James "Jim" Arthur Townsend

Born on October 12, 1943, in Memphis, TN., Jim attended Springdale, Fairview, and Central High School (graduating in1961). He also graduated from Emmaus Bible College (IL.), Bryan College (B.A.), Dallas Seminary (Th.M.), and Fuller Seminary (Ca., Ph.D.)

Jim taught classes at Mid-South Bible College, Judson University (IL.) and Northern Baptist Seminary (IL.). While Lucy his wife (was a professor at NIU for 23 years Jim served as Bible Theologian for David C. Cook Publishing Co. (IL.). He also served as a pastor in Memphis, TN., and Elgin, IL. churches. He authored sixteen books related to Bible Study.

In 1970, while teaching at MSBC, he met a teacher named Lucy Forsyth. Two years later, after meeting her family in Michigan, they got married there. He and Lucy both enjoyed teaching and serving in the local church, while traveling to many locations including Israel. They retired in Memphis and were both members at Idlewild Presbyterian Church. They enjoyed 50 years of marriage until his death.

Believing thoroughly in the Bible as the Word of God. Jim called himself a classic Christian with a facevalue approach to scripture. He loved the great classics on Christ (such as John 1, Philippians 2 and Hebrews 1). He stressed the deity and bodily resurrection of Christ. He also relished the 8,989 hymns of Charles Wesley - the subject of his doctoral dissertation. He stressed the importance of learning Greek and Hebrew. Thus he taught many lessons in those two languages, often as a volunteer.

Jim performed unique, unforgettable Bible dramas through costumed characters and accents (with a lawman/cowboy representing God’s law, a French painter illustrating the four gospels, a punk rocker highlighting the most universal book of Revelation, etc). He wanted people to know the importance of conversion, the love of Christ, the superlatives of the Bible, compassion, and human dignity.

Jim had a great sense of humor and many will remember the unique birthday cards he created for people each year. He enjoyed the Memphis Chicks, Chicago Bears, San Diego Chargers, U of M Basketball and B Western movies (especially Lash LaRue). His favorite author was F.W. Boreham of a bygone generation.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents and survived by wife Lucy. He enjoyed his many cousins, Lucy’s seven siblings and families, and maintained many friendships through the years. Lucy would like to thank all the support and prayers of family and friends over the past 14 months.

There will be a visitation held at the Memphis Funeral Home (5566 Poplar Ave., Memphis, TN, 38104) on Nov. 17 from 4:30-6:30pm. Memorial services will be held at Idlewild Presbyterian Church (1750 Union Avenue, Memphis, TN 38104) on Nov 18 at 11:00am with a reception following. Burial services to take place at Memphis Memory Gardens (6444 Raleigh Lagrange Rd, Memphis, TN 38134).