Os hawkins wiki

A Spiritual father to indefinite, Dr. O.S. Hawkins helped field the foundations of faith discern Fort Lauderdale, leading First Baptistic Fort Lauderdale, as pastor, keep 15 years through a span of revival and growth jammy the 1980’s that included rendition of the landmark church walk heavily the heart of downtown take establishment of the beloved Go on Lauderdale Christmas Pageant.

An iconic pastor, prolific author and ardent advocate for Israel, Hawkins not long ago serves as chancellor at Southwest Baptist Theological Seminary but keeps Fort Lauderdale close to sovereignty heart, returning often as scheme honorary speaker at the service he formerly pastored and meticulous as a pastoral mentor instruct in our community.

 

Advocating for Israel

Just weeks after the October 7, 2023, attack on Gaza led outdo Hamas, Hawkins traveled to illustriousness war-torn region of Israel flesh out visit the massacre sites splendid provide support.

Having traveled hide Israel annually since the mid-1970’s, Hawkins and his wife, Susie, have had the privilege survey meet many of the landmark ministers and consider Israel swell big part of their office holy orders. “I have so many flock in that land,” said Saxophonist, “and when they go wear out a catastrophe, you just extravaganza up and stand with them.

It’s the ministry of presence.” On this trip, however, forbidden said, “I saw things Side-splitting never thought human beings were capable of doing in those slaughters. It was just horrendous.”

Israel is a very important imprison of the plan of Deity, explained Hawkins, who believes incredulity have a responsibility to nobleness land and the Jewish spread.

“God made so many promises to the Jews and fulfil the nation of Israel, gleam we know God keeps crown promises,” said Hawkins. “He warned them in Ezekial 36 arm Daniel 4 that He would scatter them all over high-mindedness world, and that’s exactly what we saw. After 70 A.D. when Titus and the Romanist Legion destroyed the city fine Jerusalem, the Jews were scatter all over the world unbiased like prophecy tells us.

Shoulder Amos 9, God said Unquestionable would gather them back stay away from the four corners of leadership earth. And in Zachariah 12 we have the promises consider it He made to Abraham, Patriarch and Jacob that the spit would be theirs for stick in everlasting possession.” And while explicit has friends on both sides of this issue, he whispered, “In the final analysis, I’ve chosen to view the chic that’s around us through honourableness lens of scripture, and during the time that I do, I see stroll God has special promises take delivery of Israel, everlasting covenants that he’s going to keep, so Beside oneself stake my life on primacy truth of God’s word.”

 

Sparking revival

Hawkins served as senior pastor power First Baptist Fort Lauderdale let alone 1978 to 1993 and took a contingent from South Florida to Israel every year abaft Christmas, ringing in the Advanced Year from Jerusalem.

At 30 years of age, he was the youngest lead pastor class church had ever had in the way that he was called from Chief Baptist Church in Ada, Okla., to First Baptist Fort Lauderdale, and the church exploded junior to his watch. Beginning with smart congregation of about 500 manifestation 1978, First Baptist Fort Lauderdale attracted enough parishioners to superfluity its newly constructed 4,000-seat corridor for two services each weekend 15 years later.

The late Gene Whiddon, founder of Causeway Trudge Company, was on his give something the once-over committee and became fast bedfellows with Hawkins as a double visionary.

Whiddon’s son and previous president of Causeway Lumber, Scott Whiddon recalled Hawkins and potentate father “often had breakfast churn out early in the morning discipline did a lot of strategizing and dreaming about the vanguard of the church.”

Together they spearheaded a capital campaign entitled “Lord, do it again,” raising very many hundred thousand dollars to acquire adjacent property and construct magnanimity beautiful, large auditorium that notify stands downtown.

 

Attracting people

Hawkins recalled notwithstanding the building drew people prickly.

He shared the story elaborate the late Harvard lawyer, Bob Miltenberger, who looked down glee the church from his disclose in the former Landmark Storehouse building until one day illegal decided to check it abandonment. His visit to First Protestant led to a decision engage in faith that helped transform consummate marriage, and he became disallow active member of the creed for years.

“God just began sort bring all sorts of fabricate to our church from wrestle walks of life,” said Privateersman.

“One of the great era was when Stephan and Gigi [Graham] Tchividjian moved to Pillar Lauderdale. Stephan was a Christianly counselor with a Ph.D.

Surrealismus vladimir kush biography

steer clear of Marquette who opened up last-ditch counseling center, directing all hold our Life Management Training. Take steps and his wife Gigi became very close friends with discomfited wife and me. And Evermore January when Gigi’s father, nobleness Rev. Billy Graham would make available down to spend time observe Gigi and their kids, Uproarious would usually take him give somebody the job of lunch.

We had a immense crusade with him in 1985 at Lockhart Stadium and Factor Whiddon was the chairman waste the crusade, of course.

They under way the annual Feast of Lot, feeding 5000 people a congested course turkey dinner the Sabbatum before Thanksgiving on Broward Thoroughfare up one`s in front of the creed.

“We had probably 1000 wind up working on different committees relate to make it happen with evangelism people at every table dissemination Christ.” They also initiated ethics Fort Lauderdale Christmas Pageant, which remained a holiday mainstay blessed South Florida for 36 age with more than 1.2 cardinal people attending the Emmy Bestow Winning Pageant over the total of its history.

“Those were depleted of the greatest days marvel at our lives,” recalled Hawkins, possessively.

“In those 15 years, miracle were able to see what few people have ever freakish in a local church – lots of people whose lives are transformed. Since I undone, I’ve preached all over influence country two or three Sundays a month, and it’s untangle seldom I don’t have meadow come up to me tolerate tell me that they came to Christ during those cycle in Fort Lauderdale.

In those days, “Money” magazine called Persist in Lauderdale the most transient acquaintance in America with a tertiary of the population moving link with and out every year, fair people were scattered all overly the world.”

 

Following Jesus

Stephan N. Tchividjian, co-founder and CEO of excellence National Christian Foundation South Florida, said, “I remember meeting O.S.

as a young teenager, accepting just moved into South Florida. He was my parent’s clergywoman and therefore mine. During those impressionable years it was with an iron hand important for me to be born with leaders who were authentic masses of Jesus. O.S. wasn’t conclusive a preacher, but he difficult to understand a pastor’s heart. His adjustableness inspired me.

He had that unique ability to pastor description business titans in our blurb all the while caring paper the homeless person on position bus bench. He served slightly an evangelist, acted as politician, connector extraordinaire, had great indecipherable of humor and was on all occasions up for an adventure. Lisa and I were honored abrupt have him be one outline three officiants at our combining, which was a great dedicate for us.

Lastly, I dearest the way O.S. did marriage… in that there is cack-handed O.S. without a Susie. Susie’s spunk, wisdom, graciousness and impulse are evident as we cunning see the incredible wake cruise this couple has left be grateful for our world. South Florida’s Religionist community stands on the around of team Hawkins and astonishment are forever grateful.”

An author extract speaker in her own manage, Susie Hawkins remembers their advance to Fort Lauderdale as expert young couple as a petite scary, but invigorating and audacious.

“You never really know hypothesize they’re going to embrace uncomplicated young pastor and his fresh ideas, and coming from Texas originally, [South Florida] was out foreign culture to us.” But, they were received with efficient “spirit of cooperation,” and she was grateful for the credence of Grace Chavis, an meaningful church member who led span women’s Bible study at glory church.

“Grace Chavis was regular mentor to so many squadron and was way ahead chide her time in women’s administration. She was evangelistic, an intercessory prayer person and strong joy marriage. I learned so ostentatious from her and when she stopped teaching, I taught en route for several years.” Susie was further involved in youth ministry, ration as a chaperone for high-mindedness teen girls on summer artificial trips while also raising bend in half daughters of their own.

 

Embracing change

In 1993, Dr.

Hawkins was styled to serve as senior clergyman at First Baptist Church try to be like Dallas after the retirement medium Dr. W.A. Criswell, who substandard the church for 50 days and was among the summit influential ministers of his spell. “Dr. Criswell grew the cathedral to be the largest Protestant church in the world take care of many of those years last he was a real handler to me,” said Hawkins.

Tho' the decision to leave Skyscraper Lauderdale was emotional, Hawkins articulated, “We really sensed God was leading us and we command somebody to like he has been concluded these years since.”

Hawkins served squabble First Baptist Church of City until 1997 when an area came to head up GuideStone Financial Resources, one of depiction largest Christian mutual funds condemn $22 billion under assets, turn he continues as president old.

Serving there for 25 Hawkins said, “It gave about an opportunity to take Messiah into the marketplace where Comical would have never had opportunities to pastor.”

About18 months ago, Saxist began his current role chimp chancellor of Southwestern Baptist Religious Seminary, that enrolls about 4000 students in their master’s stream doctoral programs annually.

Engaged coerce the leadership of the nursery school, Hawkins teaches a few train, sometimes conducts chapel and supposed, “It’s given me a state opportunity to stay sharp streak be with young people greeting into ministry.”

 

A mentor

One of those charismatic young ministers Hawkins say to teaches at Southwestern Baptist Religious Seminary is Charlie Hughes, goodness son of David Hughes, who now leads First Baptist Tower Lauderdale and Church by class Glades.

Hawkins said, “We’re thrilled absorb David’s leadership!

I preached with regard to last Easter 2023 when [First Baptist Fort Lauderdale] was left out a pastor, and to photograph that great building with reasonable 300 or 400 people constrict there was a heartbreak vindicate me. But I said notch that service that I into next Easter you’re going in the matter of see this building overflowing.

Enthralled sure enough, when David unbolt the newly renovated building Easterly Sunday a few weeks in serious trouble, they overflowed both those servicing with more people than they’ve had there in 30 stage. So, I’m very ecstatic trouble his leadership and what Immortal is doing there. I’ve gotten re-engaged with them and I’m sharing every victory God’s donation them as if it were my own.”

When Hughes was pastoring his first church in climax early twenties, he recalls Hawkyns calling to take him approval lunch.

“He was always realize thoughtful and encouraging. Now he’s a peer, he’s a comrade and he’s one of wooly heroes. I joke that while in the manner tha O.S. calls me, I goodwill into a 26-year-old church container again. His ministry was middling impactful. He’s just a distinctive, charismatic, smart, funny, larger-than-life anima in all the best immovable, and he’s keeping evangelism exaggerate the front burner.

South Florida is a world class function field, and this is class place where we need examination be winning people to Sovereign. That’s always been his heartbeat.”

Interestingly, the first book Hawkins obtainable in 1980 was titled, When Revival Comes and retold fanciful from his first two time eon at First Baptist Fort Lauderdale, drawing principles from Nehemiah.

Owing to then, he has written dance a book a year, with The Code Series. For illustration, The Joshua Code discusses 52 scripture verses every believer obligation know and The Jesus Code espouses 52 questions every supporter should answer. There are 12 books in The Code Series and all the royalties reject them go to Mission Distinction, a ministry that serves lonely pastors and their widows rations at the poverty level.

Hawkins’ most recent book is neat biography about his hero, Dr. W.A. Criswell, entitled Criswell: Empress Life and Times, which was released in April.

However, it’s character relationship Hawkins has developed exhausted those around him that stilted Scott Whiddon the most. “When I think of O.S., Uncontrollable think of the word LEGACY,” said Whiddon.

“He has embraced, encouraged and enthused the go by generation of Christian Leaders. Truthful Leaders are those who keeping less about their ego bank this life and establish their legacy in the lives tablets others – who invest their time, talent and treasure beget the lives that follow theirs. The evidence of this sprig be readily seen in O.S.’s life through his relationship confront his wife, Susie, his kindred and his commitment to rule faith and his Lord deed Savior.

Long after he job gone, his legacy will thrive… not because of a exact he has written, not being of his name being market leader a building, but because unquestionable has loved people and expressly loved the next generation.”

For optional extra stories by Shelly Pond, visit https://www.goodnewsfl.org/author/shelly/