Lewis A. Drummond, former president of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake Forest, N.C., died Jan. 4. A former professor at Beeson Divinity School of Samford University, Drummond was 77.
Drummond was well known among Southern Baptists and other evangelicals as a scholar with a passion for evangelism and spiritual awakening.
At the time of his death, he was the evangelism professor in residence at the Billy Graham Training Center at The Cove in Asheville, N.C., and chancellor of schools of evangelism for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.
His career as pastor, professor and author spanned more than 54 years. He served as the inaugural Billy Graham Professor of Evangelism at Beeson Divinity School from 1992 to 2003. He came to this post from the presidency of Southeastern.
Prior to his Southeastern presidency, Drummond was the Billy Graham Professor of Evangelism at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky., and director of the local Billy Graham Center.
He taught at Spurgeon’s Theological College in London and served as pastor of Baptist churches in Kentucky, Alabama and Texas.
“He was a great scholar and was one of the most prolific authors of our generation on evangelism,” said Timothy George, dean of the Beeson Divinity School. “He was also truly a Christian statesman. He held crusades and evangelistic meetings in many countries, and preached on every continent on earth. He was also actively involved in the work of the Baptist World Alliance (BWA).”
Besides writing books on evangelism and spiritual awakening, Drummond also wrote biographies of Billy Graham, Charles Haddon Spurgeon, Charles Finney and the late Southern Baptist missionary Bertha Smith.
For Drummond, his knowledge of the Bible and Christianity was more than just intellectual.
“Of all the people I’ve known, he was one of the most hopeful,” George said. “He embodied an optimism of grace rooted in a vibrant personal relationship with Jesus Christ.”
George recalled an instance a few years ago when Drummond, who struggled with recurring cancer, walked into his office and quoted from John Bunyan.
“He said, ‘I’ve been to the bottom and know it’s solid.’ His belief in Christ made him see life in hopeful terms,” George said. “I spoke with him a few days before he died, and this hopefulness continued until the end. I could still hear in his voice, though weakened by pain, the confidence and good cheer of a faithful follower of Christ, one who knew that he was forever held secure in the everlasting arms of God’s grace and love.”
Along with teaching at Samford’s Beeson Divinity School, Drummond was also a 1950 graduate of Samford, which was then Howard College.
“When he came to Beeson it was like he was coming home,” George said. “He was dearly loved by many people here.”
Larry Michael, former adjunct professor at Beeson, received his Ph.D. in evangelism under Drummond. “I am representative of the thousands of students whose lives were impacted by the influence of Dr. Drummond,” said Michael, who was pastor of First Baptist Church in Clanton for nine years and now serves as pastor of First Baptist Church, Sweetwater, Fla. “He inspired us in the classroom to go out and win our world for Jesus Christ. He represented the best of Christian leadership, and his legacy lives on through those he mentored in the cause of Christ.”
Drummond also held degrees from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, and the University of London. A native of Dixon, Ill., Drummond is survived by his wife, Betty.
He was buried on the campus of Southeastern Seminary, and his family asked that memorial gifts be sent to BWA.
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