“I am heartbroken that my friend, Tony, is gone,” Surratt wrote on Sept. 4. “I learned so much from him during the 9 years I was his teammate at Unstuck. He made a huge contribution to the Church, and his legacy will live on through the churches and pastors he helped. We are sad, but he is with Jesus.”
Tributes Pour in for Chris Surratt
As word spread about Chris Surratt’s death, people began sharing memories and posting tributes to his life and impact. “There are few people who have done more for small group ministry in this generation than Chris Surratt,” wrote James Browning on the Small Group Network Facebook page. “He impacted tens of thousands, including me.”
The Disciple Leaders Network shared condolences and prayers, writing, “Many of us have been touched by [Surratt’s] influence in our ministries.”
On the Georgia Baptist Discipleship Facebook page, administrator PJ Dunn wrote:
Today a fellow disciple-maker was promoted to the presence of the Lord and heard the words “well done my good and faithful servant.” Chris Surratt focused his life on making disciples through small groups, and his influence is felt in the lives of our Georgia Baptist Discipleship team. Join us in praying for Chris Surratt’s family and celebrating a life devoted to Jesus.
Friday afternoon, Jenny Surratt shared this message on Facebook:
Yesterday, following a sudden and completely unexpected cardiac arrest, Chris was welcomed into the presence of Jesus. We are devastated beyond words, but we are not without hope. We will share details soon on how you can join with us in celebrating Chris’ remarkable life. Today we covet your prayers, and are thankful for the comfort of knowing how much you loved Chris.
Jenny, married to Chris since 1993, concluded with Jesus’ words from John 14:1: “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in me.”
This article has been updated with a social media post from Jenny Surratt.