I claim neither originality nor any degree of inspiration beyond that enjoyed by any of the
servants of Christ in this age. I am reminded of what Emerson said concerning originality,
"Every man is a quotation from his ancestors." Furthermore, there is probably nothing new on
this web page; in fact, whatever is new in religion is by the same token false. Contained herein
are the thoughts and ideas that have been gleaned from everything I have ever read, every
sermon and lecture I have ever heard, both in the pulpit and the classroom, and everyone I have
ever met.
* * * * * * * *
* * * * * * * *
My ministry in Christian education is as follows: Registrar and Instructor, (1957 - 1967); president, (1967 - 1971); Baptist Missionary Association Theological Seminary, Jacksonville, Texas. Academic Dean, (1976 - 1988); Jacksonville College, Jacksonville, Texas.
My teaching ministry has covered over forty years (1956 - 1999) at Baptist Missionary Association Theological Seminary and Jacksonville College, and my pastoral ministry (including interim pastorates) has covered over thirty years (1951 - 1967; 1971 - 1986) in ten Association Baptist churches in New Mexico and Texas.
My writing ministry has covered over forty-five years (1954 - 1999), including Sunday School
lessons for the Baptist Progress for eight years, also lessons for Golden Words, and various
Baptist periodicals in the Southwest. Sermons and/or lessons on the following books of the New
Testament (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Romans, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians,
I and II Thessalonians, I and II Timothy, Titus, Philemon, James, I and II Peter, I, II, III John,
and Jude). These volumes can be found in Kellar Library at Baptist Missionary Association
Theological Seminary. The lessons on Romans are being translated into the language of
Romania, and the sermons on the General Epistles are being translated in the language of
Russia. Books published include a history of Baptist Missionary Association Theological
Seminary entitled Speaking for Christ and His Church (1969), and a two-volume history of
Jacksonville College entitled A Centennial History of Jacksonville College with the sub-title
One Name, One Location, with One Purpose for One Hundred Years (1999 - 2000).
* * * * * * * *
I cannot remember the first time I went to church; I was too young. My parents took me to church as a baby in their arms. They and many of my other ancestors were members of the old historic First Baptist Church, in Eminence, Indiana. One special service does stand out vividly in my mind. As a seven-year old lad, I was brought under conviction by the power of God's Holy Spirit. My mother and daddy's pastor was preaching; God used him to point me to Jesus "...the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29). On a Sunday morning in the early fall of 1931 God's messenger stood and preached God's Word. An elderly gentleman, Uncle Joe Rosenbaum, walked the aisle professing faith in Jesus. People had been praying for Uncle Joe for many years; he was over eighty-years old. I thought if God can save an elderly gentleman like Uncle Joe, he can save a seven-year old boy like me. I rode home, in an old school-hack pulled by a team of horses, that Sunday morning after the Holy Spirit had touched my heart and with tears in my eyes because there was conviction in my heart and also a joy because I had trusted Jesus as my personal Savior.
I did not make a public profession of my faith in the Lord that morning, but I could hardly wait for the evening services to begin. When the invitation was given that evening, I walked down the aisle, gave the pastor my right hand, and told him that the Lord had saved me. I wanted to be baptized, and I wanted to become a member of the church where my parents were members. Later, on October 26 (1931), the 91st anniversary of the old church, I was baptized into the fellowship of the church. Five others were baptized in the same service including Uncle Joe, who soon went on to be with the Lord in just a little while. Here I was, saved and with my life before me, and Uncle Joe was saved late in life, and his physical life was almost gone. The church was a small country church heated with old wood stoves, and curtains separated the church auditorium into Sunday school rooms, but God's Spirit was there.
For fourteen years I was a member of that church. While holding membership there I served as
Baptist Training Service Director and helped my daddy on numerous occasions at the church. A
great inspiration to my life came to me in the person of my Sunday school teachers. What
dedicated workers they were! They, along with my mother and daddy, greatly influenced my
life. What rewards all of them will have at the judgment seat of Christ? God bless all Sunday
school teachers and workers; you'll never know whose lives you are influencing. After serving
in the United States Navy during World War II, marriage to an Amarillo, Texas girl, and two
children with whom God richly blessed us, God called me to preach His Word. My wife and I
were members of Bethel Missionary Baptist Church in Amarillo. It was there on August 7, 1949
(over fifty years ago) that I surrendered to preach. I had in mind as I walked down the aisle that
Sunday morning, I was going to tell my pastor, Brother Roy B. Flippo, that I desired the prayers
of the congregation. When I opened my mouth, however, out came the words "God is calling
me to preach and I am surrendering." I was a Sunday school teacher, and I had been set aside to
be ordained a deacon, but God had other plans for me. I learned later that some of the church
members had been praying for me that God would call me to preach. After fifty years I am as
sure now of my call to preach as I am that God saved my soul. Salvation of the soul comes first,
then God calls us to minister. I pray that God will always find me FAITHFUL to His calling and
FAITHFUL to witness for Him daily. (Taken from my autobiography entitled, "May the Lord
find me Faithful, pp. 8, 11, 69, 70, 77.)
* * * * * * * *
Last Updated on August 22, 2003, by Dr. John W. Gregson
Your visit to my page is number 
since November 19, 1999.