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NRB exec Brandt Gustavson dies 2 months after cancer diagnosis


MANASSAS, Va. (BP)–National Religious Broadcasters President E. Brandt Gustavson died May 14 less than two months after being diagnosed with cancer of the liver and pancreas. He was 64.

A private funeral was held May 17, which will be followed by a public memorial service June 8 from 7-9 p.m. at Manassas (Va.) Assembly of God. He is survived by his wife, Mary, and two children, Ruth and Tim.

Gustavson’s career was devoted to Christian broadcasting. He served NRB as a 22-year member of the board of directors and a longstanding member of NRB’s executive committee, culminating as president and chief executive officer since 1990.

“Words cannot fully express what Brandt meant to all of those whose lives he touched,” said Michael Glenn, NRB’s executive vice president, in a statement on the NRB Internet site. “His life was dedicated to serving Christ. And now, he tastes the eternal joys of heaven. Our prayers, along with countless others, are now with Mary, Ruth and Tim.”

David Clark, vice president of broadcast communication for the Southern Baptist North American Mission Board and president of FamilyNet, said Gustavson’s leadership “has been outstanding in every way and blessed by the Lord.”

“I worked with Brandt for about 20 years and I was on the search committee that brought him to the NRB,” said Clark, a former NRB president. “One of the wonderful characteristics was his soft spot for young people trying to get going in Christian television and radio. He always enjoyed time nurturing young leaders and mentoring young leaders.”

Prior to leading NRB, Gustavson was executive vice president and chief operating officer of Trans World Radio from 1986-90, where he oversaw the work of the organization’s headquarters office, then located in Chatham, N.J.

Gustavson previously worked for Moody Bible Institute (MBI) in Chicago for 12 years, overseeing the alumni association, broadcasting, public ministries and stewardship.

Before serving at MBI, Gustavson directed Moody’s broadcasting network for nearly seven years and initiated the Moody Broadcasting Network by satellite.

Gustavson attended Northwestern College in St. Paul, Minn., Cuyahoga Community College in Cleveland, Ohio, and Loyola University in Chicago. In 1985, he was awarded an honorary doctor of laws degree at the NRB convention when he completed his three-year term as NRB chairman.
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