Evangelists add Roy Fish, Kentucky
native Mordecai Ham to Hall of Faith

Orlando, Fla.—Southern Baptist evangelism professor Roy Fish and legendary revivalist and Kentucky native Mordecai Ham were inducted into the Conference of Southern Baptist Evangelists’ Hall of Faith June 12 during the organization’s annual meeting in Orlando, Fla.

Fish, known for igniting a passion for evangelism in pastors for more than 40 years, is distinguished professor of evangelism at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and the namesake for the seminary’s Roy Fish School of Evangelism and Missions. He also served as interim president of the North American Mission Board from 2006-07.

Allen County native Ham is known for leading thousands to Christ in the early 20th century—perhaps most notably, in 1934, a young Billy Graham.

The Hall of Faith, housed in a meeting room at the North American Mission Board offices in Alpharetta, Ga., was established by COSBE in 2008 and dedicated in January.

In introducing Fish, Richard Harris, NAMB’s interim president, said that because he grew up in a non-Christian home, Fish became his “father in the faith.”

“There’s been no man any more influential in my life than Dr. Roy Fish,” Harris said.

Fish’s ministry, Harris said, was characterized by classes at Southwestern Seminary that took on the tone of sermons as Fish instilled a love for evangelism in students. For years, his books and speaking appearances at evangelism conferences influenced pastors.

HONORED Ron Herrod (left) congratulates Roy Fish on his induction into the Hall of Faith of the Conference of Southern Baptist Evangelists June 12 in Orlando, Fla. Fish is distinguished professor of evangelism at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, where he has taught more than 41 years. (Photo by Van Payne/NAMB)

In accepting the honor, Fish joked it was the sort of occasion where he wants to “ask God to forgive me for enjoying it so much and you for stretching the truth.” But he added that “never in my life has there ever been an occasion where I was so overwhelmed.” “I say thank you,” Fish remarked, “but I also say that there are many men who sit out there at those tables who justifiably could stand where I’m standing.” During the induction of Ham, COSBE member Jim Coldiron said the evangelist acted on his earlier call to preach by spending eight months in 1901 “doing nothing but studying the Bible, and soaking it in prayer and starting the public preaching of the gospel.” Ham served as a vocational evangelist from 1902-41, with the exception of stints as pastor of Burton Memorial Baptist Church in Bowling Green and First Baptist Church of Oklahoma City. From 1927-41, Coldiron said, it’s reported that Ham led more than 200,000 people to Christ.

Coldiron told the story of how three young men came to hear Ham preach at a 1934 crusade in Charlotte, N.C.

“When he would preach, he would point that bony finger, and they got under conviction,” Coldiron noted. The three decided to join the choir to avoid facing Ham directly, but then “he’d point the finger, but his thumb would point back into the choir. And they couldn’t get away from God when he was speaking.”

All three of the men received Christ as Savior during the meeting, Coldiron said; one of them was evangelist Billy Graham. But he also noted the other two—T.W. Wilson and Grady Wilson—were the father and uncle of evangelist and COSBE member Jim Wilson. (BP)

Western Recorder issue date June 29, 2010.