The Forney Community received some heavy news last week, as First Baptist Church of Forney announced that its long-time pastor has died. Dr. Jimmy D. Pritchard had been the Senior Pastor of FBC Forney for nearly 27 years. “It is with great sadness that we must share with you the passing of our beloved Senior Pastor, Dr. Jimmy Pritchard,” the church said in a statement via Facebook on Wednesday, February 24. “He lost his brief but hard-fought battle with COVID Pneumonia at approximately 5:25 p.m. today.”
Pritchard came to First Baptist Church in April of 1994 following a pastorate at Congress Avenue Baptist Church in Austin. He and his wife Jeannette brought along their three children, James, John, and Julie, as they assumed their new position of ministry in Forney. Prior to Congress Avenue Baptist Church, Pritchard served as Pastor of Elliott Baptist Church in Camden, Arkansas, and First Baptist Church of Gould, Oklahoma. Through out his years in ministry, Dr. Pritchard also served in various other capacities of denominational service, including President of the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention in 2014-2015.
Despite his many accomplishments, Dr. Pritchard – or Brother Jim, as he was known by his church – did not view his positions with pride but instead remained steadfast in his goal to reach as many people with the gospel of Christ as he could. This led him to travel to numerous other countries and many places within the United States on mission trips while continuing to lead a total church membership of 6,500 people at First Baptist Forney. Brother Jim’s motto has always been “Jesus is everything.” Pritchard truly lived his life in light of that belief.
In the days immediately following his passing, members of FBC Forney and community members alike have taken to social media to memorialize such an influential local figure. FBC Staff noted his larger-than-life presence that would be missed daily in the office, while others recounted the many ways their lives had been impacted by Pritchard’s ministry. From those who still sat under his leadership weekly to those who had been impacted by him as children and teenagers decades ago, it was apparent that Brother Jim had an effect on the world around him in the name of Jesus Christ.
First Baptist implored the public to pray for the Pritchard family. “We ask that you please be in prayer for Jeannette; his children, James, John and Julie and their families; his brothers and their families; his church staff; your fellow church members and all those who knew and loved Bro. Jim,” the statement read. Second only to his love of Jesus, Brother Jim’s family was his pride and joy. With eight young grandchildren, he and Jeannette have enjoyed traveling around Texas and most recently to Louisiana to spend time with them. As Jim and Jeannette’s own children continue to love the Lord, Pritchard’s godly legacy is being passed down to this next generation, keeping his goal of spreading the gospel alive.
The church will host a public visitation for the community on Friday, March 5 from 11:00AM to 7:00PM in the First Baptist Forney Chapel, which is located next to the main office. The funeral service for Dr. Jim Pritchard will be held the following day, Saturday March 6, at 2:00PM in the First Baptist Forney Worship Center. For any who are unable to attend or choose not to attend in person, the funeral service will also be viewable through the church’s livestream at www.fbcforney.org/livestream.
As the official First Baptist statement put it, “Bro. Jim ministered to thousands of people around the world. He loved well and was well loved. He will be deeply missed.” The gap left in the absence of this prominent leader is one that will not be easily filled. Nevertheless, his well-led congregation, despite their own heartache, is poised and ready to carry the torch in his memory and live out the conviction that “Jesus is everything”.
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