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In Loving Memory: A Prince Has Fallen
Dr. Harold L. Noe (12/23/31 -12/18/08)
Dr. Harold L Noe died Thursday, December 18,2008, after a long battle
with Parkinson's disease. His memorial service was conducted on Monday,
December 22,2008, at First Christian Church of Council Bluffs. He is
survived by his wife of 55 years, Barbara Jean; daughters Jeri, Rebecca,
and Christina, and a son, James.
Harold was born December 23,1931 in Danbury, Red Willow County, NE to
Christian parents Hayden and Vera Noe. Brought up in the church, Harold
was especially inspired by his Grandmother, Emma Noe, who read the Bible
to him and gave him a nickel for every verse he memorized.
The family moved to North Platte, NE where Harold received his public
education. He attended the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), and
became an Eagle Scout. After finishing High School in 1949, Harold
enrolled in Johnson Bible College, Knoxville, TN, to prepare for the
Christian ministry. There he met Barbara Jean Truax. He graduated in
1953, and on July 26, 1953, Harold and Barbara were married at her home
church in Indiana. He continued studies at JBC, and earned a Masters
Degree. Harold ministered with Calfee's Chapel Christian in Bluefield,
WV, where their first daughter, Jeri Lynne, was born in 1954. He
accepted a call to begin a new church in Marysville, TN, and while in
that ministry their second daughter, Rebecca Lea, was bom in 1957. Their
next move was to the Boulevard Church of Christ in Charleston, WV, where
their third daughter, Christina Louise, was born in 1960.
During their stay in Charleston a Deacon in the church, Keith Hamilton,
introduced Harold to his parents, both of whom were deaf. Knowing they
were unable to hear the word of God, Harold learned sign language. He
then worked with Keith Hamilton to start a deaf ministry in the church
on Sunday afternoons. From that beginning they worked with the local TV
station to begin a program called 'Talking Hands," on which Harold would
preach in sign language to deaf listeners in the Charleston area. The TV
program continued after the Noe's moved away.
In 1962, Harold accepted a call to minister to Central Church of Christ
in Eden, NC, where he served until 1974. During that time Harold
conducted ministries to deaf people on Sunday afternoons in nearby
Danville and Martinsville VA. His love for deaf people grew steadily. In
1972, desiring a son, he and Barbara adopted four month old James.
In 1974, he and his family move 12 miles south of Eden, to Reidsville,
NC to minister to a new congregation, Faith Christian Church, which he
helped begin. He worked with them for two years before moving to his
first love, full-time ministry with the deaf.
Harold served as an adjunct professor at both Johnson Bible College and
Winston-Salem Bible College during his years in North Carolina. With
three other preachers he sang in the Evangelists Quartet He was much in
demand as a revival speaker. In those meetings he made use of another of
his talents. He was a brilliant artist, and did beautiful chalk drawings
in each service, giving the finished pictures to the members who brought
the most visitors to the meeting each night.
In 1976 Harold accepted a call to the staff of Deaf Missions in Council
Bluffs, IA., where he worked until his retirement in June of 2002.
During those years, he attended Drew University, receiving a ThD in Deaf
Communications. With Deaf Missions personnel, he developed the Omega
Project,'' translating the Bible into American Sign Language via video
tape, so that deaf people could have access to the Word of God. He was
the lead translator, knowing full well he probably would not live to
complete the work. The New Testament was completed, however, and work
continues on the Old Testament today.
Planned Parenthood announced they would begin performing abortions in
Council Bluffs in 2001. In response, Harold led in establishing "Voices
of Life," and later a crisis pregnancy center called "Gabriel's Corner,"
which is located just across the street from Planned Parenthood.
More than any other single individual, Harold Noe is responsible for the
existence of Christian Holyland Foundation. From the time when his
father paid his way for a month-long trip to Israel in 1964, the Holy
Land occupied a large place in his heart. He traveled extensively there,
having made 36 trips in all.
In 1974, members of a tour group returning from Jerusalem asked him to
look up a young Arab shop keeper in the Old City who had expressed an
interest in New Testament Christianity. The contact was made, and
through diligent follow-up visits and teaching, George Y. Awwad was
baptized into Christ, and trained by correspondence through
Winston-Salem Bible College. Harold spent part of the summer of 1981 in
the Awwad home helping George complete his studies, and on November
11,1981 George was graduated and ordained to the ministry. House
churches were subsequently begun in Jerusalem, Ramallah, Beit Hanina and
Betounia....
Then in April of 2003, George Awwad died suddenly of a massive heart
attack.
Since that time, six dynamic Arab Christian families have been trained
and entered into that ministry, and the work continues to prosper. But
the pioneer of the work, who would not be discouraged until it was
established, has now laid down his tools and gone to rest.
God only knows how many souls Harold Noe led to Christ and how many
others he discipled, strengthened, and encouraged. His last few
conversations with his friends always ended with "Instead of meeting at
the Eastern Gate, let's meet at the Northern Gate... it won't be so
crowded."
His long battle with Parkinson's disease finally took his earthly
life.... yet he lives on in victory! Praise the name of the Lord! We
will never forget Dr. Harold L. Noe.
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