The Gate Church mourns death of senior pastor Tony Miller
The Rev. John Anthony “Tony” Miller, senior pastor of The Gate Church in Oklahoma City, died on Jan. 19. He was 63.
“Tony finished his race strong and fulfilled his mandate scripture of Acts 13:36, `Now when David had served God's purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep.' Bishop Miller fulfilled his purpose, ran his course with joy, and has handed the baton to us to run our race and fulfill our destiny in the Kingdom,” said an obituary posted on the house of worship's website.
A virtual celebration of life was held on Monday.
Miller, a Warrenton, Virginia, native, had been in full-time ministry with his wife Kathy for more than 35 years. He was known internationally as a “pastor to pastors.”
Known as Tony, the preacher and his wife began as youth ministers in 1978 and launched New Harvest Church in Clewiston, Florida, in 1990. He was ordained as bishop of Destiny Network International in 2000.
The network of churches is currently called Destiny Fellowship International.
The Millers moved from South Carolina to Oklahoma City in 2006 where they became senior pastors of Cathedral of Praise, 7700 N Council. The church was renamed The Gate Church in 2012.
During his longtime ministry, Tony Miller visited more than 90 nations preaching the gospel and training more than 300,000 leaders, according to The Gate Church.
In a statement on the website of the International Pentecostal Holiness Church, the Rev. Doug Beacham, presiding bishop of the Bethany-based denomination, said Miller was “an anointed communicator, a deeply committed follower of Jesus, and was as genuine in person as he was on the platform.”
“Over the years, many of us have been challenged and changed through his leadership teachings and preaching of the Word of God. The IPHC family, and Susan and me personally, are grieving over his sudden passing. Yet we know Tony is with the Lord whom he so faithfully served. Our prayers are with his wife Kathy, his daughters and their families, other members of his extended family, and The Gate Church family in Oklahoma City.”
Miller is survived by his mother Majorie Miller, his wife Kathy; daughters Amanda Conner, Lindsey Jones and Holly Roberts; sons-in-law Jason Conner, Josh Jones and Jordan Roberts; and seven grandchildren.