Jon Jones, the former president of Bread for a Hungry World and preacher at the Hills Church, passed away this month. I’ve never met a more encouraging or enthusiastic man. His vision for the lost and hurting will always mark the direction of Christian Relief Fund who merged with Bread for a Hungry World. He was a hero to me. 

Jon, we will carry on and follow in your footsteps like you would want us to do. Perhaps no one could better verbalize the mission and the man of Jon Jones than Bobby Moore. You will love his memories of Jon.

—Milt


I remember being a young 24 year old in staff meetings, and Jon Jones would be sitting in the circle telling one of his international tales of bringing rice to people starving in refugee camps. He could captivate us with his stories of adventure and have us laughing about his many misadventures. And then we would hear about how lives were changed through all of it, because Jon Jones listened to the call God put on his life.

After one of those meetings, I remember following him out into the hall and—as he put me in one of his signature headlocks and said, “You ole rascal, you” —I looked up to a man I loved and said, “I want to do what you do one day.”  

About 13 years later, our paths crossed again as I met with Jon and his team about working with Bread for a Hungry World, the ministry that Jon was president of for many years. Jon lived his whole life serving others. So many of us who knew him strived to be like him in his love for others. Working with Bread, I would visit places like Honduras and the Philippines where so many people attributed their relationship with Christ, to being introduced to Him by Jon. Everywhere in the world, people loved Jon Jones. When you were with him, he made you feel as if you were the only person in the world that mattered.

When CRF and Bread for a Hungry World merged, Jon was one of the greatest cheerleaders for the two organizations becoming one. He said, “How great will this be to do more good around the world!” I was honored to go with Jon on his last international trip. Mike Biggers, Winston Bell, Jon and I drove down to Saltillo, Mexico. The thing I remember the most about that trip is the way he loved people throughout the week. Giving out headlocks, hugs and hope, his big smile warming your heart.  

Jon Jones lived life with the enthusiasm of a young child, always finding the best in whomever he was with and sharing his love for others and his love for Jesus. When I think of Jon’s life, I think of the verse in the Parable of the Sower that says, 

“Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, some multiplying thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times.” –Mark 4:8

Thank you, Jon Jones, for running the race so well. And thank you for sowing and producing a great harvest in a world full of people looking for hope.

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