Former president James Earl Carter, Jr. passed peacefully into the arms of Jesus on Sunday, December 29, at the age of 100, but the light he leaves behind will continue to shine through his legacy of generous living.
Jimmy Carter obtained international notoriety as the 39th president of the United States, but he valued his role as a disciple of Jesus much more – a role he knew required him to serve his fellow humans in an even deeper way than as a temporary head of state.
“My faith demands that I do whatever I can, wherever I can, whenever I can, for as long as I can,” he said. Carter most desired to be known “as someone who was a champion of peace and human rights,” a legacy he continued to build, alongside his wife, Rosalynn, in the 43 years since leaving The Oval Office.
Though he focused his political career on advocating for world peace, human rights, and economic and social development – a dedication that earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 – Carter did not consider his work finished. When his presidential term ended, he and Rosalynn returned to his rural hometown of Plains, Georgia, where he regularly attended and taught Sunday school at his local church. Carter became a role model for generous living through his dedicated volunteerism and a staunch advocacy of human rights.
Shortly after leaving the White House, the Carters also began volunteering with Georgia-based nonprofit Habitat for Humanity, sharing the love of Jesus while building affordable housing for people around the world. Through their partnership with Habitat for Humanity, the Carters personally worked alongside more than 100,000 volunteers to build nearly 4,500 homes in 14 different countries.
The Carters also generously used their resources – time, knowledge, influence, and capital – to establish the Carter Center in 1982, which works to prevent and resolve international conflicts, enhance freedom and democracy, and improve health around the world.
One of the Carter Center’s biggest projects has been the reduction of Guinea worm disease – a condition affecting impoverished communities that lack access to clean water – by more than 99.99 percent from the mid-1980s to 2023, making it likely to be the first human disease since smallpox to be entirely eradicated.
From his early involvement with the Civil Rights Movement to his facilitation of groundbreaking peace negotiations between Israel and Egypt, Carter was a true champion of peace and human rights.
We mourn the loss of a great philanthropist, traveler, teacher, and believer while rejoicing that he has entered into the joy of his Master.
Photos: istock/Unsplash, Library of Congress
