John Parker

         John Edward Parker, 80, of Missoula, peacefully went to the presence of God on Wednesday, Aug. 21, at home.                

         He was born on Oct. 27, 1943, in Fullerton, Cali. to Virgil and Esther Parker. When he was playing basketball in high school, he fell and had a severe concussion that caused him to have an out-of-body experience in which he shivered at the sight of pitch-dark realms. This experience affected the way he lived the rest of his life, as he did not want anyone to go to the darkness he saw.

         Although he attended church every Sunday with his parents since early age, he never had a personal relationship with Jesus Christ at that time. But then he started to attend Melodyland Christian Center and Calvary Chapel in California after serving for the US Army for two years. In 1972, he received the Holy Spirit as “the running falling water” (The Spirit for Salvation), and several days later, he got the fullness of the Holy Spirit (The Spirit for Ministry). Since then, his interest has been only in the matters of the Spirit; the worldly things no longer meant anything to him. While he worked as a fifth-grade teacher, he ministered as a church counselor on weekends and evenings.  

         After the death of his parents and his best friend, John joined the Youth With A Mission in Hawaii. In 1990, he got sent to a church in Japan as a member of constructing team and met Hitomi there. After returning from Japan and moving to Montana, he and Hitomi got married in June 1992. This cross-cultured marriage, especially while raising a teenage stepdaughter together, was not easy for either of them, but they always sought to do ‘God’s ways’ rather than adhering to American or Japanese ways. Since then, he was used by God mainly for His ministry of the wounded hearts while working in the Missoula School District to make a living. His heart was always ready to help the wounded and the bound, as he wanted everyone to be free in the Love and Light that is God.        

         The survivors are his wife, Hitomi, Missoula; daughter, Megumi, her husband Yosef, and their daughter, Yulia, all in Toronto.

         He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Wayne, sisters Lucile and Nancy, twin sister JoAnn, and many others.  

         The Burial Service will be on August 29th, Thursday at 10:30 a.m. at Western Montana State Veterans Cemetery. The Celebration of Life of John will be on October 26th, Saturday at 2:00 p.m. at Missoula Alliance Church, officiated by the Community Bible Study.