Chuck Lawless

Position: William Walker Brookes Professor of Evangelism and Church Growth; Senior Associate Dean, Billy Graham School of Missions, Evangelism and Church Growth; Director of Professional Doctoral Studies

Spouse: Pam (14 years)

An interesting fact about your family: Pam and I were "fixed up" by two matchmaking church secretaries.

Hometown: Mason, Ohio

Current church: Highview Baptist Church (East Campus)

Current local church ministry: Most of my ministry involves interim pastorates and supply preaching each Sunday.

Hobbies: Reading, martial arts, traveling

Favorite Southern Seminary memory: Two favorites — walking in my first convocation processional as a professor and receiving the Findley and Louvenia Edge Award for Teaching Excellence

How you became a Christian: A seventh-grade classmate (more specifically, an out-of-control 12-year-old Pentecostal) first shared the good news of Christ with me. Eleven months later, God saved me and called me to preach on the same day — the first time that I had ever been in church.

Most influential person in your life: Four persons — Rev. Jack Tichenor, a now deceased minister who showed me a pastor's heart; my wife, who has illustrated for me God's love; Thom Rainer, who encouraged me to come to Southern as a doctoral student, served as my faculty supervisor and now serves as my dean (and boss); Brandon Conner, who has allowed me to be a father in his life and "papaw" in the lives of his children

What you like most about teaching: I have the incredible privilege of training young men and women whose ministries will influence much more of the world than I could ever do through my own ministry.

Favorite courses that you teach: "Spiritual Warfare in Evangelism and Missions" and "Introduction to Evangelism and Church Growth"

Favorite music groups: Would it seem odd if I said I like both Michael W. Smith and Loretta Lynn?

Favorite movie: Most recently, "Ladder 49" (my father was a fireman)

A word of wisdom for Towers readers: Do what it takes to build relationships with lost persons. It will be difficult to reach lost persons if we have none who are friends — and ministry too often secludes us from the very people who need to hear our message.