Rev. Ivan E. George dies; was urban strategist for ABHMS
VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABNS 7/2/20)—The Rev. Ivan E. George, 78, who had been an urban strategist for what is now known as American Baptist Home Mission Societies, died on June 24. He was the husband of the late Murine George for 39 years.
Born in Miami, he was the son of immigrants who had been leaders in Staniard Creek, a village on Andros Island, Bahamas.
Before becoming an urban strategist, George had worked for both Newark and Rankin Christian centers. For what is now known as American Baptist Churches of Los Angeles, Southwest and Hawaii, he directed the Mutual Assistance Team Endeavors (MATE) program, which stressed multi-ethnic cooperation. In addition, George was minister of Mission Support for American Baptist Churches of New Jersey and the Philadelphia Baptist Association. He was executive director of the Ministerial Leadership Commission of American Baptist Churches and was minister for Mission Development for American Baptist Churches of the South. He was primary historian for the William T. McKee Consultation. He also became involved with Christian financial planning.
He directed mission work in Africa for American Baptist International Ministries. In 1991, he was the first American Baptist to deliver assistance to Baptists in Liberia following the Liberian civil war.
He attended Florida Memorial University, where he was a member of Omega Psi Phi. He received a master’s degree from Andover Newton Seminary at Yale Divinity School, New Haven, Conn., and a second master’s from Temple University, Philadelphia.
Ordained in 1966, George was pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church, Jamestown, N.Y.; Immanuel Baptist Church, Los Angeles; Garfield Baptist Church, Long Beach, Calif.; and Imperial Heights Community Church of the Brethren, Los Angeles. He was interim pastor of King’s Community Baptist Church, Cherry Hill, N.J.
Graveside service: Noon July 6 at Ivy Hill Cemetery, 1201 Easton Road, Philadelphia, Pa. 19150.
American Baptist Home Mission Societies partners with American Baptists to promote Christian faith, cultivate Christ-centered leaders and disciples, and bring healing and transformation to communities across the United States and Puerto Rico.
American Baptist Churches USA is one of the most diverse Christian denominations today, with approximately 5,000 congregations comprised of 1.3 million members, across the United States and Puerto Rico, all engaged in God’s mission around the world.
