Tom Givens

1947 - 2012

Tom Givens, Senior Pastor of Grace Baptist Church in Santa Clarita from 1984 to 2006, died March 10th after a battle with Lou Gehrig's disease. Tom was a devoted husband to his wife Sharon and a passionate father to his three children, Beth, Tommy, and Joel. Among his deepest joys in his final years were his seven grandchildren.

Many will remember Tom as the Chief Umpire at the William S. Hart Pony Baseball park, where he spent many weekends, afternoons, and evenings and was known to hearten young players with a warm word and smile from behind the plate. Tom's love for youth baseball was part of an active life in the Santa Clarita community and beyond. He could be seen among the sea of supporting faces at countless youth sporting events and local school programs or any other occasion he could share with members of his family and large congregation.

Before moving to Santa Clarita in 1984, Tom pastored several churches elsewhere in California and Colorado. While pastoring Grace Baptist Church he also served as an adjunct professor training pastors at two Los Angeles area seminaries. At Grace, Tom was known for his love of children--he taught the 5-year-old class of Vacation Bible School every summer and frequented the nursery-and also for eloquent teaching that connected powerfully with everyday life. Many members of the congregation have a story of Tom's comforting and inspiring presence in both crushing and soaring moments of their lives. He was a faithful pastor.

In 2006, Tom semi-retired to the place of his birth and youth in Somerton and Yuma, Arizona. While living in Yuma, he strengthened two small local churches that had been hurting for some time. He was helped to the pulpit by his wife and daughter to deliver his final sermon just a year ago. While based in Yuma, he and Sharon also traveled regularly to Colorado to support two small churches there. Also with his family Tom had devoted several weeks a year since the late 70s to serving at a family camp in Westcliffe, Colorado where he formed a number of life-long friendships and shared his pastoral gifts with families across the country. Family camping and serving small churches and young pastors in need were other lifelong passions of Tom's during some 44 years of pastoral service.

A memorial service for Tom will be held at Grace Baptist Church on Sunday, April 1st at 4:30 p.m. The church is located at 22833 Copper Hill Dr. Santa Clarita. In lieu of flowers a memorial fund has been established. All gifts to this fund will be used to benefit children and youth associated with Grace Baptist Church for whom he was so passionate. Camping scholarships and recreational equipment will be the focus of the fund. His family has asked that checks be made out to Grace Baptist Church with the notation, "Tom Givens Memorial Fund."


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