VANCOUVER, BC—Stanley J. Grenz was called suddenly home on March 12 after suffering a massive brain hemorrhage, leaving family and friends mourning his loss. Survived by his wife, Edna, who is minister of worship at First Baptist Church in Vancouver, their two married children Joel and Corina and their spouses, and his granddaughter Anika, Stan was a man truly devoted to his family, and one who delighted in their many achievements.

Stan’s passing will be grieved for many years in the world of evangelical scholarship and the emergent church movement where he contributed a credible biblical witness for a postmodern context. His was a distinctive voice within contemporary Christian theology.

In post-structuralist times, Stan radically engaged the struggles of seekers after truth. He connected deeply with the concerns of the emerging church movement, longing to feed the growing hunger for spirituality he saw within Generation X. He modeled invitational ways to listen and dialogue with spiritual seekers both inside and beyond the Church’s doors. His ideas helped to shape creative approaches to making the gospel known among a post-church audience. Stan always engaged—but never bowed to—his culture.

Before his death, Stan finalized editing his 25th theological volume. (Visit www.stanleyjgrenz.com, for a complete book list). His contributions to current theological reflection include both scholarly and popular publications. His astonishing output earned him a solid reputation as a leading Canadian theological thinker, being the first Canadian to receive a coveted Henry Luce III theological research award.

Lecturing around the world, Stan traveled beyond his beloved Carey Theological College where he was the Pioneer McDonald Professor of Baptist Heritage, Theology and Ethics (1990 to 2002), with a cross-appointment at Regent College. From 2002-2003 he moved to Baylor University and Truett Seminary in Waco, Texas, returning to resume his Carey appointment. Stan also served as an adjunct professor at the Mars Hill Graduate School in Bothell, Washington. Students and faculty in each place embraced him as their own.

Stan augmented outstanding quality with remarkable quantity, contributing more than 20 chapters to other volumes, and publishing more than 100 periodical and journal articles, and 90 book reviews. His writing garnered many awards and a keen readership eagerly anticipating each new book. Stan was an exceptionally gifted man, but as his Carey colleague Mark Davies recently eulogized at a Regent College Chapel service, “Stan had many gifts. But today, what we miss most is the gift of Stan.”

Many friends cherish warm personal memories of Stan, as do I. He was my teacher at Regent College (1991-1995) and my colleague at Carey until just a few days ago. Encouraging me to complete my first book, he taught me to punch through the publishing predicament of a first-time author. Generous of spirit, Stan was the first to congratulate colleagues on winning writing awards or gaining other public recognition. As a member of the same church, I saw Stan and Edna become warm hosts to dinner guests at the Grenz family table and they filled it with their characteristically warm hospitality.

But also I saw Stan’s courage to do things differently. In class, he regularly began theology with some doxology. Strumming an old guitar, he led students in a hymn chosen for its crisp theology. Often, he played his trumpet in church or at college chapel with a musical enthusiasm not counted among his world-class strengths as a theologian. I asked him once why he did it. He told me, “I have strong gifts and that is why it is important for me also to minister out of my weakness.”

Maybe that is why I saw so much of God’s strength in you, Stan—and I thank God for you, my friend.

Paul M. Beckingham is Professor of Church and Mission at Carey Theological College.