Rev. John F. Hollingsworth

HOLLINGSWORTH, Rev. John F., formerly of Pittsburgh, PA passed away on March 18, 2010 in Nashville, TN at age of 84. Preceded in death by his parents, Forrest and Lillian Hollingsworth; son, James Hollingsworth; wife, Marilyn Hollingsworth. Survived by daughter, Joyce Hollingsworth of Michigan City, IN; son, Mark Hollingsworth of Nashville, TN; and sister, Maxine Pitonyak of Erie, PA. He attended Duquesne University, Princeton Seminary and Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, and was a Presbyterian Minister for congregations in Homer City, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, PA; Columbus, OH, Decatur and Skokie IL and member of The Village Chapel in Nashville, TN. Served his country as a Corporal for the U.S. Army Air Corps, 308th Bomber Wing, Asiatic Pacific Theater from 1944-1946. Memorial services were March 22 in Nashville, TN and March 23 in Allison Park, PA. Burial was at Mt. Royal Cemetery in Allison Park, PA next to the love of his life, Marilyn. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to two outreaches the pastor supported: Prime Timers Ministry for senior adults at Memorial Park Church (www.memorialparkchurch.org), or a new private university in central Angola in Africa (www.angolauniversity.org/donate).

JOHN HOLLINGSWORTH MEMOIR

Here are some thoughts from Dad in 2009 looking back on his service in ministry:

1) From 1949-1952 I was at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, with some additional courses taken at Princeton Seminary. While interning at a church in the Steel City, I met Marilyn. She was helping with the youth group, and I remember thinking “she sure is pretty…and tall, too.” She also had the most beautiful singing voice I had ever heard. We married in 1952.

2) The two Presbyterian fellowships at Crete and Homer City, PA (both in Indiana County), each with memberships of around 100, are where I began my ministry years in 1952-56. Watching over two distinct fellowships at the same time can be a handful, but we were made to feel very welcome. I learned much about interpersonal communications and listening to everyone’s needs. Was a wonderful time also in that we had our first two children, Jim and Mark, during these years.

3) The church family of McNaugher Memorial Presbyterian Church of Fineview of Pittsburgh from 1957 to ’60 is where the Lord led us next. What a great time to be near Marilyn’s parents and so many of my friends from my college (Duquesne) and post-graduate (Pittsburgh Seminary) years. I’ll always remember the family atmosphere of this fellowship in the close-knit community overlooking the Golden Triangle from that hill on the north side. Joyce was born during this time, and our little brick home was buzzing with 3 toddlers.

4) The Neil Avenue United Presbyterian Church in Columbus, OH from 1960-65, that then relocated and became Bethel United Presbyterian Church on the northwest side of Columbus. What a pioneering group we were meeting for a while in Linworth and Greenview school gymnasiums while we sold the old building and bought land/constructed our new home for 3 years. I remember many frigid mornings when we would dress in extra layers and wearing our winter boots slogging through the snow going house to house in that growing suburban community to meet with folks who might want to join our happy clan.

Hundreds of Sundays were spent setting up and tearing down all the chairs, etc. needed to conduct our services and classes. I also recall one sub-freezing morning at the school when we had to call an intermission during the singing of a hymn because the furnace was roaring in an unusual manner. God was faithful and rewarded us with a handsome multi-purpose building built for worship, Sunday school, and fellowship. That building would be the first of several additions, which the congregation would develop over the next decade as attendance grew from 1966-1969 up to around 300.

I also recall being asked to serve as the Prayer Chairman for the Greater Columbus Billy Graham Crusade in ’65. The church community, both Bethel and the body of Christ all throughout central Ohio was so supportive and over 100,000 came out for that 4 day Crusade and over 10,000 came to know Jesus. After the event finished about 50 pastors and layman formed the Columbus Evangelical Christian Fellowship to continue spreading the Good News. I was honored to serve as the President for two years.

5) Woodland Chapel in Decatur, IL from 1969-1975. There were many challenges that we faced as a congregation like working through heavy construction debt from the new educational wing and enfolding so many young people who were coming to Christ as a result of the Jesus Movement that was so prevalent in the early 70’s. We were one of the few churches in town that welcomed all these new young people with open arms, and the fellowship really started to flourish as a result. The enthusiasm was contagious, and many parents came to know Christ as well.

I was honored to come to Woodland Chapel’s 50th Anniversary Celebration in 2006. How great it was to see how the church had continued to grow, and so many that we had known decades ago were still walking with our Lord and making significant impact in the community for the kingdom.

6) 1975-80, Westminster United Presbyterian Church, Skokie, IL. We felt led to relocate near Chicago where Mark and Joyce were enrolled in nearby Wheaton College. Skokie is a predominantly Jewish community on the north side of Chicago, and provided many opportunities to share the gospel.

I remember a group of Neo Nazi’s wanted to stage a demonstration in the town square, and spent months generating tremendous negativity in preparation for their march. I, along with a handful of other pastors and rabbi’s in the town formed a coalition to find peaceful means of calming any potential violent confrontations. Skokie had more concentration camp survivors than any other place in the western hemisphere, so tensions were high. It was front page news and was the focus of many newscasts for weeks. When the Brown Shirts finally made their exact plans and times known, our group took our cars and blockaded all the exit ramps off the I-94 Expressway, thus thwarting their demented intentions. They were so flustered that they never tried again.

We also began sharing our church facility with a brand new Korean Presbyterian fellowship, thus making the best use of the building throughout each week.

7) 1980-90, yet another Westminster United Presbyterian Church, this one on the southeast side of Philadelphia. I ended my full-time pastoral ministry with this inner-city fellowship that most in the area’s presbytery thought was in its last days. But God had other plans, and with the help of a small but very dedicated flock, we began to integrate the previously all-white aging congregation in this 95% African-American community. During that decade, attendance tripled, and became nearly a half and half blend. The once minimal Sunday School exploded to several hundred—mostly neighborhood kids that found a place of refuge there from all the gang activity. It was invigorating living and serving in this environment.

During this time I became friends with Dr. Tony Campolo, a well-known author, speaker, and professor at Eastern College. He had a growing outreach within the same slum, and we tried to find ways to work together. He had a vision for a Christian school that would instill excellence into underprivileged children in that neglected part of Philly. On our property we had two huge 8,000 square foot former orphanage buildings that had basically been empty for decades. I convinced the Board of Elders to sell these to Tony’s ministry at a very reasonable price. They became the main “campus” for the Cornerstone Christian Academy. Now, 25 years later, thousands of kids have gone through that program, and many have graduated and gone on to top universities, and even post-graduate work. Most of these have given back by making significant contributions of time, influence, skill, and resources in helping turn that blighted area around for the better.

8) 1991-2005, Memorial Park Presbyterian Church, Allison Park, PA. After my formal retirement, Marilyn and I decided to relocate back to our youthful roots in Pittsburgh. We settled in the northern suburbs, and found this wonderful community that soon asked if I would become part-time minister to the senior adults. What a wonderful blessing to work side-by-side with my contemporaries. It was a sweet time of getting reacquainted with many friends of younger years, as well as making many new ones.

With the church’s blessing, we formed the Prime Timers outreach among those sixty and older, and it grew to over 200 strong. We started up bible studies, home groups, outreaches to area hospitals, retirement homes, and nursing facilities. We also put together fun excursions to other cities like Toronto, Philadelphia, New York, etc. that drew us together in fellowship.

Marilyn and I celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary with over 300 friends and family at this church. Just three years later, even more came out to honor her life at a moving memorial service in her honor after her battle with cancer took her to the Lord in 2004.

9) 2006-2007, Park Presbyterian Church, Zelionople, PA. While living on my own at Passavant Retirement Home in the small town about an hour north of Pittsburgh, I attended this church near our campus. I was asked to assist with some duties from time to time, and it was fun to help this fellowship of so many young families. After my stroke in the spring of 2007, my children helped me relocate to Nashville in order to be closer to Mark.

10) 2007-2010, Belmont Village Retirement Home, Nashville, TN. At this lovely assisted-living facility I was asked to help lead morning devotions and hymn sings (yes—even with my terrible voice!), led prayers over many meals in the dining hall, and calling on residents who were depressed or going thru times of disorientation. I have also been attending The Village Chapel, a vibrant, young fellowship that has grown from a dozen people in 2001 to close to a thousand now.

JOHN HOLLINGSWORTH’S FAVORITE SCRIPTURES (a sampling):

Psalm 100: 3-5

Psalm 103

Psalm 121

I John 1: 9-10

I Corin. 15: 54-58

Mark 10: 43-45

Rev. 21: 1-5

James 5: 13-16

Hebrews 13: 15-16

II Timothy 4: 6-8

Philippians 2: 1-11, 4: 4-8

Matt. 5: 43-48

Isaiah 9: 6-7

Numbers 6: 24-26 (was his favorite benediction—used at both memorial services, followed by the Doxology)

JOHN'S FAVORITE HYMNS:

Children of the Heavenly Father *

Great Is Thy Faithfulness *

Be Thou My Vision *

Like A River Glorious *

All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name *

To God Be The Glory *

Blessed Assurance, Jesus Is Mine

Breathe On Me Oh Breath of God

Christ the Lord Is Risen Today

Fairest Lord Jesus

For the Beauty of the Earth

Great Is They Faithfulness

Holy, Holy, Holy

How Great Thou Art

Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee

Open My Eyes That I May See

What a Friend We Have In Jesus

When I Survey The Wondrous Cross

Praise Ye The Lord

Guide Me, Oh Thou Great Jehovah

* are ones we have picked for the memorial services

JOYCE'S COMMENTS AT DAD'S MEMORIAL SERVICES:

With deep gratitude

I want to thank my brother Mark

for all your selfless care of Dad

the past 2 years in Nashville.

I helped with Dad’s move from Pittsburgh to Nashville

And came to visit a few times a year.

Regular phone calls were more difficult

due to Dad’s poor hearing and growing dementia.

It was you, Mark, who visited Dad daily,

went with him to all his medical appointments,

bonded with Dad’s loving nursing helpers

at Assisted Living in Nashville

and lovingly conspired with them on how

to deal with Dad’s sometimes “obstreperous” nature.

You also included him

in your other activities -

taking him to Sunday worship

and occasional ball games,

shared meals in the homes of friends,

and of course, keeping Dad’s life-long habit

fed for good spaghetti dinners

at his favorite restaurants.

Without your

Attentive care and inclusion

Dad’s last 2 years would have been much smaller.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart

For your generous and loving caregiving.

I also want to share a letter to Dad

I’ve written since his passing last Thursday:

Dear Dad,

I feel privileged to have shared

with you and Mark

the tender time of

your last two days on this earth.

Although your frail body and most recent stroke

prevented you from speaking or seeing

in your final hours,

we, instead, shared the intimate language of touch.

Mark and I pushed the other bed in the room

next to yours so we could take turns

laying beside you holding your hand

We know from your hand squeezes

that you knew you were surrounded

by all who ever loved you

whether in body or spirit.

I know we saw one another

through our inner eyes –

stripped to the basics -

speaking the language of love

as family stories were re-told,

your favorite hymns sung

and tears flowed.

Thank you for all you taught me –

especially about leadership.

About how leadership is less about external titles

and more about character and its formation -

especially in the trials and struggles of life

that, if we are lucky,

burns away the dross of our hard edges

and replaces it with compassion.

With your quiet capacity-building

leadership-approach

you embodied

what eastern wisdom literature describes,

as “The Leader as Midwife”

The modern paraphrase tells us . . .

“The wise leader does not intervene unnecessarily.

Do not force your own needs

and insights into the foreground.

If you do not trust a person’s process,

that person will not trust you.

Imagine that you are a midwife;

you are assisting at someone else’s birth.

Do good without show or fuss.

Facilitate what is happening

rather than what you think

ought to be happening.

If you must take the lead,

lead so that the mother is helped,

yet still free and in charge.

When the baby is born,

the mother will rightly say:

“We did it ourselves!”

Dad - Your expression of pastoral leadership

at its best - was about

facilitating the growth of others -

whether family, friends,

the church or the larger community

On the family front –

As adults, Mark and I know you supported

our respective fulfilling lives and work.

We also know you would have loved

to be surrounded by grandchildren

in your old age.

Over time you became content

with your spiritual generational legacy.

Although less conventional -

it is a bountiful harvest

of spiritual sons and daughters,

brothers and sisters

from all around the country –

everywhere you served a church -

Each with their own special relationship with you

and grateful for your counsel, care & support.

I love you Dad

knowing you were glad

to shed this frail body

so you could be face-to-face

with your savior –

Now held close by Him

whom you so faithfully served.

MARK'S COMMENTS FROM BOTH MEMORIAL SERVICES:

What I learned from Dad:

My Dad told me on several occasions that life was the best classroom. He helped foster an environment that made that so for me…and he was one of my best teachers…often in a very non-traditional sense. Here are some examples.

LAUGHTER:

-When Dad was really amused by something, he had a huge, round, gasping laugh that left no doubt about his joy.

-I remember watching him nearly fall off the couch laughing so hard at Sid Ceasar, Bob Newhart, Green Acres, The Three Stooges, David Frye, Laurel and Hardy, and Fawlty Towers.

-I recall Dad nearly choking on his popcorn he was laughing so hard watching “It’s A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World” at a drive-in cinema in the mid-60’s.

-One night in 1970, I heard Dad howling so loudly up in his bedroom, I just had do run upstairs and see what was going on. He and mom were in tears of hysterics watching the very first episode of “All in the Family.” “Mark, you won’t believe it, but they’ve made a TV show that describes your grandpa to a T.” That show became a staple in our household for the next 10 years.

-He helped form our bizarre sense of humor by his enjoyment of Spike Jones and His Wacky Wackateers, or the deadpan work of Bob and Ray, or doing unexpected things like putting onions on his Wheaties one morning just to see our reaction.

-When we kids were little, I recall numerous “tickle battles” we would have with him on the living room floor. The three of us cubs romping all over poor old Dad—and him howling in joy the whole time.

-Dad was quite the punster, too. He had one particular series that went on for years. It started with: “What happened when they threw a firecracker in the hen house? Chicky-boom, chicky-boom, chicky-boom-boom-boom.” There were variations that kept coming. Several that I remember were “What happened when they threw a firecracker in the razor blade factory? Schicky-boom, Schicky-boom, Schicky-boom-boom-boom.” And “What happened when they threw the firecracker in the Nixon White House? Dicky-boom, Dicky-boom, Dicky-boom-boom-boom.”

ACCEPTING OF THOSE IN NEED:

-I don’t know how we did it growing up, but we were always in pretty small homes. For 7 years in Columbus, OH the five of us were in a 3 bedroom, 1,200 square foot, one story ranch house. But we always had room for more. Our widowed grandmother Lillian moved in, and we also had several Korean university students live with us at various times. We also took in my cousin Danny for a year during a rebellious time in his teens. While in Decatur, IL we had both grandmothers living with us. I give my sister, Joyce, big props for having those aged roommates for a while.

-Another form of that acceptance was when the Jesus Movement was sweeping through the Midwest in the early 70’s. Thousands of high school age kids were coming to Christ in our community, but they scared most of the staid mainline churches that dominated Decatur, IL. My Dad welcomed these kids with open arms, and our youth group grew exponentially.

THAT LEADS TO ANOTHER TRAIT I LEARNED FROM DAD: BEING RELEVANT

-At that same church where so many kids were spiritually hungry, Dad knew that the traditional tools were irrelevant. So he had seminars on things like Jesus Christ Superstar, which was the Number One album in the country at the time. We played through the entire album and had thoughtful discussion on what the lyrics meant, and what was correct and incorrect from a scriptural standpoint. The kids loved it. He also allowed us to start a Jesus rock band as a way to express our newfound faith. These things rankled many of the older members of that Presbyterian congregation, but Dad held firm.

-And when we were there 5 years ago for the 50th Anniversary Celebration of the church, it was interesting to see a full-fledged rock band leading the Sunday worship, and seeing many of those who had been there 35 years before still serving God.

-When Dad was in his “semi-retirement” during the 90’s, he was asked to be the pastor to the senior adults at Memorial Park Presbyterian in Pittsburgh. This group had been largely ignored. Within a few years there were over 200 people actively involved with what he had deemed “The Prime Timers.” They had men’s and women’s Bible studies, support groups, dinner clubs, and extensive outreaches to area nursing homes and hospitals. This age group didn’t want to be retired when it came to their faith—they wanted to make a difference with their experience, skill, and time. Dad helped them find the relevance they were searching for.

LOYALTY:

-Dad had some friendships that go all the way back to his childhood, and many more from his collegiate days forward. That requires a lot of nurturing and commitment. In these past several days I’ve heard many stories from folks who were deeply grateful for Dad’s steadfastness with them over lots of time and miles.

-Sports were an area where Dad’s loyalty was on display. He loved the Pittsburgh Pirates his entire life—during all those bleak years in the 30’s thru 50’s when they were perennial doormats of the National League. But I still remember, even though I as just 5 years old, how excited he was when the Bucs won their first National League Pennant in decades and defeated the heavily favored Yankees in the 1960 World Series on Bill Mazeroski’s unlikely bottom-of-the-9th homer in the decisive Game 7.

-I inherited his love for the entire Pirate legacy…from Honus Wagner to Pie Trayner to Ralph Kiner. From Bob Prince to Roberto Clemente to the “We Are Family” Bucs of 1979. And even though they have set a new Major League record for consecutive losing seasons these last 18 years, Dad and I remained committed.

-He also was quite loyal to the Steelers, who were also the laughing stock of the NFL. They only made the playoffs once in their first 35 years of existence. But Dad taught me to be a fan in the 60’s when they won about 15 games that entire decade. Of course, we know how things turned around in the early 70’s, and they now have won more Super Bowls than any other team. It’s not called “Sixburgh” for nothin’.

STANDING UP FOR WHAT’S RIGHT:

-My Dad liked to seek after righteousness and justice. One story shows this clearly: When he was pastor in Skokie, IL, which is a predominantly Jewish community of 80,000 people on the north side of Chicago, there was a group of Neo Nazi’s that wanted to stage a demonstration in the town square, and spent months generating tremendous negativity in preparation for their march. Dad, along with a handful of other pastors and rabbi’s in the town formed a coalition to find peaceful means of calming any potential violent confrontations.

You see, Skokie had more concentration camp survivors than any other place in the western hemisphere, so tensions were high. It was front-page news across Chicago and even national newscasts were focusing on it. When the Brown Shirts finally made their exact plans and times known, this little group of clergymen took their cars and blockaded all the exit ramps off the I-94 Expressway, thus thwarting the Nazi’s demented intentions. The police, who were not allowed by law to intervene with their right to assemble, smiled and looked the other way, allowing the disruption in traffic….claiming that there must be some sort of mechanical breakdown…simultaneously…with dozens of cars. The Nazi’s were so flustered that they never tried it again.

I ALSO LEARNED ORGANIZATION FROM DAD:

-Dad was part of a group that requested Billy Graham to come to Columbus, Ohio in the mid-60’s. At that time, that city was considered a weaker sister to the more sophisticated major league towns of Cleveland and Cincinnati, and would never get someone as important as Rev. Graham to come. But they persisted, and it happened. My Dad was asked to serve as the Prayer Chairman for the crusade. The church community, both Bethel Church, where he was pastor, and the body of Christ all throughout central Ohio was so supportive and over 100,000 came out for that 4 day event and over 10,000 came to know Jesus.

-After the event finished Dad organized about 50 pastors and layman to form the Columbus Evangelical Christian Fellowship to continue spreading the Good News. He was honored to serve as the President for two years. And that fellowship has grown and exists to this day.

HARD WORK WAS IMPORTANT TO DAD:

-For instance, not long after he came to Christ during his senior year at Duquesne University, he felt called to go into the ministry. A theological degree wasn’t cheap, and he had no savings. So, after being accepted at Pittsburgh Seminary, he began to support himself and put money aside by selling Fuller Brushes door-to-door. He figured the experience would also help him overcome his shyness about public speaking.

-Most in his family thought he would fail on both fronts, but he not only excelled in his classes, but he also became the leading salesman in the Western Pennsylvania region.

BELIEVE IT OR NOT, I LEARNED HOW TO SING FROM MY DAD:

-Those who know my Dad’s inability in that area will find this statement curious. After all, he was so off-tune in his singing that he would pull people with perfect pitch off the mark if they were standing near him. He made the mistake a few times of leaving his microphone on while at the pulpit during congregational hymns…everyone would be looking around wondering how a wild moose in heat had gotten into the sanctuary.

My mother, who was an exceptional soprano with nearly operatic skills, just had to shake he head in bewilderment at Dad’s excruciating crooning. It became a well-known joke within every congregation that Dad served. He took the good-natured ribbing in stride, but it NEVER kept him from “making a joyful noise to the Lord” as he always explained. And that is why I say I may have learned to sing from my Mom, but I learned how to sing from my Dad. (And let’s just say my abilities are somewhere in between and leave it at that)

CARE WAS SOMETHING ELSE MODELED BY MY DAD:

-My Dad would probably be the first to admit that he wasn’t the best preacher. And even though he was good at administrating church business and organizing budgets, he really didn’t enjoy that. But my Dad was a Pastor with a capital P.

-I remember many a night when he would be on long phone calls with members of the church counseling them. He literally wore a path out on the linoleum surface of our kitchen from those marathon talks.

-Dad allowed people to ask hard questions about faith, or a lack thereof. His allowing people to be open with their doubts made them more comfortable in hearing possible solutions through scripture and his personal experiences. And he knew that these answers often did not come quickly, but needed patience for all involved.

-He had an amazing bedside manner with those who were sick in the hospital. He was a great listener to those who were grieving, and knew when to pray, and when to be silent.

-Dad was good at counseling couples in trouble, and sometimes slowing couples down that were premature in their wedding plans. On many occasions he refused to marry couples if they would not first make commitments to Christ. He figured they could always get someone else to do the ceremony—he just didn’t want to be part of endorsing a union that didn’t have the best foundation in place to start with.

-I remember him saying sometimes “there are lots of good preachers out there…but there never seem to be enough pastors.”

I could go on with many more lessons learned from my Dad. But we’ve only got so much time. Besides being a good father, provider, pastor, and leader, he had also become my buddy over these last three years since he moved down to Nashville. Seeing him nearly every day when I wasn’t traveling, our relationship took on new hues during his declining health. I’ll miss our trips to Civil War battle fields in the area, Sounds baseball games, Predators hockey games, milkshakes at Elliston Place Soda Shop, marathon rounds of checkers, spaghetti at California Pizza Kitchen, going on hikes at Radnor Lake, shooting billiards, and much more.

I’m so appreciative for the way The Village Chapel family embraced Dad in the short time he lived here. He enjoyed getting to know you, and was impressed with what the Lord has put in motion from that initial little group of about a dozen of us just 9 years ago.

I also want to say thank-you publicly to Joyce, who has been so helpful both practically and emotionally during these years when our brother and now both of our parents have transitioned to the other side.

But most of all, I just want to say “thanks for everything,” Pops. And offer my deep appreciation that God allowed me to be your son.