Today in Baptist History: W.A. Criswell ordained to the gospel ministry
Wallie Amos Criswell, a prominent Southern Baptist pastor, author, and expository preacher, was ordained in Amarillo, Texas, on August 29, 1928.
At age 10, Criswell professed faith in Christ at a revival meeting led by the evangelist Rev. John Hicks. Two years later, Criswell publicly committed his life to the gospel ministry. Criswell was licensed to preach at age 17 and shortly afterward held part-time pastorates in Devil’s Bend and Pulltight, Texas. He attended Baylor University in Waco, Texas, and attained a Ph.D. at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky.
Criswell, who succeeded legendary pastor George Truett at First Baptist Church in Dallas in 1944, was the author of more than 50 books and helped found Criswell Bible Institute (now Criswell College). Criswell played a role in the conservative resurgence movement in the Southern Baptist Convention in the late 1970s which rejected liberal theology said to be flourishing in the denomination’s seminaries and institutions. He served as president of the SBC from 1968 to 1970.
Criswell served 50 years at First Baptist, Dallas, preaching 5,000-plus sermons. He became the church’s first pastor emeritus in 1995. Criswell died in 2002 at the age of 92.