The longest tenured pastor in the history of First Baptist Church in Washington lost his battle with cancer yesterday morning.

Rev. Dr. James A. Moore Jr., 59, who served as pastor of the church for 22 years, passed away around 1:30 a.m. on Monday after an almost yearlong battle with liver and esophageal cancer, according to Greg Barmer, minister of music at First Baptist. Moore discovered he was sick with cancer in August 2015.

Moore fought his sickness valiantly, and served in the pulpit, where he sometimes translated and preached directly from a Greek Bible, up until July 10, as preaching was one of his great passions, according to Barmer, who served alongside Moore in ministry for his entire tenure.

“To have worked in ministry together for 22 years is unheard of,” Barmer said. “I’ve never in my life heard of any two being together for 22 years. But his passion for preaching and holding to biblical truth with unwavering love, he was able to preach up until the very end.”

A native of Union, South Carolina, Moore came to First Baptist in 1994, after receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree from Gardner-Webb University, a Master of Divinity degree from the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and a Doctor of Ministry degree from the Columbia Theological Seminary, according to his obituary. Prior to coming to Washington, he served in churches in South Carolina and Mississippi, as well, the obituary said.

Moore was a community’s pastor — not just one to First Baptist, according to Teresa West, the church’s secretary. He started several missions including a partnership with the country of Swaziland that still continues to this day. He also started a Hispanic mission, encouraging the Hispanic community to attend the church, which eventually led to Alpha and Omega Baptist Church, a Hispanic church that serves as First Baptist’s sister church, Barmer said. The outreach led to a member of the Hispanic congregation to attend seminary school and enter into ministry, according to Barmer.

One of Moore’s most prized passions was the church’s Swaziland mission work for the past 20 years, Barmer said. Moore encouraged and coordinated the church’s involvement, not just financially and through prayer, but through sending people to participate in the mission, he said.

Moore also strived to keep missions strong at home: youth members of the church are immersed in mission work in the community, state and beyond, thanks to his leadership, and Moore also led the church in outreach during natural disasters, according to West.

“He opened so many doors for all of us,” said Pam Warren, a member of First Baptist.

Warren said Moore was a compassionate, loving and understanding spiritual leader; one who was always there for whatever need arose.

“He was just here for all of us on all occasions — happy or sad times,” Warren said.

Barmer said Moore’s humility was a trait that stood out to him. Moore was never one to assert his title or try to set himself above anyone.

“He was Jimmy to us, not Dr. Moore,” West said. “He treated us all the same, whether you came up off the street asking for help or food. … It didn’t matter what your status was in the community. He just treated everyone with the same love, respect and honor.”

“(Humility) is a huge trait, and how I’ve privately bragged on Jimmy,” Barmer said. “He’s the most authentically humble person to have so much to be proud of in himself, in his wisdom and intellect. He had the opportunity to be a Greek seminary professor, teaching Greek. He said, ‘No, my heart is in the church.’ He would often read, and the congregation didn’t know this, from a Greek Bible, translating as he was reading. That’s his humility. The congregation didn’t even know that — to have reason to brag and never to do so.”

Moore was also an avid photographer, who often took photos of wildlife, particularly on his mission trips to Swaziland, according to West.

He is survived by his wife, Karen H. Moore, daughter Stephanie Moore Warren and husband Stuart, daughter Amie Moore O’Kane and husband Kyle, as well as mother Joyce T. Moore and two brothers. He was preceeded in death by an infant daughter, Tara Michelle Moore, and his father, James Alfred Moore Sr.

Moore considered the congregation of First Baptist part of his family, who loved, encouraged, supported and walked with him through is journey with cancer. He was constantly overwhelmed by the generosity and kindness of people, especially those in Beaufort County, according to his obituary.

“He will be sorely missed,” said Alma Evett, the church organist.

“Honestly, it will take us years and years and years to process all the ways he touched our lives and to be able to articulate that into words is very difficult,” West said.

A service of worship will be held at First Baptist on Sunday at 3 p.m. Burial will follow at Oakdale Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday at First Baptist, and a reception at the church Family Life Center will follow his burial, according to his obituary.

Memorials may be made to the Swaziland Partnership Fund, the Widow’s Mite Fund or the Music Ministry Endowment Fund of First Baptist Church, located at 113 N. Harvey St. in Washington. Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting paulfuneralhome.com.