Sad news came my way over the weekend. Dr. Grant Jeffrey, writers, speaker, prophecy expert, passed away in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Sad news came my way over the weekend. Dr. Grant Jeffrey, writer, speaker, Bible prophecy expert, and Christian television personality passed away in Toronto, Ontario, Canada this past Friday. While at a graduation banquet for my alma mater I sat next to Dr. Mark Hitchcock, the keynote speaker for the banquet and the next day's graduation. Someone told us that Grant had been hospitalized. Last night, I learned he had passed into Glory.
My connection with Grant began years ago, first through casual meetings at book conferences (so brief, he wouldn't have remembered it), then we partnered to do a novel for Random House/Waterbrook. Grant wrote his own nonfiction books but wanted a collaborator for a work that would become The Scroll, a Bible-based archeology action-adventure novel. We met in San Diego to discuss the project. Grant was gracious, humble, good humored, and possessed a laser beam-like focus.
Working on The Scroll was exciting and daunting. At times, the scope of the story seemed impossible to put in one book, but we managed it. Grant provided insight into little known areas of Jerusalem and archaeological discoveries.
Grant's nonfiction work (about 30 books) focused on what is, the novel allowed him to explore what might be waiting around the corner. (His other novels were done with novelist Angela Hunt and won the 1999 Christie Award for its category.) His books have been published by Bantam, Harper Collins, Zondervan, Random House and others have printed his books, books that have been translated into 24 languages.
Grant was a researcher and possessed knowledge well beyond what most of will approach. His personal library has over 7000 books. While working on The Scroll with him, he would send me source material I didn't know existed.
In late March and early April, I began getting e-mails from Grant talking about the next novel he had in mind. He metioned he had been ill "with the flu" but would be sending the basic storyline soon. It never arrived.
Grant was a pleasure to talk to and work with. I did not always agree with his take on certain issues but I found no fault or insincerity in the man. I am better for having worked with him.
This morning I was asked to comment on Grant's passing. Here is some of what I wrote:
I have been on the road and only learned of Jeffrey's passing last night. While in San Diego to attend a graduation banquet at my alma mater, I was seated next to Dr. Mark Hitchcock. Someone had just told him of Grant's hospitalization. He had Grant had appeared together several times.
Grant remains an inspiration to me. His dedication to his work was remarkable. He was always working on something. Most of our conversations took place over the phone. He lived in Canada, I in central California. We were able to spend time together in San Diego (my home town) when he was there for a conference. He struck me as one of the brightest men I've met and his wife Kaye was as charming as could be. We were working on The Scroll, a novel for Random House/Waterbrook. Many of the items in the book came from his experiences in Jerusalem and the surrounding areas. I watched a video of one of his visits to the underground tunnels that play an important role in the novel.
Grant had an almost intimidating intellect, valued research, a quick wit and engaging sense of humor. All this while dealing with chronic pain from an injury sustained as a young man. He was an encourager. My wife and I had recently lost a grandchild and had another grandchild facing brain surgery. As a man acquainted with trials he told me, "Sometimes God speaks the loudest when we are in the valleys of life."
Most of all, he was a tireless worker for the Lord. The work of God was always on his mind. I count him as one of the most powerful influences in my life.
He is missed.
Join me in praying for Grant's wife Kaye and his family and friends.
Al