The Life and Ministry of John Franklyn Norris Essay Example

justify">His parents, James Warner and Mary Davis Norris, resided in a humble country home in Dadeville, a small town about 80 miles southeast of Birmingham. Mary Davis Norris was known for her devoutness. J Frank Norris attributed much of his ministry success to his mother, who served as a fine example and a dedicated prayer warrior. Mary Norris's faith was her greatest strength, as she sought comfort in religion despite lacking a fulfilling marriage or material wealth. She had a hopeful and fervent outlook while praying for her children, especially young Frank.

She viewed him as the embodiment of her aspirations, a son destined for greatness. James and Mary, a young couple, had joined forces in pursuit of a secure future for their family. They were unafraid of taking risks in their quest for success, a quality that Norris would later exemplify in his own ministry. Together, they relocated to Arkansas, purchasing land in hopes of prospering. Unfortunately, their endeavor did not yield the success they had envisioned, leading them to ultimately return to another city in Alabama.

Upon their return to Alabama, the Norris family engaged in sharecropping as a means of survival. Despite its limited benefits, it proved sufficient for them. This period also marked the decline of Norris' father into alcoholism, rendering him a hopeless drunk. One of the most difficult aspects of Frank's early life was his father's addiction and its detrimental influence. There are several stories that illustrate the profound impact of this destructive habit, two of which will be examined to provide insight into Frank's formative years. Throughout his youth, Frank Norris encountered numerous hardships.

At

the age of just three months, he was diagnosed with diphtheria, a life-threatening illness. Despite the doctor's grim outlook, the baby boy miraculously survived. However, this was only the beginning of a series of challenges that lay ahead. By the time he turned seven, Frank had reached his breaking point because of his father's alcoholism. On Christmas Eve, he took matters into his own hands and destroyed every bottle of liquor in his father's barn. When questioned about why he did it, Frank explained that he acted out of love for both of his parents.

Frank's father inflicted severe harm on him with a whip, almost causing his death. The next day, which happened to be Christmas morning, his father apologized for the beating and claimed that it was not he who had struck him, but rather the influence of alcohol. James and Frank then prayed together, imploring God to intervene and send Frank on a nationwide mission to combat the destructive curse that had afflicted their family. Undoubtedly, this genuine prayer received a response.

During his youth, Norris faced a significant challenge that greatly influenced his personality. This incident occurred when he was just 13 years old while riding his horse. At that time, a thief who had stolen cattle approached Norris and his father with the intention of shooting his father. In response, Frank Norris fearlessly confronted the shooter armed only with a knife. Sadly, the assailant then turned the gun towards young Norris and fired three shots. This almost deadly event resulted in Norris fighting for survival for several days before eventually recovering from the gunshot wounds. The recovery process

lasted at least three years.

During his three years of physical recovery, it was said that these were the most influential years of Frank Norris' life spiritually. His mother dedicated extra time to discipleship during this period, aiming to help him grow in his faith. These years were transformative for J. Frank Norris, as the process of healing combined with his mother's energetic focus molded his mind and heart. Consequently, he emerged as a man with a burning ambition to achieve greatness and fame.

Despite encountering multiple obstacles, young Norris possessed a resolute determination to not just endure but also leave a substantial mark on society. It was not initially apparent that he would eventually emerge as a distinguished preacher and the leader of a widely embraced movement. Nevertheless, everything transformed when he crossed paths with Reverend J. A. Oswalt, an evangelist. At the tender age of thirteen, J Frank Norris embraced Jesus Christ as his savior upon hearing Reverend Oswalt deliver a compelling sermon titled: Thou Art Weighed in the Balance and Found Wanting.

It is noteworthy that J Frank Norris's conversion experience and being shot happened in the same year, signaling the start of his sincere spiritual path. One could argue that the difficult circumstances of his childhood molded his resolute determination not only to endure but also to prosper, and his conversion affirmed his choice to pursue a career in ministry. Norris's early aspiration became apparent when he joined Baylor University in September of 1988, where he thrived as a student thanks to his resolve, ambition, and self-control.

Norris presented himself to his class and expressed his ambition

to preach in the most magnificent church and pulpit on the planet. This revealed his fervor and self-assurance as a young preacher. Prior to enrolling in college, Norris had already been a pastor at Mount Antioch Baptist Church for one year. Throughout his college years from 1899-1903, he additionally served as the pastor at Mount Calm Baptist Church.

In the early years of his ministry, Norris was known as a determined and ambitious parson, which played a vital role in shaping his identity as the Texas Tornado. During his college years, three significant events occurred that greatly influenced this transformation. One of these events involved Norris meeting Lillian Gaddie, who later became his lifelong companion and confidant. They raised four children together.

They got married in 1903 before Norris finished his studies. Also, when Norris took on the role of pastor at Mount Calm Baptist Church, he became involved with a faction of Southern Baptists. This had two effects: firstly, it ended his association with his initial pastoral mentor, Cat Smith; secondly, it brought him in close contact with the Southern Baptist community and exposed him to their deceit and unfaithfulness. Ultimately, this would lead to one of Norris's greatest struggles - standing up against the liberal influences within the Southern Baptist Convention.

The third significant event in shaping J Frank Norris's character was his realization of his persuasive power. During his time in college, Norris witnessed the president, Oscar Cooper, lose his temper and throw a dog out of a third-floor dormitory window as a response to a prank. In response, Norris decided to mobilize students to revolt against the president

and his actions. This protest ultimately forced the president to resign under pressure. This particular event marked Norris's initial encounter with controversy, which would later become an obsession for him. Numerous other controversies will be discussed further in this paper.

Norris left his role as a pastor after graduating from Baylor College to pursue his early ambition. He then relocated to Louisville, Kentucky where he completed a Master of Theology degree in just two years instead of the typical four at Southern Baptist Seminary, becoming the valedictorian in 1905. After completing his studies, Norris's primary aim was to preach in a local church. As one source states, "J Frank Norris, who had recently excelled in seminary, was now prepared to make a significant impact on the Baptist world."

A Young Preacher usually carefully considers the first church he accepts, meeting with them multiple times before making a decision. However, J Frank Norris was different. Norris only cared about one thing when searching for a church: its location. He didn't want to return to a small, rural church but instead sought one in a big city. Norris believed that by being where people are, he could convince them to come to Christ.

After spending three weeks in uncertainty, Norris made the decision to accept the McKinney Avenue Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas without ever seeing it beforehand. Norris described his decision as akin to getting married through correspondence, but both he and the church had their doubts about each other. Norris held the denominational headquarters in Dallas in high regard, comparing his devotion to that of a Roman Catholic Priest towards Rome. At

the end of June, Norris arrived in Dallas with enthusiasm and passion to win over his new congregation.

J Frank Norris achieved success with his first full-time position at McKinney Avenue Baptist Church. When only 13 members attended his first service, Norris remained undeterred and saved his powerful message for a later week when more people would be present. Instead, he delivered an impromptu message on faith. Over the course of three years, Norris worked tirelessly to grow the church from its initial 13 active members to over 1000 active members.

Norris achieved fame and was offered the position of editor for the Baptist Standard, a renowned Texas Baptist Periodical. Despite his initial reluctance to take on this role, he saw it as an opportunity for progress and decided to leave McKinney Avenue Baptist Church. However, his fellow brethren convinced him otherwise. Over the next two years, Norris dedicated the same level of passion and commitment to his work at the Standard as he had previously displayed for the church.

During this period, Norris worked with B.H. Carroll, a pastor at Waco and a faculty member at Baylor University. Together, they founded Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, which is currently the largest Protestant seminary worldwide. Norris recognized how influential the press could be in shaping people's opinions and supporting his ideas for the fundamentalist movement. Nevertheless, after two years of working at the Baptist Standard, Norris encountered increasing debts and discontent within his religious denomination.

In 1909, the denominational paper terminated their partnership with Norris and asked him to divest his shares in the paper. He obeyed, but experienced

several months of depression. Looking back now, this emotional upheaval was just the beginning of the tumultuous years that awaited Norris. In late 1909, Norris reluctantly accepted the position of pastor at the First Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas. While accepting, he expressed doubts about what lay ahead for him at the church.

The First Baptist Church of Fort Worth, where Norris would serve as pastor for most of his life, was the setting for both his moments of great success and controversy. Despite Norris's reputation, the church initially followed a typical approach during the first three years of his ministry. However, after two years of normal church operations, Norris abruptly changed direction with the church.

“His innovative approach to ministry had numerous remarkable aspects… Among them was his fervor for delivering powerful sermons, with the ultimate objective of converting individuals to a life-saving understanding of Jesus Christ.” Additionally, he ventured beyond the confines of the church building to spread his message, engaging in “campaigns in various locations throughout the city,” resulting in a substantial response from thousands of people. Norris also publicly tackled contemporary issues, addressing both church members and political figures in Fort Worth.

Despite not gaining friends among political leaders, building an audience was important to Norris. He didn't mind being controversial as long as the multitudes were coming to his church. Norris's preaching style made him one of the most powerful and persuasive speakers of his era. In fact, his style has never been successfully imitated or analyzed. No scholarly attempt has yet been made to analyze it or compare it with others' of pulpit fame.