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Dr. Jimmie Moore Mankin
1936-1998

From Preachers Of Today Vol. 4

New Release From ACU
On The Death Of Dr. Jim Mankin
Jim Mankin, long-time Gospel minister,
ACU professor, dies
ABILENE, Texas -- Dr. Jim Mankin,
associate professor and past chairman of the Department of Undergraduate
Bible and Ministry at Abilene Christian University, died Dec. 16, 1998,
in an Abilene hospital after an eight-month battle with cancer. He was
62. Mankin also served as preaching minister of the Westgate Church of
Christ in Abilene.
Services will be 2 p.m. Saturday,
Dec. 19, at University Church of Christ in Abilene with Dr. Royce Money,
ACU President presiding. Singing will be led by Nick Boone of Franklin,
Tenn.
At Dr. Mankin's request, the
carillon in the ACU Tower of Light will be played during the service.
Interment will be at Elmwood Memorial Park in Abilene. Arrangements are
being handled by Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home-Hwy. 277, Abilene.
(915-677-4355)
Dr. Royce Money, ACU president,
said, "Dr. Jim Mankin was one of our most popular Bible professors. His
gentle and positive spirit and his ability to connect with the students
were a powerful Christian witness. The spirit of Christ that he
exemplified to everyone he met will live on in our hearts. We are all
better people because Jim touched our lives."
Since joining the ACU faculty in
1987, Mankin had become an enormously popular Bible teacher, teaching
large sections of freshmen Bible classes each semester. He also spoke
frequently in ACU's daily chapel services, and was known for his
innovative presentations. On one occasion, he dressed in the garb of the
biblical era to address students as an elderly Apostle John.
Mankin also taught upper division
courses in ministry, Christian worship and Christian leadership, the
latter two growing out of his scholarly interests.
Dr. David Wray, chairman of the
Department of Undergraduate Bible at ACU, said, "Not only did Jim know
students' names, he often knew their hopes, their pain, their dreams and
their hearts. Whether he was in the classroom, office or at a student
event, he cherished sharing life with his students. His creative
teaching, phenomenal story telling and love of scripture has left an
indelible mark on the lives of thousands of Abilene Christian University
students."
Born May 18, 1936, in Atlanta, Ga.,
Mankin was a 1958 graduate of David Lipscomb University in Nashville
where he met his wife, the former Deloris Burch of Salem, Ohio. He
earned a master's in Christian education degree >from Emory University
in Atlanta in 1960 and a doctor of ministry degree from Fuller
Theological Seminary in Pasadena, Calif., in 1987. He also had studied
at the Divinity School at Vanderbilt University in Nashville.
His publications in the area of
hymnody and church leadership included frequent articles in "The Hymn,
Discipliana and Restoration Quarterly." He wrote regularly for Gospel
Advocate, Power for Today devotional guide and was a past editor of the
"Tennessee Valley" edition of the "Christian Chronicle." A book,
Prescription for Troubled Hearts, was published in 1984 by Gospel
Advocate, Co. The 20th Century Christian Foundation honored him as
Christian Educator of the Year in 1989.
Before joining the ACU faculty,
Mankin preached for the Madison Church of Christ, the largest Church of
Christ congregation in the U.S., from 1979-86. During his last four
years at Madison he was the featured speaker on "Amazing Grace Bible
Class," a nationally distributed television program, begun by the
legendary Dr. Ira North, long-time minister at the Madison congregation.
Nick Boone, minister of music there at that time, worked with the pair
in that ministry.
Other full-time ministry included
preaching for 13 years for the Central Church of Christ in Chattanooga,
Tenn., where he also taught fifth and 10th grade Bible at Coyd Buchanan
Christian School. From 1960-66 he preached for the Central Church of
Christ in Cincinnati, Ohio. He was an elder at Highland Church of Christ
in Abilene from 1988-97.
A popular preacher and workshop
leader, Mankin had preached in 35 states and had spoken on Lectureships
at ACU, Lipscomb, Harding University, Pepperdine University, Lubbock
Christian University and Oklahoma Christian University.
Since 1983, he had served as
director of the Blue Ridge Encampment in Asheville, N.C. Mankin had
attended the encampment for 36 of its 49-year existence, first teaching
children's classes, then classes for young adults, then adults. During
his early association with Blue Ridge, approximately 250 individuals
participated in the week-long encampment. More than 800 now attend each
year.
Mankin was a member of the Society
of Biblical Literature, Disciples of Christ Historical Society, Hymn
Society of North America and the Evangelical Theological Society. In
Madison and Chattanooga, he was active in Civitan Clubs, serving as
chapter president in both cities. During his presidency in Chattanooga,
more than $1 million was raised by the club for the neonatal ICU unit at
Baroness Erlanger Hospital. He was honored as Civitan of the Year there
in 1986 and was International Chaplain in 1974-75.
Mankin is survived by his wife of
35 years, Deloris (Burch), and by his daughter and son-in-law, Alice and
Scott LaMascus of Americus, Ga.; two sons Jeffrey Mankin of Oxford,
Miss., Ben Mankin of Nashville, and Ben's fiancé Amanda Day of Houston;
by his father, Cecil Mankin of Atlanta, Ga.; a brother, Sam Mankin, and
sister, Linda Thompkins Mankin, both of Atlanta; by two grandsons,
Parker and Hadley LaMascus of Americus, Ga.; a niece and nephew, Ashley
and Andy Mankin of Atlanta; and by many aunts, uncles and cousins
throughout the Middle Tennessee area. He was preceded in death by his
mother, Mildred Mankin.
The family has asked that
memorial gifts be made to the Mankin Bible Scholarship Fund at Abilene
Christian University, ACU Box 29132, Abilene, TX 79699-9132, or to
Hendrick Hospice Care, P.O. Box 1922, Abilene 79604.
-Source:
Abilene Christian University Website,
News Release December 16, 1998

Directions To The
Grave Of
Jimmie Mankin
Jimmie M. Mankin is buried in Abilene, Texas in the Elmwood Memorial
Park. The cemetery lies on the southern outskirts of the city of
Abilene. From the west side of Abilene on I-20 take exit 283a and
head south on Hwy 83/277. Go about 7 miles south and exit off on Hwy
277 South. Travel a couple of miles on Hwy. 277. The address is 5750
U.S. Highway 277 S. Office Phone: 352-692-0655.
See Map Of
Cemetery Here. Also buried here are J.D.
Thomas and E.R. Harper.
GPS Coordinates
Acc. to 28ft.
N32° 24.846’ x WO99° 48.152’
Grave Faces East
Mausoleum 3 Crypt #10







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