Hiatt, longtime Arizona pastor, dies

Longtime Arizona pastor James Jackson (Jim) Hiatt passed away on Jan. 20, entering immediately into the presence of his Lord.

Hiatt was born in Campo, Colorado, on May 25, 1933, and grew up in Colorado and Idaho. He served in the U.S. Army, married Edna in 1953. and later moved to Arizona, where he attended Grand Canyon College (now GCU) in the early 1960s before being called as pastor of Parkview Baptist Church in south Phoenix in 1965.

The City of Phoenix bought Parkview’s original property and the church relocated and rebuilt nearby. Some years later, the city again bought their property, and the church moved north to 9th Avenue and Fillmore and would become The Church on Fillmore in 1983.

Over the years, the church became a ministry point for the less fortunate of the area, offering a variety of services from food distribution, a thrift store, a gymnasium for youth of the area, a few apartments for seniors, all in addition to the church’s weekly worship times and Bible studies.

Edna worked alongside Jim in a variety of ministry functions and used her kitchen skills to feed the many volunteers involved in the ministry. Between Parkview and Church on Fillmore, Jim actively pastored more than 47 years, with many more years of Christian service and ministry.

Jim and Edna, after leaving The Church on Fillmore, became members of CrossPoinTempe Church in 2011. After Edna’s passing, Jim remained active in the senior adult ministry but particularly was involved in the laundry/homeless ministry and never missed the opportunity to share Jesus with any audience. Jim taught, shared devotionals and preached in those ministries for some years until his health would no longer permit his attending.

Jim was preceded in death by Edna, his wife of 58 years at her passing in 2011, and is survived by two sons, Mike (Debbie) and Sam (Patti), 5 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, and a host of church family and friends from across the years.

A memorial service will be held at Laveen Baptist Church on Feb. 13 at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the youth ministry of Laveen Baptist Church in Jim’s name.