David Whitcomb, the oldest son of Dr. John C. Whitcomb, BMH Books author and former faculty member at Grace Theological Seminary, has finished the first volume of a biography of Dr. Whitcomb, spanning 1924 to 1961 when The Genesis Flood was published. Events from 1961 to the present will be in a sequel, and David is also collecting materials for that time frame.
David wants to receive emails from people who either knew Dr. Whitcomb in the 1950s, or whose lives were strongly influenced by Dr. Whitcomb either directly or through his books or ministries. You can reach him at email: whitcomb@pancreas.org [start subject line with JCW-biography – YOUR NAME] or send email to Whitcomb Ministry (Whitcombministry@gmail.com). Please see the below instructions regarding content.
Specific request for Dr. Whitcomb’s biography
The first half of the biography focuses on the life and times of Dr. Whitcomb as a child and events that molded him and led him to teach and write, including co- authoring The Genesis Flood (1961). There are 18 chapters, and this volume is almost finished. However, several of the chapters would benefit from some additional perspectives from people who witnessed events (chapters 7-18) or who were strongly influenced by him in any way (e.g. chapter 3). Please consider the following:
1) Chapter 3: The chapter title is “One Thousand Men”, and highlights the fact that Dr. Whitcomb trained over 1000 men at Grace Theological Seminary, and even more through Practoriums, through books (e.g. Ken Ham) and other encounters. David Whitcomb is seeking some brief testimonials using the following format:
- Your Name:
- Address:
- Email:
- Phone #:
- Occupation:
- Ministry:
- When you encountered Dr. Whitcomb (year, venue, circumstance)
- Your impressions of the encounter / what struck you as different than
- other events.
- The effect that this had on your life choices / ministry / decisions /
- etc. (anything that you find important or valuable).
- Greater principles or lessons learned.
(Using the same general reporting format given about, information for the following chapters is being requested).
2) Chapter 14: This chapter highlights Dr. Whitcomb’s ministries outside the classroom. He was involved in street meetings, evangelism, Sunday school classes, Spanish ministries, boys’ clubs, Gospel teams, trips to conferences, etc. David Whitcomb is looking for some witnesses of what he was like in these capacities (strengths, weaknesses, interesting events)
3) Chapter 15: Dr. Whitcomb was married to Edisene from 1953 to 1970 when she went to be with her Lord. David Whitcomb is looking for some comments about John and Edisene’s ministries or some colorful memories to add to this chapter.
4) Chapter 18: The Genesis Flood. This chapter starts with Dr. Whitcomb getting a graduate teaching position and starting to teach a 6 literal-day creation week and a global flood while the other faculty at Grace taught the Gap Theory. David Whitcomb is looking for some perspectives on these issues from anyone who was there.
Also, in Dr. Whitcomb’s diary, there were numerous examples of his being called to Dr. Hoyt’s office and instructed to lighten up on the intensity of the classes he was teaching, and reduce the assignments. What was Dr. Whitcomb like in the early years of his teaching?
Princeton Graduates: Please contact David Whitcomb about the Princeton Evangelical Fellowship.
Volume 2. John C Whitcomb Jr, 1961 to the present.
David Whitcomb is compiling materials and contacts for continuing the biography of Dr. Whitcomb’s ministries following the publication of The Genesis Flood. If anyone has valuable information, letters, insights, perspectives, or would like to share some thoughts, please secure the appropriate documents and write down the details and send them to David Whitcomb.
David C Whitcomb MD PhD
5101 Ellsworth Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15232
412 414 8400 (cell)