Dear friends:

Just this morning I learned that another fearless warrior for Christ has departed this earth, at age 90: George Otis, Sr., April 20, 1917 – July 22, 2007.  This message is a tribute to him.

Before long, there won't be anybody left but us third and fourth stringers.  But with God's help, we'll "git-r-done."

George Otis simply took God at His Word and stepped out with it with great boldness more than most anyone I have known.  He was truly a radical for Jesus.  His life and faith had a great impact on me in the 1970s.  He was a great inspiration to many.

According to the Web site of his ministry, High Adventure Ministries ( http://www.highadventure.org/), George will be remembered as a man with unstoppable vision, faith beyond human reason, relentless tenacity, unhesitating generosity, a unique sense of humor and champion for the cause of Christ. He was an ambassador to the nations and an unquenchable love for his family. 

George’s education at Earlham College combined with his entrepreneurial spirit took him on a corporate trek that included executive positions such as Lear, Inc. His life experience and spiritual awakening served as a catalyst for transition into full time Christian ministry. He became an integral part of organizations such as the Full Gospel Businessmen’s Fellowship, the founder of Bible Voice, Inc. and High Adventure Ministries in 1970. In 1979 the Voice of Hope radio and TV ministry were birthed on Israeli/Lebanon border. This vision expanded into a global broadcast network with stations around the world. The Middle East TV was donated to CBN and formed the nucleus of CBN's TV ministry in that region.

The VenturaCountyStar California newspaper reports:

Until his death July 22 at the age of 90 at his home in Murrieta, his vision and influence continued at the company he founded, which now broadcasts the Gospel throughout the world.
A millionaire at age 35, he held a number of executive positions, including general manager of LearJet in Santa Monica. But then his life changed course.
"He got to the top and said Is this all there is?' He wanted to focus the rest of his life on helping other people and encouraging interest in faith," said his daughter April Otis McCallum, of Granite Falls, Wash.
In the 1960s, the Otis family moved to Northridge, where the first office of High Adventure Ministries was located. In 1979, the company operated the first Christian radio station in the Middle East called the Voice of Hope, which preached the Gospel to war-torn Lebanon.

Otis kept the staff members inspired with their work, despite terrorists' threats to blow up the station's office in Lebanon if it started to broadcast, said Chuck Pollak, former vice president of broadcast operations at High Adventure Ministries.
"The terrorists made good on their threats. Each time, we were back on the air, within hours, the staff believing that what we were doing there was much more important than any one of us," Pollak said.
The Otis family moved to Simi Valley in the early 1980s, and High Adventure Ministries was relocated to First Street. In 1985, the company erected a 1 million-watt shortwave transmitter on Chatsworth Peak above the city to broadcast religious programming to Central and South America.

Otis eventually launched shortwave radio stations across the globe, and his ministry in Israel later started what came to be known as Middle East Television.
High Adventure Ministries continues to broadcast news, Bible teachings and readings worldwide from Jerusalem.

McCallum said her father had strong ties with many Jewish friends in Israel and the Middle East, along with Christian Arabs and others from all over the world.

Otis was the author of several books, including his autobiography, "High Adventure," and his work influenced such politicians as former President Reagan and celebrities such as Pat Boone.
"George was like Joshua in the Bible, with his fearless determination to believe God and to do what God wanted, regardless of what any naysayers said or any circumstances or appearances. He was a mighty man of God who we will all miss," Boone said.
Jeff Morris, owner of William L. Morris Chevrolet in Simi Valley, said Otis was never held back from pursuing even the loftiest of goals, despite many obstacles. Morris said he met Otis when he visited the dealership after learning Morris had a tumor and was ill at the time.
"He had a busy schedule and took the time to visit me and pray for me. I'll never forget that," said Morris. "He was just an amazing individual to me."

Otis retired in 1999, and moved with Virginia, his wife of 55 years, to Murrieta in 2003.
"He genuinely loved people, was generous to a fault, was always positive and encouraging, and always quick to stop whatever he was doing to pray for people," said McCallum.
In addition to his wife and daughter April, Otis is survived by sons George Otis Jr. and Don Otis; daughters Kay Smith and Heather Tayloe; 17 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Middle East Correspondent David Dolan, who used to work for George Otis in the 1980s, says: "Very few people would have had the vision, courage (chutzpa in Hebrew) and sheer drive to have ventured into a major war zone in the first place in order to set up a radio ministry -- n the literal line of frequent hostile fire from the hills above. But George Otis had those traits in abundance, and he ended up broadcasting from a south Lebanon valley to the biblical mountains and cities of Israel and Lebanon, and by short wave, to many other countries beyond the region. Kol ha kavod (all due honor) George -- may you receive your well-deserved eternal reward!"

Thank you, Lord, for George Otis, Sr.

Jim