A year and a half after two Alabamians were among the first to be inducted into the Evangelists Hall of Faith, they saw themselves immortalized for that honor in a room dedicated to the group.
Alabama evangelists Junior Hill, of Hartselle, and Leon Westerhouse, of Birmingham, were present for the dedication Jan. 14 at the North American Mission Board (NAMB), as was legendary music evangelist Cliff Barrows.
With brass plaques, the Hall of Faith — permanently located at NAMB’s offices in Alpharetta, Ga. — will perpetually honor the 30 living and deceased evangelists tapped at the Conference of Southern Baptist Evangelists’ (COSBE) inaugural induction in Indianapolis in June 2008 as well as future inductees.
In introducing Barrows, Hill reminded the audience that “it’s often said when Billy Graham is introduced, he has spoken to more people than any other person in history. Well, if that’s true — and most agree it is — that also means that Cliff Barrows has sung and led the music before more people than anybody in history.”
Barrows’ silvery voice — so familiar to those who watched him lead mass choirs at Billy Graham Crusades around the world — instantly conjures up memories of his 65-year partnership with Graham, George Beverly Shea and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.
“I bring greetings from Bill and Bev,” Barrows said, noting that “it is a great privilege for me to represent them as co-laborers together with Christ in recognizing this calling and the attention that has been given by our celebration today.”
Following his remarks and a standing ovation, Barrows generated more applause and teary eyes as he stepped up to lead the audience of COSBE members, their families and NAMB staff in a refrain of “How Great Thou Art.”
That song “was just a high moment, a wonderful experience,” Westerhouse said. “It’s something I will remember the rest of my life.”
COSBE’s current president, Ron Herrod, of Sevierville, Tenn., called the evangelists named to the Hall of Faith “incredible men of God, and for many generations to come, people will come here and see these plaques, read about these men and the incredible influence they had on evangelism in Southern Baptist life.”
Every other year, two more evangelists will be inducted into the Hall of Faith during COSBE’s summer conference, held in conjunction with the Southern Baptist Convention’s (SBC) annual meeting. The next Hall of Faith inductees will be announced at a dinner in June in Orlando, Fla., site of this year’s SBC annual meeting.
Inducted in the inaugural Hall of Faith class in 2008 were Hyman Appelman, Walter K. Ayers, Barrows, Manley Beasley, Wayne Bristow, Sam Cathey, Clyde Chiles, E.J. Daniels, Ron Dunn, Freddie Gage, Mike Gilchrist, Graham, Vance Havner, Jesse Hendley, Rudy Hernandez, Hill, Eddie Martin, Angel Martinez, Homer Martinez, Shea, Bailey Smith, J. Harold Smith, Jerry Spencer, Bill Stafford, Bette Stainecker, Jay Strack, Westerhouse, Gene Williams, T.W. Wilson and Don Womack. (BP, TAB)
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