This is a dangerous post…
I love teaching with Tom Campbell. The last month or so Tom and I have been teaching a class together at Spring Meadows. He is a great thinker and communicator. We are studying the book of Mark and a few weeks ago we were talking about why Herod feared John the baptist. Was it his boldness in calling sin, sin, regardless of what might happen or who was in his audience, his passion for right, his very presence? Maybe a combination of each. But for whatever reason that got me to thinking about preacher’s I remember growing up. I think it was Harvey Starling who was the “John the baptist” guy of my growing up – if I could have I would have responded twice each time he preached. He was powerful. A few things about the “other guys” I remember hearing growing up:
- Jerry Jenkins: Obviously I heard dad more than any other and my assessment of him will not be fair – it will be biased. Dad was a “5 tool preacher.” He had total game. In his preaching he was passionate (dad’s energy was always high), biblical (every sermon was deeply steeped in scripture), a minister (his lessons reeked with compassion), had high integrity (I never doubted dad was anything in private other than what he was in public), and a great voice – not to mention he was a scholar though he never came across as condescending or stilted. Unfortunately about 9th grade or so I left his preaching to “help out” in our developing deaf ministry. Looking back it probably had more to do with a girl who I was interested in (though she never knew it) but it took me away from dad’s preaching in some important years and now I regret that.
- VP Black: I remember that brother Black would come once a year to Woodlawn and preach about stewardship. I remember one Sunday morning after he had preached riding with he and dad to lunch and dad. We were in our old 1969 Chevy Impala (you could put four of today’s Hondas in the back seat of that monster
). Brother Black always dressed impeccably. That day he had a black suit on and a white cuffed-linked shirt with a white tie and that jet black hair. I will never forget asking him (I had to be under age 10) “Does VP stand for Vampire?” He cackled. What I remember about brother VP was that in his preaching he was an instructor. And I remember that he liked to use some humor. As one who had always loved to laugh that impressed me. - Jack Exum: I’ve tried to remember the first time I heard Jack preach. I had to be a teenager already. It was a banquet at the end of some event. I remember it like it was yesterday. His lesson was entitled: “Everybody Ought To Have Box.” And he did. An old cigar box that he kept important stuff in. I think of that lesson often. What I remember about his preaching is he was a great storyteller. He carried you along with what he was saying.
- Gus Nichols: I well remember the first time I met brother Gus. It was a Sunday night. For whatever reason dad had the night off and we stopped at the gianormous new 6th Avenue building. Brother Gus preached. He spoke to each of us. And afterward on the way to our car I remember dad saying: “You will probably never meet a greater man than him.” Wow! The greatest man I knew saying that was huge. What I remember most about brother Gus’ preaching is his vast knowledge of the scriptures and his gentle presentation of it. He had a gentle, loving voice that caressed you and God’s Word as he spoke it.
- Willard Collins: If they made a movie about brother Collins they’d call it “The Voice.” Few voices of the past 100 years have been as distinguishable and unique. It wasn’t a pretty voice but it was powerful. Brother Collins had a unique way of taking the simple, ordinary and applying it beautifully to the text. He was also the consummate exhorter. A friend once said the secret to his effectiveness is that he began offering the invitation the moment he got in the pulpit.
- Jimmy Allen: Brother Allen could paint a word picture as clearly as anyone. His ability to take a Greek word and make it fit our world was unparalleled in my experience.
- Harvey Starling: Did he eat locust and wild honey on the side? I don’t know but his ability to convict the heart was unquestionable. I remember dad saying we were going to have to close a meeting with him early because everyone had already responded .
- Jim Bill McInteer: Has there been a more powerful wordsmith than Jim Bill? He was also an encourager beyond belief. He would make you want to do right by making you believe you could be better and were better than you believed you were.
- Eddie Cloer: I heard brother Eddie in two meetings growing up. He preached one of the 8 sermons I specifically remember hearing. I have used that sermon in meetings most of my preaching life. Brother Cloer could take a first principle and package it in a way that made it not “old hat” but engagingly new.
- James Pilgrim: I only heard brother Pilgrim one time. It was at the annual newcomers dinner that Woodlawn held at the Roebuck Recreational Center. He played a mandolin and sang – he was not good at either but he spoke of the importance of every individual. I was eight years old and still remember it. That’s effective teaching!
- Van Vansandt: Van doesn’t really get to be on this list – he’s much too young. But he is. I first met Van my senior year of high school. He lived life big! Big smile, big laugh and big personality. When I heard him preach he was only a freshman in College but I remember thinking I want to preach like that.
- Mid McKnight, Stanley Shipp, Jack Lewis, Batsell Barrett Baxter, Wendell Gann, Jerry Westmoreland, Thomas Warren, James Folwer, Roger Russell… I could go on and on and on but I’ve said enough to make my point. So let’s get to it:
Why is it that people like to torment preachers and compare and try to make one better than another? Statements like: “That’s the kind of preaching we need”, “I haven’t heard preaching like that in years”, “Bother ____ used to say”, “Why can’t you be like _____?”, are much too commonplace and never helpful. In the list above you will find powerful orators, passionate proclaimers, brilliant scholars, creative storytellers, and man who’s godliness was their greatest tool….what stands out? They are different from each other (in most every aspect but the last one). Each served to make me a better person. Each convicted me, persuaded me, fed me, challenged me in different ways. I needed all of them and grew from each of them.
Here’s my challenge for you: Love the preacher who brings God’s Truths to light before you. Encourage him. In doing so you will make him better. Find his strength and grow from that strength. When the next guy comes along love him too. Be thankful for those who chose this life, for those who try, for those who love God and His Word and His People. And stop expecting him to be superman – or God – or better than whoever is your favorite.
And, one more thing – I struck out yesterday. Nobody said anything that prompted this or was in anyway ugly but I knew it. I get up to bat a few hundred times a year – yesterday was the pits for me – and I hate the memory of it. I bet your favorite guys have had days like that too. We all do. And we know it. But thankfully, when it was all over – God still loves me, my wife still kissed me goodnight, my brethren were more gracious than I could have asked for them to be and I’m still blessed more than I bless. God is good.
Dale, I heard many of those same preachers. Could tell some neat stories about some of them. Don’t be too hard on yourself about yesterday. We all have had those kinds of days. Yesterday won’t be the last one for you (or any of us). Instead of saying you struck out, just say you didn’t hit a homerun, may only a single, or just a bunt.
Dale,
How neat and encouraging to stroll down memory lane with you. Great preachers. Godly men. Thanks for sharing the memories. By the way, I personally know of a new family in Spring Hill who visited Spring Meadows yesterday, and I can tell you, you did not strike out yesterday!
Love you, brother.
Steve Baggett
You are so right about the various “major talents” of these men. While I knew very few of them, the one thing that stands out among all “great” preachers is that they are men of love. They love God and they love connecting people with God. Sometimes that comes across through scholarly study. Sometimes it comes across in powerful oratory. Sometimes it comes across through wonderful personal work.
We still have great preachers among us, because we are surrounded by men who have that same great quality of love. May that always continue!
I remember my worst sermon very well. We lived in Thomasville, GA with a small mission church. I don’t remember the title but I felt it was a failure. After the service my neighbor whose wife was a member took me aside and said he had decided to become a Christian and wanted to know what to do. I later baptized and he became a good friend. The word does not go forth in vain
Jerry, like you, I have many “fave’s” in men I have heard preach, and I can typically quote at least one favorite statement from each of them. Thank you for reminding me of them. And Jerry…while you believe you ‘struck out’, you may never know it, but I’m confident someone who heard you yesterday was moved by something you said. Your role is simply that of messenger. God works in your listeners’ hearts…and He knows what He needed you to say.
And, Jack Exum was also one of my faves…but I think I loved his moma more. I learned alot from her through his shared memories…especially that lesson about the apron strings.
Dale,
I love reminiscing about preachers, and people in general, who have influenced my life – for the fondness of the memories, but also for the encouragement to be the same encouragement to others.
As far as ‘striking out’… I felt that way last Sunday. The worst part for me is feeling like I’ve let others down. We’ve discussed before how there are times when things don’t seem to go as well as we hope; they don’t seem to live up to our expectation / imagination. But our job is “simply” to plant and water and let God bring the increase, or, to continue your baseball analogy, to sacrifice/bunt the runner into scoring position and let the 3rd base coach take over. I pray I never forget the story Dan Winkler told of a 2 week gospel meeting, years ago, during which ‘only’ a 15 yr old girl responded to be baptized. Many felt the meeting was a failure, for only one responded. But that 15 yr old girl grew up to become the mother of 3 preachers, who each baptized thousands.
Like you said, God is good… and you are most certainly loved!
Monday is here, but Sunday’s comin’!
Hi, Dale,
Thanks for your POINT(s) and the reminiscence too! The reminiscence was nice, but it really set the stage WELL for the POINT(s).
All of we preachers have surely felt like we “struck out” or certainly didn’t hit a homerun from time to time. I’ve used the baseball analogy quite a bit when talking to people about preaching. You may recall me telling you that I write a personal reaction to myself for every sermon that I preach. I am often writing the words “The brethren are gracious,” and especially so, whenever I have felt like the lesson was lacking and I was wondering if I “struck out” yet again.
But then, a sweet sister, or encouraging brother will tell me sincerely, something like: “Steve, thank you for that good lesson! We’re so blessed to have you as our preacher,” etc. And so I write “The brethren are gracious and God is SO GOOD.” – - In keeping with the baseball analogy, many times when loving brethren are encouraging me [after a sermon when I've felt like it was considerably lacking], I’ve said things like: “Thank you so much! Your encouragement means more to me than I know how to adequately express.” – - I’m sure that you and all servant hearted brothers have said similarly. – - I’ve continued the “baseball analogy” with folks along this line: “You know, nobody hits a homerun every time they come to bat. Sometimes they strike out. But I’m sure they are trying to ‘get a hit’ -’connect’ every time they step into the batter’s box. And that’s what I try to do each time I preach – I’m trying to ‘connect’ God’s word to the hearts of people.” – - Maybe as a bit of self-preservation and self-help, but I’ve taken a little comfort along the way in the fact that Major League teams pay guys multi-millions of dollars, and those same guys “strike out” lots of times! 
BTW, Dale, I doubt that you really “struck out” with your lesson on Sunday, but I want you to know brother, that you definately DID NOT STRIKE OUT with this blog post! Thanks for the wonderful POINT(s) that you made therein! It was an encouragement to each of us!
Love in Christ, Steve
Brother Dale,
Thanks for the memories! And thanks for reminding us or our calling in Christ.
In Him,
Mike
Dale,
In my early life, my dad was not a Christian, my mom “dragged” 4 young’ins less than 5 years between them to church regularly. As a kid my dad taught us how to play poker, using chips of course, or matches, but it was all in fun. My mom heard Marshal Keeble was going to speak at Natchez Trace in Nashville, I think it was during their V.B.S. She wanted me to hear him. First, upon arrival I remember someone coming by our pew wanting to take me to class. She explained that I was there to hear Brother Keeble. This may have been about ’66 or ’67, he was very old. I was 10 or 11. I loved his preaching but cannot remember what he preached on. But I do remember him saying that no Christian home would ever have a deck of cards in their home. It is strange to me that this is all remember from his lesson. I think this may have created some measure of conflict in me because I still remember coming away with the clear impression that Keeble and my dad saw things from a completely different angle. I’m glad to say my dad became a Christian. He is 86 now and somewhere in that house are some playing cards and poker chips left from a previous era. As a footnote, its been so long since I played poker I can’t remember what beats what.
I also grew up with one of the best whose recall of scriptures is rarely equaled. I will be 58 next month and I still hear that if I keep at it I will be as good as my dad some day. In fact, if I meet anyone in the Lord’s church that does not know James Watkins, I wonder where he has been.
The comparisons never bother me. My dad is leaving me me a great legacy. Howewer, I also happen to be the younger brother of Bill Watkins, who is quite possibly the best preacher/minister in the brotherhood. I am proud of both of them and realize it is a blessing to have such greatness so close.
Dale, after preaching full time for almost ten years now, I have found several preachers who I consider to be mentors (and I have more than one). Men like Bill Cantrell at East Huntsville, John Tracy, Phil Sanders, David Sain, Tom Holland, and the late William Woodson. If it were not for my grandparents taking me early on to East HSV, I don’t know that I would be preaching today. Much can be said for the influence of great men in our lives. I never knew your father, or some of the men you mentioned. But my son is almost 13 and an aspiring gospel preacher. You know who his mentor and hero is? Me. Wouldn’t trade that feeling for anything.
Thanks Dale,
Several of those men you mentioned impacted my life as well. In particular, Jimmy Allen when I went to Harding as a freshman, and later Mid McKnight in Abilene changed my thinking and life forever. One of his favorite sayings was, “If you you love people, you’ll find a way. If you don’t you’ll find an excuse.”
We all owe so much to those who have gone before us. And yes, let us all pray for that brother who seeks to impart God’s word no matter what his “style” might me.
I think hearing some of these same preachers and a few others made me want to preach. We should all appreciate those influences and never forget what a great debt we owe others. Regarding the “strike out,” I doubt it, I’ll bet you at least got to first base. But I have had the same feeling for sure. After all of these years of preaching, even when you have prepared pretty well, it sometimes seems you just did not have it today. It is those days that I think back to Tom Holland’s prep. and del. class. One of his statements helps, “Not every sermon is going to be a masterpiece.” If we share a portion of God’s, it can’t be all bad.