Dr. John David Van Der Decker, 87, of Jasper, GA, was welcomed peacefully into the arms of his loving Savior at 2:00 AM on Wed, April 23, 2025. A shy introvert, with a heart sensitive to the Spirit of God, he was born the younger of two children, Dec 28, 1937, Caldwell, New Jersey. He was married to the late Priscilla May (Kehler) Van Der Decker of New Jersey on Jun 8, 1963 until her death, Jun 9, 2020.

John's was a life marked by the grace of Jesus, evident in every area of his life. A dedicated family man, he exemplified to his family the love of God, reflecting Christ's love for his church. Family times were prioritized, from vacations, to backyard badminton, canoeing, fishing, and camping.

John was passionate about the transforming power of God's Word, expressed through his leading congregational worship and his gift of teaching. His love of Jesus evidenced itself with his patients, and with his fellow employees alike, offering to work holidays, so they could take the day off.

Although his educational and professional career was impressive (degrees and studies at Houghton College, Cornell Medical College, New York Hospital, UNC Memorial Hospital; various roles of leadership at the US Public Health Service Hospital, Norfolk, VA; Eastern VA Medical School; St. Elisabeth's Hospital, Washington D.C.; USPHS Headquarters, Rockville, MD; retired as Captain 06 with the USPHS), in 1998, Dr. John's passion went full bloom after his retirement from his medical profession – impacting people for eternity. With his wife, he co-founded the Phone-A-Story ministry, initially enabling children in the greater Washington, D.C. area to hear a Bible story, but which, through the follow-up correspondence Bible lessons, eventually reached across the nation to kids and adults (many of whom were incarcerated).

At the age of 70, God led John and Priscilla to join The God's Story Project in CA, where they both were a key part in seeing the Gospel being spread among hundreds of language groups around the world through God's Story: From Creation to Eternity . They also assisted with people groups who prefer to learn by hearing rather than by reading to get grounded in a solid, interactive Bible study method through Simply The Story , which trains people how to share the Gospel conversationally with those around them, and they enjoyed putting those principles into practice themselves.

Although he missed wife sorely after her passing into Heaven, John used this opportunity to share  even more so with others how a person can be right with God through Jesus' death for our sins. Soon after that, he moved to Georgia to live with family. Throughout his declining years, God's grace was still evident. For John, to live meant to live all out for Christ; and to die? That was to gain. Although the end of his journey was difficult, John has been released from this earthly tent and his mortal life has been swallowed up by that which is truly life!

John D Van Der Decker: "The gift of salvation should be the cause for profound humility and gratitude that God has chosen me, for no reason in myself, to be a vessel of His mercy to His exclusive glory, rather than choosing me to be a vessel of His eternal wrath to His exclusive glory."

John Van Der Decker is preceded in death by his beloved wife, Priscilla (Kehler) Van Der Decker; his parents, George W. & Marjorie (Bromley) Van Der Decker; his brothers-in-law, Edward Kehler and J. Wade Hill; and his sister-in-law, Grace Kehler.

He is survived by his sister, Judy (Van Der Decker) Hill; his three children and their spouses: Janet (Neil) Farrell, Peter (Pam) Van Der Decker, and David (Virginia) Van Der Decker, and by 18 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.

At this point, no funeral or graveside services are planned.

John & his wife Priscilla experienced Jesus as being their inexhaustible treasure.  Now they are both getting to bask in His presence! If you would like to pass on a word of encouragement or praise for how John's life has impacted you, please feel free to write the family at Treasure.Inexhaustible@gmail.com If you would like to hear his testimony in his own words, you can hear him being interviewed here .

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made online to The God's Story Project .