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ABOUT JACK & HIS PREACHING
After a short retirement, he was called to serve as the interim pastor at Grace Baptist Chapel in Hampton, Virginia, where he ended up preaching for an additional 17 years. The church sign announced to all: Amillennial, Proclaiming the Doctrines of Grace. The messages heard on the Gospel Ship are taken from his tenure at Grace Baptist, as he had a mature understanding and unique ability to communicate the Reformed message.
Jack was an expositional verse-by-verse, chapter-by-chapter preacher. But listeners will also quickly discover that Jack will have you put each of your ten fingers in ten other scripture passages for reference and reading.
Jack knew Christ. He had a relationship with Jesus that was natural, not off-putting, and he had an exceptional memory and sense of humor. His massive collection of books—acquired from his multiple trips to the U.K.—contained an original copy of Calvin’s Institutes, and nearly 3,000 copies of John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress—the book he most often quoted from.
While his messages are now older, they are extremely relevant and refreshing to the soul. While occasionally delving into Baptist debates on end-times theology, his expositional work on the Word was and remains exceptional.
More than that, however, was his ability to point listeners to Christ as the ultimate source of salvation time and time again. He was fond of reminding listeners that, “Not one of us sitting here has ever lived a perfect second.” But far from being a despondent message, Jack rightly placed Christ and the central object of our faith—and only hope for our salvation. Precious few preachers do this, and precious few try. Christ alone, faith alone, scripture alone, grace alone—the four sola’s of the Reformation were believed and preached, Sunday after Sunday.
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Jack L. Hamilton was born on Dec. 12, 1921 where he grew up in Newport News, Virginia. He served in World War II from 1943-1946 in the U.S. Army Air Corps. Jack had a love of books and had perhaps the largest private theological library in the United States. He won the Virginia State Amateur Golf Championship three times in 1942, 1947, and 1949. While he considered becoming a professional golfer, God called him into the ministry. His greatest love became studying and proclaiming the word of God. He graduated from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1952. He served as pastor of North Run Baptist Church in Richmond, Va., for seven years, Riverside Baptist Church, in Newport News, for 26 years, and Grace Baptist Chapel in Hampton, Va., for almost 17 years. Rev. Jack was preceded in death by his wife of 53 years, Mary Nixon Hamilton.
ABOUT MATTHEW J. WATERS
Matthew was saved by the Gospel preaching of Jack Hamilton, being baptized by Jack in 1983. A native of the Peninsula, he graduated from George Mason University (B.A.), and received his Masters of Religion from Reformed Theological Seminary.
Obituaries
John “Jack” Lewis Hamilton
NEWPORT NEWS - By the grace of God, Jack L. Hamilton, 86, went to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on July 12, 2008. Jack was born on Dec. 12, 1921. He grew up in Newport News, Va., and graduated from Morrison High School in 1939. He served in World War II from 1943-1946 in the U.S. Army Air Corps. Jack had a love of books and golf. He won the Virginia State Amateur Golf Championship 3 times – 1942, 1947, and 1949. He considered becoming a professional golfer, but instead followed the call of God into the ministry. His greatest love became studying and proclaiming the word of God. He graduated from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1952. He served as pastor of North Run Baptist Church in Richmond, Va., for seven years, Riverside Baptist Church, in Newport News, for 26 years, and Grace Baptist Chapel in Hampton, Va., for almost 17 years. Rev. Jack was preceded in death by his wife of 53 years, Mary Nixon Hamilton.
He is survived by their five children, Dick Hamilton and his wife, Lori of Newport News, Betty Kern and her husband, Wayne of Newport News, Jack D. Hamilton of Williamsburg, Carol Ann Snyder and her husband, Jerry of Mocksville, N.C., and Jim Hamilton and his wife, Debbie of Irmo, S.C. He is also survived by 12 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. The funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, July 17, 2008, at Riverside Baptist Church. Interment will follow at Peninsula Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, July 16, at Riverside-Altmeyer Funeral Home, 7415 River Road, Newport News. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to the Peninsula Rescue Mission, 3700 Huntington Avenue, Newport News, VA 23607 or to The Gideons International, P.O. Box 6373, Newport News, VA 23606. Riverside-Altmeyer Funeral Home is handling arrangements.
Mary Nixon Hamilton
NEWPORT NEWS - Mary Nixon Hamilton, 76, departed to be with Christ her Lord early Thanksgiving morning. She was born in Rome, Ga., on Oct. 27, 1920. She graduated from Cooper Hall and Shorter College in Rome, Ga. She is survived by her husband of 53 years, Pastor Jack L. Hamilton; five children, John Richard "Dickie" Hamilton and Mrs. Betty Kern, both of Newport News, Jack D. Hamilton of Williamsburg, Mrs. Carol Snyder of Mocksville, N.C., and James P. "Jim" Hamilton of Irmo, S.C.; and a sister, Mrs. Eunice Gilbert of Quincy, Fla. She is also survived by 12 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Riverside Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. The funeral will be on Monday, Dec. 2, at 11 a.m. in Riverside Baptist Church. In lieu of flowers, send contributions to Gideon Memorial Bibles, P.O. Box 5353, Newport News 23605; or to the Peninsula Rescue Mission, 3700 Huntington Avenue, Newport News 23607. The family will receive friends at Riverside Funeral Home Sunday from 5 to 8 p.m.