Gary B. McGee

Gary B. McGee

I’m sad to say that one of my professors at the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary, Dr. Gary B. McGee, passed away two days ago.

Dr. Darrin Rodgers, Director of the Flower Pentecostal Heritage Center, has written an obituary which can be found here:  iFPHC Blog,  AG News version, Facebook version.

The first time I saw Dr. McGee was at Evangel Temple (Springfield, MO).  I was an undergraduate student at Evangel University, and I went to his Sunday School class.  A couple of Sunday’s later he and his wife Alice invited me to go to the Pasta House after church.  I was so honored by the offer, and it was a privilege to eat some pasta and talk with this legendary Pentecostal scholar.  It meant a lot to me that he and his wife would take me out to lunch, while being a new student in town, and I was not even one of his students!  I admit, I later bragged a little to my friends that “I had lunch with Dr. McGee and his wife!”

At AGTS, I had him as a professor for: “Ancient Christianity to the Challenge of Islam (300-800AD),” “Christianity to the Reformation (800-1600AD),” and “Initial Evidence and Spirit Baptism.”  There were so many memorable and humorous moments in these classes, which can’t all be mentioned here, but these made him a favorite of many students, including myself.  Dr. McGee truly imparted both knowledge and godly wisdom to his students.  For me, he exemplified a Spirit-filled, historian, theologian, and educator.  I’ll miss him.