Tennessee's Pioneer Baptist Preachers

Sketches Of

Tennessee's Pioneer Baptist Preachers

ISAAC HINES

(pages 239 - 240)

This venerable brother was born in Knox County, Tenn., July 20, 1816. His father, Robert Hines, was a soldier in the Creek War. He was converted in his twentieth year and was baptized by Samuel Love, uniting' with Boyd's Creek Church, Sevier County. In his twenty-first year he was married to Cynthia Ann Householder, who was his helper and companion for fifty years, and the mother of his twelve children. He was ordained by the New Hopewell Church, where he is still a member (1897).

Brother Hines served as pastor the following churches: Ellijoy, Knob Creek, Sugar Loaf, Cedar Grove, Mt. Olive, Stock Creek, and New Hopewell. The "greatest meeting" ever held at New Hopewell Church was held by Brother Hines. In this meeting, it is said, almost everybody in the surrounding country, young and old, was converted.

Brother Hines is an uneducated man, but has great sympathy, and has done a great deal of good. He has the gift of tears and the confidence of the people; and these are great assets for a preacher to possess. He never claimed to be a "big preacher," he tells me; but "by the grace of God he could do something." He has witnessed many conversions, and has "baptized hundreds." The Lord didn't call him to "sit down and wait, but sent him out to hunt up sinners and bring them in." "I can't preach much," he says, but "a good many churches want me to help in meetings; and the pastors want me to come and cry for them."

Brother Hines is the oldest preacher in the Chilhowee Association. He was 81 last month. In his last years he has been afflicted and not able to preach much. He has also been troubled over the loss of property and having to pay "security debts." But when he was strong he took care of the Lord's cause, and now the Lord will take care of him. Many will bless his memory on earth, and many will rise up in the last day and call him blessed.

(The above was written September 1, 1897. )

Burnett, J .J. Sketches of Tennessee's Pioneer Baptist Preachers. Nashville, Tenn.: Press of Marshall & Bruce Company, 1919.

URL: http://www.knoxcotn.org/tnbaptists/index.html

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