IN MEMORY: BISHOP EMERITUS DONALD N. BASTIAN (1925-2024)

Published: April 12, 2024

Greenville University is saddened to announce the passing of Donald N. Bastian on April 4, 2024, at Woodhall Retirement Community. He was 98.

The bishop and Kathleen, his wife of 75 years, were namesakes of the Donald N. and Kathleen G. Bastian School of Theology, Philosophy, and Ministry at Greenville University. They served Free Methodist churches in Canada and the U.S., including the church in Greenville, Illinois (1961-1974). He was elected to the bishopric of the Free Methodist Church-USA in 1974 and served as the inaugural bishop of the Free Methodist Church in Canada.

A PASTOR’S PASTOR

Known as a “pastor’s pastor,” Bastian had a heart for pastors, evidenced in blog Just Call Me Pastor. He reminded them always of their divine help. “Why should any leader go off course when we have the world's best leader ever for an example and a source of renewing energy, Jesus Christ the Lord?” he once said.

As recently as last year, Bastian confessed his heartfelt prayer, “ . . . that a hundred young people in our denomination will commit themselves to a life in ministry. Praise is due to men and women who become pastors after they have had another career, but I long specifically for young people to answer the call of Christ and spend the whole of their lives for the cause of the Gospel.”

Bastian’s ministry was marked by his eloquent preaching, compassionate pastoral care, and astute administrative abilities. An inspired preacher and Bible teacher, he oversaw of the church with wisdom and care. He authored numerous books including The Pastor’s First Love and Other Essays On a High and Holy Calling and God’s House Rules: Seven Biblical Truths to Transform and Enrich your Family, and Counterfeit: The Lie of Living Together Unmarried.

IN MEMORY

Visitation will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 13, at Wesley Chapel Free Methodist Church, 2385 Warden Avenue, Scarborough (Greater Toronto), Ontario, with a funeral service of Christian joy following at 11 a.m. (Eastern Time). Wesley Chapel will livestream the service. Go here and click on the “Watch on YouTube” link.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Bishop Bastian’s memory to the recently-established Center for Pastoral Formation at Greenville University, Greenville, Illinois, or the Donald N. and Kathleen G. Bastian Chair of Wesley Studies, currently lodged at Tyndale Seminary, Toronto, and funded through the Lorne Park Foundation (www.lornepark.org).

Friends and family may leave memories and messages of condolence in the online guestbook.

For complete obituary, click here.