Eddie Crain

Born in San Pablo, California as the older of two children to Ed, Sr. and Vonnie Crain, Eddie was a fun-loving and energetic boy. The son of a pastor and a homemaker, Eddie and his younger sister, Felecia, enjoyed marbles, card games, and typical sibling fights. His parents taught him to love Jesus without compromise. Vonnie was a prayer warrior for her son and Ed, Sr. showed him an example of a consistent man of God.

Eddie’s extended family of Uncle Albert, Aunt Felecia, and cousins Chris and Jennifer played a big role in his life. He and Chris were very close growing up and he spent a lot of time with their family. Eddie and Chris bought the same model of first car, a Camaro, and spent many hours together perfecting their baseball swings and slam dunk skills in Chris’ garage. He was very close to his Uncle Albert growing up and often talked of the strong relationship they shared.

Having been raised with a strong Christian faith, Eddie accepted Christ when he was 4 years old at home with his grandmother by his side. At the age of 17 he knew that God had called him to vocational ministry and he prepared for life as a pastor. He attended the Fresno Missionary Bible Institute and Seminary to further his biblical knowledge and served faithfully in various volunteer positions at Landmark Missionary Baptist Church in Martinez and Calvary Missionary Baptist Church in Fresno. His mom, Vonnie, said he was a kid who had a heart for God and was very focused on wanting to please and honor Him, but still got into plenty of trouble!

Eddie began attending NorthPointe Community Church with his family in 2002 and started on staff, part time, as the Children’s Director in 2003. He became the full time Children’s Pastor in 2004. As he grew in ministry and sought clarity of his purpose from God, Eddie found true fulfillment in serving in children’s ministry. He loved kids and, more than anything, wanted them to know God, serve God, and know their purpose and fulfill it!

Serving at NorthPointe provided a particular blessing of friendship for Eddie. He was able to serve alongside two of his best friends, Kevin Manning and Ronnie McDougall, who had known Eddie since he was about 17. Along with coaching, hunting, vacationing, and serving together, these men challenged and encouraged one another in their faith, and held one another accountable as men, fathers and husbands. These deep friendships were among the most important in his life.

Eddie and Kari, his wife of 20 years, met at a church camp as teens and they married when they were just 19 years old. Kari laughs as she recounts a young Eddie’s proposal the night of his high school graduation. “He showed me the ring and said something like, ‘You know what this means?’ She said yes, and he said, ‘OK, if you put this on, it never comes off.’” They enjoyed an all too brief 20 years filled with the highs and lows of marriage, parenting, and doing ministry together and those rings never came off!

Kari loves that they grew up together. They learned about life and loving and family together. She is grateful for the ways Eddie challenged her to never give up on the tough things in life and says he always kept her on her toes. His 20th anniversary card to her shows that he felt the same way as he wrote how thankful he was that through everything, all the turmoil that life brings, the highs and the lows, that they did it all together.

One of the greatest joys of Eddie’s married life was the family of sons they created and raised together. Life as a young pastor could be financially difficult, and Eddie, at times, worked up to three jobs to support their growing family while serving the Lord as a pastor. As the boys were growing, and time was too precious in a full house, Eddie would create time with his boys everywhere he could. A favorite time of day for him was the morning drive to school. He’d drive one son to school and rush right back home to make sure he got in the morning drive with another. Part of this morning time was a statement that he said thousands of times over the years. “Remember who you are. You’re a Child of God. You’re a Crain.”

Making the most of family time was always important to Eddie. His young men agree that they understood that his work and ministry wasn’t a 9 to 5 job, but when Dad was home with them he was totally present for them. Eddie worked hard to make that happen, to set aside everything from his day and focus on his family.

Eddie had high standards for his family. Collin (19), Cyle (16), Camden (15), Clayton (13), & Colton (7) could tell you that! He did not apologize and he did not compromise when it came to raising godly men of strong character. They know without a doubt that everything he did for them, taught them, and asked of them came from a place of love. He backed up those expectations with Scripture and told them often, “You have to know that I love you. No matter what.”

His final message to the church last Sunday was exactly what his heart wanted to say: we, the church, must help children walk out of here equipped and armed to be Christ-centered, biblically anchored, world changers. He wanted that for his children. He wanted that for ALL children. And he lived his God-given purpose everyday to make that a reality.

Arrangements under the direction of Stephens & Bean Funeral Chapel, Fresno, CA.