IN
MEMORY
OF,
Dr. Joe M. Boyd, Evangelist
May 5, 1917 – June 1, 2009
The
ole-time religion has produced many evangelists.
When one reflects upon the history of America’s
great preachers, Evangelist Dr. Joe M. Boyd will be
ranked among the greatest. He was a statesman of
the sermon and a scholar of the Scriptures. His
biblical knowledge made him a theologian; his
delivery made him a legend. Dr. Boyd was always on
the soul winner’s trail. He tangled with the devil
and wrestled against sin while preaching as an
evangelist for almost 70 years. Dr. Boyd trained
hundreds of young evangelists, held thousands of
revivals, and saw millions saved. Those who heard
him speak savored the taste of his endless southern
colloquialisms. Whether you met him at home or in
public, you would always find him dressed in his
best as one of the last of the aristocrats. Nothing
ever slowed him down. After the home-going of his
wife of 62 years, Edith Boyd on July 6, 2000, and
Dr. Jack Hyles, his pastor of over 50 years on
February 6, 2001, his travels at the age of 84
increased. He began to travel worldwide with less
time at home than ever before in his ministry.
Opposition was never broad enough to make him less
loyal to his call or his Saviour. Even at his age,
he began to learn Spanish by attending a three month
language school in Mexico and then continuing
personal tutoring for several years. His goal was
to preach under tent revivals to the Latin American
world. He would have his sermons written out in
Spanish trying to preach without an interpreter. In
Dr. Boyd’s life-time, he preached in every state of
the Union and several foreign countries. His life
was fascinating, and was most recognized by his
brilliant character and the presence of the power of
God.
Revival was Dr. Boyd’s language, lamp, and
landmark. Revival is the latchet that tied his
preaching shoes and the lattice through which he
viewed the Saviour. Revival was his laughter and
his law of life. Revival was what he learned and
what he leaned on. He believed that revival was the
right letter to the liberal. Revival was his
license to preach and his liberty in Christ.
Revival was his life, light, and likeness. He
believed that revival revealed the scarlet line of
salvation and the linen that makes the best robe.
Revival was his labor, his love, and his life. If
someone were to look for Dr. Boyd to locate him,
they would probably find him somewhere conducting a
revival. Revival is how Evangelist Joe Boyd ended
his life.
Dr.
Boyd’s life and legacy before preaching was that he
was the son of a preacher born in Jacksonville,
Texas and raised in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. He
was saved at the age of 12 and called to preach at
the age of 27.
Dr. Boyd was also a natural born athlete and became
a great college football hero. He was an
All-American tackle on the Texas A & M National
Championship team of 1939 and the 1940 Sugar Bowl.
Today, his name is inscribed in the Texas A & M Hall
of Fame, and he is listed in the Sports Illustrated
25th
Silver Anniversary Hall of Fame.
After
college, Dr. Boyd was a successful businessman
working as a chief assistant accountant at Todd
Galveston Shipyard in Texas. He pastored three
churches, served as president of a preacher’s
training school, and operated both a Christian grade
school and high school. He also started the Baptist
Evangelistic Schools of Texas, better known as
B.E.S.T. of Dallas, TX. He has authored several
books and was also a Bible scholar teaching both
Greek and Hebrew.
Quite
possibly one of his greatest achievements occurred
in 1975, in his mid sixties, Dr. Joe Boyd founded
the Mt. Salem Revival Grounds in West Union, WV.
Thanks to Dr. Boyd’s vision, which God used, there
are now hundreds and thousands of full-time
servants, pastors, evangelists, and missionaries
worldwide. We all thank God for the wonderful
memories and the legacy of Evangelist Dr. Joe M.
Boyd.
I want
to thank you all for your faithful prayers and
financial support to Dr. Boyd these many years. He
loved you and was grateful for how you helped him in
the ministry.
With
kind regard,
