EDMONDS—Hundreds came together at Westgate Chapel in Edmonds on Saturday, August 2, not just to mourn but to celebrate the life of Doctor Gregory Jantz who unexpectedly died in a vehicle accident at his home on July 4.
As founder of The Center: A Place of Hope, Jantz spent over 40 years pioneering whole-person care, addressing co-occurring disorders like depression, anxiety, and addiction through innovative therapies that blended nutrition, sleep, spiritual guidance, and more—helping thousands overcome everything from PTSD to technology addiction.
A best-selling author of over 45 books, frequent media expert on outlets like CNN and The Dr. Phil Show, and sought-after speaker at more than 100 conferences, he infused his work with a faith-driven message of hope.
To those who gathered—family, friends, colleagues, and lives he touched—Dr. Jantz was the “effervescent” encourager who saw potential in everyone, a “watchtower” of kindness whose legacy of healing and optimism lingered in every tearful smile and shared story.
Opening on a note of scripture from Acts 11:24, read by friend Pastor Peter Van Breda, “For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord,” captured the essence of Jantz’s influence—a man whose career bridged clinical expertise with compassionate outreach, transforming mental health treatment by focusing on root causes rather than symptoms alone.
His eulogy, read by Dr. Arden Snyder’s traced Jantz’s path from his 1959 birth in Boise, Idaho, to his Seattle years where he earned degrees in counseling and psychology, to then marrying LaFon (Ferguson) in 1983, where they built The Center into a global beacon of hope and healing.
Jantz loved family adventures—hiking, biking, skiing—who was anchored by the scripture of Jeremiah 29:11, a verse with God’s promise to provide a hope-filled future.
Eldest son Greg Jantz, Jr. shared a touching letter his father wrote him at age 13, pledging support as he stepped into manhood, “I commit to you as your father to stand with you, support you, pray for you… I believe in you and God’s plan for you.”
Recalling annual family goal-setting sessions and their mission statement—”Live to provide the hope of Christ to the culture and to future generations”—Greg shared principles from a note on his father’s desk reading, “Give without keeping score. Add value to people’s lives. Lead with love, not an agenda. Find ways to serve. Show you care. Encourage others. Focus on building relationships.”
Greg drew from the “Lion Chasers Manifesto” in the book Chase the Lion by Mark Patterson his father gifted him, that urged a bold living:
“Quit living as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death. Run to the roar. Set God-sized goals. Pursue God-given passions. Go after a dream that is destined to fail without divine intervention. Stop pointing out problems. Become part of the solution. Stop repeating the past. Start creating the future. Face your fears. Fight for your dreams. Grab opportunity by the mane and don’t let go. Live like today is the first and last day of your life. Burn simple bridges. Blaze new trails. Live for the applause of nail-scarred hands. Don’t let what’s wrong with you keep you from worshiping what’s right with God. Dare to fail. Dare to be different. Quit holding out. Quit holding back. Quit running away. Chase the lion.”
Younger son Benjamin’s thanked everyone for their support during their family’s period of mourning.
“Thank you all for being here,” said Benjamin. “I know my dad loved probably each and every one of you guys. Thank you for being his friend. He’s a really good dad. Probably the best.”
LaFon described her husband of over 42 years as kind, compassionate, and protective—a “watchtower” who treasured family and friends alike.
She recalled his “effervescent” presence, from in a recent Focus on the Family interview, and how Jantz believed in people’s worth, opening doors at The Center and greeting patrons at Red Twig Café each morning.
“He was an incredible listener with discernment and wisdom from years of lived experience, choosing carefully to speak only words of encouragement, hope, and helpfulness to his hearers,” said LaFon. “Words that help and words that heal were always his aim. Words of encouragement and words of hope. He was a brilliant teacher, mentor, father, and extraordinary counselor to many. He always treated everyone he met with a smile and youthful enthusiasm. Kids and teens loved being with him and just really flocked to him.”
LaFon shared that Jantz had no plans to retire, insisting that he had “more to do” and reassured everyone that Greg’s final day was “the best day ever” and that “he did not suffer.”
Sister Lynne Wells evoked childhood memories, recalling how she was known as “Greg’s little sister.”
“I imagine the day that Greg was born in July of 1959, God was thrilled,” she said. “He was head over heels in love with this creation and God was excited for the moment for Greg to take his first breath and I could just hear him saying, ‘I’ve got great plans for this one.’”
Passing, symbolically, the baton to his sons, she encouraged them to “run the race” that God “has set out for you.”
Pursuit Church Northwest Lead Pastor Russell Johnson shared his account of the life-altering friendship he had with Jantz that began unexpectedly in mid-2022 when Jantz mailed him a box of his books. By late 2023, amid Johnson’s own mental health struggles, Jantz became his mentor and counselor.
“I’m not sure I’d still be pastoring today without him,” Johnson admitted, his voice carrying the weight of gratitude.
Just recently in May, Pastor Johnson shared, he and Jantz collaborated where he opened up about his mental health journey and Jantz spoke on God’s role in holistic healing—mind, body, soul.
Traveling nationwide, Johnson discovered Jantz’s quiet impact on other pastors and volunteers.
“There have been so many times over the last three weeks, I’ve picked up my phone to call Dr. Jantz just to remember he’s no longer here. I miss my friend,” said Johnson in raw vulnerability. “But today I’m confident that Dr. Jantz has now joined the great cloud of witnesses, leans over the banister of Heaven, looking at that which he left behind and encouraging us to keep walking in the direction that we should go, that we would never depart from him.”
Senior Pastor Alec Rowlands of Westgate Chapel delivered the benediction to the memorial of Dr. Gregory Jantz.
“Father, thank you for a life well lived. We may never understand why Greg’s life was taken so suddenly with so much living left to do, but we are confident, Lord, that you’ve not written the finish of the story yet. You’re still writing your story in our hearts. And so we turn to you for comfort, for encouragement, for strength, for hope. And Lord, if there are any here this afternoon who have yet to enter into that faith that sustained Greg Jantz all of his life into eternity, I pray that before very long they will discover you as Lord and Savior of their lives. And we pray these things in Jesus’ name. Amen.”
Dr. Gregory Jantz is survived by his parents Larry and Judy, wife LaFon, sons Greg Jr. (with wife Madison) and Benjamin, sister Lynne Wells, and extended family.
Author: Mario Lotmore
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