Rex Humbard to preach in Arkansas
Posted March 31, 2007
He was a pioneer in televangelism, a fixture on Sunday morning television across America in the 1970s. Rex Humbard, preaching from the Cathedral of Tomorrow in Akron, Ohio, reached millions around the globe with his weekly sermons.
Now in his 80s, Rev. Humbard doesn't preach as often. But he'll take to the pulpit in his hometown of Hot Springs, Ark. on April 22d. The previous day, he'll be inducted into the Arkansas Walk of Fame in the famous resort town.
I haven't been to a Rex Humbard crusade since I was nine years old. (Back in 1976, I begged and pleaded with my parents to take me to hear the world-famous evangelist. We squeezed into our orange Chevy Vega and made the pilgrimage to Portland, Oregon, an hour away. I was so inspired by the service that I placed 27 cents in the offering plate, although I no longer have the tax-deductible receipt to prove it...It was, up to that moment, the cultural high water mark of my life.)
Thirty years later, I'll be making another journey, this time to Hot Springs. I'd give $2,700 if I could bring my mom with me for this encore revival, but that won't be possible this time.
Unless he's changed, there won't be the whiff of politics at the service. He'll leave the government to the politicians and focus his sights on things eternal. I'll tell you, I look forward to hearing Brother Humbard preach.
Comments
*pangs of jealousy*
I grew up (and still live) about a mile away from the former Cathedral of Tomorrow and went to see Rex Humbard on a semi-regular basis when I was a young lad. I even went to vacation bible school there one summer. I thought it was so cool that the mother of a childhood friend worked for his ministry.
The place isn't quite the same now that Ernest Angley's ministry is based there - and the church is now known as "Ernest Angley's Grace Cathedral."
I think a good number of people around the Akron-Cleveland area probably consider Humbard's most lasting legacy the still-standing tall tower on which he wanted to build a restaurant and TV antenna (but never got around to finishing). It's referred to by most locals as "Rex's Erection" - and the space on there is now rented out as a communications tower.
The one thing that still rocks there is the buffet restaurant located in the same complex as the former Humbard headquarters. It's been there for decades. The food there is good and my family and I go there periodically. The prime rib is pretty decent. :)
Is Ernest Angley ever on TV any more? I used to love to watch him; he was even funnier than Robin Williams's parody of him, because he acted like he actually believed in what he was doing and saying.
I would like to contact Rex about an upcoming tour we are planning where he spoke about Elvis on a Gospel TV program (usually seen on PBS - called He Touched Me).
Does anyone know how to contact Rex or his office?
All I can find online is their Prayer Line - no one answers there.
God Bless,
Danny Vann
I grew up watching Rex Humbard on tv, though I've never seen him (or any other famous evangelist) in person.
I always loved him. He laid it on the line. If there's room for whiskey in your cupboard or beer in your refrigerator, there's no room for Christ in your heart, he preached one time.
This was the time when evangelicals like him did preach about God and sin and salvation, rather than right wing politics.
I wonder who his celebrity hairdresser will be?