A look back on the life of renowned Wisconsin pastor, speaker and author Stuart Briscoe, who died Wednesday

At the end of Stuart Briscoe's days, the renowned Wisconsin pastor, speaker and author said he hoped someone would look back on his life and say:

"Stuart Briscoe served God's purpose in his own generation, and now he has fallen asleep and is ready to meet his Lord" — a reference to the biblical figure of David in Acts 13:36.

"I'd be thrilled if that was the conclusion," he told the Journal Sentinel in 2020.

Wednesday was Briscoe's time to meet his Lord. The 91-year-old Oconomowoc resident and former Elmbrook senior pastor died "of natural causes unexpectedly," he and his wife Jill's media ministry, Telling the Truth with Stuart and Jill Briscoe, shared on their Facebook page Thursday.

"For many of you he was preacher, pastor, mentor or friend," the post, signed by the family, said. "To us, he was ‘Stu,' ‘Dad’ and ‘Poppa’ and we already miss him achingly."

Stuart is survived by his wife, Jill, their three kids — Dave Briscoe, Judy Briscoe Golz and Pete Briscoe — their spouses, 13 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, said Mel Lawrenz, Elmbrook's teaching pastor and the individual who had succeeded Briscoe as senior pastor.

Briscoe stepped down as senior pastor in 2000, but remained involved in the church and continued his ministry work. In 2019, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, but was in remission after receiving treatment.

A memorial service will be held at a future date at Elmbrook Church, 777 S. Barker Road, Brookfield.

"Stuart had an enormous influence on untold thousands of people throughout Milwaukee and literally around the world," Lawrenz said. "He was known for his character and integrity, the clarity that he helped us all have about life. And in a time of self-centeredness in our culture, his whole life was about Christ-centeredness. Everybody that knew him was delighted by his wit and wisdom. And he helped all of us raise our vision above ourselves and our circumstances."

Back in 2020, Stuart and Jill's eldest son, Dave, described his father as "a very gifted and important person" who could have been very proud, but instead was very humble.

"He's helped me with everything," Jill said in a previous interview. "It's been such a privilege to be married to the man. He's the love of my life and always will be till we're together in heaven."

Leading Elmbrook as senior pastor for three decades

Asked why he dedicated his life to ministry, Briscoe simply said, "I believe that's what God has called me to do."

In 1970, he moved to the United States from England to become senior pastor of Elmbrook Church — long before it became the megachurch it is today.

When Stuart started at Elmbrook, he had said there were between 300 and 400 churchgoers. By the time he stepped down as senior pastor in 2000, he had recalled preaching to as many as 7,000 people on a given week.

During those 30 years, he preached and taught, mostly at Elmbrook. He also preached internationally and did personal counseling.

“I just have immense respect for him," longtime Elmbrook member George Bogdanovich told the Journal Sentinel in 2020. "Watching and learning from him, there’s just been such a consistency with how a Christian ought to live his life. He’s easy to love because he serves others with everything he is." 

To Bogdanovich, Briscoe was much more than a pastor. He was a mentor, favorite author and friend. 

Following Briscoe's time as senior pastor, he and Jill remained "deeply involved" with the church. They continued with international ministry work — with Elmbrook as their home base — wrote or co-wrote over 60 books, and ministered through various media platforms with Telling the Truth, which they founded in 1971. Telling the Truth — which used to be part of Elmbrook Church but now operates independently — features recorded sermons delivered by Stuart and Jill that air on radio stations around the country and in London

His early life, meeting his wife Jill

Briscoe was born in the town of Millom in Cumbria, England.

Growing up, he and his brother worked at their parents' grocery store. Their father was also a lay pastor.

Briscoe was brilliant in many ways, including academically. He graduated from high school at the age of 16. Since he wouldn't be permitted to attend university until he reached the age of 18, he got into banking and youth ministry.

When he turned 18, he was drafted into the military during the Korean War and joined the Royal Marines.

When the war ended, he returned to banking, and helped out at a nearby youth center, Capernwray Hall, in his spare time. It was at that youth center where he met his wife, Jill, who was also doing youth ministry work, when they were both in their 20s.

The two married in 1958.

They spent years working with the center and youth ministry organizations all over the world. Around 1970, Briscoe was invited to speak in the U.S., which ultimately led to Elmbrook.

"I just look back and am amazed at the opportunity I had to meet him, to marry him, and together, to be able to minister is such a joy," Jill said in a previous interview. 

Family life

The family got to meet many inspiring individuals over the years, including evangelist Billy Graham (who visited their home), Corrie ten Boom, Joni Eareckson Tada and Reggie White, Dave said in a previous interview.

After each of Stuart's kids graduated from Brookfield East High School, he'd take the graduate on a trip — in part a mission trip — "anywhere in the world" they wanted to go, Dave had said.

Stuart, who preached on every continent, carried on this tradition with many of his grandchildren.

Stuart and Jill's children have each, to an extent, followed in their footsteps.

Dave was an associate pastor at Elmbrook for 25 years and is now pastor of Grace Church in Delafield, Judy Briscoe Golz has her Ph.D. in psychology and is a college professor, and Pete was senior pastor at Bent Tree Bible Fellowship in Carrollton, Texas, for nearly 30 years.

'A long, eventful, and thoroughly wonderful life'

A few years ago, Briscoe was diagnosed with Stage 4 prostate cancer. He underwent treatment and was in remission.

"No matter what he’s faced in his life, personally, professionally or his medical conditions, he’s been the same person all the way through, which is remarkable," Bogdanovich said in a previous interview. "It’s a testament to his deep faith in Christ.”

In 2020, Briscoe contracted sepsis twice after a urinary tract infection. He said they were planning to move him into hospice care at that time, and told Jill to gather the family to say goodbye. But he recovered.

"I've had a long, eventful, and thoroughly wonderful life," Briscoe said in 2020. "I have no complaints.

"I think all of this is bonus time. Jill and I intend on using it wisely and well, seeing our children and grandchildren doing well, and our many, many friends, and the people we've ministered to around the world. We are very blessed people."

Contact Hannah Kirby at hannah.kirby@jrn.com. Follow her on Twitter at @HannahHopeKirby.  

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Stuart Briscoe, renowned Wisconsin pastor, speaker, author has died