James Henry Semple was born August 23, 1931, in Tifton, Georgia, to Henry "Hank" and Mary Frances (Poole) Semple. The family moved to Miami, Florida that same year. He attended schools in Miami, graduating from Miami Edison High School. Later, he married the girl he had known at school and church, Betty Jane Bennett.
Called "Jimmy or Jim", he received Christ as his Savior at age 13 and was later called into the ministry at the Allapattah Baptist Church, Miami, FL. He went on to earn a B.A., at Stetson University, Deland, Florida. He then received a B.D., from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas followed by a Th.D. in Church History.
His pastorates include the Olivet Baptist Church in Ocala, FL, the Balsora Baptist Church in Wise County, TX, the Northside Baptist Church, Mineral Wells, TX, Oakview Baptist Church Fort Worth, TX, First Baptist Church, Plano, TX, and the First Baptist Church in Paris, TX where he served for over 25 years where his leadership significantly impacted the church, Paris and beyond. While there, he conducted the first "Together We Build" Campaign in Texas as the church built a new auditorium and later, Family Life Center for activities and Sunday School space. The Sunday School increased 130% to 3,500 enrollment while the population in Paris grew approximately 10%. The church actively maintained a strong outreach program through multiple mission ministries and Sunday School visitation each week. FBC Paris also helped support many missions and churches in the River Ministry and Pioneer Mission areas. The church participated in many mission trips including the tremendous impact experienced while involved in the trips to the Rio Grande area and Mexico.
Following his 25 years as pastor of First Baptist Church of Paris, TX, Dr. Semple accepted the position as Director of the State Missions Commission of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. The areas of his service included Church Stewardship, Church Administration, Bi-Vocational/Smaller Church Department, Church Staff Foundation, Church Staff Information Service, Evangelism, Ethnic Missions, Church Ministries, Church Extension Church Building Planning, Black Church Development, River Ministry, Creative Church Development, Sunday School/Discipleship, and Disaster Relief. The Commission also provided communication in cooperative effort with Women's Missionary Union of Texas, Texas Baptist Men, Partnership Missions and Mission Service Corps.
Books authored or co-authored by Dr. Semple include "Bible Study Lessons: Beliefs Important to Baptists", Teachers' Edition, "On Wings Of Eagles", The History Of FBC White Settlement, "Isaiah and Jeremiah", Adult Bible Teaching Guide, "Exodus :Freed To Follow God". "Beliefs Important To Baptists" Study Guide, and "Bible Truths About God".
Dr. Semple published articles in Home Life, Christianity Today, The Adult Teacher, Home Missions Magazine, Baptist Standard, Florida Baptist Witness, Christian Life, The Baptist Program, Sunday School Leadership, and others. He also was the Southern Baptist Sunday School Board adult lesson writer for the Baptist Standard in Texas and was a contributor to the Holman Discipleship Bible.
Denominational Service included Executive Committee, Southern Baptist Convention, 1967-75, Executive Board, Baptist General Convention of Texas, 1965-71 and 1977-83, Chairman of the Board, Baptist Church Loan Association, 1968-70, Chairman, Texas Baptist History Committee, 1970, Institutional Study Committee and Church State Study, Baptist General Convention of Texas Administrative Committee, BGCT 1978-84; Chairman, 1984, Board of Trustees, Baptist Standard, 1983-88, Chairman, Constitutional Review Committee, BGCT of Texas, Chairman, Share Jesus Now statewide Personal Evangelism Campaign, 1987-88, General Chairman, ten area-wide crusades, Parliamentarian, Southern Baptist Convention, 1983-84, Parliamentarian, BGCT, 1980, Chairman, Resolutions Committee and Credentials Committee, BGCT, Chairman of the Southern Baptist Nationwide Church Growth Conference, 1992.
Dr. Semple was a well known denominational speaker and preacher. Some of his engagements included speaker for Evangelism Conferences of Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas, Minnesota-Wisconsin, and California. He was also the featured speaker for the Bi-Vocational Pastors Evangelism Conferences, Oregon-Washington Pastors/Wives Retreats, Arizona Sunday School Conference, numerous Texas Regional Sunday School Conventions, Louisiana Church Growth Conferences, New Orleans Metro Clinic, Evangelistic Crusades in Indonesia, Japan, Hong Kong, and Los Angeles, California, numerous Continuing Witness Training Seminars, Associational Evangelism Conferences, preacher for Sunday School Week at Glorieta, 1988, and Ridgecrest, 1990, and Bible Preaching Week at Glorieta, 1991.
Dr. Semple has been listed in "Who's Who in South and Southwest" and listed in the first edition of "Who's Who In Religion". He was awarded Home Mission Board Outstanding Evangelistic Pastor of a Multi-Staff Church in 1987 and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary Texas Alumni of the Year in 1988.
In 2000 Semple was selected by the citizens of Paris/Lamar County as one of the 50 most influential citizens of the 20th century.
Dr. Semple's interim ministries since 1989 include, Westbury Baptist Church of Houston, Texas, First Baptist Church of Brandon, Florida, First Baptist Church of Humble, Texas, First Baptist Church of Kaufman, Texas, Glen Meadows Baptist Church, San Angelo, Texas, First Baptist Church Granbury, Texas, Central Baptist Church Hillsboro, Texas, Evangelism Director Baptist Convention of New Mexico from 2004-2006, Interim Executive Director Baptist Convention of New Mexico in 2005, Shiloh Terrace Baptist Church, Dallas, TX, and Pastor, First Baptist Church, Stephenville, TX.
Dr. Semple was an avid fisherman, but even far more importantly, a passionate fisher of men. His life touched so many for Christ in the numerous messages preached, personal witness so readily shared, testimony in life lived, home visits, weddings, funerals, hospital visits and all those that met or knew him, especially his family.
At age 80, Dr. James Semple peacefully went to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Sunday morning, July 22, 2012, in his home in Dallas, TX in the company of his wife, Betty, and family.
Services were held at First Baptist Church, Paris, TX, on Thursday July, 26, 2012 at 2:00 p.m.
Called "Jimmy or Jim", he received Christ as his Savior at age 13 and was later called into the ministry at the Allapattah Baptist Church, Miami, FL. He went on to earn a B.A., at Stetson University, Deland, Florida. He then received a B.D., from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas followed by a Th.D. in Church History.
His pastorates include the Olivet Baptist Church in Ocala, FL, the Balsora Baptist Church in Wise County, TX, the Northside Baptist Church, Mineral Wells, TX, Oakview Baptist Church Fort Worth, TX, First Baptist Church, Plano, TX, and the First Baptist Church in Paris, TX where he served for over 25 years where his leadership significantly impacted the church, Paris and beyond. While there, he conducted the first "Together We Build" Campaign in Texas as the church built a new auditorium and later, Family Life Center for activities and Sunday School space. The Sunday School increased 130% to 3,500 enrollment while the population in Paris grew approximately 10%. The church actively maintained a strong outreach program through multiple mission ministries and Sunday School visitation each week. FBC Paris also helped support many missions and churches in the River Ministry and Pioneer Mission areas. The church participated in many mission trips including the tremendous impact experienced while involved in the trips to the Rio Grande area and Mexico.
Following his 25 years as pastor of First Baptist Church of Paris, TX, Dr. Semple accepted the position as Director of the State Missions Commission of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. The areas of his service included Church Stewardship, Church Administration, Bi-Vocational/Smaller Church Department, Church Staff Foundation, Church Staff Information Service, Evangelism, Ethnic Missions, Church Ministries, Church Extension Church Building Planning, Black Church Development, River Ministry, Creative Church Development, Sunday School/Discipleship, and Disaster Relief. The Commission also provided communication in cooperative effort with Women's Missionary Union of Texas, Texas Baptist Men, Partnership Missions and Mission Service Corps.
Books authored or co-authored by Dr. Semple include "Bible Study Lessons: Beliefs Important to Baptists", Teachers' Edition, "On Wings Of Eagles", The History Of FBC White Settlement, "Isaiah and Jeremiah", Adult Bible Teaching Guide, "Exodus :Freed To Follow God". "Beliefs Important To Baptists" Study Guide, and "Bible Truths About God".
Dr. Semple published articles in Home Life, Christianity Today, The Adult Teacher, Home Missions Magazine, Baptist Standard, Florida Baptist Witness, Christian Life, The Baptist Program, Sunday School Leadership, and others. He also was the Southern Baptist Sunday School Board adult lesson writer for the Baptist Standard in Texas and was a contributor to the Holman Discipleship Bible.
Denominational Service included Executive Committee, Southern Baptist Convention, 1967-75, Executive Board, Baptist General Convention of Texas, 1965-71 and 1977-83, Chairman of the Board, Baptist Church Loan Association, 1968-70, Chairman, Texas Baptist History Committee, 1970, Institutional Study Committee and Church State Study, Baptist General Convention of Texas Administrative Committee, BGCT 1978-84; Chairman, 1984, Board of Trustees, Baptist Standard, 1983-88, Chairman, Constitutional Review Committee, BGCT of Texas, Chairman, Share Jesus Now statewide Personal Evangelism Campaign, 1987-88, General Chairman, ten area-wide crusades, Parliamentarian, Southern Baptist Convention, 1983-84, Parliamentarian, BGCT, 1980, Chairman, Resolutions Committee and Credentials Committee, BGCT, Chairman of the Southern Baptist Nationwide Church Growth Conference, 1992.
Dr. Semple was a well known denominational speaker and preacher. Some of his engagements included speaker for Evangelism Conferences of Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas, Minnesota-Wisconsin, and California. He was also the featured speaker for the Bi-Vocational Pastors Evangelism Conferences, Oregon-Washington Pastors/Wives Retreats, Arizona Sunday School Conference, numerous Texas Regional Sunday School Conventions, Louisiana Church Growth Conferences, New Orleans Metro Clinic, Evangelistic Crusades in Indonesia, Japan, Hong Kong, and Los Angeles, California, numerous Continuing Witness Training Seminars, Associational Evangelism Conferences, preacher for Sunday School Week at Glorieta, 1988, and Ridgecrest, 1990, and Bible Preaching Week at Glorieta, 1991.
Dr. Semple has been listed in "Who's Who in South and Southwest" and listed in the first edition of "Who's Who In Religion". He was awarded Home Mission Board Outstanding Evangelistic Pastor of a Multi-Staff Church in 1987 and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary Texas Alumni of the Year in 1988.
In 2000 Semple was selected by the citizens of Paris/Lamar County as one of the 50 most influential citizens of the 20th century.
Dr. Semple's interim ministries since 1989 include, Westbury Baptist Church of Houston, Texas, First Baptist Church of Brandon, Florida, First Baptist Church of Humble, Texas, First Baptist Church of Kaufman, Texas, Glen Meadows Baptist Church, San Angelo, Texas, First Baptist Church Granbury, Texas, Central Baptist Church Hillsboro, Texas, Evangelism Director Baptist Convention of New Mexico from 2004-2006, Interim Executive Director Baptist Convention of New Mexico in 2005, Shiloh Terrace Baptist Church, Dallas, TX, and Pastor, First Baptist Church, Stephenville, TX.
Dr. Semple was an avid fisherman, but even far more importantly, a passionate fisher of men. His life touched so many for Christ in the numerous messages preached, personal witness so readily shared, testimony in life lived, home visits, weddings, funerals, hospital visits and all those that met or knew him, especially his family.
At age 80, Dr. James Semple peacefully went to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Sunday morning, July 22, 2012, in his home in Dallas, TX in the company of his wife, Betty, and family.
Services were held at First Baptist Church, Paris, TX, on Thursday July, 26, 2012 at 2:00 p.m.
James Henry Semple was born August 23, 1931, in Tifton, Georgia, to Henry "Hank" and Mary Frances (Poole) Semple. The family moved to Miami, Florida that same year. He attended schools in Miami, graduating from Miami Edison High School. Later, he married the girl he had known at school and church, Betty Jane Bennett.
Called "Jimmy or Jim", he received Christ as his Savior at age 13 and was later called into the ministry at the Allapattah Baptist Church, Miami, FL. He went on to earn a B.A., at Stetson University, Deland, Florida. He then received a B.D., from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas followed by a Th.D. in Church History.
His pastorates include the Olivet Baptist Church in Ocala, FL, the Balsora Baptist Church in Wise County, TX, the Northside Baptist Church, Mineral Wells, TX, Oakview Baptist Church Fort Worth, TX, First Baptist Church, Plano, TX, and the First Baptist Church in Paris, TX where he served for over 25 years where his leadership significantly impacted the church, Paris and beyond. While there, he conducted the first "Together We Build" Campaign in Texas as the church built a new auditorium and later, Family Life Center for activities and Sunday School space. The Sunday School increased 130% to 3,500 enrollment while the population in Paris grew approximately 10%. The church actively maintained a strong outreach program through multiple mission ministries and Sunday School visitation each week. FBC Paris also helped support many missions and churches in the River Ministry and Pioneer Mission areas. The church participated in many mission trips including the tremendous impact experienced while involved in the trips to the Rio Grande area and Mexico.
Following his 25 years as pastor of First Baptist Church of Paris, TX, Dr. Semple accepted the position as Director of the State Missions Commission of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. The areas of his service included Church Stewardship, Church Administration, Bi-Vocational/Smaller Church Department, Church Staff Foundation, Church Staff Information Service, Evangelism, Ethnic Missions, Church Ministries, Church Extension Church Building Planning, Black Church Development, River Ministry, Creative Church Development, Sunday School/Discipleship, and Disaster Relief. The Commission also provided communication in cooperative effort with Women's Missionary Union of Texas, Texas Baptist Men, Partnership Missions and Mission Service Corps.
Books authored or co-authored by Dr. Semple include "Bible Study Lessons: Beliefs Important to Baptists", Teachers' Edition, "On Wings Of Eagles", The History Of FBC White Settlement, "Isaiah and Jeremiah", Adult Bible Teaching Guide, "Exodus :Freed To Follow God". "Beliefs Important To Baptists" Study Guide, and "Bible Truths About God".
Dr. Semple published articles in Home Life, Christianity Today, The Adult Teacher, Home Missions Magazine, Baptist Standard, Florida Baptist Witness, Christian Life, The Baptist Program, Sunday School Leadership, and others. He also was the Southern Baptist Sunday School Board adult lesson writer for the Baptist Standard in Texas and was a contributor to the Holman Discipleship Bible.
Denominational Service included Executive Committee, Southern Baptist Convention, 1967-75, Executive Board, Baptist General Convention of Texas, 1965-71 and 1977-83, Chairman of the Board, Baptist Church Loan Association, 1968-70, Chairman, Texas Baptist History Committee, 1970, Institutional Study Committee and Church State Study, Baptist General Convention of Texas Administrative Committee, BGCT 1978-84; Chairman, 1984, Board of Trustees, Baptist Standard, 1983-88, Chairman, Constitutional Review Committee, BGCT of Texas, Chairman, Share Jesus Now statewide Personal Evangelism Campaign, 1987-88, General Chairman, ten area-wide crusades, Parliamentarian, Southern Baptist Convention, 1983-84, Parliamentarian, BGCT, 1980, Chairman, Resolutions Committee and Credentials Committee, BGCT, Chairman of the Southern Baptist Nationwide Church Growth Conference, 1992.
Dr. Semple was a well known denominational speaker and preacher. Some of his engagements included speaker for Evangelism Conferences of Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas, Minnesota-Wisconsin, and California. He was also the featured speaker for the Bi-Vocational Pastors Evangelism Conferences, Oregon-Washington Pastors/Wives Retreats, Arizona Sunday School Conference, numerous Texas Regional Sunday School Conventions, Louisiana Church Growth Conferences, New Orleans Metro Clinic, Evangelistic Crusades in Indonesia, Japan, Hong Kong, and Los Angeles, California, numerous Continuing Witness Training Seminars, Associational Evangelism Conferences, preacher for Sunday School Week at Glorieta, 1988, and Ridgecrest, 1990, and Bible Preaching Week at Glorieta, 1991.
Dr. Semple has been listed in "Who's Who in South and Southwest" and listed in the first edition of "Who's Who In Religion". He was awarded Home Mission Board Outstanding Evangelistic Pastor of a Multi-Staff Church in 1987 and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary Texas Alumni of the Year in 1988.
In 2000 Semple was selected by the citizens of Paris/Lamar County as one of the 50 most influential citizens of the 20th century.
Dr. Semple's interim ministries since 1989 include, Westbury Baptist Church of Houston, Texas, First Baptist Church of Brandon, Florida, First Baptist Church of Humble, Texas, First Baptist Church of Kaufman, Texas, Glen Meadows Baptist Church, San Angelo, Texas, First Baptist Church Granbury, Texas, Central Baptist Church Hillsboro, Texas, Evangelism Director Baptist Convention of New Mexico from 2004-2006, Interim Executive Director Baptist Convention of New Mexico in 2005, Shiloh Terrace Baptist Church, Dallas, TX, and Pastor, First Baptist Church, Stephenville, TX.
Dr. Semple was an avid fisherman, but even far more importantly, a passionate fisher of men. His life touched so many for Christ in the numerous messages preached, personal witness so readily shared, testimony in life lived, home visits, weddings, funerals, hospital visits and all those that met or knew him, especially his family.
At age 80, Dr. James Semple peacefully went to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Sunday morning, July 22, 2012, in his home in Dallas, TX in the company of his wife, Betty, and family.
Services were held at First Baptist Church, Paris, TX, on Thursday July, 26, 2012 at 2:00 p.m.
Called "Jimmy or Jim", he received Christ as his Savior at age 13 and was later called into the ministry at the Allapattah Baptist Church, Miami, FL. He went on to earn a B.A., at Stetson University, Deland, Florida. He then received a B.D., from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas followed by a Th.D. in Church History.
His pastorates include the Olivet Baptist Church in Ocala, FL, the Balsora Baptist Church in Wise County, TX, the Northside Baptist Church, Mineral Wells, TX, Oakview Baptist Church Fort Worth, TX, First Baptist Church, Plano, TX, and the First Baptist Church in Paris, TX where he served for over 25 years where his leadership significantly impacted the church, Paris and beyond. While there, he conducted the first "Together We Build" Campaign in Texas as the church built a new auditorium and later, Family Life Center for activities and Sunday School space. The Sunday School increased 130% to 3,500 enrollment while the population in Paris grew approximately 10%. The church actively maintained a strong outreach program through multiple mission ministries and Sunday School visitation each week. FBC Paris also helped support many missions and churches in the River Ministry and Pioneer Mission areas. The church participated in many mission trips including the tremendous impact experienced while involved in the trips to the Rio Grande area and Mexico.
Following his 25 years as pastor of First Baptist Church of Paris, TX, Dr. Semple accepted the position as Director of the State Missions Commission of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. The areas of his service included Church Stewardship, Church Administration, Bi-Vocational/Smaller Church Department, Church Staff Foundation, Church Staff Information Service, Evangelism, Ethnic Missions, Church Ministries, Church Extension Church Building Planning, Black Church Development, River Ministry, Creative Church Development, Sunday School/Discipleship, and Disaster Relief. The Commission also provided communication in cooperative effort with Women's Missionary Union of Texas, Texas Baptist Men, Partnership Missions and Mission Service Corps.
Books authored or co-authored by Dr. Semple include "Bible Study Lessons: Beliefs Important to Baptists", Teachers' Edition, "On Wings Of Eagles", The History Of FBC White Settlement, "Isaiah and Jeremiah", Adult Bible Teaching Guide, "Exodus :Freed To Follow God". "Beliefs Important To Baptists" Study Guide, and "Bible Truths About God".
Dr. Semple published articles in Home Life, Christianity Today, The Adult Teacher, Home Missions Magazine, Baptist Standard, Florida Baptist Witness, Christian Life, The Baptist Program, Sunday School Leadership, and others. He also was the Southern Baptist Sunday School Board adult lesson writer for the Baptist Standard in Texas and was a contributor to the Holman Discipleship Bible.
Denominational Service included Executive Committee, Southern Baptist Convention, 1967-75, Executive Board, Baptist General Convention of Texas, 1965-71 and 1977-83, Chairman of the Board, Baptist Church Loan Association, 1968-70, Chairman, Texas Baptist History Committee, 1970, Institutional Study Committee and Church State Study, Baptist General Convention of Texas Administrative Committee, BGCT 1978-84; Chairman, 1984, Board of Trustees, Baptist Standard, 1983-88, Chairman, Constitutional Review Committee, BGCT of Texas, Chairman, Share Jesus Now statewide Personal Evangelism Campaign, 1987-88, General Chairman, ten area-wide crusades, Parliamentarian, Southern Baptist Convention, 1983-84, Parliamentarian, BGCT, 1980, Chairman, Resolutions Committee and Credentials Committee, BGCT, Chairman of the Southern Baptist Nationwide Church Growth Conference, 1992.
Dr. Semple was a well known denominational speaker and preacher. Some of his engagements included speaker for Evangelism Conferences of Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas, Minnesota-Wisconsin, and California. He was also the featured speaker for the Bi-Vocational Pastors Evangelism Conferences, Oregon-Washington Pastors/Wives Retreats, Arizona Sunday School Conference, numerous Texas Regional Sunday School Conventions, Louisiana Church Growth Conferences, New Orleans Metro Clinic, Evangelistic Crusades in Indonesia, Japan, Hong Kong, and Los Angeles, California, numerous Continuing Witness Training Seminars, Associational Evangelism Conferences, preacher for Sunday School Week at Glorieta, 1988, and Ridgecrest, 1990, and Bible Preaching Week at Glorieta, 1991.
Dr. Semple has been listed in "Who's Who in South and Southwest" and listed in the first edition of "Who's Who In Religion". He was awarded Home Mission Board Outstanding Evangelistic Pastor of a Multi-Staff Church in 1987 and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary Texas Alumni of the Year in 1988.
In 2000 Semple was selected by the citizens of Paris/Lamar County as one of the 50 most influential citizens of the 20th century.
Dr. Semple's interim ministries since 1989 include, Westbury Baptist Church of Houston, Texas, First Baptist Church of Brandon, Florida, First Baptist Church of Humble, Texas, First Baptist Church of Kaufman, Texas, Glen Meadows Baptist Church, San Angelo, Texas, First Baptist Church Granbury, Texas, Central Baptist Church Hillsboro, Texas, Evangelism Director Baptist Convention of New Mexico from 2004-2006, Interim Executive Director Baptist Convention of New Mexico in 2005, Shiloh Terrace Baptist Church, Dallas, TX, and Pastor, First Baptist Church, Stephenville, TX.
Dr. Semple was an avid fisherman, but even far more importantly, a passionate fisher of men. His life touched so many for Christ in the numerous messages preached, personal witness so readily shared, testimony in life lived, home visits, weddings, funerals, hospital visits and all those that met or knew him, especially his family.
At age 80, Dr. James Semple peacefully went to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Sunday morning, July 22, 2012, in his home in Dallas, TX in the company of his wife, Betty, and family.
Services were held at First Baptist Church, Paris, TX, on Thursday July, 26, 2012 at 2:00 p.m.
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