In memory of Pastor John Arthur Lloyd who died June 16, 2018 at age 75 at Heritage Hospice, Marietta, Georgia. He was born August 24, 1942 in Macon, Georgia, the son of the late Hannah (Roley) Smith and the late Herbert Arthur Lloyd. On April 27, 2003, he married Deborah, who survives in Charlestown, IN. Pastor Lloyd graduated from Van Wert (Ohio) High School in 1960 and Miami (Ohio) University with a degree in Commercial Art. John was given an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree by the Christian Life School of Theology at Beacon University. He served in the United States Army, serving as an illustrator and designer.
After working a few years in art & design John received a calling to serve in the ministry and was mentored by Dr. Paul E. Paino of Calvary Ministries International, Fort Wayne, IN. Through this connection, John founded the Adam’s Apple in the midst of the 60’s and 70’s Jesus Movement. The Apple grew into a large coffeehouse ministry at The Landing and later, in the former Calvary Temple church building on North Clinton Street in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Thousands of young people were lead to follow Jesus by the ministry of John, the Apple staff such as Honeytree, Petra, Phil Keaggy and Larry Norman. John was known to pick up his guitar and harmonica joining the performers in their praise each night.
In the late 70’s John was called to expand his ministry, and moved his family to the Christian Retreat in Bradenton, Florida. Soon after he began ministering on his own in a living room of friends in Clearwater, FL. Through God’s grace this bible study expanded explosively over the next 20 years becoming Countryside Christian Center and moving into increasingly larger facilities until building a large church and theology school on North McMullen Booth Road in Clearwater. Several thousand parishioners attended CCC each Sunday to hear John preach God’s word.
John did a prison ministry in the Clearwater area as well. In 2012 after 29 years at Countryside Christian Center, John and Deborah moved north to minister in Charlestown, Indiana through the Evangel World Prayer Center. During this time of living in Charlestown, IN he also taught in a drug rehabilitation facility in Louisville, Kentucky. John’s love of the Lord and desire to bring people to have a living relationship with Jesus were his passion throughout his adult life. John and Deborah restored and transformed their Charlestown, Indiana home, the 1916 Ward Watson “Governor’s Mansion”, into a bed and breakfast and events rental location which remains in operation currently.
John A. Lloyd, beloved husband, father, pastor and friend. We will always carry his memory in our hearts…only eternity will reveal the impact he has made.
