Baptist History, Heritage and Distinctives Many prayed for his grandfather’s prophet’s mantel to fall on him.

Thomas E Kresal November 1, 2019

Baptist History, Heritage and Distinctives Many prayed for his grandfather’s prophet’s mantel to fall on him

November 01, 1961 – Mordecai F. Ham, Jr. passed into the presence of the Lord. He was one of the most prominent and powerful evangelists of the first half of the twentieth century. Almost a third of a million additions to the family of God were produced through his efforts! These results are all the more amazing when we realize that Evangelist M.F. Ham was born in a rural area of Kentucky and had limited academic training.

Actually, he was named after his grandfather, the Rev. Mordecai F. Ham, who was a leading pastor in the Bays Fork Association (Kentucky) and pastor of the Bethlehem Baptist Church for more than 40 years. Ham’s father was the Rev. Tobias J. Ham, the only son of the older Rev. Ham. He pastored 14 churches, five of which he helped establish.

Mordecai, Jr. was the fourth of Tobia’s six children and the oldest son. He was born April 2, 1877, on a farm in Allen County, Ky. He grew up in an environment that treasured the work ethic. He labored after school with his preacher/father and matured from childhood through his teen years under the ministries of both his father and grandfather. Young Mr. Ham could not date his spiritual birthdate but had the assurance of his salvation.

At 16 years of age, he was Sunday School Superintendent of the Baptist church in Greenwood, Ky.

He was also greatly influenced by his mother’s Christian character and his father’s nightly devotions, and he was soon overcome with the desire to preach. He had some limited training at Ogden College in Bowling Green, Ky. and at the same time studied law privately.

Trying to withstand the call to preach he went to Chicago but when his grandfather died he surrendered his life to totally follow Christ. Many prayed for his grandfather’s prophet’s mantel to fall on him, which it surely did.

Thomas E. Kresal from: This Day in Baptist History Vol. I: Cummins Thompson /, pp. 453-54.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2712268765491465&set=gm.1103913323137149&type=3&theater&ifg=1