Memories of Wallace Heritage - Official website of Rev. JO Wallace

Rev. C. M. Becton’s comments about J. W. Wallace taken from ‘Viewing the Past”
Little did I realize when I first came to Nashville in May of 1946, that some day I would return
to pastor the church. Then I was only a musician, traveling with an evangelist, assisting with the
music and speaking in children and youth services. Nashville was the starting point, this was my
first revival to assist in. Prior to this I was interested in other fields for my musical talent, but
God moved me in this direction, for which I am very thankful. The years have seemed to dull our
memories and it is hard to recall all that happened during that revival, but I will never forget the
pastor, Bro. J. W. Wallace and the impression that he made on my life in the beginning of my
ministry. His vision and compassion for the lost and the wonderful work he was doing in this
area will never be forgotten.
During the twenty or more years of the existence of this church, it has only known four pastors.
It was in September of 1960 that I became the fourth one. I feel I must express my appreciation
to those whom I have succeeded: Bro. J. W. Wallace, Bro. J. O. Wallace, and Bro. L. H. Benson.
May the Lord bless the work that was done by each of them and ever live on.
Many thrilling experiences have been ours to enjoy since coming to Nashville. We have lost
count of the many that have found the Lord, repenting of their sins, being baptized in the Name
of the Lord Jesus and filled with the Holy Ghost. The many moves of God in our midst have
been too great to put in mere words. And now, we look forward to the future, we must leave this
building and this location because of the coming expressway. We will leave with many
memories and of course saddened hearts but still, we look to a glorious, bright future.
Though we move into a new building, let us keep the old faith, the old-fashioned victory, not
being overwhelmed with architectural design, but let us stand in awe of the mighty presence of
our God, remembering that, "Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it:
Psalm 127:1
I.A. Dugan’s memories about J. W. Wallace in the book, ‘Viewing the Past”
My first knowledge of the grounds now occupied by the church dates back to 1925. At that time,
it was used as a horse lot and wagon yard by the C. H. King Transfer Company. Later the
grounds were used as a city dump filled with ashes, tin cans and general rubbish, a very
unsightly eye sore.
In 1941 our city was blessed by the coming of a man of vision, the Rev. J. W. Wallace, who
could look on this unclean weed patch and see a beautiful church erected to the glory of God and
for the salvation of the lost.
We started working under Brother Wallace a few months after his arrival in town. We first
worshipped under a gospel tent on the back of the lot where God met with us in a wonderful
way. During the winter of 1941-42 we rented the building now occupied by the Singleton Shoe
Company on the corner of 51st and Illinois Avenues. One of my most vivid memories of this
winter is a wonderful revival preached by Rev. W. M. Greer in which the saints were blessed and
encouraged. At the close of the revival, Brother Greer turned all his offerings back into the
church treasury. I am glad to say that the Bemis church was a great blessing to us in the early
struggles to get the church established.