Rev. John David Long

Rev. John David Long, 75, faithful servant of Jesus Christ, loving husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend, was called to his eternal home on Feb. 13, 2017 at a local hospital with his family by his side. Rev. Long was born on September 8, 1941, the 7th of 9 children born to the late Albert Jason Long and the late Aver Robinson Long. Visitation: 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at Faith Tabernacle, 1101 Audra Lane, Denton, TX, where funeral services will be conducted on Saturday at 12 Noon. Burial will follow at Roselawn Cemetery in Denton. Survivors: wife of fifty-two years; Helen George Long; children, Kendal Long Fowler and her husband Scott, Jeffrey Long and his spouse Claudia, Angela Long Gregg and her spouse Brent; grandchildren; Jansen Long, Christian Long, Paige Fowler, Regan Fowler, Caleb Fowler, Boston Gregg, Brooklyn Gregg; sisters, Eloise Stanley, Ollie Mae Halliday and Jeanice Phillips. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by brothers, A.J., Robert, Ray, Olan and Thomas. Rev. Long got saved when he was 16 years old. Shortly after at Gilbertown Campmeeting in his Alabama hometown, he was praying on the sawdust floor in the old tabernacle and received the Holy Ghost. At that same moment, he sensed the Spirit of God hover over him and speak to him saying, "Son, will you preach my Word?" He replied out loud, "Yes, Lord! Yes, Lord, I will!" Within a few days, he felt the Lord impress on him to start praying two hours a day! During this time he worked in the Mosley Grocery Store cutting meat. After work, he would go to Toxey Church and pray those two hours daily. He did this faithfully for a couple of years until he received his first invitation to go preach for Pastor Earl Ritchey at Moss Point, Mississippi at age 18. From there, he was invited to preach in Oklahoma and the rest is history! He always said his first calling was to be an evangelist. Bro. John David loved praying and continued praying at least an hour daily the remainder of his life. He was devoted to studying his Bible and preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Bro. Long was ordained through The Holy Church of God in Savannah, GA and he held legendary revivals like the one in Clara, MS, where he preached nightly for 5 weeks with so many accepting Christ and being filled with the Holy Ghost. It is told that 89 people were saved and 119 were filled with the Holy Ghost during that one revival. A few years later, he teamed up with his future brother-in-law, Joe George and they traveled together preaching revivals. They had up to 5 week, remarkable revivals in places where 50+ people were saved. John David met his wife, Helen, a Texas girl, during this time. They quickly fell in love and he married her one week after he proposed! They got married on Sept. 25, 1965 at Faith Tabernacle in Denton, TX where Bro. Herbert Johnson pastored. Bro. Ben Shaw officiated their wedding. Their honeymoon was mostly spent traveling to and preaching a revival in Lexington, KY for Bro. Saul & Sue Baker. They continued evangelizing until they pioneered their first church, Trinity Pentecostal Church in Denton, TX on Bernard Street in 1971. Bro. Long also pastored and built Victory Tabernacle in Watauga, TX during the late 1990's. In between, they pastored churches in Texas, Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi and Oklahoma as they were raising their children. He was serving as pastor of Florence Holiness Church in Keller, TX when he was relocated to Heaven. During semi-retirement years, Bro. Long traveled frequently to Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee and Oklahoma to preach revivals. Bro. Long also served on two missionary boards and did missionary work primarily in Panama among the native Kuna and Choco Indians as well as in Mexico for about 25+ years. He loved ministry and people. He was a member of two missionary boards. Sis. Gail Meyers Holiness Full Gospel Missions and Bro. Don Rich's River of Life Missions Board. He served with pleasure. He excitedly completed the required correspondence college credits and exams to earn a Diploma in Bible Teachers and Ministers and a Bachelor of Bible Theology from International Bible Institute & Seminary in 1986. In his later years, he mentored and pastored people even from his rocking chair. He loved his iPhone and put it to constant use to encourage others. Rev. Long was an encourager! He always looked for the good in situations. Even while being in the hospital these last 55 days, he'd look at his family, smile big and say with delight in his voice, "Aren't we having a good time?" He truly had joy, peace and contentment while being surrounded by his wife and children. His life "declared the works of the Lord". He witnessed to others even during his last days in the hospital. He is now dancing on streets of gold and worshipping his Savior, who he has served faithfully these 58 years of ministry. He lived his life to hear these words: "Well done, though good and faithful servant."

Rev. John David Long

September 8, 1941 - February 13, 2017