PYONGYANG, NORTH KOREA (ANS) -- One of most forceful and innovative missionary leaders of the 20th Century is with the Lord. Condolences are pouring in from indigenous leaders in the over 60 countries. Spiros Zodhiates helped to pioneer creative partnerships in the post World War II missions on every continent.

“Dr. Z” in the early 1990s when he was still the very active president and CEO of Advancing the Ministries of the Gospel. (AMG Photo)

A bold evangelist, author, publisher and scholar he had a passion for mentoring young pastors and mission leaders; always pushing traditional mission boundaries.

He pioneered newspaper advertising, which he dubbed “advangelism” to reach Greece, the iron curtain countries during the cold war and to Islamic nations which still limit the free flow of information about the Gospel. Long before the “4-14 Window” became a fad, he was one of the first to promote child evangelism and child sponsorship at a time when these outreaches were peripheral to missions.

At the time of his passing, Dr. Spiros Zodhiates was surrounded by family, his son Philip and long time confidant Symeon Ioannidis on October 10, 2009.

Spiros Zodhiates was 87 when he died last Saturday in a Chatanooga hospice. He was born in 1922 to Greek parents on the island of Cyprus. After completing his Greek education, he attended the American University in Cairo, Egypt, The National Bible Institute, and New York University. He earned his Doctor of Theology degree from Luther Rice Seminary. In addition, Dr. Zodhiates has been the recipient of several honorary doctorates.

“My dad was the best kind of missionary opportunist,” says his son Philip, who serves on the AMG Board of Directors. “He jumped on every opportunity to share the love of God. He had a passion for souls, a love for the Word of God and great compassion for suffering humanity.

“My dad walked the walk, he lived what he preached and he was absolutely driven to take the Gospel to every place where the powers that be tried to stop the truth.”

In 1946, he came to the United States at the invitation of the American Committee for the Evangelization of the Greeks, which later became known as American Mission to the Greeks (AMG). At that time, there were only two part-time employees crowded into a small, one-room office in Times Square of New York City. Dr. Zodhiates became president of this organization in 1966. Now known as AMG (Advancing the Ministries of the Gospel) International, the ministry is involved in evangelistic and relief endeavors in over 40 countries, and includes AMG Publishers, a division that publishes Bibles and Christian books and publications around the world. AMG ministry headquarters have been in Chattanooga, Tennessee since 1978. Today, AMG has active partnerships with indigenous missions in 46 nation states. Paul Jenks has been president since 2005.

“Throughout his six decades of leadership, Dr. Zodhiates demonstrated a profound commitment to the Word of God and a singular focus on accomplishing his calling faithfully,” says Jeanie Chandler of AMG. “His style was marked by frugal stewardship, great enthusiasm, entrepreneurial courage and unexpected generosity.”

Dr. Zodhiates was a recognized authority on the Greek New Testament. His many works included an edition of the Modern Greek New Testament and the Key Word Study Bible. He authored dozens of exegetical books as well as hundreds of booklets in both the Greek and English languages. For many years was heard daily on the “New Testament Light” radio program.

Dr. Zodhiates is survived by Joan Zodhiates, his wife of 61 years, his children – Priscilla (Russell) Barnes of Orange, CT, Lois (Paul) Jenks of Chattanooga, TN, Philip (Kathie) Zodhiates of Waynesboro, VA, Mary (Richard) Zodhiates Cemen of Rockville, MD. – 12 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren.

“Some faithful friends and ministry partners have asked if there was any special project that was close to Dr. Zodhiates’ heart,” says Mrs. Chandler, “and it was strengthening the ministry of individual indigenous workers in the place of service to which God had called them.”

She said that a memorial fund has been set up for that purpose to honor Dr. Zodhiates. In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes memorial gifts designated to the “Spiros Zodhiates National Workers Endowment Fund,” AMG International, P. O. Box 182200, Chattanooga, Tennessee 37422.

The family will receive friends from 5:00 till 8:00 on Friday night, October 16 and again from 10:00 till 11:30 on Saturday, at Woodland Park Baptist Church in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The funeral will be held Saturday, October 17, in the same location, at 11:30 a.m.

For those coming from out of town, a special AMG group rate of $65 has been secured at the Fairfield Inn on Shallowford Road. The hotel phone number is 423-499-3800. All other questions can be answered by calling 423-894-6060.

Note from Dan Wooding, if you would like to recall your special memories of Dr. Zodhiates and/or pay tribute to him, send them to me at danjuma1@aol.com and we will put a special further story together.