Hundreds gathered from around the world on Sabbath afternoon, December 5, 2009 at the Sligo Seventh-day Adventist Church to attend the memorial service for James A. Cress, who fell asleep in Jesus on November 26, 2009. Following the invocation and prayer of comfort, the ministerial association executive staff and their spouses recited a Scripture litany of hope. GC President Jan Paulsen and GC Vice President Gerry Karst shared tributes that came in from around the world. Among the sentiments expressed: “It is painful to accept that he is not with us” and “We shall miss his spiritual leadership.” Elder Paulsen also shared a number of personal reminiscences, including, “If we agreed we smiled. If we disagreed we could still smile.” Elder Karst recalled that “even when he was tired from travel, Jim somehow found energy to carry on with a smile on his face. He loved God and trained men to be good ambassadors of the Gospel and worked to provide opportunities for women to be involved in ministry.”

Charles Bradford, a long-time friend and mentor to Jim Cress and who gave the “Message of Hope,” focused on the assurance of eternal life found in 1 John 5:11-12, connecting it with John 10:28-29 and declaring: “We all die. But I know somebody who has won the battle! He has said ‘No, Jim, I won’t let you go. We may lay you in the ground but I won’t let you go.’ Mercy said no!” Bradford also quoted Ellen White’s comment on the passage in 1 John: “Christ became one flesh with us, in order that we might become one spirit with Him. It is by virtue of this union that we are to come forth from the grave,—not merely as a manifestation of the power of Christ, but because, through faith, His life has become ours. Those who see Christ in His true character, and receive Him into the heart, have everlasting life. It is through the Spirit that Christ dwells in us; and the Spirit of God, received into the heart by faith, is the beginning of the life eternal” (DA 388).

The message was followed by a flute and piano rendition of “Great is Thy Faithfulness” by Geri Mueller and Rae Lee Cooper. One of the most moving moments came with the expressions of gratitude given by Jim’s brother John Cress and Sharon’s tribute to her husband, read by John’s wife Pamela. In the tribute, Sharon wrote that “Jim had big shoulders, and an even bigger, more generous heart. He was the greatest blessing God ever gave me.” The service ended with the congregation singing “For All the Saints,” one of Elder Cress’s favorite hymns. After the benediction, given by Karst, the dozens of ministers in attendance, holding open Bibles, formed an honor guard along the main aisle as the Cress family and friends left the sanctuary. For many who were there, the words of assurance quoted several times during the service, take on new meaning: “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning” (Ps 30:5).