Gordon Silcox

On February 27, 2020, Dr. Gordon Richard Silcox, age 92, quietly completed his life’s mission on this earth, while living at the Good Samaritan Nursing Home in Larimore, ND.  A recent fall that created a broken hip, led to his death after a brief stay in the nursing home.   Gordon was welcomed into Heaven by his LORD and Saviour, Jesus Christ, the One he trusted in, longed for, served faithfully and loved with every fiber of his being.

Gordon’s life story started on April 27, 1927, when he was born to Lynn Rupert and Ora Oelkers Silcox in Lake Fremont Township, Martin County, Minnesota.  Gordon was the younger of two children. Life on the farm was full of hard work and many demanding challenges for young Gordon.  From his early teen years, Gordon found himself asking the hard questions of life and seeking earnestly for their answers.  Because of the hardships of life on the farm and difficult family circumstances, he found himself struggling to find meaning, purpose and even a reason for living. “ Is there really a God out there that loves me?” Does He even care about me?”  “Where can I find peace for my heart and hope for eternity?” These were the frequent cries and longings of his heart, and he was determined to find the answers to these questions as he grew older!

In 1946, Gordon graduated from Sherburn High School in Sherburn, MN. He went on to attend the University of Minnesota, in Minneapolis.  A few years later, at the urging of his father, Gordon transferred to the Dunwoody Institute of Welding, also in Minneapolis, MN, and graduated from there. He was a very talented welder and enjoyed using that skill many times throughout his life.

On October 1, 1950, Gordon married the love of his life, the former Audrey Grace Stewart of Sherburn, MN.  The couple began their new life together farming in the Dunnell, MN area.  The couple was blessed with four children, three girls; Sheryl, Grace, Diane, and one boy, Jonathan.

A few years after their marriage, Gordon’s long-time, fervent prayers and the answers for his often asked questions about life and eternity, began to be answered.  For the first time in his young life, he attended a gospel preaching service, where the Bible was opened and the Truth of scripture was presented clearly. His heart was immediately convicted of the sin he knew was there.  Even though Gordon grew up in a religious home, he knew that there had to be something more than just “religion” and religious dogma, for his religion had brought no peace to his searching heart. That night as he heard for the first time, that the God of the Bible loved him, and gave Himself for all mankind; and all he had to do was to willingly turn from his sin and call on Christ, he knew he had found the Truth!  In humility and brokenness, Gordon gave himself wholly to God.  On April 22, 1953, by faith, Gordon trusted Christ to forgive his sins and give him the new life that the Bible promises to give every repentant heart.  Life was never the same for Gordon after that night. Everything changed!  He had finally found his purpose and it was rooted in the Gospel of the LORD Jesus Christ.

Not long after this, Gordon Silcox surrendered to the call of God to preach the Gospel.  After his salvation and the call from God to preach, his passion in life was born.  He never deviated from that call, or the spiritual passion that fueled his soul, to share with others what God had done for him.

They left the farm in 1956 and Gordon began preparation for a life of ministry through his studies at Bob Jones University in Greenville, South Carolina. Gordon took his first pastorate position in 1961, at Calvary Baptist Church, Belle Plaine, Iowa.

From there, he also pastored the Collinsville Baptist Tabernacle in Collinsville, Oklahoma, before answering the call to come to a newly formed church seeking a pastor in Grand Forks, ND, in March of 1966.  The Silcoxes moved from Oklahoma to Grand Forks, after what had been historically recorded as the “blizzard of the century” by many!  Gordon never looked back and this final move for his family began his most productive years of work in his ministry for Christ.

One of his greatest joys was training the next generation of preachers and missionaries, through the Northland Baptist Bible Institute, under the ministry of Bible Baptist Church in Grand Forks.  He began to pray for “preacher boys” to train, who would also catch the vision of taking the Gospel of Christ to people around the world.  God began to answer his prayer.  He wanted the whole world to know of the Christ who redeems lost sinners to Himself, and can change hearts, give direction and bring purpose to empty lives. The trail of his faithful legacy of serving God, training others to do the same and reaching souls for Christ, is far-reaching.  The half has not yet been told.

Today, there are multitudes of strong, Bible preaching churches throughout North Dakota and all around the world, established because of his vision as a Preacher and Pastor for over 65 years.  The vision of one man, surrendered to the call of God on his life, should never be underestimated.  God used Pastor Gordon Silcox to reach multitudes for Christ.  After his retirement from pastoring, Dr. Silcox went into full-time evangelism and traveled the country sharing the gospel from coast to coast.

In 1998, the Silcox’s moved to Larimore, ND to be a part of New Testament Baptist Church, and near family.  This church also, was a part of his vision for rural America, and was established during his ministry in Grand Forks.  Gordon has been an active, faithful member used of God to preach, teach and serve, well into his later years.  When he could no longer preach publicly, Gordon spent many hours studying and writing gospel tracts and pamphlets to continue to share the gospel with others.  He wrote his last gospel tract four months before his death.

Gordon is survived by his wife of sixty-nine years, Audrey, of Larimore, ND, three daughters, Sheryl Shaffer, (Ken) of Larimore, ND, Grace Custer, (Mike) of East Grand Forks, MN,  and Diane Becker, (Mark) of Hartville, Ohio. Gordon is also survived by 16 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren.  He was preceded in death by a son, Jonathan Richard of Grand Forks, ND, his parents Lynn and Ora Silcox and one sister, Lynora Wilson.

***In light of the ongoing corona virus restrictions, the Home-going service for Gordon Silcox that was set for March 27, at 1:30 pm, at New Testament Baptist Church, has been rescheduled for Friday, June 12, 1:30 pm, at New Testament Baptist Church in Larimore, ND. A reception/fellowship luncheon will follow in the church Fellowship Hall.

The service will be live-streamed by going to Google and typing in @ntbconline. The first entry to come up will be your access to the live-stream.

Bakke Funeral Home, Larimore, ND is in charge of all funeral arrangements. Internment will be in  Bellevue Cemetery, Larimore, ND.

In lieu of flowers you may contribute to a memorial fund in Audrey Silcox’s name, in c/o of New Testament Baptist Church Silcox Memorial Fund. P.O. Box 40  Larimore, ND