by: Allen Domelle
Several years ago, the LORD allowed my path to cross with Dr. Bob Gray II. We had known each other from a distance for many years and admired each other’s ministry. For whatever reason, the LORD had not allowed us to preach together until seven years ago. Immediately, the LORD knit our hearts together as we both seemed to have a love for the old paths. For several years after that first meeting, the LORD allowed us to preach together many times each year.
Three years ago, the LORD began to clarify as to why He allowed our paths to cross. It was at that time when I moved my ministry to the Longview Baptist Temple to be under Dr. Gray II’s ministry. I not only moved my family and ministry, but I also moved the Old Paths Conference to Longview and asked Bro. Gray to co-host the conference with me. He agreed to do so, and we both decided that the Old Paths Conference would be better served under the ministry of the Longview Baptist Temple. For three years, the LORD has continued to coalesce our hearts and vision together to see the old paths continue and to influence the next generation to walk in the old paths.
Several months ago, Bro. Gray came to me and told me that the president of Texas Independent Baptist Seminary (TIBS), Bro. Vernon Lovelady, felt that the LORD was leading him to go back into the pastorate. Bro. Gray asked me if I would consider taking the position of President of TIBS. After much prayer and in the LORD’s timing, I have accepted his offer to become the President of TIBS. We have waited for the LORD’s timing to make this announcement, and today we announced to the students that next fall I will become the President of TIBS.
This decision has been carefully made. For twenty-six years, I have traveled in full-time evangelism. The LORD has been very good to me during this time to see thousands of people accept Christ as Saviour, hundreds called into full-time service, and thousands of decisions made at the altars in these meetings. My ministry is the busiest it has ever been. The LORD has truly been good.
The one thing that has burdened my heart for the past several years was that I wanted to find a way to train the next generation and to reproduce myself in others to carry on the old paths. John 15:16 says, “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.” I’ve always believed that God’s plan is to reproduce who you are in others. The LORD allowed me in the past to help train others for the ministry while at Hyles-Anderson College, and I enjoy seeing the fruit in pastors, missionaries and full-time servants to this day. Though the LORD has used me to influence others to go into full-time service for the past few years, I have not been able to enjoy training future generations to carry on the old paths as I did during my years at Hyles-Anderson. For this reason, I am VERY excited about this opportunity to help train future generations to carry on the old paths.
What does this mean for my meetings? For the beginning of 2016, I will continue to travel as normal. However, once I take full control of the seminary, it will be necessary to rework my travel schedule. I AM NOT stopping my travels or revival meetings. Bro. Gray and I will prayerfully figure out a good travel schedule that will allow me to continue to hold meetings as well as run the seminary. My current plan is to travel every weekend, but for some meetings, I will only be preaching on Sunday. I will immediately begin to work with those who already have a scheduled meeting to see what works best for both your schedule and mine. As for those who desire future meetings, please feel free to contact me so that we can place you on the schedule.
My desire is that you would pray for my family and me as we make this transition. I am truly excited about investing in the lives of those who desire to serve the LORD full time. Please pray that the LORD will continue to send more students to TIBS and that He will give us the wisdom to properly train them for Christ. I’m excited about working with Bro. Gray, and the staff and faculty of TIBS to train future generations for the LORD.
(CLICK HERE to see video announcement from Dr. Bob Gray II)