Notable Baptists: Herschel Hobbs hosted 'Baptist Hour' and led the 1963 revision of the Baptist Faith & Message

Herschel H. Hobbs (1907-1995) was an outstanding Southern Baptist clergyman, author, dynamic speaker, and denominational leader. He pastored churches in Kentucky, Alabama, Louisiana, and Oklahoma. His longest and perhaps most outstanding pastorate was First Baptist Church, Oklahoma City, Okla.

Hobbs served Southern Baptists in many ways, including “Baptist Hour,” a weekly radio program sponsored by Southern Baptists. He was a prolific writer, having authored 36 books, many tracts, and articles while serving 40 years as a busy pastor of large churches.

His influence has been greatly felt throughout Southern Baptist life. He was president of the Southern Baptist Convention from 1961-1963 and served on numerous boards and committees. His work as chairman of the 1963 “Baptist Faith and Message” committee was particularly outstanding.

Because of his long and valuable work among Southern Baptists, his papers as president of the Southern Baptist Convention, as well as other papers, were requested for the archives of the Historical Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, which are accessible here.

The arrangement of the papers is by subject headings. The collection contains approximately 37,400 items. There are also tapes and recordings, including interviews with Hobbs. The papers date from 1949 to 1972, consisting of articles written by Hobbs, “Baptist Hour” sermons and correspondence, Baptist World Alliance materials, biographical information, the manuscript of one of his books, "Baptist Faith and Message," correspondence about the many books he authored, book reviews, general correspondence, materials about the Crusade of the Americas, correspondence about the Elliot controversy concerning the book "The Message of Genesis," and three materials about the work of First Baptist Church, Oklahoma City.

Also included is material about his work with Oklahoma Baptist statewide affairs, Oklahoma Baptist University, Oklahoma country simultaneous crusades (1950-1972), revival engagements, other speaking engagements, and Baptist Education Study Task Materials.

One of the largest sections of material is his sermons. Another section deals with his work as president of the Southern Baptist Convention and as a member of many boards and committees of the Convention. There is also material about his several trips abroad, from 1958-1970.

Hobbs’ correspondents include top names in Southern Baptist affairs during these years. His correspondence reveals Hobbs’ vital involvement in Southern Baptist life, national affairs, state Baptist affairs, and local Baptist and civic affairs. The general correspondence is arranged chronologically and includes files explaining doctrinal questions that are interesting and important. Hobbs was often asked for information on church finance and organization, and he seemed glad to share his knowledge and experience in these fields.

He also included jokes to his friends. His letters to family and friends in the general correspondence section reveal loving and caring relationships.

Hobbs wrote the following in a 1996 commentary on the 1963 edition of Baptist Faith and Message: “God has all knowledge. He knows all things simultaneously. His knowledge is immediate, without the processes of thought, reason, or inference. His foreknowledge of events does not necessarily mean that He predetermined them. He knows the workings of His natural, physical, moral, and spiritual laws which work towards definite ends. Individuals are free to choose in the light of them, but are responsible for their choices. God knows these choices beforehand, but does not predetermine them.”

Source: Southern Baptist Historical Library & Archives