On Sept 12, 2026, George Gianopulos, 86, went to be with his Heavenly Father after a short illness. He was born in Jersey City, New Jersey on February 12, 1939 to Anthony Gianopulos and Helen Parker Gianopulos. He served with his wife, Nancy, in pastoral ministry for 44 years in 5 different states. He was a warm, eloquent pastor with tremendous charisma. He tangibly modeled Christ's love to his church members and prayed the most beautiful, moving, and heartfelt prayers. For many years at Christmas and Easter, he delivered very popular Sermons in Song, usually incorporating trumpet solos. He played the trumpet expertly and appreciated contemporary worship, hymns, and jazz music. Romans 8 was his favorite chapter in the Bible; he called it the crown jewel of Scripture.

George was an avid lifelong Yankees baseball fan, attending his first Yankees game with his older brother Bill at age 7. He was a real fan of all baseball, playing it growing up and later coaching his son's Little League teams in baseball. He also followed the New York Giants football team, and enjoyed college football and March madness basketball. In politics, he considered himself a constitutional conservative, and for a time was a leader in the Tea Party Group, and pro-life and anti-pornography efforts. He chronicled his life story in a self-published book titled "Big G and Little O! - A Behind-the-Scenes Look into the Life of a Pentecostal Pastor-Wife Team". He will be missed immensely by his family and all who knew him during this temporary separation.

George is preceded in death by his father (Anthony Gianopulos, born in Korfiotisa, Korinthos, Greece) and mother (Helen Parker Gianopulos, born in London, Ontario, Canada) and two brothers (George [Georgie] Gianopulos and Theodore Gianopulos). He is survived by his beloved wife of 64 years, Ora Nancy Gianopulos (Clayton, NC), his brother Bill Gianopulos (Gainesville, VA), and four children: son G. Gregg Gianopulos (Boston, MA), Gina G. Cruz (Clayton, NC), Gigi G. Dombrowski (Tom Dombrowski) (Batavia NY), and Garron G. Gianopulos (Kristie Gianopulos) (Clayton, NC). He has six grandchildren: Katarina (Gianopulos) Anzalone (Boston, MA), Ashkan Karimi (Nashville, TN), Cohl Cruz (Clayton, NC), Dane Dombrowski (Batavia, NC), Eliana Gianopulos (Clayton, NC), and Evan Gianopulos (Clayton, NC).

A celebration of life memorial service will be held on Sunday, October 4, 2026 at 3:00 pm at The Capital Church, 1308 US 70 West, Garner, NC 27529. Details for remote attendance will be forthcoming.

There will be a private entombment at Florence Memorial Gardens in Florence, South Carolina.

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Below is a synopsis of his life that George personally wrote in February 2026 and wished to share.

This My Story... This is My Song

I was born to immigrant parents - Canadian mother and Greek father. Brought up and educated in the public school system in Jersey City, NJ.

Dedicated to the Lord Jesus Christ at two weeks old. Accepted Christ as my personal Savior and Lord at my mother's knee at 5 years of age.

Brought up in church, attending four times a week - midweek, Saturday prayer and twice on Sunday, including Sunday school and youth group.

From early childhood, when asked "What are you going to be when you grow up?" I answered, "I'm gonna be a pastor when I grow up."

In my early teens, my faith and career goals changed. Influenced by faithless, Bible-bashing high school teachers, I began to question my Bible upbringing. "How do I know there's a soul, a God, a Heaven or Hell?"

My parents sent me to spend the summer with my brother Ted, a pastor in Kansas.

At church youth camp there, I rededicated my life to Christ's Lordship, was filled with the Holy Spirit and accepted my call into the ministry.

I earned a Pastoral Ministry degree from Central Bible College & Seminary, now part of Evangel University, where I studied the Bible, theology and liberal arts.

There I met my wife, Nancy, a true Southern belle from a small town in Tennessee. We married in 1962, and immediately started a ministry career that would continue 44 years. It would include serving seven different churches as solo or lead pastor, ranging in size from 60 to 600 members/adherents.

We poured ourselves into preaching/teaching/leading our flock in spiritual matters and the general administration of operations and programs of the church.

Two churches included a childcare center and one church a K-8 Christian academy.

Preaching/teaching four times a week, visiting in homes, sharing Christ with non-believing neighbors and encouraging our people. One-on-one counseling demanded a significant amount of my time. I had to limit it to 10 hours per week in order to complete my other responsibilities in a 52-hour work week.

I visited the sick in hospitals, presided over board meetings, baptisms, marriages, and funerals. I directed the education, discipleship, outreach, needy assistance, world missions, small groups, maintaining physical properties and construction of a half million-dollar, 600-seat sanctuary/office complex in 1985.

We were assisted in ministry by hundreds of volunteers who contributed by teaching classes, leading groups, attending and leading worship, teaching services, and giving tithes and offerings to pay the bills and my salary.

We also were supported in our larger churches by paid, efficient secretarial help, Youth and Associate pastors and school principals and teaching staff.

God blessed our marriage with four beautiful, gifted children. They have given us six amazing grandchildren. All have made a profession of faith in Christ and are living Christian lives. They are the source of joy, love and support in our old age.

How do I evaluate our lives in our 64th year together? This is my testimony in song:

The Goodness of God

Verse 1: I love You, Lord, Oh Your mercy never fails me.

All my days, I've been held in Your hands,

From the moment that I wake up,

Until I lay my head,

Oh I will sing of the goodness of God

-Refrain-

All my life You have been faithful.

All my life You have been so so good.

With every breath that I am able

Oh I will sing of the goodness of God.

Verse 2: I love Your voice

You have led me through the fire.

In the darkest night, You are close like no other.

I've known You as a Father.

I've known You as a friend.

I have lived in the goodness of God.

(Back to Refrain, then...)

With my life laid down, I'm surrendered now, I give You everything.

Your goodness is running after, it's running after me.

All my life You have been faithful.

All my life You have been so so good.

With every breath that I am able

Oh I will sing of the goodness of God.