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The following biography was
originally published on the website of
floridabruce.com:
In 1961 a mail carrier and
pastor of a very small church attended a Sword of the
Lord Conference, got on fire, gave up his route and set
out to build a great soul-winning work for God. Forrest
Hills Baptist Church of Decatur, Georgia, grew from 40
people into a membership of 7,900. In 1972 the church
was recognized as the fastest-growing Sunday school in
America; and the last four years of his pastorate there,
the Sunday school was recognized as the largest one in
Georgia.
After pastoring for 21 years, Dr. Hutson--the great soul
winner that he was--became so burdened for the whole
nation that he entered full-time evangelism, holding
great citywide-areawide-cooperative revivals in some of
America's greatest churches. As many as 625 precious
souls trusted Christ in a single service. In one
eight-day meeting, 1,502 salvation decisions were
recorded.
At the request of Dr. John R. Rice, Dr. Hutson became
Associate Editor of THE SWORD OF THE LORD in 1978,
serving in that capacity until the death of Dr. Rice in
1980 before becoming Editor, President of Sword of the
Lord Foundation, and Director of Sword of the Lord
Conferences. Dr. Hutson was at the head of the Sword
ministries when he passed away in March, 1995, all these
ministries literally changing the lives of thousands of
preachers and laymen alike, as well as winning many more
thousands to Christ.
As an editor, Dr. Hutson kept THE SWORD unapologetically
on an uncompromising path, and he spoke out clearly and
unmistakably on the issues that affect fundamentalists,
warning against the message of liberals and modernists.
As a fundamentalist he held to the great cardinal
doctrines of the Faith: the verbal inspiration of the
Bible in its original autographs; the virgin birth and
deity of Christ; His vicarious death for sin; His
physical resurrection; salvation by grace through faith;
and the visible second coming of Christ. He was a
believer in ecclesiastical and personal separation.
As the Sword Conference Director, he saw many now
successful pastors in America begin their ministries
with the life-changing influence of a Sword Conference.
Dr. Hutson had a charming preaching style, and he was
the master of illustration and humor. His winsome,
crystal clear presentation of salvation made him in
great demand as an evangelist and conference speaker. He
had a fervent appeal to sinners, and God gave him the
ability to draw the net artfully. In every meeting,
scores came forward to trust Christ. His sermons
challenged and moved Christians to win souls. He
personally presented the plan of salvation almost until
his dying day--too weak to speak or sit up, but still
whispering 'the sweet, sweet story'-his own words.
Dr. Hutson authored many fine books and booklets, widely
circulated and translated into several foreign
languages.
Dr. Hutson left behind his wife Gerri and four wonderful
children--three daughters and a son--and fourteen
grandchildren. All three of their daughters are married
to preachers, and their son is pastor of the Middle
Tennessee Baptist Church in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. |