John Rowan Claypool IV was born in Simpson County, KY on 15 Dec 1930 to John Rowan Claypool III and Mary Etta Buchanan. After High School, he attended Baylor University and Southern Seminary in Louisville, KY where he was installed as the Senior Pastor at Crescent Hill Baptist Church. An incredibly gifted orator, he easily broke down lofty theological concepts for the layperson while perpetually emphasizing the love of God. A landmark event in his life was the leukemia diagnosis & subsequent death of his daughter, Laura Lue. The book resulting from his loss, Tracks of a Fellow Struggler, has become a classic treatise on coping with grief. A confessional preacher, he always spoke from personal experience, laying bare his emotions for the world to absorb. After his preaching ministry concluded in 2000, he moved to a teaching position at Mercer College in Atlanta where he continued to touch lives with his gentle wisdom. Stricken with the same malignancy which had taken his daughter years earlier, he went to his reward 3 Sep 2005 after 50+ years in the service of his fellow humans. His close friend throughout those many years, Bill Hull, preached his service, same as he had for Laura Lue nearly 35 years prior. We are fortunate to live at a time when death cannot still the voice of one so wise.
Claypool Pastorates:
Gilead Baptist Church - Madison county KY
1952-1955
First Baptist Church - Hartsville TN
1957-59
Crescent Hill Baptist - Louisville
1960-71
Broadway Baptist - Ft. Worth
1971-76
Northminster Baptist - Jackson
1976-81
Second Baptist - Lubbock
1982-85
Theologian in residence - Christ Episcopal San Antonio 1986-87
St. Luke's - Birmingham
1987-2000
It should be mentioned that I own no copyrights to this material, and am not profiting in any fashion. I simply want to make John's material available for others to be blessed as I have been by his words & life.
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