Fuller President: We're Proud of Scott Adam's Christian Witness
A California seminary held a memorial Wednesday to remember former student Scott Adam who was killed last month after Somali pirates hijacked his yacht.
Fuller Seminary hosted the noon service to celebrate the life and ministry calling of Adam. Adam, his wife Jean, and two friends were fatally shot aboard his yacht, named the Quest.
"All of us at Fuller are proud of Scott's Christian witness – as a filmmaker, through his personal interactions, and as a generous disciple who touched lives around the world through his sailing ministry," said Fuller President Richard J. Mouw. "We only wish the pirates had known what precious cargo they hijacked."
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Adam, Jean, Phyllis Macay and Robert A. Riggle were all aboard the Quest delivering Bibles to churchgoers in remote islands when 19 Somali pirates hijacked the vessel off the coast of Oman on Feb. 19. U.S. Navy ships managed to surround the vessel and a standoff ensued.
Four days later, news broke out that the Somali pirates had shot dead all four Americans held captive aboard the yacht. All the pirates were either killed or captured.
The deaths of the Adams' and the other Americans aboard had deeply shocked Fuller Professor Richard Peace. Peace, a professor of evangelism and spiritual formation, had taught Adam and had been his doctoral mentor when he began to pursue a PhD in theology in 2000.
At the memorial, Peace spoke of Adam's decision to study at the seminary after more than 30 years in the film industry. "Scott didn't have to be here; he was called to be here," said Peace.
In fact, Adam used his film skills to add a new depth to Fuller's curriculum. He contributed to the Brehm Center for Worship, Theology and the Arts, developing a two-quarter course called Ministry and Media: Theory and Production. Adam taught this course three times between 2004 and 2006 as an adjunct professor.
"He was a filmmaker of the highest level, and he brought a lot of that practical experience to the classroom," noted Peace.
Speakers also shared bits of Adam's personality. In addition, to being his colleague, Peace said Adam was also his friend. Adam and Peace both lived in Los Angeles' West Side and began carpooling together. From there, Peace's and Adam's families became close.
"He was full of energy and very funny – he always had a spark in his eye, was always pursuing a new project," he recalled.
Michael Evans, a former student of Adam's, shared that he lived boldly and encouraged him to do the same.
"When I was sheepish about pursuing a career move, he kindly lashed out at me: 'Michael, you can't go through life in fear! I lived most of my life like that … but I don't want to live that way anymore. That's not living,'" Evans recalled.
Adam's boldness led him and his wife to sell their home to take up sailing, a passion of his. According to his website, Adam regularly opened up his yacht to visitors, traveling to places such as Fiji, Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands, the Caroline Islands of Micronesia, Palau, the northern Philippines and Hong Kong. He also had taken to visiting local churches, preaching and offering members Bibles.
"It became, in his retirement, a form of ministry," Peace explained.
Prior to the sailing trip, however, Adam attended Fuller seminary and attained two master degrees in divinity and theology.
Adam was a native of Illinois. According to his professors at Fuller, he was a devout Episcopalian. However, he and his wife were congregants of St. Monica Catholic Church. He was a sailor from a young age and had sailed competitively for a time.
As an adult, he pursued a career in the film industry, working as an assistant director, production manager, and producer, with credits that include the Steven Spielberg film, "The Goonies." He was also involved in several television specials and sitcoms, including, "The Love Boat," "The Dukes of Hazzard," and "McCloud."
His wife Jean Adam was a New Yorker who grew up in South Carolina. She was a retired dentist and past president of the Dental Board of California. She had an interest for the biological sciences and the natural world. She enjoyed singing in the choir, reading, photography, boats and travel.
Together, they each earned U.S. Coast Guard Masters licenses and sailed over 100,000 miles as a couple.
Jean is survived by her two sons, Drew and Brad, her sister Ann and her brother George. Scott is survived by his daughter, Elizabeth, his son-in-law, Craig, and his grandchildren, Madelyn and Ethan.
Scott and Jean Adam will be buried this Saturday, March 5. The service will be held at the St. Monica Catholic Church, Santa Monica, Calif.
