[ http://digg.com/api/diggthis.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fdigg.com%2Fpeople%2FLegacy_of_Everitt_Fjordbak_longtime_Dallas_pastor ]Rev. Everitt M. Fjordbak, longtime pastor of Lakewood Assembly of God in Dallas, Texas, passed away on August 20, 2008 at the age of 87. Originally from Storm Lake, Iowa, he moved to Dallas after his marriage to Mary Annette Tarter. He attended Dallas Theological Seminary and then pastored Lakewood Assembly of God for 36 years. He established Lakewood Productions, a television and video studio which produced teaching tapes for churches and home Bible study groups across the nation. While promoting the cause of Christ, he befriended and counseled a number of local businessmen. He also developed relationships with leaders in the broader evangelical and charismatic community. He felt called not to build buildings or a religious empire, but to be a shepherd to those willing to be led to the Lord. Reaching out to people from all walks of life, his diverse church was the subject of a nationally-aired review by the TV program 60 Minutes and by local publications such as D Magazine and Texas Monthly.

He authored more than 15 books, including a commentary and exposition on the book of Hebrews. He was also an adjunct professor at Christ For The Nations Institute.

One of his passions was Pentecostal history. Having been influenced by many of the founding members of the Assemblies of God, he saw the need to interview many of the pioneer pastors and missionaries in the Assemblies of God before they passed on. Through Lakewood Productions he was able to record testimonies on video of a number of pioneers and church leaders.

In describing the interviews, Fjordbak once said, “These pioneers share both the times of blessings and the nights of great trial, often with tears flowing down their cheeks.†Here is a partial listing of people that Fjordbak interviewed on video tape during the 1980s:

Interviews with early ministers and leaders include Stacy Barham, Betty Baxter, Harald Bredesen, G. Raymond Carlson, Robert C. Cunningham, David du Plessis, William G. Eastlake, Nita Edwards, Alice Reynolds Flower, Joseph R. Flower, David Lee Floyd, Silas Gaither, T. E. Gannon, U. S. Grant, Raymond Hudson, J. B. McMath, Willie T. Millsaps, H. C. Noah, Pauline Parham, Pat Robertson, Leland Shultz, Dollie A. Simms, Hardy Steinberg, C. M. Ward, Bert Webb, Ernest S. Williams, and Thomas F. Zimmerman.

Missionary interviews include Adele Flower, Dalton, Valborg Frandsen, H. B. Garlock, Charles Greenaway, L. Lamar Headley, J. Philip Hogan, Anna Tomaseck, and Louise Jeter Walker.

In 1984, Fjordbak donated 25 of these video interviews to the Flower Pentecostal Heritage Center. Then later, in the 1990s, he donated the rest of the interviews and Bible study series that he had in his collection. Segments of some of these interviews are available on the FPHC Video Channel (on YouTube). Other interviews may be viewed at the Flower Pentecostal Heritage Center in Springfield, Missouri or ordered through the FPHC website.

After retirement from pastoring, he continued his ecumenical appeal by ministering around the country in pulpits of many denominations.

His funeral took place on Friday, August 20, 2008, with Pastors Michael Hankins, E. Wayne Hanks, and J. Don George officiating.

Also see his obituary in the Dallas Morning News.