Rev. J. Simon Stanley entered the presence of his Lord and Savior on June 29, 2026, at the age of 93, in Houston, Texas. Born on January 5, 1933, in Salem, India, to Jacob Yesudasan and Gnana Bakkiyam, he was the eldest of five children. From an early age, he developed a tremendous passion for reading books. He earned a B.A. in English Literature from Madras Christian College, later completed a Bachelor of Teaching (B.T.), and also studied at Wolsey Hall, Oxford, U.K.

In 1953, while attending college, Simon encountered Jesus Christ where his cousin Lily Selvadurai from Sri Lanka was ministering. His life was radically transformed, and he was later baptized by C. John, Chief Pastor of the Ceylon Pentecostal Mission. He began his career in education as the Principal of a Tutorial College in Salem before serving as an English teacher at St. Paul's High School and Fabricius High School in Chennai. On February 10, 1965, he married Grace Stanley, daughter of Chelliah Pillai and Sundari Ammal.

In 1966, through God's favor, Rev. Simon Stanley was selected from nearly 10,000 applicants to serve as a head teacher with the Ministry of Education in Dire Dawa, Ethiopia. During six transformative years there, he faithfully served as both teacher and minister, leading Bible studies, prayer meetings, and preaching the Gospel. While in Ethiopia, he became an active participant in the historic 1968 Revival, a powerful spiritual awakening that swept through southern Ethiopia. Hawassa (Awasa) became one of the principal centers of this revival, and Rev. Stanley had the privilege of preaching at the Hawassa revival conventions. Witnessing this extraordinary move of God profoundly shaped his life, giving him a lifelong burden for revival, prayer, and the work of the Holy Spirit. In January 1972, God called him to leave his secure career and return to India for full-time ministry. Obeying without hesitation, he returned with his family on July 29, 1972. Carrying the fire of revival from Ethiopia, he devoted the remainder of his life to proclaiming the Gospel and calling believers to prayer, holiness, revival, and readiness for the return of Jesus Christ.

Soon after returning to India, Rev. Simon joined the growing All Night Prayer movement, alongside Bro. Jeevanandam, Bro. Abraham Rajapandiyan, Bro. D.G.S. Dhinakaran, and other servants of God. As the prayer movement continued to expand throughout the country, he later served as President of the All India All Night Prayer Fellowship. Rev. Simon also devoted himself to theological education. He served on the faculty of the Church of God Bible College and, in 1976, was invited to establish and teach at Siloam Bible College in Tiruchirappalli (Trichy), where he trained generations of pastors, evangelists, and Christian leaders. Affectionately known as "Iyya" (a respected elder), he became a beloved mentor whose teaching shaped countless ministries. He also served as Chairman of Word of Christ Literature Ministries, promoting the faithful teaching of God's Word through Christian literature. He wrote two books, God's Next Move and America's Hour of Prayer, through which he shared his burden for revival, earnest prayer, and the prophetic hope of Christ’s Second Coming. In these works, he expounded on the signs of the end times in light of historical events, helping believers understand biblical prophecy through the lens of world events.

His ministry extended throughout South India, Nagaland (Mokokochung), Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Odisha, and other parts of Northeast India, where he preached the Gospel among tribal communities and witnessed many coming to Christ. The Lord also opened doors for ministry in Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, and the United States, where he conducted seminars, taught, and strengthened believers. He held gospel crusades in villages (Perambalur, Karur, Kallakurichi, Trichy, Kanchipuram) where thousands of people received the touch of Jesus. In 1993, he helped start a monthly night prayer under the leadership of Dr. Sheba George in Dallas, Texas, which has continued faithfully for more than three decades. In 2011, he made the United States his permanent home, continuing to serve through Gideon's Army Ministries. One of the great joys of his later years was visiting Israel in 2015, fulfilling a lifelong desire. He became a citizen of the United States in 2022.

Rev. Simon Stanley will be remembered as a man wholly devoted to God; a man of fervent prayer, a godly zeal and passion, faith, and holiness. Like Nathanael, he was a man without guile, whose sincere walk with the Lord reflected the character of Christ. He taught the importance of personal prayer, family prayer, and corporate prayer. He faithfully mentored generations of pastors, encouraged countless believers, and left an enduring legacy that will continue to impact the Body of Christ. He was loved and adored by his cousins, nieces, and nephews for his genuine love and affection. He is also lovingly remembered by his beloved wife, children, grandchildren, extended family, countless spiritual sons and daughters, and all whose lives were touched through his ministry. He was truly a John the Baptist of his generation.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Jacob Yesudasan and Gnana Bakkiyam; his son-in-law, Jacob Manuel Raj; his beloved daughter, Faith Hepsibah; his sister, Manohara Amirthasamy; his brother, Paul Jeyachandran; and his sister, Mary Ruth. He is survived by his beloved wife of 61 years, Grace Stanley; his sister, Rose Prabhavathy (Poppy); his children, Hannah Jacob and Gideon Stanley (Sarah); his grandchildren, John Ezekiel Jacob (Revathi), Johanna Jacob-Solomon (Jasper), and Isaac Samuel Stanley; and his great-grandson, Josiah Carey John.

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." — 2 Timothy 4:7