Remembering John Spear

On Easter weekend, our dear friend and brother, John Spear, went to be with the Lord.

John Spear became the director of one of HOPE Literacy's first and foundational ESL sites. For 25 years, our brother John faithfully served hundreds of refugees and immigrants who came through the doors of Southcliff to learn ESL. Southcliff's ministry quickly became a model for other churches wanting to reach out to the international community.

John with one of his students and friend, Francisco

Every week, John could be found darting up and down the halls ensuring everything ran smoothly. He was famous for his organizational skills and the way he involved the whole church in the annual Thanksgiving dinner, drawing attention with his famous Pilgrim hat. He played a key role in making the ESL program part of Southcliff's culture and DNA.

John directing Thanksgiving Dinner 2022 at Southcliff ESL

Serving as Southcliff’s ESL director was one of the greatest joy’s of John’s life. His bright and energetic presence in our lives will be missed greatly. Thank you, John, for your loving service to so many.

A memorial service will be held for John Spear at Southcliff Baptist Church on May 22 at 6:30pm.

Please also help us honor John's memory by posting memories or photos as a reply to this blog or on his obituary website: https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/john-spear-obituary?id=58236493