Honoring Dr. George M. Flattery
Dear Friends:
It is with a heavy heart that I share with you the news that my father, Dr. George M. Flattery, went to be with Jesus on August 8, 2025. While we mourn his passing, we rejoice that he received the ultimate reward by hearing, “Well done, good and faithful servant!”
My Dad was considered a visionary by many people. He saw how the Great Commission could be fulfilled through correspondence and later by the Internet. Global University and Network211 exist as a result of his vision.
The “Celebration of Life” service was held on August 12, 2025. It was during the service that a video played from four years ago that recorded my parents receiving the Assemblies of God Lifetime Achievement award (https://vimeo.com/1108912130?share=copy#t=0).
This was his biography as read in the service:
Dr. George Manford Flattery was born in Three Sands, OK on September 10, 1937 to George and Stella Flattery. He was the second of their four children (Warren Flattery, Doris Flattery Repko, and Sharon Flattery Barefield).
Dr. George accepted Jesus as his personal Savior as a child and was baptized in the Holy Spirit at the age of 12. Along with his brother, Warren, Dr. George spent some of his early years in West Africa and completed his educational requirements through high school by correspondence. He felt that God used these studies as seeds of innovation that germinated in his heart as a unique approach for evangelism and Bible training. During their youth, Warren and George’s playmates were the local village boys, several of whom eventually became pastors. They also worked with his father in building their mission station.
Upon completion of his high school courses, Dr. George enrolled at Central Bible Institute in Springfield, Missouri along with his brother, Warren. At CBI, he enjoyed sports and campus life. He especially enjoyed being part of outstation ministry in towns around Springfield. For one year he served as literary editor and then editor of the CUP, the school yearbook. He earned a bachelor’s degree in biblical studies and met his wife Esther. They were married on May 28, 1955. With Esther’s devoted support, Dr. George went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in social science, a master’s degree in religious education, and a doctorate in philosophy of education.
Prior to the beginning of their ministry with the Foreign Missions Department in 1966, Dr. George served as Christian education director for Oak Cliff Assembly in Dallas, Texas, and together George and Esther planted Calvary Chapel in Richardson, Texas.
International Correspondence Institute (ICI) was founded in 1967 under the auspices of Assemblies of God Division of Foreign Missions. Dr. George, who made the proposal to establish the distance learning school, was founder and the president at the age of 30 years old. The initial study was an evangelism course, “The Great Questions of Life,” that proved effective in leading people to Jesus and training believers. In 1972, ICI moved to Brussels, Belgium, to serve its expanding global impact.
In 1991, ICI transitioned to Irving, Texas, and in 1993 changed its name to ICI University. One of its most significant development in those years was the establishment of its Master of Arts program. Through this program, the university broadened its evangelism, discipleship and training endeavors. Also, during these years, Dr. George embraced the Internet as a tool of evangelism and discipleship outreach, which led to his founding Global Colleagues (now Network211).
On October 15, 2008, Network211 launched Project 10Million with the goal of presenting the Gospel to ten million individuals around the world via the Internet. The first evangelism site was JourneyAnswers.com that addressed 10 life issues relevant in most cultures worldwide. In addition to evangelism, Network211 has strong ministries of discipleship and equipping ministry partners via what is known now as JourneyOnline.org. This is present now in the top ten most used languages on the Internet.
Since the launch of Project 10Million, now called Project 100 Million, the Lord has allowed Network211 to make 64.1 million Gospel presentations. Over 4.1 million individuals then made an Evangelism Response and over 586,000 wrote to begin a Discipleship Connection.
Dr. George served as president of both Global University and Network211 from 2006-2010. He continued his service as president of Network211 until 2015 and continues to serve as chancellor of Global University in his retirement. The ministries of Global University and Network211 reach nearly all of the 255 countries, territories and provinces of the world. Dr. George has traveled to approximately 145 of those places. Through these two ministries, millions of people have been introduced to Christ and presented with the gospel.
Dr. George has written several books on the Holy Spirit, including three volumes of a four-volume set titled A Biblical Theology of the Holy Spirit. His most recent book is The Leadership Paradox: Becoming Great Through Service.
Dr. George is survived by his wife (Esther Flattery), his sons (George and Deborah Flattery, and Mark and Amy Flattery), grandchildren (Christina and Andrews Cummins, Rebecca and Brian McDaniel, George David Flattery, Ethan and Sarah Flattery, Luke and Erin Flattery, Seth and Kenadee Flattery, Lucas Turnage, Jordan Turnage, and Eliesheva Turnage), and great-grandchildren (Georgia Cummins, Kinley Cummins, Carter McDaniel, Everett McDaniel, Esther Lynn Flattery, and Jonah Manford Flattery).
Dr. George will be remembered for being a visionary leader who was driven with a passion to see people come to Christ and be discipled. He led others with grace, dignity, and respect. Truly, he changed this world for the glory of God.
Blessings,
Mark
Dr. Mark Flattery
Network211 President
