Victor Simpson, pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church, Huntingtown, died on Jun 4. His son said, “His faith never wavered.”
By Sharon Mager
HUNTINGTOWN, Md.—Victor (Vic) Simpson, pastor of Emmanuel Church, died peacefully on June 4, at the age of 59. He and his wife Janice, who preceded him in death in 2015, spent 31 years ministering together in Louisiana, Arkansas, Texas, and Maryland, where Vic served as pastor for 16 years.
He was born on November 18, 1958, in Bastrop, La., to Louie Allen and Valdean [Holland] Simpson. Vic graduated from Ouachita Baptist University with a degree in psychology, followed by a master’s degree from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and a doctorate degree from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
Vic had a passion for evangelical missions, near and far. He shared at ministry networks across the nation and was known for his sense of humor and for making the Gospel come to life and be relatable to today’s culture.
Rick Hancock, who serves as the Emmanuel Church’s pastor of discipleship and family ministry, said the church grew to nearly 500 in attendance on Sunday mornings under Vic’s leadership and is best known for reaching the unchurched and “de-churched” in the region.
Hancock said Vic launched an effective Celebrate Recovery ministry to combat the hurts, habits, and hang-ups of those seeking help, and he created the “Pastor’s Advantage Network,” a way to train and equip pastors to become stronger leaders in their churches.
As a result of his wife’s battle with cancer and her death, and then his own struggle with the disease, he led the church in establishing Our Journey of Hope Cancer Care Ministry to provide loving support to cancer patients and to their caregivers, as well as provide information regarding healthier lifestyles that will help to lessen cancer risks.
He also authored two books, “Navigating Your New Life in Christ,” and “Unwrapping Christmas.”
“Pastor Vic became a close friend to Pastor Stan Beall (Emmanuel Church’s interim pastor of mobilization and missions) and me,” Hancock said. “He demonstrated a high level of faith both in life and in the process of death. His faith never wavered. He often said, ‘I’m living between two worlds. My faith teaches me He can heal my body and that heaven awaits.’ He led well, served sacrificially, and was a fully developing follower of Jesus Christ. He has been reunited with his late wife Janice Simpson in glory.”
A day before his death, Vic’s daughter Victoria shared, during the Sunday morning service. “For Vic is walking his final journey to a perfect life with the Lord and will soon be reunited with his wife who we all know is beside herself at the thought of hugging his neck.”
In an emotional message on Sunday, just a day before his death, knowing the end was near, Vic’s children Christian and Victoria addressed the Emmanuel congregation.
Christian said, “One year after my mom had passed away, my dad wrote a letter to the church talking about the final weeks of her life here on earth. In this letter, he said, ‘We have learned cancer cannot win. Faith, hope, and love always prevail.’”
Christian also shared, “Please also know his faith has never wavered. I have personally watched it only grow stronger during this trying time.”
Following, Victoria said, “Just as my dad mentioned in the earlier letter, cancer will not win. It has not won. For Vic is walking his final journey to a perfect life with the Lord and will soon be reunited with his wife who we all know is beside herself at the thought of hugging his neck. Although we will all grieve, although we are all sad, although we wish this wasn’t the case, I am so thankful the Lord is in control and allowing there to be beautiful reunions, contagious laughter, and love that fills the oceans pathing this final journey to his everlasting life.”
“Pastor Vic Simpson will be missed,” Hancock said. “His life and leadership made a difference in the Kingdom all for the glory of God. Well done, brother!”
In addition to his two children, Vic is survived by a sister, Connie Patrick, and her husband Ed, of Bastrop, La., and two nieces Karen and Cheryl Watson of Shreveport, La.
A Celebration of Life will be held at Bethel Way of The Cross, Huntingtown, Md., on Saturday, June 9th, from 3 to 5 pm. A visitation will follow at Emmanuel Church, Huntingtown, Md., from 6 to 8 pm.
The family asks for donations to their various missions projects in lieu of flowers. Please send to Emmanuel Baptist Church, PO Box 99, Huntingtown, MD 20639.