I hesitate to rank preachers but Frank Pollard, the late pastor of First Baptist Church of Jackson, Mississippi, comes as close as any I know as being the best preacher I ever heard.
For years, Frank came to FBC Covington to preach in our Miracle Mondays each July. He was the one constant we had for the Miracle Mondays. Each year he connected with our people and challenged them to serve Christ and to introduce people to Jesus.
Frank connected so well because of a conversational style that seemed to naturally engage the audience. I think much of that came from his upbringing and the person he was. Frank was shy. Most people wondered how a man so shy could preach so effectively. I believe God used his “weakness” to make him “strong.” And, he was really strong. He led a great church and many people came to Christ through him.
Two stories show how God uses people.
Frank didn’t come from a Christian home. Apparently, his father had been hurt early in life and had a hard time going to church or giving his life to Christ. Thankfully, Frank saw his father come to Christ late in his life.
Frank himself became a believer when Claude Hedges asked him to come to his Sunday School class for 10 year old boys. Not long after, Mr. Hedges introduced Frank to Jesus. Years later, Frank still said: “That is the greatest thing one person can do for another.”
How did Frank become such a great preacher? I don’t know the disciplines he employed to preach, but I know he had them. Good preachers are “made” by God and “developed” by men who are people of prayer, devotion, study, and hard work. Frank must have been all of those.
When God called Frank Pollard to preach during his college years, his classmates “wondered how someone too shy to speak to them could ever stand in a church and address a crowd.” Frank said he almost quit before he started after preaching his first sermon in a small country church. Only one man came to shake his hand afterwards. His name was Mr. Beverly King, the richest man in the tiny community. Mr. King told Frank: “I love you, Frank. I believe in you. You can do it.” From that time on Beverly King sent Frank reminders regularly and encouraged him in his ministry.
Where would the kingdom of God be without the Barnabas’s (the name means encourager) of the world like Beverly King and the humble teachers like Claude Hedges?
We all need to remember we have places to serve where we can make an eternal difference.
The quotes and the inspiration for this article come from an article written in Metro Christian Living by Andy Wimberly.
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7 Responses
I have to agree that he is one of the best. I once heard him say that if it can’t be said in 20 mins or less, it doesn’t probably need to be said. His was one of the shortest sermons I ever heard but also one of the best. Great great man of God.
His preparation also included understanding the Scripture for his sermon so well that he made it simple–a wonderful gift and hard work.
Thanks.
In following up the theme you started this week:
Yesterday marked the 42nd anniversary of the 26th amendment to the Constitution of the United States. It is an amendment that has the distinction of being, most quickly passed: proposed March 23 and ratified July 1, 1971.
When I was 18, I did not have the right to vote. I had the privilege of having a lottery draft number assigned to me after registering with the local draft board as required by law, mine was very high. I still had, as with the ones called with lower numbers, the opportunity to fight and die for those who had the right to vote. However, it was believed until then, an eighteen year old could not make such important decisions involved with the responsibility of the vote. I was pleased to hear from the pulpit this past weekend a plea for young people to pay attention to their government and educate themselves in civics.
Until July 1, 1971 eighteen year olds could not participate in the vote of their government, express in the voting booth the authority governing their lives. Don’t waste your opportunity and don’t neglect your responsibility. Lives have paid the price, paving the way for this opportunity to build upon a foundation still unique in the world of government: of the people, by the people and for the people. An idea progressing into reality in proportion to the integrity and tolerance of the electorate.
Blessings
How very right you are about Dr. Pollard. He said time and time again that he wanted to tell as many people as possible about the love of God in Christ. And boy did he ever. Dr. Bailey, he had all kinds of respect for you! He worked hard to get those sermons to 22 and 1/2 minutes, deciding what NOT to say. He worked hard on being humble. When i first came on staff at FBC Jackson, i would come to the office on Saturdays and see his car, but he was not in his office. I found out later where he was. He spent every Saturday morning walking all around the sanctuary sitting in the pews praying for the people who would be sitting there the next day! He truely loved God and God’s people. THANK YOU for helping me remember, our friend Dr. Pollard.
Tom, thanks for your unique perspective about Frank Pollard. When you think of that Saturday morning routine, you really do get a picture of what a great man he was.
I remember watching the Baptist Hour with my folks. Loved his preaching.
Yes, the Baptist hour gave him a very wide audience. BTW, Time Magazine named him one of the seven best preachers in America.