IPHC Family,
It is with heavy hearts that we inform you of Bishop Doug Bartlett’s unexpected passing yesterday, Sunday, August 20. He was the newly elected Conference Superintendent of the North Carolina Conference.
General Superintendent and Presiding Bishop Dr. A. D. Beacham, Jr. shares, “I’ve known Doug Bartlett since he was a student at Emmanuel College. He was an anointed servant of Christ and served our Lord and the IPHC with distinction. We are heartbroken at his passing and are remembering his wife, Anne, and their family in prayer.”
Below, Dr. Ryan Jackson, shares more of the situation:
Our hearts and our prayers go out especially to Bishop’s family in this time of shock and grief. We pray for Ann, for the children and grandchildren, and we ask the God of all peace to walk with them through this valley of the shadow of death. The Good Shepherd has always been and will always be faithful even in the darkest night of the soul.
We take comfort in knowing what Doug preached so faithfully for many years. Death never has the final word over us. We grieve today because we have lost a choice leader. We have lost a brother in Christ. We have lost a friend. But, we don’t grieve without hope. We live in the hope of eternity. That hope is an anchor for our soul. We need that anchor today more than ever, so I urge you to join me in calling out to our Heavenly Father for His comfort and peace.
Upon learning of this situation, in obedience to the bylaws of the IPHC, Bishop Beacham called us this morning to affirm the continuity of leadership for the conference. In that phone call, Bishop Beacham conferred upon me (as the duly elected Assistant Superintendent) the role and responsibility of Superintendent of the NC Conference.
Our first priority is to honor Bishop Doug Bartlett and his family. Bishop Bartlett was a godly brother who loved the Lord with all his heart. In the short time he served as bishop, he made a tremendous impact on the forward motion of this conference. His work for the Lord will always be remembered and appreciated.
We will communicate further details of arrangements for a celebration of life service at the appropriate time. Until then, please keep the Bartlett family, the Mount Olive First church, and the NC Conference lifted up to the Lord.
May God be with us in the days ahead.
Funeral arrangements are as follows:
Friday, August 25 the family will receive friends from 11:30am to 12:30 PM at the Mount Olive First Pentecostal Holiness Church, 130 Ed Edmundson Road, Mt. Olive, North Carolina. A service to celebrate his life will be held at 1 PM.
Arrangements are being handled by the Seymour Funeral Home and Cremation Service, www.seymourfuneralhome.com.
