Tuesday of this week
one of my hero’s in the preaching field came to Rockford. I know that almost sounds too strange to
believe, but it was one of those incredible God things; something I would never
have dreamed possible.
First, let me tell you
about the hero, then I will tell you how this transpired…
Several years ago, as a
young preacher boy, a pastor in the area took me under his wing, and introduced
me to some of the finer preachers and theologians in the Southern Baptist
Convention and some outside of the SBC.
These were men he held in great esteem, men of character and of the
Word.
Clifton Brown, pastor
of the Second Baptist in Fort Payne at that time, took me to Tennessee Temple,
Roswell Street Baptist Church, Woodstock First Baptist, and to the 12th
Street Baptist in Gadsden. It was in
these types of places he introduced me to some of the best, prominent, and
humblest preachers of that time.
One preacher he
introduced me to caught my attention and I have seemed to follow his ministry
through the past 20 plus years. This
fellow was only 10 years older than myself and was already in the upper
spiritual circles. He had already
preached before large audiences, spoken in pastors conferences throughout the
Southeast and written a book or two.
Danny Lovett was pastor
of the Open Door Baptist in Tuscaloosa at the time I heard him preach for the
first time. Growing up in the First
Baptist of Fort Payne, I had rarely seen anything like Bro. Danny at that
time. He was loud, he was strong in the
Word, pointing his finger, dancing a jig and stepping on your toes. What appealed to me was his fearlessness in
the pulpit. He was comfortable with the
message and was not concerned with the outcome.
His desire was to preach the Word and leave the work with the Holy
Spirit.
Through the years I
heard him on other occasions. Once was
at Woodstock First, with Johnny Hunt and Bailey Smith. Bro. Bailey introduced him as the pastor of a
church in Alabama that had single-handedly been responsible for closing an
abortion clinic across the street from the church. That is when I realized that Bro. Danny was
not only fearless in the pulpit; he was fearless in the marketplace.
Bro. Danny was only in
his late middle to late thirties in those days, but God had called him and
qualified him, and was moving in his life.
He left Tuscaloosa for Liberty University. At Liberty he served as Dean of the Liberty
Theological Seminary.
Again I followed him
each month reading his articles in the Flame.
As a Southern raised boy, he continued his down home approach to
communicating, even though he was in a “school of higher learning.” In reality, academia did not change him or
his foundational living; it did give him the opportunity to reach more people
with the message.
After a short time at
Liberty, he left there and moved to Chattanooga to become the President of
Tennessee Temple University. A school
which for years sent out students into the fields of the fundamentalist,
independent churches became his new stomping ground. Bro. Danny took the school to new heights,
while increasing enrollment and making the school a viable contender among
Southern Schools. His leadership in the
school was excellent, with integrity and professionalism, while demonstrating
his favorite motto, “Loving God and Loving People.”
Coupled with the
presidency of TTU, Bro. Danny was also Co-Pastor of the historic Highland Park
Baptist Church. This old, old church is
a legacy among Baptist. It was the mega-church
during a time when no one even knew or understood that term. Serving along side Pastor David Bouler, Bro.
Danny reached a pinnacle that many men his age only dream to reach. God had truly raised up a man to lead that
great historic church.
Then disaster came,
lightening flashed and troubles mounted.
While I have read and followed some of the stories, and will leave them
for you to read, I have stood with him and prayed for him. Much of what has been said or printed is
either the medias way of spinning a story or the facts were not complete or
accurate. Yet, when someone desires to
bring another down, they will do whatever is within their power to do so; of
course the evil one is behind them pushing the envelope the whole time.
It is amazing what evil
things people can do to discredit and bring down a man who believes that God
has called and who digs in wherever God places him and serves with his whole
heart, soul and being. As hard as it is
to stomach something of that magnitude, I am proud to say that my hero is one
who rises above that evil and moves forward with the strength and power of the
Most High God.
A few months ago one of
my church members and a dear friend came to me and told me that Danny Lovett
was starting a new church in the Chelsea/Westover area of Shelby County. He also shared how his brother was involved
in this new church start and asked if I would pray for the new work.
I was delighted! Delighted to pray and delighted that a member
of my church had family who was involved in such a wonderful project for the
kingdom of God. Selfishly, I was also
delighted to know that I might get the opportunity to actually meet this man
face-to-face, my hero in the ministry, one day very soon.
On Tuesday of this
week, that became a reality. As Chaplain
for my dear friend and church member, the Sheriff, I have some special
privileges. From time to time he gives
me an opportunity to have contact with distinguished individuals. Sheriff Wilson asked if I would like to spend
a few hours visiting with Danny Lovett in his office. I jumped at that opportunity!
For two hours I had the
opportunity to talk with, visit, eat lunch and pray with a man that for years I
have considered a hero. Bro. Danny is
truly a man with a heart for God and for people. In those few hours I saw why he had not only
been a pastor who was sought after for conferences and revivals, crusades and
events for years, but also why he had served two colleges. He has a desire to Love God and Love People!
His work in Shelby
County is an awesome undertaking. He
explained to me that within a ten mile radius of the Servpro Training Center,
which is being used for their weekly services, there are 80, 000 people. A staggering number, but to Bro. Danny it is
a challenge. He still believes in knocking
on doors and inviting people to come to Christ.
It works! He said that they are
reaching an average of 125 each week and have baptized 25 since the inception
of the church a few months ago.
Danny Lovett is a man
that is serving God in Alabama. Will you
pray with me for his work and ministry?
Hero’s come in many
shapes and sizes. Some are sports icons,
others are political leaders, and still others are mythical creations of
Hollywood. Hero’s may come and go, may
fall and rise again for another day, or they may just fad away. Some people may have one or two; others may
have a whole long list of them. Hero’s
are the ones we want to pattern our lives after, men and woman we wish to
emulate, or they may be ones that give us courage because we learn from their
lives. In the end, a hero is larger than
life.
We all have
heroes. These men and stand out as
important figures in our lives. My list
could go on and on. Clifton Brown, Danny
Lovett, Babbie Mason, Gerald Hallmark, Luther Strange, Ruby Self, Dan Ireland,
Jimmie Lou Peacock…
Yet, I submit to you
that even though I have given you a snap shot of one that I have considered a
hero in my life, there is one greater than he; yes, I have a hero that is a
Hero of Hero’s. He is my best friend. I can go to Him anytime, anywhere and He will
listen. He understands my joy and
sorrow, my lows and my highs. He will
never leave me or forsake me; He loves to the uttermost!
This man was willing to
put His life on the line and give it all for me. He loved me more than life itself, and died
so that I might live. That is a true
HERO! His name is Jesus Christ. He wants to be your Hero…
“The word is nigh thee, even
in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in
thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto
righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth
on him shall not be ashamed. For there
is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is
rich unto all that call upon him. For
whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:8-13 KJV)
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