John Gordon Fairburn

John was an esteemed Minister of Bible Apostolic Church and a retiree of CSX Raceland Car Shop. John was born May 22, 1928 in Huntington, WV to the late Clarence and Carrie Shafer Fairburn. In addition to his parents, John was preceded in death by his brother William Edward, Margaret Danishek, Francis Jones and Harriet Elizabeth Reid.

Services will be Sunday December 19, 2015 at Bible Apostolic Church, 3521 16th St Rd, Huntington, WV

Visitation 12-3pm & Funeral 3pm

Graveside Committal Service will be 2pm, Sunday, December 20th at Ridgelawn Memorial Park

At the young age of 16, John took a summer job at the C&O Railroad (he was the “foreman’s son”). During this time our country was immersed in WWII, and John felt compelled to serve as a US Marine. On June 26, 1945, with his parents’ permission John enlisted the US Marine Corp for the duration of the war at which time he was granted a leave of absence from the railroad. Winter of 1945, John was stationed in Newport, RI awaiting deployment for “Operation Downfall” the invasion of Japan during WWII. But God had other plans for John, one year after Hiroshima, August 29, 1946 John was honorably discharged and returned home to complete his education while still on leave of absence from C&O Railroad. During his senior year at Huntington East High School, John met the love of his life, Miss Sally Jo Estep. They were wed September 10, 1948 at which time John returned to the railroad to begin his apprenticeship and start his family. From 1948-1954 John and Sally chose to be fruitful and multiply; blessing this earth with John Michael, Deborah Jean and David Gordon. As a child and young adult John was raised in the Church of Christ. In 1951 Sally visited Staunton Street Apostolic Church with her family during a great revival. At which time she experienced the Pentecostal “baptism of the Holy Ghost”. John did not believe in this experience and wanted to witness for himself….as a result of seeing and hearing Sally speak in other tongues, John was convinced it must be of God. The next night john attended the revival service, went to the altar, repented and began to seek God for this Holy Ghost experience as well. This same night, John and Sally joined the church members for a baptismal, at which time John felt moved to be baptized as well. After being submerged in baptism John came out of the water speaking with other tongues!!! John was truly a changed man with a HEARTS DESIRE to win souls for Christ. John and Sally were active members at Staunton Street Apostolic Church driving the church bus winning souls.

A young beautiful Godly family in the 50’s with a great career living the American Dream! Unfortunately C&O had a massive layoff in 1954 at which time John relocated his young family and went to work for Goodyear Atomic Corporation in Piketon, OH. During this time he continued his education and became Staff Supervisor doing Mechanical Engineering designing and developing prototype machinery for the US Government’s highly classified atomic energy program. During this peak in his career, Sally owned and operated 2 grocery stores while raising 3 children. In 1963 Goodyear requested to relocate John to Albuquerque, NM which John declined. John was then rehired at C&O Railroad in Huntington and worked at the Huntington shop for 6years before transferring to the C&O Raceland car shops in 1969. While living at Sunrise Drive in Flatwoods, KY, John completed his career with C&O until retirement in 1990.

Often times we lose our way while entangled in this web we call life….but God knew what he was doing all along. In 1971 Sally rededicated her life to Christ and was attending church while John worked aggressively and the children played sports as young teenagers. Sally being the pleasant yet concerned wife she was, wanted her family by her side and most importantly saved. Sally invited several friends and family members to her home for a prayer meeting….some of you may recognize this as the “Sunrise Drive, basement experience”. During this prayer meeting John rededicated his life to Christ at which time their youngest David Gordon found Christ. One month after this experience John was led by the spirit to rent the Raceland IGA for a revival with Brother Robert Theobald. During this one week revival 7 souls were saved and the beginning of what is now the Bible Apostolic Church was started. Bro Theobald needed to return to his home but John had a congregation and no church. What a predicament to have!! John received permission from the Raceland School board to convert the schoolhouse on Caroline Road to the Church of Jesus Christ Apostolic Faith. From 1971-1972 24 souls were saved with 17 living in Huntington, WV. It was only logical to move this congregation to Huntington and with the assistance of Bro. Theobald this would be possible. In 1971 the church was relocated to a rented building at 6th St and 6th Ave. Bro. Theobald pastored for 1 year with John assisting and continually winning souls for Christ. In 1973 the church was informed their rented building would be sold, and they must yet move again. Temporarily the church was relocated to a 2 room schoolhouse on 8th St Rd, rent free by Robert and Barbara Calhoun. With attendance peaking at 105 the little school house was now too small. God had a greater plan in mind. In 1974 property at 3521 16th St Rd was purchased and new construction began. In 1975 the church was dedicated to the Lord Jesus Christ and the congregation made the move to their final destination. The church continued to flourish and grow allowing for additions and expansions over the years. The official name of the church was changed to Bible Apostolic Church in 1976. The sanctuary you sit in today was completed and dedicated in 1982.

John G Fairburn was a man who sought to do well before the Lord at all times and in all things. He studied the bible and prayed daily. He had felt compelled to fast often and once fasting for 40 days with water only. Upon completing the 40 day fast the mighty power of God was upon him and everyone he laid hands on were touched or healed. There were blind eyes opened and some who were using canes threw them away. It was a powerful time in his life which influenced his ministry. John used the gifts of the spirit often in his life to exhort and correct but always in love and with respect. His greatest joy came from the Lord and in seeing others come to faith in Jesus and to grow in the unity of the faith.

A man is judged, not by what he says or appears to do, but by the fruit he produces. John's spectacular life is laden with fruit witnessed by the thousands of lives he touched, being compelled by compassion to help using his money, sweat, prayer, or self-sacrifice by way of fasting. John had 4 great loves in the world, they were Work, The Church, His Family, but most of all was his love for the Lord. He was proud of Jesus! He was not just unashamed but brazen and bold for the Lord. Everyone who talked to him for more than 5 min knew he was a Christian not because he told them he was but because he invited them to come and meet the Lord.