TRIBUTE TO JAY DARGAN
“Be a blessing today.” That was how Jay Dargan ended many of his conversations. That is how he lived his life – being a blessing to everyone he encountered. He was truly a blessing to Asbury Seminary.
Jay Dargan was born in Canada, the son of a Free Methodist pastoral couple. His formal education, though extensive and in a variety of disciplines, was never a point of pride for him. He often downplayed his educational training, saying at times that it “got in my way.” Jay earned his BA degree from Greenville College (IL) with majors in biology and secondary education and a minor in sociology. His Master’s degree was in Religious Education from Asbury Seminary , the Certificate of Corrections and his MA in Sociology from Sam Houston State University (TX), and the Master of Education in Counseling and his PhD in Sociology from South Dakota State University in Brooking, SD.
He and his wife, Margaret, married in 1962 and had two daughters, Sherilyn Kay and Deborah Sue.
He was committed to God’s call on his life in Christian higher education. He served for a time as a juvenile probation officer in Corpus Christi, TX and then taught as Professor of Sociology at Central Christian College, Miltonvale Wesleyan College, and Hesston College, all in Kansas. He was also Professor of Counseling at Wesley Biblical Seminary in Jackson, MS. Jay served as Professor of Sociology, Dean of Students, and Director of Planned Giving at Asbury University, Wilmore, KY, before coming to Asbury Theological Seminary as Director of Development, Vice President for Advancement, and Vice President of the Asbury Foundation. He also served his church as Vice President for the Southeast Region of the United States for the Free Methodist Foundation, based in Spring Arbor, MI.
Jay officially retired at the end of 2008 but it wasn’t long before the Seminary came calling again to ask him to return for a year to train others in development and to write a training manual. He retired again at the beginning of 2011.
Jay drove thousands of miles, crisscrossing the United States, often with Margaret beside him, meeting donors and potential donors and making friends for Asbury Seminary. He was a great prayer warrior. He believed in establishing relationships and in “growing givers’ hearts.” The friendships he made for the Seminary are still bearing fruit after all these years, through the establishment of scholarships and estate gifts.
“Only eternity will reveal the fruits of Jay Dargan’s ministry on behalf of the mission of Asbury Seminary,” says President Timothy Tennent. “We will always be profoundly grateful for his ministry.”
He was a lifelong member of the Free Methodist Church and was active in the Wilmore Free Methodist Church, serving on various boards and committees and teaching from time to time.
Jay was a man of many talents – a writer of books and articles, songs and poems, an accomplished cook (he gathered hundreds of his favorite recipes into a popular cookbook), and he was even interested in interior decorating.
Even in the midst of his long and difficult illness, Jay continued to witness to others about his love for his Lord. He led Bible studies and prayed for others in the nursing home where he was being cared for. Nurses would even come to him to specifically ask him to pray for them. Jay knew that as long as God kept on him this earth, he was responsible for taking the Good News to those around him. We are certain that when he entered into the presence of his Lord, it was to hear the words, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your lord.”
Jay and Margaret invited us to lunch in their home following our first Sunday worship after we moved to Wilmore for Mike to begin at the seminary. What a blessing!
Dr. Jay was always an inspiration. I will never forget his smile, laugh, or sage words of advice. I am who I am professionally because Jay took a chance on me. You are missed!