James William “Jim” Gilley, 82, went to sleep in the Lord on December 28, 2022 in Clermont, Florida after a month-long battle with Covid pneumonia and Legionnaires’ disease. Jim was born in Dallas, Texas on October 17, 1940 to John and Pauline Gilley. He was the fourth of five children who have preceded him in death: Ed, Mary, John and Paul. Raised in Tyler and Dallas, Texas, Jim started his formal education at Southwestern Junior College (now Southwestern Adventist University) in Keene, Texas where he met the love of his life, Camille Thurmon. Married at the age of 19, the two of them began a life of service to God and man. During his first assignment as an assistant pastor of the Village Church in South Lancaster, MA, he also organized the Leominster Church prior to continuing on to the seminary. After graduating from Andrews University in Berrien Springs, MI, Jim went on to pastor the Plainville/Meridian district in Southern New England and later became the Conference Evangelist of the Southern New England Conference. Over his life, he served as a business owner and self-supporting evangelist; Pastor of the Arlington Seventh-day Adventist Church; President of the Arkansas-Louisiana Conference of Seventh-day Adventists; Vice President of the NAD; Pastor of the Dallas First Church; and President of Three Angels Broadcasting Network. Jim spread the love of Jesus through dozens of evangelistic series throughout the United States during the 1970’s and 80’s as well as in Ukraine during the 90’s; as a result, thousands accepted Jesus as their Savior. In his retirement, Jim pastored the Clermont Seventh-day Adventist Church and continued with speaking engagements and hosting over 40 trips to the Holy Land–the highlight of his year. He believed that God had called him to the ministry of encouragement and is known world over for his motto, “Keep on keeping on!” His ministry lives on through his books: Keep On Keeping On: Encouraging Stories to Carry You; The Battle Is the Lord's: Spiritual Strategies for Victory in Your Daily Struggles; God With Us; God For Us; Fake News: How Satan's Lies Are Deceiving Millions; and Keep On Keeping On With Jesus: More Encouraging Stories to Help You. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Camille; son, James William Gilley, Jr.; daughter, Maryann Catherine Gilley Krueger; son, John Thurmon Gilley; daughter, Amy Camille Gilley Bearman; and his eleven grandchildren whom he adored.

A graveside service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, January 4, at Highland Memory Gardens in Forest City, FL. The celebration of Jim’s life will be held at the Dallas First SDA Church at 3:00, Sabbath afternoon, February 4, 2023.

In lieu of flowers please consider making a contribution in his honor to one or more of his favorite ministries: Adventist World Radio, Amazing Facts, Faith For Today, It Is Written, Three Angels Broadcasting Network, Voice of Prophecy, and Weimar University.

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