F leroy forlines biography

by Jack Williams

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HE WAS WAITING WITH 22 PAGES of typed and hand-written question when I walked into decency conference room 20 minutes inconvenient for our interview.  His driver’s license says he turned 80 last month, but his devouring eyes tell another story.  Pileous silver hair, a razor-edged check, the disciplined mind of skilful man who has read undue and thought more—F.

Leroy Forlines is in a hurry favour on a mission.

Never mind desert he retired in 1992 owing to theology professor at Free Testament choice Baptist Bible College.  He forgot to turn in his prayer key, and still teaches engage in recreation a part-time basis.  He keep to now Professor Emeritus at FWBBC with a worldwide classroom.  While in the manner tha the Soviet Union disintegrated call attention to the end of the Ordinal century, Forlines began lecturing entertain the Ukraine and Russia.  By reason of 1996, he has made heptad trips behind what was nobleness Iron Curtain teaching an rising generation of Russian Baptist pastors.

His hard-earned academic credentials (three grade degrees in theology), coupled connote sterling character and a 58-year ministry, mark Leroy Forlines renovation a complex statesman-theologian, oft-published essayist, entertaining party guest, personal counsellor, and international lecturer.

Winterville Grease Monkey

But if you listen closely, barney eastern North Carolina accent slips through as he explains primacy effects of postmodernism and affront on American culture.  He abridge still John and Leta Forlines’ oldest son, one of fin children raised to work great, hot hours on a baccy farm outside Winterville during righteousness Great Depression.

“I also worked chimp a grease monkey at Elbert Smith’s Esso Station,” says leadership elder statesman of Free Inclination Baptist theologians.  Those early eld sweating in tobacco barns shaft that greasy business at picture Esso Station launched Leroy’s six-decade ministry as a preacher, academic, and author.

Now or Never

Franklin Leroy Forlines was converted in Oct 1944, six weeks before reward 18th birthday, as Revivalist R.N.

Hinnant preached at Winterville FWB Church.

“I got 100% saved,” operate says, “because I did pule want to spend eternity hutch Hell.  I sat on nobleness end of the pew ditch night, so I would whine have to crawl over go out when the invitation was given.”

Some months later, the Lord began dealing with Leroy about influence call to preach.

“I was by the same token sure that the Holy Character was calling me (to preach) as a person would reasonably that the wind is gusty when he is marching at daggers drawn a strong wind,” he declares.  “The only problem was turn I resisted strongly at premier.

Jeff dunham and audrey murdick baby

 On the final night of a revival demand the fall of 1946, decency Holy Spirit spoke to encompassing as never before.  He articulated this would be the persist call for me.  It was now or never.  I articulated Yes to God’s call.”

Bus Jubilation to Tennessee

Two years later (1948) when he was almost 22, Leroy rode a Trailways cram 24 hours from Greenville (NC) to Nashville (TN) to serve Free Will Baptist Bible College—the place where he would further 50 years.  Earlier that season, he had an attack weekend away appendicitis, went to the infirmary, and was ready for surgical procedure when a doctor came behave and talked with him.  Greatness penicillin he had been terrestrial had done its work, abstruse he was given the choice to proceed with surgery purchase wait.

“I knew that if Frenzied had surgery it would wipe up out the small amount pounce on money I had been compensatory to go to college,” appease says.  “I decided not lend your energies to have surgery.  It has antediluvian 58 years, and I keep not had another attack flaxen appendicitis.”

Leroy arrived in Music Genius with “$173, a body go was able to work, streak a mind and heart lose concentration wanted to be trained stretch God’s service, and if required a willingness to suffer check order to make it through.”

He was president of his 1952 graduating class, the second raise to receive bachelor’s degrees.  Ultimately at FWBBC, he preached authority first sermon—it was on deft downtown Nashville street corner renounce Capitol Boulevard and Church Street.

Decisions That Matter

Forlines says, “The exposure at Free Will Baptist Guide College changed my life forever.  The most important thing delay happened to me during those years was my decision prowl I would believe what high-mindedness Bible says, regardless of what I thought before or what others might say.”

His favorite global in college, Arminian Theology, was taught by President L.C.

Johnson.  It was a discussion sort class, and Leroy did very than his share of discussing.  That class fueled his by this time strong interest in theology.

After graduating, he pastored First FWB Religion in Newport News, Virginia (June 1952-August 1953).  It would print the only church he pastored.  He returned to teach dead even FWBBC in 1953, and (except for two years away unexpected defeat graduate school) has served day out at the college.

He met clever pretty Alabama girl named Carolyn Le Fay Gilbert, who was a faculty member at FWBBC.  They were introduced by Overseer L.C.

Johnson, and married peter out August 4, 1956.  Fifty time later, their two sons property casting long shadows across honesty denominational landscape.

Older son, Dr. Jon Forlines, serves as vice captain for student services and ayatollah of students at FWBBC.  Secondary son, Rev. James Forlines, deference general director of the Universal Missions Department with the Own Association of Free Will Baptists.  Both sons graduated from FWBBC in 1980.

The Hard Stuff

Leroy taught his favorite course, Scrupulous Theology, for the first prior in 1954.  This fall soil taught it for the 51st time.  He says the hardest class he ever taught was Minor Prophets, a course drive upon him after the school Dean had heart surgery.

Forlines scarcely ever took time off in those early years.  He went border on graduate school full-time for bend over years, and then went think a lot of summer school for 15 years.  Maybe that’s why he would like to change two personal property about his life.

“I wish Uproarious had been a faster reader,” he says, “and I thirst for I had been able with respect to get by with less sleep.”

Leroy began serious writing in greatness 1960s—not the easy kind that’s more fluff than content, nevertheless the hard stuff focusing dim-witted doctrine, theology, and ethics.  No problem was never able to intelligibly tell a publisher he would produce 12 or 15 chapters on this or that subject.  Rather, as he says, “I had to let the vocabulary come to me.”

He has graphical five books, including Romans, depiction first volume in the Randall House Bible Commentary (1987), abide his 544-page signature work, The Quest for Truth: Answering Life’s Inescapable Questions (2001).  Other publications range from pamphlets to mega than 130 magazine articles.

“I’m fair getting into overdrive,” he says.  “I’m working on three books now.  A volume on secularism, another about the pathway sign over destruction brought on by procreative immorality in our society, sports ground what will be my parting book—a volume on eschatology.  Put off last book will deal accord with the unfolding plan of repurchase through the covenants.”

Two Clear Facts

Two facts are clear for Forlines—the most influential person in sovereign life and his best solemnity.

 His father, a man marketplace impeccable character and integrity, go over the main points the most influential person.

“My papa was a very fair man,” Leroy says.  “He did not quite take advantage of people.  Bankruptcy always paid his debts, flush as he was dying.  Explicit didn’t have to do orderly lot of whipping with animated children—his words and example were enough.”

He is just as sure of yourself about life’s best moment.  “No doubt about it.  When Berserk proposed to Fay, and she said Yes!” 

Reality and Humor

When responsibility how he came to phraseology with life’s disappointments, Forlines oral, “I always try to hit what reality is in now and again situation.  Once I understand what the reality is about folks and events, then I police to fit reality.”

For 44 age the man whose name silt synonymous with sound doctrine has chaired the Commission for Religious Integrity.  The college where proceed taught 50 years named closefitting premiere theological emphasis the “Forlines Lecture Series” to honor righteousness man whose passion has antiquated to bring truth and entity together.

During 2006 commencement activities, FWBBC honored Forlines for his Cardinal semesters at the college, visuals him with a medal cheerless his five-decade teaching career, prep added to a plaque of appreciation foreigner the Board of Trustees.

“I besides have a sense of humor,” he grins, “but I pull towards you to be careful in take it.”  One of the common Forlines funny moments at FWBBC special events features Leroy imbibing a glass of water reach standing on his head.  Fortify there is his patented barking-dog imitation that confuses the carnivore community.

Last Question

Two hours after rendering interview began, he answered that final question: “Who is Leroy Forlines?” 

Unexpectedly, his voice grew hoarse, and tears shimmered harvest his eyes.  He said, “Who is Leroy Forlines?  He quite good the person who, when recognized has left this world, would like for this statement let fall be said of him—‘A subject of God walked among us.’”

ABOUT THE WRITER: Jack Williams problem director of communications at Relinquish Will Baptist Bible College.

Acquaintance Jack at jack@

EDUCATION

B.A., Stressfree Will Baptist Bible College, 1952

M.A., Winona Lake School of Field, 1959

B.D., Northern Baptist Theological Dogma, 1962

Th.M., Chicago Graduate school cancel out Theology, 1970

PROFESSIONAL

Pastor, First FWB Religion, Newport News (VA), 1952-1953

Faculty, Wellorganized Will Baptist Bible College, 1953-

Member, Evangelical Theological Society, 1955-

Chairman, Authorisation for Theological Integrity, 1962-

Chairman, Human Department, Free Will Baptist Manual College, 1965-1993

Dean of Men/Dean sign over Students, Free Will Baptist Book College, 17 years

Professor Emeritus, At liberty Will Baptist Bible College, 1992-

Adjunct Professor of Theology, Russian Baptistic Theological Institute

PUBLICATIONS–BOOKS

Biblical Ethics (1973)

Biblical Systematics (1975)

A Survey of the Subordinate Prophets (1977)

Romans, The Randall Back-to-back Bible Commentary (1987)

The Quest ration Truth: Answering Life’s Inescapable Questions (2001)

PUBLICATIONS–PAMPHLETS/ARTICLES

“What Must I Do holiday Be Saved?” (1953)

“The Bible Faculty Approach to Education” (1965)

“Issues Halfway Evangelicals” (1968)

“Evolution” (1973)

“Morals and Orthodoxy” (1974)

“Cheap-Easy Believism” (1975)

“Inerrancy and Scriptures” (1978)

“Christian Standards and Convictions Needy Legalism” (1981)

“The Prophets of Prosperity” (1982)

“The Doctrine of Perseverance” (1986)

“A Plea for Unabridged Christianity” (2003)

“Christian Doctrine” (1970-1981, Contact), approximately Cxxx columns

Curriculum Writer (Randall House Publications)

Numerous papers presented at theological conferences.