The Story of Dr. J. Edwin Hartill

June 21, 1981

Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) Golf Classic
Bunker Hills, Coon Rapids, Minnesota

On an early summer day in 1981, the annual FCA golf tournament drew hundreds of people out for the golf tourney and dinner event. Three days prior, Jeff Siemon, and then 31-year old Minnesota Viking linebacker, had been in a plane crash in Crystal, MN. The pilot died and the other passengers sustained major and minor injuries that they were able to heal from. Jeff came away unscathed. Of course, he was not supposed to be at the golf tournament that Monday.

After the round of golf, the food, beverages and the usual banter about who played well and what team won flowed. Dr. J. Edwin Hartill, an evangelism professor at Northwestern College (now the University of Northwestern in Saint Paul) was asked to announce the winner of an all expense paid Caribbean Cruise for two. But before Dr. Hartill announced the winner, he said he had to share this “Greatest” descriptive interpretation of John 3:16. He shared this as follows:

FOR GOD – The Greatest Lover

SO LOVED – The Greatest Degree

THE WORLD – The Greatest Company

THAT HE GAVE – The Greatest Act

HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON – The Greatest Gift

THAT WHOSOEVER – The Greatest Opportunity

BELIEVES – The Greatest Simplicity

IN HIM – The Greatest Attraction

WILL NOT PERISH – The Greatest Promise

BUT – The Greatest Difference

HAVE – The Greatest Certainty

ETERNAL LIFE – The Greatest Position

Dr. Hartill then announced the winners of the Caribbean cruise and went back to his table. A short time later, he looked across the table at one of his friends and said that he wasn’t feeling well. He slipped of his chair, collapsing onto the floor much to the astonishment of the room of 300 or so people. Rescue/EMP personnel were dispatched. The fracas was very unsettling for the crowd witnessing the death of a beloved man and follower of Jesus. Jeff Siemon was given the responsibility of bringing some order and closure to the tragic evening. Jeff said “I shouldn’t be here tonight either … as some of you know, I was in a deadly plane crash three days ago. Our pilot was killed and our co-pilot is still in critical condition. I walked away, along with my three buddies. We were headed to fish up on God’s Lake in Manitoba, so I should either be fishing with friends in a remote spot 700 miles north of here or at home with the Lord. Instead, I am here to tell you that ‘You’re watching a man go and meet his Maker and he’s not afraid. Would you be afraid? Let me tell you how not to be afraid.'”. Jeff then retold the riveting Gospel story shared by Dr. Hartill and many dozens of people accepted Christ into their heart that evening.

Amazing!