We were saddened to learn of the death of Pastor Jack (John) Mahon on 31 October 2019 after a short illness and only three days after celebrating his 98th birthday. Jack was born on 28 October 1921 in the cotton mill town of Blackburn, Lancashire. He was the youngest of a family of five. His character and values were formed by his early experiences of the Great Depression and love of reading. His parents were early Seventh-day Adventist converts and two of his sisters, Kathleen Culverwell and Ethel Freeman also went on to give devoted service to the Church.
After school Jack moved to Gillingham in Kent where he was offered employment, along with many other young Adventists, at Girling's shoe repair workshop, collecting and delivering shoes on his bike. During the war years he was a conscientious objector and made his own contribution to the national effort through farming and food production.
Jack studied for pastoral ministry at Newbold College and began his career as an evangelist in Glasgow, Scotland, where he met his wife Margaret. On 21 August 1951, Jack and Margaret married and from that point on they became a very effective team especially when Jack was called to be pastor at churches in Hull and Derby. Married for over fifty years, they had three children: Murray, Shona and Fiona.
Jack's ministry encompassed the Scottish Mission, and both North and South England Conferences where he led in youth, public relations and health matters. He served as departmental director overseas in the Afro Mideast Division from 1973-1980 and the African Indian Ocean Division from 1986-1990, posted in challenging locations in war-torn Beirut and Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
After Margaret sadly passed away in 2007, Jack continued to live independently in his own home in Binfield, where he also attended Newbold church. There he enjoyed life as part of the Adventist community and contributed to many ADRA campaigns.
Jack's Memorial Service will take place at Newbold church on Wednesday 20 November 2019 starting at 11:30 am. A Book of Remembrance will be open at the church. If you are unable to attend but would like to offer your thoughts or a memory of Jack for inclusion in the book, please email shonaadlard@btinternet.com.
We look forward to Christ's soon return and that glorious resurrection day.