Dr. Robert Sumner passed away in December 2016. The Biblical Evangelist newspaper is no longer being published and the ministry of Biblical Evangelism has ceased operation.

The remaining inventory of his books and gospel tracts was transferred to The Baptist Tabernacle of Los Angeles and may be ordered here.

Letters We Love
Evangelist Robert L. Sumner

Our first letter this issue is from Tennessee. A long time evangelist wrote:

“I do appreciate your article in the May-June issue of The Biblical Evangelist about Christian camping.

“I was saved at Camp Patmos, Kelley’s Island, in Sandusky, Ohio, on a Tuesday night, July 19, 1960. A church in Lorain, Ohio, paid my way. I was 15 years old and was just there for a good time. I cannot prove it, but I don’t believe I would have ever been saved if I didn’t get saved that night. The Holy Spirit really brought me to conviction. I wept like a baby. I contacted Camp Patmos and gave them my conversion story by e-mail because of the advertisement in The Biblical Evangelist.

“Also, I have read your message on ‘Biblical Preaching’ in the same issue. I do agree with you. There has been a demise on preaching on Hell and Repentance in our churches that I have a hard time believing what is going on. What’s happened to all the Hell-fire, brimstone preaching? What’s happened to the Repent or Perish preaching? Why won’t the evangelists and pastors preach?”

And he went on to describe an experience he had that illustrated his point. It is, indeed, sad.

Here is an e-mail we received about the cremation article we published: “My pastor gave my mother an article in your May-June copy of The Biblical Evangelist about cremation. She had just asked him how to handle a situation where her sister was wanting to be cremated and it was bearing heavy on mom's heart. Just a few days later your paper arrived and our pastor was able to share the article with us. We would like to request 4 copies of this paper to share with others if that would be possible.” And she gave a phone number and e-mail where she could be contacted.

Regarding the cremation article, one editor wrote, “The article is biblical, incisive, and comprehensive. It no doubt will evoke reaction here in Minnesota. In one IFCA church over half of the people are cremated!”

Most do it, we feel, in ignorance, not really knowing the biblical position.

The head of another ministry wrote us graciously, this one in Georgia, “Thanks for your newspaper. I love to read the articles and especially those written by you. I have followed your ministry through the years and appreciate you so much.”

A longtime friend wrote about our July-August issue: “I really liked the article on Riplinger in this issue. It really made the issues clear. Thanks for printing it! [Mrs. Sumner's] article on Gomer was good, too.”

A prominent contemporary theologian kindly wrote: “Greetings in the Lord Jesus Christ. I have thoroughly enjoyed your ministry over the years and appreciated your stand for the truth of God’s Word in a world so filled with satanic deception and confusion.”

A missionary, trying to catch up on back issues wrote: “Every issue of your paper amazes me with your productivity, broad range of happenings re: people, events and issues. I hope you can be around for a good while yet, because you will be greatly missed when that time comes …

“[In] reading the May-June issue … the article on Riplinger caught my attention and I read it through, the first more-or-less definitive one on her for me to see in print. Doug Kutelik was a wise choice for the man to do the job. And he takes her to task on just ONE of her works. I'd say you are doing the Christian public a favor by including it in your paper.

“Thank you for ‘Cremation: Is It Christian?’ … Over the years when I've spoken against it, it hasn't made me too popular in some places. In the U.S., I believe the practice was outlawed until around 1850.”

Pray for all our missionaries.

A brother in California e-mailed: “My thanks and appreciation to you (over the years) for your revelation of the whole Jack Hyles affair. Having been a member of Faith Baptist Church in Canoga Park, CA, between 1972-1979 under Pastor Roland Rasmussen, I got plenty of Jack Hyles meetings, sermons, etc., AND I always felt that something was very wrong. I remember in one particular Hyles meeting at FBC, Hyles openly insulted Catholics in the audience, and a number of people walked out. So much for compassionate evangelism.”

My experience was that he always had to have someone to pick on, although I have no idea why. People found it was smart not to sit down front in one of his services and ‘be available.’ In one meeting, my son and I, along with a pastor friend, were in a service when Hyles invited preachers to sit on the platform. My son and I didn’t take the bait but our friend did. Alas, he ended up being the Hyles’ target for the hour. To be honest, he didn’t seem to mind – maybe he even enjoyed it!

Remember, it’s right to write!