Bascom Ray (B. R.) Lakin Grave

Bascom Ray (B. R.) Lakin

“God lay the weight of the world upon me. Give me a love for every soul for whom Jesus died. Help me preach as a dying man to dying men with a broken heart and tears.”
(Bascom Ray [B. R.] Lakin)

Early Life and Conversion

Bascom Ray Lakin was born on January 5, 1901, near Fort Gay, West Virginia, the son of devout Christian parents. Long before he found his voice as a preacher, he began life in modest rural surroundings—attending only a one-room schoolhouse through the fourth grade. His mother, in faith, dedicated him to God before his birth, asking the Lord for a “preacher man.”

At age 16, during a revival meeting, Lakin experienced conversion—he was baptized in Big Hurricane Creek and within a week preached his first sermon. In the 1920s, he worked as a circuit-riding preacher, riding a mule to rural churches in West Virginia and Kentucky, bringing the Gospel to remote places.

Education and Early Ministry

Despite his limited early schooling, Lakin pursued ministerial preparation. He attended the Moody Bible Institute and pastored several small churches. His calling and capacity were increasingly evident in those rural beginnings. In 1939, Lakin was called to serve under E. Howard Cadle at the Cadle Tabernacle in Indianapolis, Indiana—a 10,000-seat church with a national radio broadcast. After Cadle’s death in 1942, Lakin became senior pastor and chief speaker, shepherding the large congregation and continuing the radio ministry.

National Ministry and Evangelistic Legacy

In the early 1950s, Lakin embarked on a thirty-year itinerant evangelistic ministry, preaching in some of the largest churches in America. He covered an astonishing mileage—reportedly averaging 50,000 miles per year—and preached to around 4,000 people weekly on average. Over his career, he is credited with witnessing more than 100,000 conversions to Christ. His preaching style combined sound biblical teaching with approachable wit and a warm invitation to Christ. One of his well-known sayings was, “Love them, pray for them, and outlive them,” when speaking of enemies.

Influence on Others and Mentorship

Lakin’s ministry extended beyond his own preaching. He played a mentoring role to future church leaders—most notably to Jerry Falwell Sr., who regarded Lakin as a spiritual father figure and later held Lakin’s funeral at his own church. Lakin’s ability to touch lives and shape leadership gave his ministry a lasting ripple beyond his own pulpit.

Character and Ministry Approach

Despite his rising prominence, Lakin retained the humble heart of his early years. He often remembered his roots as a mule-riding preacher in the hills of West Virginia, which kept his ministry grounded. His theology was straightforward and his appeals direct: he believed in the authority of Scripture, the necessity of personal salvation, and the urgency of evangelism. He demonstrated joy in ministry, and even as a speaker in large venues he kept his focus on the individual—on conversions, on personal decisions for Christ, and on everyday faith. His combination of earnest biblical appeal and pastoral warmth made him accessible.

Legacy and Impact

Lakin passed away on March 15, 1984, at the age of 83. His funeral, held at Thomas Road Baptist Church in Lynchburg, Virginia, drew over 5,000 people.

His legacy lives on in several key ways:

• Evangelistic Reach – His itinerant ministry brought the Gospel to tens of thousands weekly, across churches and revival meetings nationwide. He demonstrated that a rural-roots preacher can carry influence to national levels without losing his authenticity.
• Leadership Multiplication – Through his mentorship of younger pastors and his example of robust evangelism, he influenced a generation of church leaders within the conservative Baptist and fundamentalist tradition.
• Communication of the Gospel – Whether by radio preaching at Cadle Tabernacle or by revival platforms, he used the means of his day to bring Scripture and decision-making to the public.
• Model of Faithfulness – From the mule-ridden circuits to the national platform, his steady faith, unwavering call to Christ, and consistent ministry over more than six decades give a model of long obedience in the same direction.
• A Bridge Across Eras – Lakin’s ministry spanned from the early 20th-century revival environment into the large-scale institutional evangelicalism of the mid-20th century. He bore witness to transitions and held to core commitments: evangelism, conversion, personal holiness.

Practical Lessons

For today’s pastors, evangelists and church workers, Lakin’s life offers several practical lessons:

• Let God use humble beginnings – He started with little formal education and preached in mountain pulpits, proving that what matters is one’s surrendered heart and one’s faithfulness.
• Preach with clarity and invitation – His sermons made Scripture accessible and clearly called for decision.
• Stay grounded while growing in influence – Even as he preached in large venues, he remembered his early preaching on muleback—an image that kept him humble.
• Mentor the next generation – His investment in younger leaders shows that one’s legacy is carried mostly by those one equips.
• Keep evangelism central – He never drifted into institution building apart from evangelistic mission; the ‘come to Christ’ message remained at his core.

In Summary

Bascom Ray Lakin was a preacher whose roots in rural Appalachian revival gave rise to a national ministry dedicated to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. His story illustrates how faithfulness in small things—preaching a week after conversion on a mule-trail—can grow into influence across a generation. He exemplified evangelical fundamentals: Scripture, conversion, biblical preaching, and disciple-making.

In the shifting landscape of mid-20th-century American evangelism, Lakin remained anchored. While institutions rose, media changed, and culture shifted, his call did not: reach people with Christ, teach Scripture, mentor leaders, and never forget where one came from. For anyone studying the evangelical revival and fundamentalist movements of that era, Lakin’s life stands as a testament to what consistent, wholehearted ministry can accomplish. His legacy remains both historic and instructive, reminding us that true impact often flows from rooted faith, simple clarity, and unrelenting persistence.