A Legacy of Faithfulness: Jim Lenderman
The Office of Alumni and Church Relations at Asbury Theological Seminary is sorrowful to announce the passing of our beloved 2021 Distinguished Alumnus, Rev. Jim Lenderman. Jim has been a faithful supporter of Asbury Theological Seminary and its students for many years, and served most recently as part of our Alumni Council. This loss hits close and hard. Jim’s steady wisdom and compassionate presence has been invaluable to our team, and he will be greatly missed on this side of glory. His obituary, included below, tells more of the amazing legacy he left with the people he loved so well in the Name of Jesus. We will all do well to run the race as he did.
Jim Lenderman, M.Div’91, aged 57, of Lowell, Arkansas, entered into the Kingdom of Heaven on May 16, 2021. He now sees and experiences in full what he has read about, trusted in, hoped for, shared, and taught his entire life. Jim is a native of Carlisle, Arkansas, where he grew up and attended First United Methodist Church with his family every Sunday. He graduated from Carlisle High School and attended the University of Arkansas where he graduated with a BS in Business Administration. One week after he graduated he married the love of his life, Beth Tarter. He worked a brief stint for TCBY in Little Rock then as a division manager in East Tennessee and West Virginia before he pursued God’s call on his heart to be a pastor and enrolled at Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky. A member of the Arkansas Conference of the United Methodist Church, he has served pastorates at First United Methodist Church, Hot Springs; Parker’s Chapel/Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church, El Dorado; First United Methodist Church, Prescott; Grace United Methodist Church, Conway; and Asbury United Methodist Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He was serving currently as senior pastor of Central United Methodist Church, Rogers, before his passing. Jim’s 30 years of ministry have been characterized by his devotion to God and his heart for God’s people, his faithfulness in every church he has served, from small to large, and his emphasis on leading his people in the discipline and practice of prayer. Last year Jim received a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, but through the battle, his faithful witness was unwavering and he faced his own death with courage and dignity. Jim is remembered for his love of the Lord, his servant’s heart and his pursuit of holiness; his witty sense of humor; his love for the Arkansas Razorbacks; and the wonderful husband and father he was to his family. Jim is preceded in death by his parents Bill and Ena Lou Lenderman and his brother-in-law, Carl Kelley. Jim leaves behind his wife of 34 years, Beth, and his two sons Hayden (27) and Jordan (23); his siblings Annette Kerr (Larry), Virginia Kelley, Jerry Lenderman, Ron Lenderman (Brenda), Billy Lenderman (Ann), David Lenderman (Gwen), John Lenderman (Cheryl), and many wonderful nieces, nephews, and extended family.
I am so sorry to read this but grateful to have known Jim. May he rest in peace and rise in glory.
Jim was a terrific man! We were honored to have him “come over to Oklahoma to help us.” Jim was absolutely loved by our congregation and staff He was a model of integrity and energy for the Kingdom of God. We grieve his loss, too. We are so grateful for our time with him, Beth, Hayden and Jordan.