Rob Frost remembered

|PIC1|Family and close friends have paid tribute to Share Jesus International founder Rob Frost, who passed away peacefully last Sunday night.

The much loved preacher, author and presenter was diagnosed with skin cancer in June and underwent treatment but became very tired last week and was taken into hospital on Wednesday 7 November. According to an SJI statement, he was in no pain but gradually drifted into eternity with liver failure as a result of secondary melanoma.

Wife Jacqui described his death as a "holy time".

"The registrar said how unusually peaceful his death was - a nurse comforted us with thoughts of paradise while another stood and cried - it was a holy time.

"Rob had repeatedly said that he did not want to live in pain but would prefer to go to heaven to be with His Father. We believe God granted him his wish."

Rob Frost set up the mission agency Share Jesus International in 1986 with the sole purpose of sharing Jesus in many different contexts and countries.

He was in great demand as a preacher, the International Director of the International Leadership Institute based in Atlanta and the author of over 25 books. He also presented Premier Radio's flagship current affairs programme called Frost on Sunday and his weekly TV show on the God Channel is broadcast under the title the Frost Debate.

He lectured in mission and evangelism at London School of Theology and was a regular teacher at theological institutions throughout the UK.

Son Andy, who was working with Rob on Pentecost Festival, said of his father: "He truly lived a life well lived - a man of God!

"Rob was not afraid of death and right now he will be face to face with Jesus. The Grace that he lived out, the Grace he wrote and preached about, the Grace he shared... has now carried him to be with His Heavenly Father.

"Rob and I have been working closely together on the Pentecost Festival and it will be a privilege to make this vision become reality one last time."

Pentecost Festival, one of Rob's last projects, will take place May 9-11, 2008, and is a massive weekend party along London Underground's Northern Line, combining worship and praise, teaching, the arts, prayer, social action, ecology and sport.

Rev Joel Edwards, General Director of the Evangelical Alliance described Rob as "one of the bright light champions for evangelical witness, evangelistic fervour and creativity; an outstanding pioneer".

He praised Methodist Minister Rob Frost's ministry because it reached well beyond Methodism into wider Christianity through Share Jesus International and missions and initiatives such as Easter People.

Rob's inspiration led him into broadcasting, mentoring young people and helping the church engage with and witness in contemporary culture.

Mr Edwards continued: "His aspiration to rediscover the spirit of Pentecost and make it accessible to culture through the church is a vision which he didn't live to see but this will have been his final legacy to Christian faith in Britain.

"Rob was a great friend of the Evangelical Alliance and a personal friend from whom I gained much encouragement."

As the Director and then President Emeritus of Share Jesus International, an ecumenical mission agency which he founded 25 years ago, he initiated scores of projects including Easter People, a conference which celebrated its 20th anniversary last year; led missions in hundreds of cities, towns and villages in the UK and across the globe and campaigned on global and national issues.

He served as President of Release International, an agency which cares for persecuted Christians throughout the world. Rob also produced and toured with many musicals including Hopes and Dreams which had the number one hit of the Lords Prayer.

"Rob will be fondly remembered not just for what he did, but his sense of humour, his stories, his love for people, depth of compassion and his zest for life," read an SJI statement.

He leaves behind his wife Jacqui, his two sons Andy & Chris and his father Ronald. They will miss him greatly but are thankful for his life and pleased that he is now with his heavenly father.

His family request no flowers but any gifts should be for Pentecost Festival.

There will be a funeral service in Raynes Park for close friends and family in the next 10 days. A public celebration service will be held in January.