“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet for the nations.” ~Jeremiah 1:5

Pastor Adam Fritz Giles was the full embodiment of Jeremiah 1:5. Born to Arthur Fritz (Beech) and Madge Neil Giles on December 17, 1972, he came out of the womb destined to be different…destined to be used by God…and he never shied away from this calling. The big brother to the one and only Micah Tish Giles, Adam reveled in the fact of being her older brother and he would protect her at all costs. Their relationship was like none other…the only oil and water combination that somehow always made sense. The sensibility of their relationship was rooted in the most common of factors: laughter, love, and the foundation of Christ. No matter the reason, season, or circumstance it all came back to these three sensibilities. Anyone who was ever around them would experience their laughter, as the two of them could make a joke out of even the most serious of situations. Their love was intensified in their very act of communication or action. They talked to each other every single day, multiple times a day. No reason was too small. Adam loved Micah so much that he once sacrificed himself and assumed the punishment meant for Micah. Needless to say, their mom chastised them both…Adam on sacrificial principle and Micah for her obvious guilt. But most importantly, they would always point you back to the cross…Adam made sure that Micah knew through his words, as well as his life, that Jesus was the reason for every single blessing in every single circumstance and this would remain an unmistakable fact. This was a firm example of who he was at heart…a sacrificial, kind-hearted, magnanimous personality who always valued others’ happiness far above and beyond his own.

Adam’s leadership developed naturally. From Sunday School teacher to choir director, he honed his gifts and talents from the tutelage at the Macedonia Baptist Church and Holy Trinity Church of God in Christ. Music was in his soul, gospel music that is, and he reveled in the message and ministry it provided. He participated in the Buchtel High School Gospel Choir and the community youth choir known as FIRE. He readily involved himself as a servant leader and rose to every challenge. As Senior Class President of the Buchtel High School Class of 1991, Adam was born to shine. His magnetic personality drew confidence from friends and strangers alike. He knew he was different and embraced the challenge to find purpose in each and every one of his gifts. Even beyond the confines of the church, Adam’s innate personality was a draw. Through his five years of employment at PNC Bank, then Families First Health Service, and finally through his retirement at Everwell Community Health, Adam was allowed to apply ministry to practicality in his everyday task of mentoring and caring for people. Adam loved to love on people. No one would be surprised to see him posted up at Acme praying for a soul in the meat section. He realized that there was always an immediate need for the love of Christ to be shared. Adam was a firm believer, that despite the ministerial calling, which he had readily answered at a young age, that his true pulpit was the life he lived each day.

As Adam matured in ministry, he completed the Bishop James Ministry School which allowed him to grow and minister in various auxiliaries within the Church of God in Christ, most notably within the Ohio North 1st Jurisdiction. Adam served in the following capacities:

○ YPWW with National Evangelist Hazel Templeton and participated and assisted in the initial YPWW “Night of Fire”
○ Choir Treasurer for Ohio North First Jurisdictional Music Department under the leadership of Director Gregory Jordan
○ Jurisdictional Adjutant
○ Jurisdictional Planning Committee
○ Jurisdictional Communication Team
○ Jurisdictional Prayer Coordinator appointed by Bishop Edward Cook

All of these appointments gave Pastor Adam the opportunity to continually grow in the strength of his ministry. On Easter Sunday, 2002, Adam answered his pastoral calling when he started the Anointed Word of Life Church of God in Christ, later named The Rock Church in 2013. Through this pulpit, Pastor Adam was able to expand his reach in the Akron community and beyond. It is here he preached the unadulterated Word of God to everyone who would listen. Pastor Adam was known for his genuineness and care for the people. He never shrank in any undertaking that challenged him. Adam not only sought to help others but worked to find the vehicle for which he could have the greatest impact. Because helping others was Adam’s superpower, he thrived on it. He was always able to see the good in the bleakest situations and he always worked to connect these same situations to the promises and purposes of God. Adam lived each and every day in response to his call…loving God and loving God’s people.

Despite the challenges of the last few years, Adam’s faith remained undaunted. He was resolute that his life remained securely in the hands of his creator. Despite how he was feeling, he continued to check on others. He wanted to protect the ones he loved often at the sacrifice of his own truth. In true Adam form, his very last words heard by the public came across the pulpit. It was as if the Lord himself allowed him one final chance to walk in who he had created Adam to be on this side of heaven. As he stood at the pulpit to render the invocation, the invitation to usher in the presence of God, Pastor Adam did not disappoint. Little did he know that the beginning of his elevation service on earth was in fact the genesis to his elevation into the kingdom. Adam left with a spirit of thankfulness on his heart…thankful for the Lord being good, thankful for the Lord healing his body, thankful for the Lord touching his soul, and thankful for the call of ministry. He just wanted to tell the Lord thank you. Adam exuded gratitude until the very end, and by this same example, we say thank you and remain forever grateful for his life.

Pastor Adam F. Giles leaves to cherish his love and legacy: mother, Neil Giles; sister, Micah Giles; niece, Mia Giles; special niece Mercedes Sanders; great nephew Kalib Tucker, Jr. and niece Courtney (Madison) Brown; Godchildren, Xavier Farr and Karter Gaines; fiancé, Latoya Smith and her daughter Lauren, as well as, many cherished aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.