April 25, 2024
UPDATE: A memorial service will be held Saturday, Jan. 26 at First Baptist Church in Morrow at 1 p.m. William T. Neal, another former Christian Index editor, will officiate. Family members will begin receiving visitors at the church at noon.
STONE MOUNTAIN — Former Christian Index Editor Jack U. Harwell, 86, died early this morning at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta. He served at the newspaper for three decades, the final 21 years as editor.
His Index ministry began in 1956 and concluded with his December 1987 retirement. Six months later, in June 1988, he was elected editor of SBC Today, an independent, autonomous Southern Baptist newspaper that eventually was rebranded as Baptists Today and later evolved into Nurturing Faith Journal.
Harwell was the second editor of the publication, following founder Walker Knight. The original publication and its successor has historically had close ties with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.
The publication, according to its website, provides “a variety of resources for thoughtful Christian living.”
Harwell was a longtime member of First Baptist Church of Morrow, where he served for the past decade as minister of pastoral care. He retired in December due to failing health.
A native of Mobile, Alabama, he is survived by his wife Teliea, who serves on the church staff as minister to senior adults.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
