Chafing under what he describes as constant discussion of his ministry by the church staff, evangelist James Robison said he is leaving First Baptist Church in Euless, Texas. The church is pastored by James T. Draper, Jr., former president of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC).
Robison’s status in Draper’s church had been the subject of discussion over the past two years. During that time, Robison’s ministry increasingly emphasized healing, deliverance from demons, and spiritual gifts (CT, June 15, 1984, p. 69).
The evangelist told the Baptist Standard, news journal of the Baptist General Convention of Texas, that he would join Lake Country Baptist Church, a Southern Baptist congregation in nearby Fort Worth. There he will be involved in a new satellite ministry.
Draper has said that while Robison doctrinely “would not be that different from most of us [Southern Baptists],” his charismatic emphases are “not typically Southern Baptist.”
Draper told the Standard that he was not surprised by Robison’s plans to leave. Draper said “50 to several hundred” members might leave the church with Robison. Draper’s church has a membership of about 7,000.
Robison joined Jim Hylton and Dudley Hall in a seminar ministry earlier this year. Hylton pastors Lake Country Baptist Church, the congregation Robison is joining. Robison said he, Hylton, and Hall had been praying about establishing a satellite ministry for 18 months. He declined to give details, saying negotiations for property were at a critical stage.
BAPTIST PRESS
