James Lee Padgett
May 29, 1953 — August 11, 2023
Pastor and Evangelist James Lee Padgett’s great lifelong passion was to make Jesus known, loved, and worshipped by all those he encountered throughout his days. This often meant while eating at Norm’s Restaurant or at McDonald’s, filling up for gas, purchasing auto parts at an Auto Zone, being at a US courthouse, shopping for groceries, having plumbing repairs made, or even while hospitalized in an ICU ward; the gospel message would go out as natural as one would breathe. For Jim, there were no inconveniences only opportunities.
Jim’s motto was that anyplace, anytime, anywhere, was the right time to share the love of Jesus. He was exceptionally gifted by the Lord, full of God’s Spirit, a man who trusted in the authority of God’s Word and the promises given to all who believed. In this great pursuit, Jim lived his life of faith with incredible zeal, joy, holy fear of God, and Spiritual boldness; coupled with an unquestionable love for people, along with humility. In living in such a way Jim made innumerable lifelong friends.
Jim was born on May 29th, 1953, in the then tranquil, yet now bustling, metropolis of San Antonio, Texas to James T. Padgett and Ione Padgett. Jim’s father James Padgett was a career military man serving in the US Army. As is often the case, that meant moving and living in a great many locations. Jim lived in San Antonio and Heidelberg Germany till the age of 5. Then the family moved to Aurora, Colorado until he was 15 years old. Later the family moved to Winfield, Kansas, and settled down where Jim spent all four years of high school at Winfield High School, where he graduated in 1971. From there, Jim went on to Oklahoma Baptist University, where he earned a B. A. in Religion. Jim was very active in college and was a member of the Student Senate, the Sophomore Class President, and a member of Phi Eta Sigma and Omicron Delta Kappa, both National Scholastic Fraternities. Additionally, Jim was an inductee in Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities. Jim was ordained and licensed as a Pastor in 1971 at the age of 18 and formally ordained a few years later. Upon graduating from Oklahoma Baptist, Jim went on to earn his MDiv at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, a ThM (Master’s in Theology) in Cross-Cultural Studies at Fuller Theological Seminary as well as his Ph.D. from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California.
Jim lived in California from 1988 until his passing.
With schooling behind, Jim went on to co-establish and Pastor at numerous churches. He was an Assistant Pastor of Calvary Chapel Anaheim which eventually changed its name to Vineyard Christian Fellowship. He was Pastor John Wimber’s key research assistant for Vineyard Ministries International. Later he planted and was the Senior Pastor at Calvary Chapel Pico Rivera, which subsequently became known as Vineyard Christian Fellowship of Pico Rivera. Throughout these years Jim had the privilege to serve on a variety of mission trips to Canada, Mexico, Great Britain, Argentina, Kenya, Ghana, Haiti, and many of the states in the US.
Yet Jim’s greatest gift from the Lord was his gift of evangelism. It is here where Jim found his greatest joy in serving the Lord, by serving others in sharing the gospel message; and by training others to also share it effectively.
Jim was well respected within the Christian community, training, and teaching evangelism mobilization at Methodists, Baptists, Presbyterians, Vineyards, Calvary Chapels, Four Square, and Assembly of God churches to name a few. Jim was also a field Evangelism Instructor for both Fuller Theological Seminary and Dallas Theological Seminary.
And yet with all that said, Jim Padgett is best remembered as a brother, as a friend, as a warm-hearted man deeply concerned about others in their situations; and how he could help and pray for them. He was a man with a quick smile and a hearty laugh, who enjoyed people and their fellowship.
Jim Padgett left a wonderful legacy in touching many lives – his legacy lives on through us. Praise be to God for Jim’s life.
Jim’s parents James and Ione Padgett are deceased, yet his sister Joyce Jordan of Kansas survives and is his last immediate relative.
All Memorial Gifts can be sent to Jim’s Charities he supports:
Christ For All Nations – P.O. Box 590588, Orlando, FL 32859-0588
Open Doors USA – P.O Box 27001, Santa Ana, CA. 92799
Andrew Womack Ministries – P.O. Box 3333, Colorado Springs, CO 80934
Life Outreach International – 1801 W. Euless Blvd. Euless, TX 76040
Condolences for the family may be sent through our website.
Jim’s motto was that anyplace, anytime, anywhere, was the right time to share the love of Jesus. He was exceptionally gifted by the Lord, full of God’s Spirit, a man who trusted in the authority of God’s Word and the promises given to all who believed. In this great pursuit, Jim lived his life of faith with incredible zeal, joy, holy fear of God, and Spiritual boldness; coupled with an unquestionable love for people, along with humility. In living in such a way Jim made innumerable lifelong friends.
Jim was born on May 29th, 1953, in the then tranquil, yet now bustling, metropolis of San Antonio, Texas to James T. Padgett and Ione Padgett. Jim’s father James Padgett was a career military man serving in the US Army. As is often the case, that meant moving and living in a great many locations. Jim lived in San Antonio and Heidelberg Germany till the age of 5. Then the family moved to Aurora, Colorado until he was 15 years old. Later the family moved to Winfield, Kansas, and settled down where Jim spent all four years of high school at Winfield High School, where he graduated in 1971. From there, Jim went on to Oklahoma Baptist University, where he earned a B. A. in Religion. Jim was very active in college and was a member of the Student Senate, the Sophomore Class President, and a member of Phi Eta Sigma and Omicron Delta Kappa, both National Scholastic Fraternities. Additionally, Jim was an inductee in Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities. Jim was ordained and licensed as a Pastor in 1971 at the age of 18 and formally ordained a few years later. Upon graduating from Oklahoma Baptist, Jim went on to earn his MDiv at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, a ThM (Master’s in Theology) in Cross-Cultural Studies at Fuller Theological Seminary as well as his Ph.D. from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California.
Jim lived in California from 1988 until his passing.
With schooling behind, Jim went on to co-establish and Pastor at numerous churches. He was an Assistant Pastor of Calvary Chapel Anaheim which eventually changed its name to Vineyard Christian Fellowship. He was Pastor John Wimber’s key research assistant for Vineyard Ministries International. Later he planted and was the Senior Pastor at Calvary Chapel Pico Rivera, which subsequently became known as Vineyard Christian Fellowship of Pico Rivera. Throughout these years Jim had the privilege to serve on a variety of mission trips to Canada, Mexico, Great Britain, Argentina, Kenya, Ghana, Haiti, and many of the states in the US.
Yet Jim’s greatest gift from the Lord was his gift of evangelism. It is here where Jim found his greatest joy in serving the Lord, by serving others in sharing the gospel message; and by training others to also share it effectively.
Jim was well respected within the Christian community, training, and teaching evangelism mobilization at Methodists, Baptists, Presbyterians, Vineyards, Calvary Chapels, Four Square, and Assembly of God churches to name a few. Jim was also a field Evangelism Instructor for both Fuller Theological Seminary and Dallas Theological Seminary.
And yet with all that said, Jim Padgett is best remembered as a brother, as a friend, as a warm-hearted man deeply concerned about others in their situations; and how he could help and pray for them. He was a man with a quick smile and a hearty laugh, who enjoyed people and their fellowship.
Jim Padgett left a wonderful legacy in touching many lives – his legacy lives on through us. Praise be to God for Jim’s life.
Jim’s parents James and Ione Padgett are deceased, yet his sister Joyce Jordan of Kansas survives and is his last immediate relative.
All Memorial Gifts can be sent to Jim’s Charities he supports:
Christ For All Nations – P.O. Box 590588, Orlando, FL 32859-0588
Open Doors USA – P.O Box 27001, Santa Ana, CA. 92799
Andrew Womack Ministries – P.O. Box 3333, Colorado Springs, CO 80934
Life Outreach International – 1801 W. Euless Blvd. Euless, TX 76040
Condolences for the family may be sent through our website.
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