A funeral service for Christian preacher and educator George Len Faull, 80, took place Monday at the Church of Christ at Grissom, Peru, Ind., with his three sons speaking.
Faull, who started Summit Theological Seminary in Indiana in 1984, died Wednesday, Feb. 24, at his home after battling multiple myeloma.
“My dad was the son of a preacher, who was the son of a lay preacher, who was the son of a lay preacher,” oldest son Jeff Faull, senior minister of Mt. Gilead (Ind.) Church, told his church on Sunday. “And now I have children in ministry myself—[that’s] six generations so far. And some of my siblings, and my uncles and my cousins are in ministry, as well.
“My dad was the patriarch of the family and he taught us all what we knew,” Jeff Faull continued. “He was still preaching and teaching a month ago.”
George Faull was born April 3, 1940, in Zeigler, Ill. He attended Lexington Christian Bible College, St. Louis Christian College, and Midwestern School of Evangelism, where he earned his Bachelor of Sacred Literature. He later earned a Bachelor of Theology, an MA in Theology, and a Religious Doctorate from Indiana Christian University.
At Monday’s memorial service, Todd, his second son, said his father was fearless when he taught about the Bible because he studied so hard.
“Dad had a faith and a confidence that just totally obliterated fear,” Todd Faull said. “I have never seen my dad afraid to talk to anybody.”
“Dad had a desire to be right. . . . I can remember people saying to Dad, ‘You always think you’re right.’ . . . His answer was always the same—‘Of course I think I’m right. If I thought I was wrong, I’d change my mind so I could be right.’ It had nothing to with ego . . . it’s because souls were hanging in the balance.”
George Faull began churches in Massachusetts, Vermont, Maine, and finally The Church of Christ at Grissom, where he served as evangelist from 2001 until 2012, according to his obituary at the McClain Funeral Home website. He served in congregations in Woodburn, Fort Wayne, and Treaty, Ind., where he founded the Treaty Institute for Evangelism.
Later, he founded and was president of Summit Theological Seminary, which eventually found a permanent home in Peru, Ind. He was chancellor of Summit at the time of his death. In 2008, Faull described Summit this way: “We train older students who want to learn to preach and teach the Word of God and are capable of completing their work by external study.”
George Faull educated thousands who were seeking a closer relationship with Jesus Christ, and he taught them to spread the gospel. He also was editor of a quarterly publication called The Gospel Unashamed. He served the Lord as a minister, educator, author, and lecturer while operating his own insurance business.
At the memorial service, youngest son Kendall Faull—preacher with Christ’s Church in New Whiteland, Ind.—said his father knew and believed “the Bible’s actually the truth.”
“[The truth of the Bible] was what he was devoted to, that’s what he spent his life on, and that’s why he’s not just a father to Jeff, Todd, Laurel, Melody, and Kendall. That’s why he’s a father to some of you,” he said, motioning to those attending the memorial service.
“Every lesson he ever gave me was about Jesus,” said Jeff Faull on Sunday. “And the one thing he leaves me with is that it’s all about Jesus. . . . [Jesus] has to be the focus of our preaching. He has to be the central reality of our lives.”
Todd Faull called his dad a good preacher and a good father. He also noted that, of the three sons, he is the only one who is not a preacher, but instead is a “truck driver by trade.”
“A lot of people [say], ‘Well you didn’t take after your dad.’ And I say, ‘I hope not—have you ever seen him drive?”
Burial for George Faull was at Westlawn Cemetery, Denver, Indiana.
Messages of condolence may be shared online at www.mcclainfh.com.
Memorial contributions may be made to Summit Theological Seminary, 2766 W. Airport Road, Peru, IN 46970.
He preached topics I had never heard before and changed my thinking a number of times.
Our heartfelt sympathies to the family of George Faull. He had spoken at our church & some of our classes study from his books. He is truly a man of God & earth’s loss is heaven’s gain. What rejoicing is going on for one who has gone Home.
Christian Church of Hebron
Hebron, IN
I knew George to be one of the most Biblically knowledgeable preachers and Bible students in the fellowship of the churches of Christ/Christian churches. He was also one of the most capable communicators of the Scriptures that I have ever known. I am very sorry that he could not be serving with us for another dozen years. But our God certainly knows best! —Bill Paul
My father, Donald G. Hunt, taught and admired George Faull, his mind, his wisdom, his ability to communicate and touch people for Jesus, and his writings. That was a reciprocal admiration between them. God’s Kingdom elevated to glory a delightful, dedicated, devout warrior for Jesus! And George won’t need a driver in heaven! It’s great to see so many in his family pick up the preaching, teaching mantle for Jesus. The potential of a double portion of George’s spirit lives on in the next generations! And in the thousands blessed through Summit.
I’m sure he is missed. Thank Jesus for Heaven!