April 16, 2010

Source: HCJB Global (written by Harold Goerzen and John Adams)

Known for his passion for evangelism and witty sense of humor, former HCJB Global employee Kent Arlington McElroy died in Liberty, Mo., Wednesday, April 14, following a courageous battle with cancer. He was 56.

Born in Hereford, Texas, on Oct. 19, 1953, he grew up in Clarendon, Texas, where he graduated from high school. He then served with the U.S. Army for three years (1972-1975). It was during this time that he gave his life to Christ and helped as interim youth leader at Seoul International Baptist Church in South Korea (1974-1975).

Kent married Elizabeth Hyslop in Belfast, Northern Ireland, in 1977, the same year he graduated with a diploma in Bible from the Bible College of Wales in Swansea. Kent was ordained at First Baptist Church of Clarendon and worked as church planting pastor at Grace Church in Denton, Texas (1978-1979).

Kent graduated with a bachelor's degree in biblical studies from Emmaus Bible Institute in St. Legier, Switzerland, in 1985, and the McElroys then served as missionaries with WEC International in the Democratic Republic of Congo from 1985 to 1988.

Kent completed his master's degree in cross-cultural ministries from Dallas Theological Seminary in 1990. Then he pastored churches in Broken Bow, Neb. (1991-1994) and Greeley, Colo. (1994-2001).

He then worked in development at HCJB Global for five years (2002-2007). "Energy and enthusiasm were hallmarks of his life that were contagious," said HCJB Global's John Adams.

"During our seven-year friendship I witnessed his obvious gifts of evangelism and discipling," Adams continued. "He did it with a heart that empathized with others while influencing them to develop their full potential. It was obvious to me that the last year of his earthly journey saw a profound deepening of His love for Christ and His Word along with a growing expectation of eternity. Only heaven will truly reveal how many hundreds of lives he touched because of his genuine sincerity and love."

In 2007 the McElroys moved to Augusta, Ga., where Kent became vice president of advancement at a ministry called Lead Like Jesus. He then worked in advancement at Wentworth Military Academy in Lexington, Mo., before joining Redman Consulting Group in Pleasant Valley, Mo., in January 2009 as director of acquisitions and marketing.

A memorial service is set for 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 20, at Pleasant Valley Baptist Church in Liberty, Mo. Kent will be laid to rest with military honors at 3 p.m. at the Higginsville National Cemetery in Higginsville, Mo.