A Seventh-day Adventist minister.
H.M.S. Richards, Jr., speaker emeritus of the Voice of Prophecy international radiobroadcast, died of heart failure on April 11, 2000, at Glendale Adventist Medical Center in California. He was 70.
Pastor Richards had suffered from Parkinson's disease for several years and this winter was diagnosed with kidney failure.
Pastor Richards' father founded the Voice of Prophecy ministry on October 19, 1929, with a radio program on KNX, Los Angeles. Harold Marshall Sylvester Richards, Jr., was born six days later on October 25.
Early Years
As a young man Harold never dreamed that he would continue in his father's footsteps as a evangelist and radio speaker. He had a serious stuttering problem, making speaking difficult and embarrassing. When he was a teenager his goal was to be a band leader.
When it became apparent that God was calling him to the ministry, he recalled his response: "If You want me to do this, You'll have to speak through me." Audiences through the years would never have suspected Richards' earlier stuttering if he hadn't used the story many times to demonstrate how God can use an imperfect human being to share the gospel message.
Richards attended Glendale Seventh-day Adventist Academy, where he sang in a male quartet, played in the band, and was a student instructor on the trombone. His education continued at La Sierra College, Riverside, California, where he played in the band, participated in other musical activities, and was president of his junior class. He graduated in 1952.
Twenty-five years later, in 1977, Richards was named alumnus of the year by Loma Linda University, and in 1990 he received the first Alumnus of the Year plaque given by the School of Religion at La Sierra University. He was also awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree by Southwestern Adventist University, Keene, Texas, in 1986.
Richards entered the pastoral ministry in Dallas, Texas. Other pastorates followed in Fort Worth, San Antonio, and Wichita Falls, Texas. In 1956, at a camp meeting in Keene, Texas, he was ordained to the gospel ministry, with his father officiating.
After his ordination Richards served as a pastor in Albuquerque, New Mexico, for four years. In 1960 he was invited to join the Voice of Prophecy staff to assist his father as associate director-speaker. Their roles reversed in 1969, and the father assisted his son in the radio ministry until his death in 1985.
Faithful Assistant
After his own retirement in 1992, H.M.S. Richards, Jr., assisted his successor, Lonnie Melashenko, by answering letters from listeners and donors, visiting ministry friends, and speaking at camp meetings and churches. The Voice of Prophecy broadcast is heard either weekends or daily on 450 stations in North America. Overseas, programs in dozens of languages reach into nearly every country from more than 1,000 radio stations. A weekly television program airs on several satellite networks.
For many years the Voice of Prophecy radio program was heard only on Sunday and was generally devoted to presenting major themes of the Bible, complemented by quartet and solo musical selections. In December 1971 Richards launched a daily 15-minute broadcast that emphasized biblical perspectives on such topics as the Christ-fulfilled life, family relationships, healthful living, and God's wonders in nature.
Special Audiences…
Richards was also influential in the Voice of Prophecy's development of materials to reach special audiences. These included Bible story broadcasts for children, in which Richards dramatized all the voices; print materials in the language of teens and young adults; radio spot announcements for stations that do not air religious programs; and video programs for use on closed-circuit television in hospitals and nursing homes. The latter were entitled SeaWord and featured metaphors from the world of sailing, one of Richards' favorite leisure activities.
Dedicated Ham
Another hobby for Richards was ham radio. He regularly talked by shortwave with other hams around the world, including sailors at sea. He frequently contacted remote Pitcairn Island in the Pacific. In times of disasters and emergencies, he used shortwave to set up phone patches that connected persons overseas with relatives and medical assistance in the United States.
Richards conducted month-long evangelistic series in many cities across North America and shorter series in many other countries. Although he continued to take public speaking appointments until 1999, his last evangelistic meetings were in September 1993, when he traveled to Brazil with his successor, Pastor Melashenko, and other staff to present rallies throughout South America's largest country.
Audiences ranged from 4,000 to 30,000. Meetings featured mass baptisms of as many as 1,200 persons in a single session, and by the end of the Brazil campaign a half million persons had graduated from VOP Bible courses and more than 25,000 of these had been baptized.
Pastor Richards is survived by his mother, Mabel (age 100); his wife, Mary; their children, H. M. S. Richards III, Jon Lyall Richards, and Mary Margaret Richards King; his sister, Virginia Cason; his brothers, Kenneth and Jan; seven grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
H.M.S. Richards, Jr., speaker emeritus of the Voice of Prophecy international radiobroadcast, died of heart failure on April 11, 2000, at Glendale Adventist Medical Center in California. He was 70.
Pastor Richards had suffered from Parkinson's disease for several years and this winter was diagnosed with kidney failure.
Pastor Richards' father founded the Voice of Prophecy ministry on October 19, 1929, with a radio program on KNX, Los Angeles. Harold Marshall Sylvester Richards, Jr., was born six days later on October 25.
Early Years
As a young man Harold never dreamed that he would continue in his father's footsteps as a evangelist and radio speaker. He had a serious stuttering problem, making speaking difficult and embarrassing. When he was a teenager his goal was to be a band leader.
When it became apparent that God was calling him to the ministry, he recalled his response: "If You want me to do this, You'll have to speak through me." Audiences through the years would never have suspected Richards' earlier stuttering if he hadn't used the story many times to demonstrate how God can use an imperfect human being to share the gospel message.
Richards attended Glendale Seventh-day Adventist Academy, where he sang in a male quartet, played in the band, and was a student instructor on the trombone. His education continued at La Sierra College, Riverside, California, where he played in the band, participated in other musical activities, and was president of his junior class. He graduated in 1952.
Twenty-five years later, in 1977, Richards was named alumnus of the year by Loma Linda University, and in 1990 he received the first Alumnus of the Year plaque given by the School of Religion at La Sierra University. He was also awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree by Southwestern Adventist University, Keene, Texas, in 1986.
Richards entered the pastoral ministry in Dallas, Texas. Other pastorates followed in Fort Worth, San Antonio, and Wichita Falls, Texas. In 1956, at a camp meeting in Keene, Texas, he was ordained to the gospel ministry, with his father officiating.
After his ordination Richards served as a pastor in Albuquerque, New Mexico, for four years. In 1960 he was invited to join the Voice of Prophecy staff to assist his father as associate director-speaker. Their roles reversed in 1969, and the father assisted his son in the radio ministry until his death in 1985.
Faithful Assistant
After his own retirement in 1992, H.M.S. Richards, Jr., assisted his successor, Lonnie Melashenko, by answering letters from listeners and donors, visiting ministry friends, and speaking at camp meetings and churches. The Voice of Prophecy broadcast is heard either weekends or daily on 450 stations in North America. Overseas, programs in dozens of languages reach into nearly every country from more than 1,000 radio stations. A weekly television program airs on several satellite networks.
For many years the Voice of Prophecy radio program was heard only on Sunday and was generally devoted to presenting major themes of the Bible, complemented by quartet and solo musical selections. In December 1971 Richards launched a daily 15-minute broadcast that emphasized biblical perspectives on such topics as the Christ-fulfilled life, family relationships, healthful living, and God's wonders in nature.
Special Audiences…
Richards was also influential in the Voice of Prophecy's development of materials to reach special audiences. These included Bible story broadcasts for children, in which Richards dramatized all the voices; print materials in the language of teens and young adults; radio spot announcements for stations that do not air religious programs; and video programs for use on closed-circuit television in hospitals and nursing homes. The latter were entitled SeaWord and featured metaphors from the world of sailing, one of Richards' favorite leisure activities.
Dedicated Ham
Another hobby for Richards was ham radio. He regularly talked by shortwave with other hams around the world, including sailors at sea. He frequently contacted remote Pitcairn Island in the Pacific. In times of disasters and emergencies, he used shortwave to set up phone patches that connected persons overseas with relatives and medical assistance in the United States.
Richards conducted month-long evangelistic series in many cities across North America and shorter series in many other countries. Although he continued to take public speaking appointments until 1999, his last evangelistic meetings were in September 1993, when he traveled to Brazil with his successor, Pastor Melashenko, and other staff to present rallies throughout South America's largest country.
Audiences ranged from 4,000 to 30,000. Meetings featured mass baptisms of as many as 1,200 persons in a single session, and by the end of the Brazil campaign a half million persons had graduated from VOP Bible courses and more than 25,000 of these had been baptized.
Pastor Richards is survived by his mother, Mabel (age 100); his wife, Mary; their children, H. M. S. Richards III, Jon Lyall Richards, and Mary Margaret Richards King; his sister, Virginia Cason; his brothers, Kenneth and Jan; seven grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
A Seventh-day Adventist minister.
H.M.S. Richards, Jr., speaker emeritus of the Voice of Prophecy international radiobroadcast, died of heart failure on April 11, 2000, at Glendale Adventist Medical Center in California. He was 70.
Pastor Richards had suffered from Parkinson's disease for several years and this winter was diagnosed with kidney failure.
Pastor Richards' father founded the Voice of Prophecy ministry on October 19, 1929, with a radio program on KNX, Los Angeles. Harold Marshall Sylvester Richards, Jr., was born six days later on October 25.
Early Years
As a young man Harold never dreamed that he would continue in his father's footsteps as a evangelist and radio speaker. He had a serious stuttering problem, making speaking difficult and embarrassing. When he was a teenager his goal was to be a band leader.
When it became apparent that God was calling him to the ministry, he recalled his response: "If You want me to do this, You'll have to speak through me." Audiences through the years would never have suspected Richards' earlier stuttering if he hadn't used the story many times to demonstrate how God can use an imperfect human being to share the gospel message.
Richards attended Glendale Seventh-day Adventist Academy, where he sang in a male quartet, played in the band, and was a student instructor on the trombone. His education continued at La Sierra College, Riverside, California, where he played in the band, participated in other musical activities, and was president of his junior class. He graduated in 1952.
Twenty-five years later, in 1977, Richards was named alumnus of the year by Loma Linda University, and in 1990 he received the first Alumnus of the Year plaque given by the School of Religion at La Sierra University. He was also awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree by Southwestern Adventist University, Keene, Texas, in 1986.
Richards entered the pastoral ministry in Dallas, Texas. Other pastorates followed in Fort Worth, San Antonio, and Wichita Falls, Texas. In 1956, at a camp meeting in Keene, Texas, he was ordained to the gospel ministry, with his father officiating.
After his ordination Richards served as a pastor in Albuquerque, New Mexico, for four years. In 1960 he was invited to join the Voice of Prophecy staff to assist his father as associate director-speaker. Their roles reversed in 1969, and the father assisted his son in the radio ministry until his death in 1985.
Faithful Assistant
After his own retirement in 1992, H.M.S. Richards, Jr., assisted his successor, Lonnie Melashenko, by answering letters from listeners and donors, visiting ministry friends, and speaking at camp meetings and churches. The Voice of Prophecy broadcast is heard either weekends or daily on 450 stations in North America. Overseas, programs in dozens of languages reach into nearly every country from more than 1,000 radio stations. A weekly television program airs on several satellite networks.
For many years the Voice of Prophecy radio program was heard only on Sunday and was generally devoted to presenting major themes of the Bible, complemented by quartet and solo musical selections. In December 1971 Richards launched a daily 15-minute broadcast that emphasized biblical perspectives on such topics as the Christ-fulfilled life, family relationships, healthful living, and God's wonders in nature.
Special Audiences…
Richards was also influential in the Voice of Prophecy's development of materials to reach special audiences. These included Bible story broadcasts for children, in which Richards dramatized all the voices; print materials in the language of teens and young adults; radio spot announcements for stations that do not air religious programs; and video programs for use on closed-circuit television in hospitals and nursing homes. The latter were entitled SeaWord and featured metaphors from the world of sailing, one of Richards' favorite leisure activities.
Dedicated Ham
Another hobby for Richards was ham radio. He regularly talked by shortwave with other hams around the world, including sailors at sea. He frequently contacted remote Pitcairn Island in the Pacific. In times of disasters and emergencies, he used shortwave to set up phone patches that connected persons overseas with relatives and medical assistance in the United States.
Richards conducted month-long evangelistic series in many cities across North America and shorter series in many other countries. Although he continued to take public speaking appointments until 1999, his last evangelistic meetings were in September 1993, when he traveled to Brazil with his successor, Pastor Melashenko, and other staff to present rallies throughout South America's largest country.
Audiences ranged from 4,000 to 30,000. Meetings featured mass baptisms of as many as 1,200 persons in a single session, and by the end of the Brazil campaign a half million persons had graduated from VOP Bible courses and more than 25,000 of these had been baptized.
Pastor Richards is survived by his mother, Mabel (age 100); his wife, Mary; their children, H. M. S. Richards III, Jon Lyall Richards, and Mary Margaret Richards King; his sister, Virginia Cason; his brothers, Kenneth and Jan; seven grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
H.M.S. Richards, Jr., speaker emeritus of the Voice of Prophecy international radiobroadcast, died of heart failure on April 11, 2000, at Glendale Adventist Medical Center in California. He was 70.
Pastor Richards had suffered from Parkinson's disease for several years and this winter was diagnosed with kidney failure.
Pastor Richards' father founded the Voice of Prophecy ministry on October 19, 1929, with a radio program on KNX, Los Angeles. Harold Marshall Sylvester Richards, Jr., was born six days later on October 25.
Early Years
As a young man Harold never dreamed that he would continue in his father's footsteps as a evangelist and radio speaker. He had a serious stuttering problem, making speaking difficult and embarrassing. When he was a teenager his goal was to be a band leader.
When it became apparent that God was calling him to the ministry, he recalled his response: "If You want me to do this, You'll have to speak through me." Audiences through the years would never have suspected Richards' earlier stuttering if he hadn't used the story many times to demonstrate how God can use an imperfect human being to share the gospel message.
Richards attended Glendale Seventh-day Adventist Academy, where he sang in a male quartet, played in the band, and was a student instructor on the trombone. His education continued at La Sierra College, Riverside, California, where he played in the band, participated in other musical activities, and was president of his junior class. He graduated in 1952.
Twenty-five years later, in 1977, Richards was named alumnus of the year by Loma Linda University, and in 1990 he received the first Alumnus of the Year plaque given by the School of Religion at La Sierra University. He was also awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree by Southwestern Adventist University, Keene, Texas, in 1986.
Richards entered the pastoral ministry in Dallas, Texas. Other pastorates followed in Fort Worth, San Antonio, and Wichita Falls, Texas. In 1956, at a camp meeting in Keene, Texas, he was ordained to the gospel ministry, with his father officiating.
After his ordination Richards served as a pastor in Albuquerque, New Mexico, for four years. In 1960 he was invited to join the Voice of Prophecy staff to assist his father as associate director-speaker. Their roles reversed in 1969, and the father assisted his son in the radio ministry until his death in 1985.
Faithful Assistant
After his own retirement in 1992, H.M.S. Richards, Jr., assisted his successor, Lonnie Melashenko, by answering letters from listeners and donors, visiting ministry friends, and speaking at camp meetings and churches. The Voice of Prophecy broadcast is heard either weekends or daily on 450 stations in North America. Overseas, programs in dozens of languages reach into nearly every country from more than 1,000 radio stations. A weekly television program airs on several satellite networks.
For many years the Voice of Prophecy radio program was heard only on Sunday and was generally devoted to presenting major themes of the Bible, complemented by quartet and solo musical selections. In December 1971 Richards launched a daily 15-minute broadcast that emphasized biblical perspectives on such topics as the Christ-fulfilled life, family relationships, healthful living, and God's wonders in nature.
Special Audiences…
Richards was also influential in the Voice of Prophecy's development of materials to reach special audiences. These included Bible story broadcasts for children, in which Richards dramatized all the voices; print materials in the language of teens and young adults; radio spot announcements for stations that do not air religious programs; and video programs for use on closed-circuit television in hospitals and nursing homes. The latter were entitled SeaWord and featured metaphors from the world of sailing, one of Richards' favorite leisure activities.
Dedicated Ham
Another hobby for Richards was ham radio. He regularly talked by shortwave with other hams around the world, including sailors at sea. He frequently contacted remote Pitcairn Island in the Pacific. In times of disasters and emergencies, he used shortwave to set up phone patches that connected persons overseas with relatives and medical assistance in the United States.
Richards conducted month-long evangelistic series in many cities across North America and shorter series in many other countries. Although he continued to take public speaking appointments until 1999, his last evangelistic meetings were in September 1993, when he traveled to Brazil with his successor, Pastor Melashenko, and other staff to present rallies throughout South America's largest country.
Audiences ranged from 4,000 to 30,000. Meetings featured mass baptisms of as many as 1,200 persons in a single session, and by the end of the Brazil campaign a half million persons had graduated from VOP Bible courses and more than 25,000 of these had been baptized.
Pastor Richards is survived by his mother, Mabel (age 100); his wife, Mary; their children, H. M. S. Richards III, Jon Lyall Richards, and Mary Margaret Richards King; his sister, Virginia Cason; his brothers, Kenneth and Jan; seven grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Family Members
Parents
Siblings
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
