work when I decided to listen to one of his teachings, to be exact, it’s titled “The Benefit of the Cross”. I noticed at the end of the teaching, someone posted a sympathy note of his death. I am truly grateful to have encountered this dear brother and servant of the Lord–he will truly, truly be missed. We have this hope that some glorious day, we shall see him with all the saints as we behold the ONE whom Pastor Bill so graciously taught about. Our prayers are ascending up for the family. Sister Twanna & Brother Joseph
I could just never get enough of his enthusiasm for the faith he practiced and taught. Bill was truly a giant of a man of God. I still have some of his first cassette tapes that are priceless and I still enjoy listening to, especially his New Guinea stories. What a difference one person makes who is truly committed to his Lord! Living life is all about living for Jesus just as Bill did!
I was walking across my bedroom floor one day when the Holy Spirit spoke powerfully to me through Brother Liversidge by accepting all my sins and giving me by faith Christ’s righteousness. I truly believed and fell in love with Him more deeply than ever before. At Calvary Jesus saved my soul! Halleluia! Praise His Holy Name! I have never and can never forget that day! Heavenly Joy entered my heart and now I do not allow satan to steal it. Praise God forever. I rarely if ever hear the good News but try to share it every day. I could cry buckets of tears but look forward to seeing my brother again above this veil of sorrow. Thank you for this privilege to share. God bless us all to open our mouths and tell this wonderful news about who Jesus is and what He has done and continues to do.
I’m contacting you from Port Moresby where I learned that beloved William Liversidges passing. I met him coming from GC in 2010 & provided accommodation for 7 of us at his home Palm Spring.He made our one week stay enjoyable.He was a lovely man took care for all of us. He encouraged us to loyal & true to our God.
My husband , Jim, and I met Pastor Bill in Hinsadle, IL., in the early ’80’s. We bought the cassette’s of those meetings, and I happened upon them two weeks ago, and started listening to them; I truly enjoy his methodology of getting to the point of the text. While in church the following Sabbath, after listening to the tapes, I asked WHEN was Pastor Bill scheduled to have the weekend meetings! I was shocked to find out he died…! We will miss him very much and after reading the information of his passing, he died days before my dear mother! Too bad I can’t post the picture of Pastor Bill and I from last spring when he was in Colville! Our condolences to the Liversidge family!
Funny…I meant HINSDALE!
My husband , Jim, and I met Pastor Bill in Hinsdale, IL., in the early ’80’s. We bought the cassette’s of those meetings, and I happened upon them two weeks ago, and started listening to them; I truly enjoy his methodology of getting to the point of the text. While in church the following Sabbath, after listening to the tapes, I asked WHEN was Pastor Bill scheduled to have the weekend meetings! I was shocked to find out he died…! We will miss him very much and after reading the information of his passing, he died days before my dear mother! Too bad I can’t post the picture of Pastor Bill and I from last spring when he was in Colville! Our condolences to the Liversidge family!
I would have left a comment months ago, if I had known this was available, but here it is.
My husband & I met Pastor Bill around ten years ago, in our country, Australia. We were brought together by one of his wonderful sisters, who also lives here. At first it was all about swapping houses, but developed into a warm friendship. He certainly was a remarkable gentleman of the church, who was always joyous in his beliefs. Staying in his home in Palm Springs was always a warm and loving religious experience, and never to be forgotten. Pastor Bill blessed our relatives,prayed for our lost loved ones, and generally spread the word of love and peace wherever he travelled. We were shocked at his passing and he will be sorely missed. Love and peace to his wonderful family!
I was greatly blessed by Bill and his ministry. At my request, Bill anointed me. He left an unforgettable legacy and memory on me. I look forward to praising God together with Bill in Heaven. Bill led me to “know” Jesus better and deeper. He will remain in my heart until I see him again.
I was greatly blessed by Pastor Bill’s ministries. I never met him personally
but learned a lot from his teachings on the TV programs I have watched. My
prayers are with his family. I feel I have a deeper relationship with Jesus because of watching him on TV.
I truly am grateful to the Lord, for using Pastor Bill’s messages to move me into being a disciple of Jesus.
Looking forward to seeing him on that great Day.
So terribly saddened to learn only now that such a gifted teacher- in the style of Paul- has gone to await the resurrection day.
I was changed forever over an intensive weekend in Cleveland, TN more than 20 years ago. His style was exhaustingly, yet rewardingly, challenging. It just now dawned on me why I’ve had such a difficult time finding a church home out here: he’s a very hard “act” to follow. My condolences to all who loved him as we look forward to that master class on the earth made new.
I am 84 years old. I have had my brushes with death. I. Just learned recently about his passing at the age of 64. Some day we’ll understand. His story of his experience of the resurrection
I read in the Review many years ago and it made an impact on me. Faith is the victory in Jesus!