Samuel Burke Vaughn Sr.
Fulton Road Baptist Church, Mobile
Mobile Baptist Association
Favorite Verse: John 1:1
Favorite Hymn: “There Is a Name I Love to Hear”
Hobbies: Reading and studying the Bible and encouraging people
Family Status: Widower for two years after nearly 75 years of marriage to wife, Dorothy “Dot”; sons, Samuel Vaughn Jr. and Donald R. Vaughn; six grandchildren; one great-grandson
Ninety-five-year-old Samuel Vaughn Sr. said his heart’s desire is to show love to people and to share the gospel with them. Opportunities to do both arose during the years through his work with Goodyear and Firestone and his sales or general manager positions with the Adamson and Long-Lewis dealerships in Birmingham and the DeVan, Treadwell and Mobile Dodge dealerships in Mobile. A deacon, Vaughn has served on various committees, taught Sunday School from 1972 to 2002 at the different churches he attended, led Bible studies and helped in the children’s ministry. For 20 years he sponsored a monthly luncheon club for Christian men in Mobile and Baldwin counties. The club grew to 40 participants. During World War II, Vaughn was a Marine serving in Guadalcanal, among other places. He also was “plane captain” for Charles Lindbergh, as well as the fighting ace and Commander Joe Foss. As such, Vaughn inspected the crafts for flight readiness before sending the pilots on their missions.
Q: What influences in your life pointed you to Christ at the beginning of your faith journey?
A: My wife. She did not preach to me; she did not push me. But I knew she wanted me to be a Christian. There (were also two) preachers, Richard Leubbert and Art Burroughs. I was saved in 1957.
Q: When and how were you led into the ministry?
A: At West End Baptist Church, Mobile, by Brother Richard Leubbert and my wife. My wife showed me how. All I had to do was watch her.
Q: What does the ministry demand?
A: That I love people and lead them in the way I think they ought to go.
Q: What do you get from the ministry?
A: I get a lot of peace and comfort in my heart and my conscience and a lot of satisfaction knowing, one day, I’ll meet my Lord Jesus Christ and see Dot again.
Q: How do family members support you?
A: I would say 100 percent because they have no doubt where I stand.
Q: How do you see yourself involved in this in the future?
A: I would certainly lead everybody to Christ that I could.
Q: What difference will this ministry make for you in the future?
A: I would have the peace and satisfaction of knowing that I have lived the life God wanted me to live.
Q: What difference has Jesus Christ made in your life?
A: Jesus Christ came into my life through other people’s efforts. I believe the Word of God. I was hell-bound. I have no doubt now that I’m saved. I think there is only one way and that is Jesus Christ.
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