Great Soul-Winning Churches - Elmer Towns

II. THE CONVERSION OF BOB KELLEY
Bob Kelley grew up ten blocks from Highland Park Baptist Church in Chattanooga. As a
boy, he knew the soul-winning zeal of the church and wouldn’t ride his bicycle past the church
for fear someone would witness to him. He refused to attend Camp Joy, knowing that someone
would try to get him saved. When he thinks back on the Church of the Green Light, Kelley
testifies, “It flashed at me.” He remembers that Walter Wendelken came to a pool hall and
nabbed him as an eighth grade boy and tried to win him to Christ. He also remembers Dr.
Aubrey Martin, the blind Tennessee Temple theologian, witnessing to him as a 15-year-old lad.
A bus pastor at Highland Park Church, Tommy Tillman, once a football player with the
reputation “Tiny Terrible Tommy Tillman,” reached Kelley when he was playing college
football in 1959. Kelley went with Tillman to church on condition that Tillman “wouldn’t let
anybody corner me.” After church, Tillman led Kelley to the Lord in his home, kneeling beside a
couch. Kelley went forward in public profession at a Lester Roloff revival meeting; everyone in
the church knew he was a football player and rejoiced at his salvation.
Bob was called “Hoss” Kelley in those days. Three nights after his salvation, six guys in
a car pulled up in front of his house and honked. His former buddies cursed, mocked and finally,
one of his friends, a young man who kicked the longest field goal in University of Tennessee
history, said, “I’ll give you three months and you’ll be back with us.” Kelley testifies, “It’s been
13 years, the happiest of my life.”
Even to this day Kelley uses football terminology in his sermons and refers to his past
sports experiences for illustrations.
When Kelley was putting on his baptismal robe, getting ready to be baptized, Dr. Lee
Roberson said, “I believe that boy will preach some day.” Young Kelley was never able to get
over Dr. Roberson’s remark. Three years later at a John Tierney revival meeting, Kelley felt the
call to preach the gospel. Kelley walked away from his grant-in-aid scholarship and enrolled in
Tennessee Temple Schools, 1960.
He graduated with a B.A. from the college and attended seminary two years. During that
time he preached at Fairview Baptist Church, and afterwards went to Mount Olivet Baptist
Church in Charleston, West Virginia, where he stayed for two years. His wife became very sick
with dreaded Multiple Sclerosis and the physician recommended returning to a southern climate.
Kelley left Charleston, claimed healing from God for his wife, and she was completely healed.
III. HOW TO DO IT IN THE COUNTRY
The Franklin Road Baptist Church is situated 3 miles from Murfreesboro, Tennessee, city
limits. Buses have been sent out 15 miles in each direction. When Dr. Jack Hyles saw the growth
in the remote area, he said, “I don’t see how you’ve done it.” Kelley offers the following
suggestions for building a church in the country.
1. Never admit it’s only a country church. He indicates that all churches-urban or ruralare
built in the same manner, following the book of Acts.