Ross Arnold
Ross Arnold, pastor of the Lakeside Presbyterian Church died Monday, January 14.
Ross was born October 9, 1956 in Pennsylvania, and spent his early years in Oklahoma and Germany, then moved to Tennessee where he finished high school. He received his undergraduate degree from Berea College in Kentucky and his Masters of Divinity from Fuller Seminary in Pasadena, California.
After seminary, Ross worked for several years as Director of International Liaison with World Vision, then with Joni and Friends and other Christian ministries before settling in Seattle, Washington, in 1989. In 1991, he met Carolyn Hansen, the love of his life, whom he would marry in 1994. Over the next 20+ years, Ross had a teaching role at University Presbyterian Church in Seattle, where he was an ordained elder in the Presbyterian Church USA. During this time, he pursued further graduate studies in theology at Regent College in Vancouver, British Columbia.
In November 2009, Ross and Carolyn moved to Mexico and immediately became involved with Lakeside Presbyterian Church in Ajijic. In April 2010, after some months of leading a Bible study, Ross found his calling as Senior Pastor of the church. He loved nothing more than preaching, teaching, and creating the vision for the church.
Ross was a fine woodworker, a passionate cook and a gifted teacher who lectured aboard Windstar Cruises yachts and private jet tours, where he’d share insights into history, culture, and just-for-fun topics about each destination with delighted passengers.
Ross loved being in this world. He diligently pursued learning about different cultures, societies, and philosophies. He gave himself to showing others God’s love as best he could. But he knew his home was with his Lord, Jesus Christ. And he was ready to go.