On the evening of Saturday, the 24th of October 2026, in McKinney, Texas, Dr. Michael Pocock, aged 84, surrounded by his family and grandchildren, left his earthly home to be with the Lord as his wife of 61 years held his hand and prayed beautifully over him. Mike enjoyed a lifelong love of the outdoors. He built canoes and kayaks, hunted, and mountain biked, but he especially loved fly fishing and fishing of most any kind throughout Texas, Illinois, Canada, Georgia, Oklahoma, Wisconsin, Michigan, Alaska, Florida, Venezuela and more places around the world. He often combined his speaking or teaching engagements with his favorite pastime. And, because of his calling to the ministry, he truly was a “fisher of men”. Mike’s commitment to evangelism led him to plant several churches in the U.S. and Venezuela. He was a visiting professor at Christian colleges and seminaries around the world, was a missionary for The Evangelical Alliance Mission (TEAM) for 16 years, and he served as chairman of the board for Evergreen Family Friendship Services/China. He wrote countless articles and authored and co-authored a number of books on world missions, evangelism and global multiculturalism. He was chairman of World Missions and professor in the World Missions and Intercultural Studies department followed by professor emeritus at Dallas Theological Seminary. Born to Reginald and Millicent Pocock on August 1st, 1942 in Swindon, England, he was the fourth of five children. Mike, his parents and sisters emigrated to America by ship when he was 14 and Maryland became their home. In high school, he found himself in front of a county judge after some mischief and was ordered to join the Boy Scouts of America which began his love for all things outdoors. The judge also ordered him to attend church and he found himself at 4th Presbyterian in Bethesda, Maryland, where he became heavily influenced by the evangelical teachings of pastor Richard Halvorsen. It was there that Mike came to know the Lord and dedicated his life to evangelism and the thought of spreading the gospel overseas just as the challenge of the gospels states. Knowing that to enter world ministry would require Bible education and training, Mike set out to lay the foundation which would direct the course of his life and became a student at Washington Bible College in DC, where he met Penny Parkhurst, who had also committed her life to the ministry. After proposing to her under the cherry blossoms at the Washington Monument, the two married in Pompano Beach, Florida in 1965. Mike went on to earn his master’s degree at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Illinois where son, Alan, was born in 1967. He started a small, culturally diverse church on Chicago’s South Side. Berean Bible Mission Church grew from its humble beginnings on 44th Street, to become New Life Community Church. Its legacy continues today with over 7,000 members. After graduation, Mike took on his first faculty teaching position at Toccoa Falls Bible College in Georgia in 1971 where their second son, Torrey, was born. Mike enjoyed coaching the college’s Eagles men’s soccer team which went on to be very successful. In 1972, the Pocock family moved to Costa Rica to learn Spanish in language school and become missionaries for The Evangelical Alliance Mission (TEAM). This prepared Mike and Penny for planting churches in Valencia, Venezuela where their third son, Ian, was born. Mike also taught at the seminary in Maracay, Venezuela until 1976. The Pococks returned to the States and settled back in the Chicago area where TEAM headquarters was located. Mike became Candidate Secretary and Director of Mobilization for TEAM in 1977. He later earned his doctorate in missiology from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. In 1987, Dr. Pocock went on to accept his position with Dallas Theological Seminary where he taught classes on World Missions, Intercultural Studies and “Spiritual Warfare” until his retirement. He continued on as Senior Professor and Chair Emeritus / Adjunct Professor after retirement for a total of 39 years with DTS. He also evangelized through Prison Ministry and became an elder at Lakeridge Bible Church near their home of 36 years in Garland, Texas. Despite his many talents, accomplishments and accolades, Mike was ever a humble man with an ability to listen deeply to others. He could converse with anyone on almost any topic and was happy to do so. It was impossible to walk away from a conversation with Mike unchallenged. His life and legacy serve as a Christ-like model to thousands. Our family is forever grateful to have had a husband and father who, though we shared him with countless people whose lives he forever changed for the better through his faith and actions, always made each of us feel like we were the only person in the room with him. He will stay in our hearts forever. Mike was preceded in death by his brother Phillip, and his sisters Eleanor and Hilary. He is survived by wife Penny, sons Alan, Torrey and Ian, sister Priscilla Ray, grandaughters Delani and Ainsleigh and grandson Ronan as well as a number of nieces and nephews. Please join us in celebrating the life of Dr. Michael Pocock at a Memorial Service on Saturday, November 21st at 2pm at Lakeridge Bible Church, 1020 Northwest Dr, Mesquite, TX 75150 A live streaming link of the service will be provided here soon. If you would like to donate to Michael Pocock’s charity of choice, a link will be provided here soon.