Pastor Eric C. Ward will long be remembered as one whose influence helped shape the Adventist church and ministry for nearly 60 years. He was a successful pastor-evangelist, church administrator, preacher, builder and educator.

Eric Calvin Ward was born Nov. 11, 1924, in Los Angeles, Calif.; the second of two sons born to Golbourne Albert and Estelle Wilhelmina Ward. P. G. Rodgers, pastor of the Wadsworth (University) Church baptized Eric and inspired him to become an evangelist.

Warren Banfield remembers, “Ward was my roommate. He came to Pacific Union College in 1942. Ward was a diligent student who studied hard and worked as the campus barber. We graduated together in 1946 with degrees in theology. Ward was smart, he was number two in the class.”

Soon after graduation Eric made a trip to Nashville, Tenn., to see his childhood friend, Gwendolyn Burton, who worked at the Southern Publishing Association as an editorial secretary for the Message magazine. Their friendship was rekindled and they were married on June 6, 1948, with Pastor R. Hope Robertson, officiating. They have six adult children: Carolyn Eloise, Prince Calvin, Golbourne Michael, Beverly Edna Estelle, Lynda Dianne and Della Yvonne. Another child, Nathaniel Gabriel, died in infancy.

Pastor-Evangelist

Pastor Ward began his ministry at the Berean church in Los Angeles but within months accepted a call to come to the newly formed South Atlantic Conference. He and Warren Banfield worked with E. E. Cleveland who says, “They came to me wanting to know how to fish for souls and they learned well.” Ward quickly demonstrated evangelistic ability and traveled all over the South Atlantic Conference building up small churches and opening work in new towns. Within a short time he became the Southern Union Evangelist and Ministerial Secretary.

One of his largest baptisms occurred in Wilmington, N.C., in 1954 during one of the most difficult meetings he ever conducted. At a critical point of the crusade his infant son, Nathaniel Gabriel, died. Together he and his wife tearfully paused to bury their son at noon. Then that evening Ward went back into the pulpit preaching through pain a gospel of resurrection hope through Jesus Christ. TheInformant reports that at the conclusion of the meeting he baptized 306 souls.

His evangelistic success continued at the 31st Street church in San Diego where he developed the “Go Tell” Lay evangelism program and Bible study set. Using this program, God blessed the members of 31st Street to prepare approximately 500 souls for baptism in a four year period. Soon the “Go Tell” lay witnessing plan was used by Adventist pastors and members around globe. In the late 1970's he introduced theRevival Bible Lessons which like the “Go Tell” lessons were a phenomenal success. During his ministry, Ward baptized more than 5,000 persons

Church Administrator

Ward also distinguished himself in church administration in the local church as well as the higher levels of church government. A brilliant strategic planner and church organizer, he developed detailed plans for his churches that involved every member in service and soul-winning.

In 1962, Ward became the executive secretary of the Southern California Conference. This was the first time an African-American held an administrative post in a predominantly white conference. He also served on the General Conference Committee and was a delegate to every General Conference Session during his 40 years of service.

Ward visited conference workers meetings where he taught young pastors, or young “prophets” as he called them, the principles of church administration and evangelism. Many pastors used the reams of materials he distributed to guide them through board meetings, church elections, evangelistic meetings and pastoral ministry.

Preacher

Ward preached point sermons that were distinguished by his use of crosses, numbers and pointed illustrations. He always drew three crosses on the chalk board. His sermons titles often included numbers such as “The 7 Mysteries of Matrimony,” “The 3 Great Thanksgiving Days,” “The Five Major Accomplishments of the Cross.” Many will remember his gripping illustration of the boy who dreamed about a large clock that struck 13 o’clock and woke up to tell his parents, “Mama, Daddy, it’s later than it has ever been before. We need to get ready for Jesus to come.”

Builder

Ward’s early work as a pastor-evangelist caused him to have top build a new church in Wilmington and expand the facilities at 31st Avenue in San Diego. His reputation as builder encouraged Charles E. Dudley, then president of the South Central Conference, to extend an invitation to Ward to pastor the Oakwood College church in 1973. His mission was to build a church for the college. Dudley remembers, “My friend, Pastor Ward, stepped off the plane with architectural plans for a new Oakwood College church in his hand.” Within four years, a new church arose out of one of Oakwood’s cotton fields and was opened in September of 1977. The stained glass windows portray the Creation story through the second coming of Christ. Ward once said that building the Oakwood church fulfilled a divine impression that he received in 1948 that he would one day build a church on Oakwood’s campus.

While pastoring the Oakwood College church, Ward also built the Mt. Calvary Church in Huntsville and under his leadership, phase one of the Oakwood Adventist Academy Elementary facility was completed in 1993.

After his retirement in 1994, he wanted to visit the major church centers around the world. During this tour, he preached in Egypt, on the Mount of Olives and Sea of Galilee, in Athens, Greece, and visited Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia and Hawaii.

In May 1998, the South Atlantic Conference asked him to pastor the Berean church in Atlanta, Ga. During the 13 months he pastored there, he led them in purchasing a new church valued at more than five million dollars located at 291 Hamilton E. Holmes Drive NW for only 2.1 million dollars and began to make plans for the construction of a new facility for Berean Christian Junior Academy.

Emma Mackey, his church secretary at Berean, says, “I was impressed by his vision and ability to lead. He was a shrewd business man, and a praying pastor who attentively cared for and listened to each individual member.”

Educator

As pastor on a college campus, Pastor Ward placed a high premium on education at all levels. He himself enrolled in doctoral studies to enhance his preparation to interpret and expound the word of God. The Department of Religion and Theology also engaged his services as an adjunct professor of evangelism and Bible work. To young men and women in training for ministry he was an ideal role model.

In October 2002, Ward suffered a massive stroke, which left him partially paralyzed and wheel chair bound. At home, with his loving wife of 56 years still by his side, he went to sleep peacefully in the Lord in the early hours of Thursday morning, April 29,2004. Pastor Ward is buried in the Rosedale Cemetery in Los Angeles. His epitaph aptly reads: "Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight” (Isaiah 42:1).