Dr. John Bonds

Dr. John Marvin Bonds went home to be with the Lord on August 25, 2016. Dr. Bonds was born on August 3, 1929 in Mineral Wells, Texas to the late Marvin and Winifred Bonds. He honorably served our country in the US Navy from 1948-1952 during the Korean War, where he was stationed in Okinawa. Dr. Bonds went on to serve the Lord and founded Bethlehem Baptist Church in Fairfax, VA in 1960 and Temple Baptist Church in Burke, VA in 1978. He served as President of the Baptist Bible Fellowship and recorded four gospel albums titled "Lost Precious Things", "New Birth", "Blessings from Bethlehem" and lastly "Songs of Life" , which he recorded with his sons as "The Bonds Men". Dr. Bonds loved building churches where he was able to proclaim the joy of the gospel. He entered the field of Evangelism with 20 years of outstanding success as a pastor, church builder and soul winner. During these years, God has used him greatly in preaching many revivals each year while pastoring churches. In 15 years at Bethlehem Baptist Church, over 8,000 souls were saved in the church services and thousands were baptized through the ministry of Dr. and Mrs. Bonds and the church, and over 85% of the 2500 members were saved under their ministry. To enter the field of evangelism full-time, Dr. Bonds resigned as pastor of the great Bethlehem Baptist Church. As a leader in Christian Education, Dr. Bonds served for a time as President of Atlantic Baptist Bible College of Chesapeake, VA. He also led in the establishing of the Mid-Atlantic Baptist Bible Institute of Fairfax, VA and was the first President of this school. Dr. Bonds led his church in establishing the Northern Virginia Christian Academy, which now has kindergarten classes through twelfth grade. He has received honorary doctorates from Mid-Western Baptist College of Pontiac, MI and Sacramento Baptist College of Sacramento, CA. Dr. Bonds served the Baptist Bible Fellowship, International as Vice-President, Director and was on the Missions Committee. Missions has always been near the heart of Dr. John Bonds. He served on the Missions Committee of Baptist Bible Fellowship, International, the Baptist World Missions, and the Mid-East Baptist Missions. His trips to the Bible lands and other mission fields have kept this vision keen. During his last year as pastor, the Faith Promise Missionary Offering exceeded $100,000 for home and foreign missions. Dr. John Bonds longed to see souls saved and saved people serving the Lord in the churches.
Dr. Bonds is survived by his wife of 65 years, Georgetta Bonds; his sons, Michael G. Bonds and Daniel O. Bonds and his wife Leanne; his grandchildren, John D. Bonds, and Jynette Paige and her husband Josh; and his sisters, Helen K. Rodgers, Marie Bonds Rankin Cervantez, Mary Holligan and Vivis Lemmons.