Harold Ray Henniger Grave

Harold Ray Henniger

“I think the reason for the growth of the church was Rev. Henniger himself. He had a new car when he first came and wore it out visiting people. … He always visited people and knew everyone’s name.”
(Canton Baptist Temple Website)

Early Life and Calling

Harold Ray Henniger was born on May 4, 1924, in Doylestown, Ohio. At the age of fifteen he accepted Christ at the Akron Baptist Temple under the ministry of Dallas F. Billington, who became his spiritual mentor. During World War II, Henniger served on a U.S. Army hospital ship. After the war he pursued theological training, graduating from the Bible Baptist Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas.

In seminary he served as assistant to the notable evangelist-pastor J. Frank Norris at the First Baptist Church of Fort Worth where he supervised youth and adult classes in the junior department. On November 2, 1947, he assumed the pastorate of the Canton Baptist Tabernacle (later Canton Baptist Temple) in Canton, Ohio—a congregation of only 143 at the time.

Pastoral Vision and Growth

From his early days in Canton, Henniger displayed a bold vision: he predicted the church would “run five thousand” in attendance. He committed to intensive visitation ministry—every day and night he and his wife Carmine worked to know the people. The result was remarkable growth. By the fall of 1971, attendance had risen to over 5,200 for ten consecutive Sundays.

Under his leadership, the church moved locations multiple times, purchased over ten acres in the 1950s, built a new sanctuary in 1963, and expanded facilities with multiple building projects through the 1960s and ’70s.  He changed the name of the church in 1948 from “Tabernacle” to “Temple” to reflect its permanence.

Innovation and Outreach

Henniger was an early adopter of broadcasting ministry, beginning live radio services shortly after arriving in Canton and later television broadcasts of services. In 1966, while recovering from a heart attack, he conceived the idea for the Christian Hall of Fame—placing portraits of 100+ Christian heroes on display to inspire the church and community.

That same year his church purchased a youth camp, later called Camp CHOF (for Christian Hall of Fame), where more than 1,200 young people attended every summer, culminating in a family Bible conference. Additionally, while he served as president of the Baptist Bible Fellowship International, his ministry reached beyond local congregation into national Baptist circles.

Character and Ministry Style

Henniger’s ministry style combined charismatic leadership, high energy, and hands-on pastoral care. Those who knew him remarked on his outgoing personality: he “always visited people and knew everyone’s name.”  He deliberately audited church books from the beginning to ensure transparency and integrity in the church’s financial affairs. His approach was both traditional—preaching weekly, visiting homes, supporting church-camp ministries—and innovative—using media and youth camps early in growth.

He placed high value on conversion, numeric growth, and impact. In his first year, the church recorded 182 conversions and 282 new members.

Legacy and Final Years

After more than four decades of senior pastorate—the bulk of his ministry—from 1947 to 1985, Henniger became senior pastor emeritus in December 1989 at age 65. He continued to teach the “Ambassadors” Sunday School class with over 250 people each week until his final lesson on September 5, 2004.

Harold Ray Henniger passed away on October 25, 2004. His succession included his son Jim Henniger taking over as co-pastor and later senior pastor, signaling a familial continuity in the ministry.

Impact and Significance

• Local Church Transformation – Turning a modest congregation of 143 into a large and vibrant church of over 5,000 weekly attendees by 1971 illustrates Henniger’s leadership and vision.
• Youth and Next Generation Focus – By establishing Camp CHOF and emphasizing youth ministry, Henniger invested in the next generation, not merely institutional status.
• Inspirational Innovation – The Christian Hall of Fame, begun under his vision, remains a unique and ongoing feature at Canton Baptist Temple. It continues to encourage believers by celebrating Christian heritage.
• Media Engagement – His early embrace of live radio and television allowed his ministry to reach beyond Canton and serve as a model for other mid-century pastors who sought mass-communication avenues.
• Denominational Leadership – His role in the Baptist Bible Fellowship International allowed his influence to extend to the broader fellowship of churches and missionaries, impacting national Baptist mission strategy.

Practical Lessons from His Life

• Vision matters: Having a clear, audacious goal (e.g., “5,000” weekly attendees) helps mobilize a congregation toward change.
• Personal touch counts: Henniger’s emphasis on visitation, knowing names, being present in the community built trust and engagement—fundamental in church growth.
• Institutional investment is necessary: Facility expansion, youth camp acquisition, and new‐media broadcasting were not extras—they were strategic tools that supported ministry expansion.
• Legacy is built by succession: By mentoring his son and continuing active teaching after retirement, Henniger ensured that the ministry was not simply of one man but of a continuing community.
• Honouring Christian heritage strengthens faith: The Christian Hall of Fame demonstrates how remembering the “cloud of witnesses” (Hebrews 12) anchors a church in tradition and mission.

Conclusion

Harold Ray Henniger’s life exemplifies the kind of pastoral ministry that many in the 20th-century evangelical tradition would recognise: faithful to Scripture, committed to evangelism, passionate about the local congregation, and willing to invest in innovative outreach. In an era of upheaval and change, he held the steady course of inner-city visitation, youth ministry, institutional growth and media engagement.

His capacity to carry a small church into a large movement without sacrificing pastoral touch, his willingness to invest in youth camps and broadcasting when many pastors remained local in focus, and his continued teaching until his last years remind us of a ministry ruled by faithfulness rather than popularity. Henniger leaves behind a legacy not only in the building and numbers, but in the lives changed, the generations equipped, and the culture of a church shaped for mission.

For anyone seeking to understand how one pastor can transform a church and community through steady commitment, visionary outreach and pastoral care, Harold Ray Henniger remains a model worthy of study—a servant who labored long, dreamed big, and stayed true till the end.