Great Soul-Winning Churches - Elmer Towns

who would preach the funeral, she said, “You, because you were his pastor.” After the message,
he stepped to the side of the pulpit and looked down, “I’ll see you in the morning, Dad, just
inside the Eastern Gate.” So will a lot of others who have found Christ through the ministry of
the Massillon Baptist Temple.
Chapter Eight
Beth Haven Baptist Church,
Louisville, Kentucky Tom Wallace, Pastor
“A Great Church Built on Soul Winning”
The Beth Haven Baptist Church, Louisville, Kentucky, has experienced phenomenal
growth because it does one thing well-it is a soul-winning church. Whereas many churches in
America emphasize the total church program, Pastor Tom Wallace states emphatically, “If Beth
Haven has one success, it is the heart of a church giving itself to wining souls.” Beth Haven
could be characterized as the single arrow shot to the heart of the target rather than a rock thrown
in the pond sending out ripples in every direction. Wallace continued his observation, “When
you get a lot of people aiming at the same objective, you are going to have growth. We are
engrossed in reaching and teaching people to win them to Jesus Christ.”
The church began 14 years ago with 14 people under the sponsorship of Beechland
Baptist Church. A contest was held among the membership for a new name and the title Beth
Haven was chosen. Beth means “house” (meaning house of God) and Haven, “security.” In 1958
a small building was constructed and when Rev. John Turpin was called in 1962, the Sunday
School was running 200. Turpin brought strong administration, a recognized pulpit ministry and
personal evangelism to the church.
When Reverend Wallace first arrived at Beth Haven, June, 1971, he realized that he had
great soul winners to build a great church upon. His first sermon emphasized soul winning and
he asked the people to commit themselves to win one person to Christ that month.
During his second month, Wallace preached on baptism and set the goal to baptize 100
people. He got the names of 500 people who had made professions of faith in the church, yet had
not been baptized. According to him, “I preached baptism into the system of our soul winners.”
Then he gave them envelopes with the names of prospects, a copy of the sermon on baptism and
told them to go out and get that person, teaching him the Scriptures concerning baptism. From
the first Sunday there was a breakthrough and the emphasis on baptism has resulted in a greater
soul-winning ministry at Beth Haven. They baptized 127 that July.
Wallace is characterized as a low-key preacher who gets results. He teaches doctrine in
every sermon, always with an evangelistic fervor. Wallace’s preaching also has a strong
emphasis on faithfulness which has a dual thrust: first, service to God; and second, separation
from worldly entertainment. According to Rev. Bradley Price, associate pastor, the number of
conversions in the church is the result of the power of God which is unexplainable apart from the