Wa criswell quotes

A personal look into the life and ministry of W.A. Criswell

First Baptist Dallas Pastor W.A. Criswell delivers his "Whether We Live or Die" sermon at the 1985 SBC annual meeting. YOUTUBE/Screen capture

We must never forget those great men of the faith who preached the Word of God with such passion and power. I want to be sure our wonderful younger pastors are made aware of some of the heroes of the faith who have gone on before us.

Therefore, for several years I have wanted to provide our readers young and old with a personality sketch of some of Southern Baptists’ greatest and most notable personalities – preachers who have gone on to be with the Lord. The idea of such a project began to take shape when I encountered Jack Pogue at the W.A. Criswell Sermon Library booth at the Southern Baptist Convention in Phoenix last month.

Mr. Pogue, owner of a Dallas commercial real estate company, was the close personal friend, partner in ministry, and confidant of Dr. Criswell, legendary pastor of First Baptist Church in Dallas, TX. Dr. Criswell is remembered by many of us for h

Book Review: Criswell

O.S. Hawkins, Criswell: His Life and Times (affiliate link). Nashville: B and H Publishing Group, 2024. 241 pages.

When I was growing up in a Southern Baptist home, W.A. Criswell was someone every pastor wished to emulate. He led the largest Baptist church in the world. His congregation was filled with powerful people, even boasting Billy Graham—who lived in North Carolina—as a member. First Baptist Dallas had been made famous during the 47-year-long pastorate of George W. Truett, but Criswell clearly took the church to a new level. Criswell was perhaps the first Baptist megachurch pastor since Charles Spurgeon, and he became a model for future church leaders. Rick Warren, among many others, confessed that Criswell was his pastoral model when he was growing up.

O.S. Hawkins authored Criswell: His Life and Times, a readable and interesting book on a fascinating, galvanizing, and in some ways tragic figure. Hawkins served as senior pastor of FBC Dallas while Criswell still attended the church. He and his wife vacationed with the Criswells. Theref

W. A. Criswell

American pastor and author (1909–2002)

W. A. Criswell

Born(1909-12-19)December 19, 1909

Eldorado, Jackson County, Oklahoma, U.S.

DiedJanuary 10, 2002(2002-01-10) (aged 92)

Dallas, Texas, U.S.

Alma materBaylor University
Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
Occupation(s)Southern Baptist pastor;
President of Southern Baptist Convention, 1968-1970
Founder, Criswell College
Editor Criswell Study Bible
Author of 54 books
Years active1926–c. 2000
Spouse(s)Bessie Marie Harris Criswell, "Betty" (d. 2006)
ChildrenMabel Ann Criswell (d. 2002)
Parent(s)Wallie Amos and Anna Currie Criswell

Wallie Amos Criswell Jr. (December 19, 1909 – January 10, 2002), was an American Baptist pastor, author, and a two-term elected president of the Southern Baptist Convention from 1968 to 1970.[1] As senior pastor of the First Baptist Church of Dallas for five decades, he became widely known for expository biblical preaching at a popular level,[2] and is regarded as a key figure in the lat

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