Dr. Runion, who was the station manager of WKJV Radio (1380 AM) and president of International Baptist Outreach Ministries (the group that owned WKJV), was a Christian broadcaster, former pastor, missionary, political activist, father, and husband.
If you read his biography from the stations website there wasnt much in the Christian community that Dr. Runion was not involved in and with. “Born on a mountain farm in Madison County...His childhood was that of a simple lifestyle in a rural mountain culture. The Runion family was influenced by a heritage of strong Christian values. The church was a very powerful influence in the growth and character of the entire family. At the age of 14, Dr. Runion was saved in a small mountain church after being under strong conviction for over two years.
“After graduating from Charles D. Owen High School in Swannanoa...he worked on secular jobs. At the age of 28, God called him to preach in July of 1970 after moving to Pensacola, Florida in 1968. He then attended the Pensacola Bible Institute in Pensacola, Florida for two years. In 1982, he received a Bachelors Degree of Theology from Trinity Baptist College in Knoxville, Tennessee and an honorary Doctor of Divinity from that same school. In 1993, he earned his Ph.D. in Religion from Emmanuel Baptist University in Conover, North Carolina. In 2003, he received a honorary doctorate degree from Travelers University in Cairo, Egypt.
“In 1972 after moving his family back to North Carolina, Dr. Runion became Youth Minister at Trinity Baptist Church in Asheville, NC where Dr. Ralph Sexton, Sr. was the pastor. He was ordained on January 22, 1973 by the late Dr. Sexton.
“On October 13, 1974, God led him to start Asheville Baptist Tabernacle in Asheville, North Carolina. This church became very influential in Western North Carolina along with a Christian School and Bible College ministry. In 1992, he helped to found Anchor Baptist Bible College in Pisgah Forest, North Carolina and served as its President until May of 1999. During those years the school graduated many that are now serving in missions or the pastorate around the world.
“After traveling to Egypt on several mission trips the Lord led Dr. Runion to resign his pastorate of 21 years and go full time into a church planting ministry. He founded International Baptist Outreach Missions, Inc. in January, 1996, and since that time, with Dr. Runion as President the mission has either strengthened or started over 300 churches with national pastors in several countries of the world including Egypt, Kenya, Uganda, Lebanon, Mexico, and the Philippines.
Dr. Runion also served with Congressman Charles Taylor of the “...11th Congressional District as an advisor on church and religious matters from 1990 to 2006. He also preached many revivals, missions conferences, prophecy conferences and King James Bible Conferences around the world.”
According to his obituary “Dr. Runion was the son of the late Claude Edger Runion and Zora Belle Fore Runion and was also preceded in death by his brother, Calvin Runion.
“Surviving are his wife of 57 years, Joyce Ann Ammons Runion; daughters: Lynn Mitchell and husband, Randy of Statesville, Angela Page and husband, Todd of Taylors, SC and Hannah Hensley and husband, Ricky of Burnsville; grandchildren, Bradley, Tyler and Kevin Page, Anna and Joshua Mitchell and Makenzie and Isaac Hensley; sister Lucy Hollifield of Black Mountain and several nieces and nephews.
“Funeral services will be held at 1 pm Friday, April 13, 2018 at Trinity Baptist Church, with Dr. Ralph Sexton, Jr., Dr. Keith Gomez, and Dr. Richard Smith officiating. Burial will follow in Green Hills Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5 – 8 pm Thursday, April 12, 2018 at Anders-Rice Funeral Home.
Flowers are accepted and appreciated, or memorial donations may be made to International Baptist Outreach Missions or WKJV/WKJW Radio at 70 Adams Hill Rd. Asheville, NC 28806.