Jerry Vines Blog
I’m sure you’ve heard it: “I’m Baptist born and Baptist bred and when I die I’ll be Baptist dead.” Well, that’s kind of my story.
I was born to Baptist parents. Both sides of the family were Baptists. My grandfather Vines was a sharecropper. My grandfather Johnson was a business man and a country evangelist. He was a rarity in his day. He had a college education.
I understand, of course, that being Baptist born doesn’t mean you were automatically born again. But, it did put me in an environment where the gospel was all around me.
I heard about Jesus at home, at the Baptist church we attended, and from frequent evangelists who came to our little town of Carrollton, Georgia. So, my roots in faith were strongly nourished by my Baptist background. And that nourishing started my life journey. And what a journey it’s been.
On my blog I will spend a lot of time sharing segments of that journey with you. This is my beginning in the world of blogdom. Feel free to comment. It is intended to be non-controversial. So, feel free to drop in on my life.
Mike
December 20, 2008 @ 11:26 AMAmen, Dr. Vines, I too was "Baptist born and Baptist bred." I have been a Baptist since nine months before I was born. I hear people say, "I am Baptist because it is closest to the Scripture." I like to say, "I am Baptist because it frees me to be Scriptural." Merry Christmas to you and yours!
Mike Barnett
ron
December 21, 2008 @ 7:47 PMDr. Vines,
The Baptist had an influence on my life. A bus used to pick me up and take me to Sunday School.
When I was a teenager I got saved at a revival. I remember on Sunday watching Dr. Jerry Falwell. I am now attending Slidell Baptist Seminary.
You and Dr. Hunt are a big help to me.
Merry Christmas and God bless you.
Ron Brown
Jeremy L. Green
January 1, 2009 @ 10:40 PMHello, Dr. Vines. I hope that you had a great Christmas. God bless!!!
In Christ,
Jeremy L. Green
Malcolm Yarnell
January 2, 2009 @ 10:34 AMDr. Vines,
I look forward to hearing your life journey and convictions regarding Baptist theology. You are a great blessing to the churches of Jesus Christ known as Baptist.
In Christ,
Malcolm
Robin Foster
January 2, 2009 @ 2:08 PMDr. Vines
I look forward to reading your story and your thoughts. Thank you for joining the blog world.
God Bless
Robin
Timothy Pigg
January 3, 2009 @ 12:26 AMI too am "Baptist born and Baptist bred" as well as many of the others who have commented thus far, but like you said, Dr. Vines being Baptist doesn't grant you salvation. It is a blessing to be born and raised in a denomination that has settled the dispute for the inerrancy of scripture and has put soulwinning at the front of North American and International missions.
The boldness to preach the Gospel is what sets Southern Baptist apart from anyone else. It is by the lifestyle model of the heros of our conservative resurregance that has enabled Southern Baptist to not to lose sight of what it is Jesus left us here to do and that is to win souls for Christ.
God bless you Jerry Vines for being a mentor to all of us Southern Baptists.
Happy New Year to you and your family.
Because He Lives
Timothy Pigg
Robert Goode (Steve)
January 4, 2009 @ 9:55 PMI was born a Baptist Preacher's kid so of course I was destined to never leave SBC. I do believe we as Baptist have the right balance of autonomy and collectiveness to send missionaries abroad yet touch the lives of the family down the street through sound Biblical teaching. I am very proud to be a part of the SBC and will remain until the day I die ,although I am banking on the upper-taker before the under-taker. I took that line from either you or my father!
My prayers are with your new areas of ministry Dr. Vines.
David R. Brumbelow
January 5, 2009 @ 3:53 PMBrother Vines,
You said of your blog,
“It is intended to be non-controversial.”
And you call yourself a Baptist? :-)
Seriously, I look forward to reading more of your writing. If I remember right, my first book of yours was “Interviews with Jesus.”
David R. Brumbelow
Bro. Dandrea
January 19, 2009 @ 1:21 AMAnd like you always reminded us preacher, "the perfect Christian is one with the mind of a Baptist" but the heart like unto a Pentecostal and the feet of a Jehovah's Witness.
Randy Chestnut
January 19, 2009 @ 4:37 PMI was not Baptist born. I was born into a Roman Catholic family in Dayton, Ohio and attended a parochial elementary school. But it was the influence of a pretty little Baptist cheerleader (Denise, my wife of almost 30 years) and her family that got me to go to church with them.
I was saved in 1979 in a Baptist church and called to preach in a Baptist church in 1982. Then God, in His divine sense of humor, called me to be a pastor for 10 years in the same community where I grew up as a Catholic altar boy!
For the past 5 years, I have had the privilege of serving as a Southern Baptist missionary in Cleveland, OH.
Thank you Dr. Vines, for your influence on my life and ministry. I look forward to following your blogposts.
Randy Chestnut
Cleveland, OH
Gail Widener
February 6, 2009 @ 12:37 PMDr. Vines I have enjoyed your preaching since I was five years old. My roots are at Veal in Carroll County. I sang my first solo at a revival you lead when I was five and I belive it was the first time I ever really listened to the gospel. Thank You for your faithfulness.
Todd Morris
February 17, 2009 @ 10:26 PMFor over 20 years you have been my hero Dr. Vines. On November 23, 2008 I celebrated 28 years in the ministry. I stard as an 18 year-old boy. I have heard you preach many times and attnded every Pastors' School during your years at FBC Jacksonville. Your sermon, A Baptist and His BIble is one of the greatest I have ever heard. Words couldn't express my love you and thankfulness for you. There are so few like you left.