Posted by William Nunnelley on 2004-01-06

Dr. Lewis A. Drummond, former Billy Graham Professor of Evangelism and Church Growth at Samford University's Beeson Divinity School, died Jan. 4 in Asheville, N.C. He was 77.

A noted evangelist and author of works on evangelism, Dr. Drummond taught at Southern Baptist Seminary in Louisville, Ky., and was president of Southeastern Baptist Seminary in Wake Forest, N.C., before coming to Beeson in 1992. He retired from Beeson during the summer of 2003, becoming evangelism professor in residence at the Billy Graham Training Center at the Cove in Asheville.

Drummond preached in crusades around the world and served as the pastor of churches in Texas, Alabama and Kentucky. He wrote dozens of books and articles including biographies of Billy Graham and Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

Beeson Dean Timothy George said Drummond "was one of the most encouraging and hopeful Christians I have ever known. He embodied the optimism of grace rooted in a vibrant personal relationship with Jesus Christ."

A 1950 graduate of Samford, Drummond held a Th.M. degree from Southwestern Seminary and Ph.D. from King's College at the University of London. He was a native of Dixon, Ill.

Drummond served as president at Southeastern Seminary from 1988 until 1992. The Lewis A. Drummond Center for Great Commission Studies at Southeastern is named in his honor. A graveside service for Dr. Drummond was scheduled for Jan. 7 in Wake Forest, where he was to be buried in the seminary cemetery. A memorial service was planned for Jan. 10 in Asheville.

Drummond, who had battled cancer for several years, suffered a heart attack on Christmas Day. He is survived by his wife, Betty.

 

 
Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford is the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Samford enrolls 5,791 students from 49 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks 6th nationally for its Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.