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[May 16, 2005]
Huffman, John Abram Sr.; 1912-2004
Papers; 1963-1965, 1988
Audio Tapes, 1 folder
Restrictions
There are no restrictions on the use of this collection.
Biography
Born: February 12, 1912, in Dayton, Ohio
Death: May 22, 2004
Parents: Jasper Abraham and Elizabeth (Lambert) Huffman, both
active members of the Mennonite Brethren in Christ Church, which later, after
mergers with other denominations, became the Missionary Church
Siblings: D. Paul (nine years older), Lambert (four years older)
Other family information: Grew up in Ohio and Indiana. Father
became President of the Winona Lake School of Theology (Winona Lake, Indiana)
in 1928.
Marital status: Married in 1935 to Dorothy Bricker, had a son,
John A. Huffman, Jr., and a daughter Miriam.
Died: May 22, 2004, in Carol Stream, Illinois.
Education:
Marion College Academy (Marion, Indiana), graduated 1929
Marion College, graduated 1933 with a BA and BS
Winona Lake School of Theology, graduated in 1933 with an MA in Theology
Boston University School of Theology, graduated in 1939 with a Bachelor's of
Sacred Theology
Harvard Divinity School - two years of Ph.d. graduate study, 1950-1951
Boston University School of Theology - two years of graduate study at the doctoral
level, 1951-1952
Asbury Theological Seminary, honorary Doctorate of Divinity, 1957
Professional Activities:
1934-1972 Ordained minister in the Missionary Church
1937-1939 Park Street Congregational Church, Boston, associate minister
1940 Prospect Congregational Church, Cambridge Massachusetts (this church became
the Cornerstone Church of Cambridge in 1941)
1941-1953 Cornerstone Church of Cambridge, senior minister
1944-1954 Youth for Christ, founding member of the Boston chapter in 1944 and
director of the Boston Youth for Christ
1950-1953 Winona Lake School of Theology, faculty member and administrator
1953-1970 Winona Lake School of Theology, president
1971-1973 Westminster Presbyterian Church of Miami, interim pastor
1973-1975 Key Biscayne Presbyterian Church, assistant minister
1975-1976 First Presbyterian Church of Miami, associate minister
1976-1978 Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, minister
of counseling
1979-1984 St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church of Newport Beach, California, minister
of visitation
1984-1986 First Presbyterian Church of River Forest, Illinois, parish associate
1987-? First Presbyterian Church of Glen Ellyn, Illinois, associate pastor
Radio ministry:
Memberships: National Association of Evangelicals, founding member and first editor of the
NAE's magazine, United Evangelical Action
Scope and Content
The material in this collection consists of a series of tapes of oral history interviews with Huffman and some tapes and scripts from radio programs he was associated with in the mid-1960s.
The radio programs were Commentary on the News and Great Moments with the Master. The former program consisted of commentary by Dr. Howard Kershner on recent news stories, with a Bible reading by opera singer Jerome Hines and announcements by Huffman. Kershner reviewed events from an anti-large government, pro-free market perspective. The latter program consisted of two or more hymns or spirituals sung by Hines and a brief message by Huffman. Folder 1-1 contains some of the scripts for Huffman's messages.
Rev. Huffman was interviewed by Robert Shuster several times in 1988. The events described in the interviews cover the time period from 1912 until 1971. The boldfaced entries are intended to highlight the topics covered in the interview. Time elapsed in minutes and seconds is recorded to the left of the topics discussed in the interview. The index is keyed to a cassette copy and not to the reel-to-reel original.
Tape T1 - side 1
T1 - side 2
00:00 Beginning of tape
00:21 Overlap from side 1
01:15 Seeing Sunday gardening through the bushes; description of Sunday's preachingstyle;
Sunday's athletics; very rapid delivery; examples of his style; incident with a crying baby
during a sermon; crude but effective sayings
06:30 Characteristics of Mrs. Sunday; Billy Graham greatly influenced by Mrs. Sunday;Helen
Sunday as a fund raiser; her regrets over time spent away from her children
11:30 Example of Sunday's financial dealings to Graham and others; Sunday'sinfluence over his
evangelistic team; Mrs. Sunday's paramount influence on the evangelistic work; her
authority over Homer Rodeheaver
14:15 Description of the personality of Homer Rodeheaver; Rodeheaver' participation in an
early rally of Boston Youth for Christ; suit threatened against Boston Youth for Christ
because of use of a hymn without permission; assistance from Walter F. Bennett;
Rodeheaver became a multi-millionaire through copyrights
21:45 End of tape
T2 - side 1
00:00 Beginning of tape
00:30 Introduction of interview
00:45 Description of Mrs. Sunday as a committeewoman; "Ma" Sunday's generosity to
evangelistic organizations; her concern about teaching soul-winning at the Winona Lake
School of Theology
04:45 Huffman's decision to accept Christ at the age of eight; how he met his wife;
10:15 More on Huffman's conversion; decision as a child to become a preacher; choice between
being a band leader and a preacher; father's influence on Huffman; a calling necessary to
preach; preaching tradition in family; struggle of Huffman's son John over whether to be
a preacher
18:00 Meeting his future wife, Dorothy Bricker, at Marion College; her furthereducation and
work as a teacher; marriage and joint attendance at Boston University in 1936
23:45 Attitude toward denominationalism; father's Arminian belief; his religious conservative
beliefs were tested at Boston University; ; benefit of having his beliefs tested
30:15 Differences between Harvard Divinity School and Boston University in the
1930s;relations with liberal professors; Huffman's efforts to master what he was taught
while being true to his beliefs; Harold Paul Sloan and behaviorism
36:15 Description of Elmer Leslie, a liberal theologian who was one of Huffman'sprofessors;
meeting Harold J. Ockenga and hearing him preach for the first time; becoming
Ockenga's assistant at Park Street Church
47:15 End of side 1 of tape
T2 - side 2
00:00 Start of tape
00:06 Overlap from side 1
01:45 Ockenga's leadership style; Park Street Church's "dummy choir"; description ofPark
Street's pastor, A. Z. Conrad; Ockenga's preaching style and personal characteristics;
physical layout of Park Street Church; method of sermon preparation; didn't like spats
08:45 Ockenga developed serious throat problems and Huffman substituted for him instead of
Harry Rimmer
15:00 Huffman's churches in New England through 1953; Ockenga's activities during this time
and Huffman's assistance to him
18:00 End of side 2
T3 - side 1
00:00 Beginning of tape
01:15 Introduction of interview
01:30 Origins of the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE); growing desire for some kind
of national organization; Unitarian tendencies of Congregationalism in New England; J.
Elwin Wright; Huffman's involvement in New England Fellowship and cooperative
efforts with other conservative Protestants
10:30 Organizing convention called; importance of Ockenga; comparison of Ockenga and Carl
McIntire; Huffman's efforts to get Evangelical radio programs on the air; need of
conservative Protestants to have a national organization that would represent them
19:45 Leaders at the organizing meeting; Christian Adventists at the meeting; McIntire and the
American Council of Christian Churches; Ockenga and McIntire both candidates to be
first President of NAE
26:00 Open invitation given to the organizing convention; disagreement over admitting
Pentecostals; Huffman's participation in the committee forming the doctrinal statement of
the NAE; dispute over the nature of Hell; committee membership
30:40 Competition with the Federal Council of Churches in influence; influence of the NAE on
radio ministry; Huffman begins The Evangelical Hour radio program; withdrawal of
McIntire and his association from the organizing meeting; origins of the name
"Evangelicals"; Billy Graham as representative of the inclusiveness of NAE
37:00 Weakness of National Religious Broadcasters in its early days; thumbnail descriptions of
William Biederwolf; comparison of the temperaments of Sunday and Biederwolf;
involvement of Biederwolf with Winona Lake Christian Assembly; description of
Christian businessman Herbert J. Taylor
43:45 End of side 1
T3 - side 2
00:00 Beginning of tape
00:07 Overlap from side 1 of tape
02:15 Taylor's ability to influence the boards on which he sat; Taylor's poor health; projects in
which he was involved; J. Elwin Wright's personality; relationship with Ockenga;
Wright's development of the New England Fellowship; the importance of Katherine and
Elizabeth Evans in finishing what Wright started; physical description of Wright
13:00 Impressions of Percy Crawford; comparison of Crawford and Jack Wyrtzen; both come
to New England at different times to hold youth rallies in New England
20:30 End of side 2 of tape
T4 - side 1
00:00 Beginning of tape
00:30 Reintroduction of interview
00:45 Youth rally Wyrtzen held in Boston; comparison of preaching styles of Wyrtzen and
Crawford; families of the two men; Huffman asked by Charles Campbell to join Torrey
Johnson in developing Youth for Christ (YFC); organizing meeting of YFC at Winona
Lake; Roger Malsbary; Torrey Johnson's qualities as a leader
10:00 Huffman's organization of YFC in New England; rallies attended mostly by high
schoolers and servicemen; details about rallies; radio broadcasts; typical program of a
rally meeting; use of young leadership; list of some of the prominent speakers at rallies;
Youth for Christ's vow to "take Saturday nights away from the devil"; Gil Dodds;
attractions for servicemen
19:00 Huffman's educational background, including attending major Evangelical undergraduate
and liberal postgraduate institutions; history of Winona Lake School of Theology; father's
contribution to the school
25:00 Course taught by Huffman at Winona; became president of school in 1953; teachers who
served at Winona Lake over the years; balance between Calvinism and Arminianism on
faculty; course taught by the school's faculty in other countries; objective of the school
31:00 Acceptance of the Winona School of Theology credits by other seminaries; affiliation of
the Winona Lake school with Fuller Theological Seminary; concerns about being
affiliated with Fuller; D. James Kennedy
37:00 Administrative links between Fuller and Winona; separating from Fuller in 1964 over
Biblical inerrancy; Ockenga's attitude toward the merger; differences on the Fuller board
over inerrancy
43:30 End of side 1
T4 - side 2
00:00 Beginning of tape
00:06 Overlap from side 1
00:45 Division between board, students and faculty over inerrancy; close friendship of Ockenga
and Charles Fuller; further development over the conflict over inerrancy; Daniel Fuller;
Ockenga's attempts to resolve crisis; a traumatic board meeting
09:00 Charles Fuller's reaction to the crisis; Herbert Taylor advised Ockenga become a full-time
President of Fuller Theological Seminary; choice of David Hubbard as new president
15:00 Winona Lake was debt-free when union of schools took place; story that separation was
due to Winona's financial difficulties untrue; theology, not finances cause of the split
20:15 Board meeting at Winona Lake to discuss differences between the Winona and Fuller
boards; alumni of Winona Lake School of Theology disturbed by events
24:45 End of side 2
T5 - side 1
00:00 Beginning of tape
01:30 Introduction of interview
01:45 Feedback from Winona alumni about the Fuller situation; critique of George Marsden
history of Fuller; decision to separate the two schools
07:00 Negotiations with Hubbard to resolve the situation; arrangements for the separation
13:15 Winona Lake school continued to function independently until 1970; move of the school
to the Chicago area; Herbert Taylor's role as a friend of bother Fuller and Winona
18:45 Huffman's relationship with Ockenga during the problems with Fuller; Kenneth Kantzer
and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School's relation with Winona; decision to close the
Winona school in 1971 because most seminaries had their own summer programs;
settlement with Fuller Seminary
24:15 Reason why the Fuller board was unable to maintain Fuller in an inerrancy position;
evaluation of Marsden history of Fuller, Reforming Evangelicalism; Billy Graham's
statement at a Fuller board meeting; Charles Fuller's statement about the seminary's
maintaining its statement of faith
29:45 End of tape
*****
Provenance
The materials in this collection were given to the Billy Graham Center Archives by John A. Huffman Sr. in April, May and November 1988 and July 1989.
Accession 88-38, 88-57, 89-76
April 12, 1995
Robert Shuster
K. Cox
LOCATION RECORD
Acc. 88-38, 88-57, 89-76
Type of Material: Audio Tapes
The items listed below are located in the AUDIO TAPE FILE:
T1 - Reel-to-reel, 3-3/4 ips speed, approximately 67 minutes. One side. Interview with John A. Huffman Sr. by Robert Shuster, April 14, 1988. Discussion of childhood, pacifism, William Jennings Bryan, Billy Sunday, Helen Sunday, Homer Rodeheaver.
T2 - Reel-to-reel, 3-3/4 ips speed, approximately 64 minutes. One side. Interview with John A. Huffman Sr. by Robert Shuster, April 14, 1988. Discussion of Helen Sunday, conversion, graduate education, Harold J. Ockenga.
T3 - Reel-to-reel, 3-3/4 ips speed, approximately 72 minutes. One side. Interview with John A. Huffman Sr. by Robert Shuster, May 26, 1988. Discussion of National Association of Evangelicals, Herbert J. Taylor, J. Elwin Wright, Percy Crawford, Jack Wyrtzen.
T4 - Reel-to-reel, 3-3/4 ips speed, approximately 66 minutes. One side. Interview with John A. Huffman Sr. by Robert Shuster, May 26, 1988. Discussion of Percy Crawford, Jack Wyrtzen, Youth for Christ, Winona Lake School of Theology, Fuller Theological Seminary.
T5 - Reel-to-reel, 3-3/4 ips speed, approximately 30 minutes. One side. Interview with John A. Huffman Sr. by Robert Shuster, May 26, 1988. Discussion of relationship between Winona Lake School of Theology and Fuller Theological Seminary.
T6 - Reel-to-reel, 7-1/2 ips speed, approximately 15 minutes. One side. Commentary on the News by Dr. Howard E. Kershner, with Bible readings by Jerome Hines and announcements by John Huffman. Kershner commented on current political and social events, concentrating on defense of the free market, attacks on the growth of government, and description of Communist subversion efforts in the United States and overseas. Produced by the Christian Freedom Foundation. Program 251. Ca. 1963.
T7 - Reel-to-reel, 7-1/2 ips speed, approximately 15 minutes. One side. Commentary on the News by Dr. Howard E. Kershner, with Bible readings by Jerome Hines and announcements by John Huffman. Kershner commented on current political and social events, concentrating on defense of the free market, attacks on the growth of government, and description of Communist subversion efforts in the United States and overseas. Produced by the Christian Freedom Foundation. Program 253. Ca. 1963.
T8 - Reel-to-reel, 7-1/2 ips speed, approximately 15 minutes. One side. Commentary on the News by Dr. Howard E. Kershner, with Bible readings by Jerome Hines and announcements by John Huffman. Kershner commented on current political and social events, concentrating on defense of the free market, attacks on the growth of government, and description of Communist subversion efforts in the United States and overseas. Produced by the Christian Freedom Foundation. Program 255. Ca. 1963.
T9 - Reel-to-reel, 7-1/2 ips speed, approximately 15 minutes. One side. Commentary on the News by Dr. Howard E. Kershner, with Bible readings by Jerome Hines and announcements by John Huffman. Kershner commented on current political and social events, concentrating on defense of the free market, attacks on the growth of government, and description of Communist subversion efforts in the United States and overseas. This program includes references to the recent assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Produced by the Christian Freedom Foundation. Program 257. Ca. December 1963.
T10 - Reel-to-reel, 7-1/2 ips speed, approximately 15 minutes. One side. Commentary on the News by Dr. Howard E. Kershner, with Bible readings by Jerome Hines and announcements by John Huffman. Kershner commented on current political and social events, concentrating on defense of the free market, attacks on the growth of government, and description of Communist subversion efforts in the United States and overseas. Produced by the Christian Freedom Foundation. Program 259. Ca. 1964.
T11 - Reel-to-reel, 7-1/2 ips speed, approximately 15 minutes. One side. Commentary on the News by Dr. Howard E. Kershner, with Bible readings by Jerome Hines and announcements by John Huffman. Kershner commented on current political and social events, concentrating on defense of the free market, attacks on the growth of government, and description of Communist subversion efforts in the United States and overseas. Produced by the Christian Freedom Foundation. Program 260. Ca. 1964.
T12 - Reel-to-reel, 7-1/2 ips speed, approximately 15 minutes. One side. Great Moments with the Master. Program consisted of hymns, spirituals and other sacred music sung by Jerome Hines and a brief sermon by Huffman. Produced by the Educational Broadcasting Association. Program 1. Huffman's sermon topic: New Year's Resolutions. Broadcast ca. 1963.
T13 - Reel-to-reel, 7-1/2 ips speed, approximately 15 minutes. One side. Great Moments with the Master. Program consisted of hymns, spirituals and other sacred music sung by Jerome Hines and a brief sermon by Huffman. Produced by the Educational Broadcasting Association. Program 8 . Huffman's sermon topic: Fear. Broadcast ca. 1963.
T14 - Reel-to-reel, 7-1/2 ips speed, approximately 15 minutes. One side. Great Moments with the Master. Program consisted of hymns, spirituals and other sacred music sung by Jerome Hines and a brief sermon by Huffman. Produced by the Educational Broadcasting Association. Program 16. Huffman's sermon topic: The Music of Life is in Your Soul. Broadcast on November 10, 1963.
T15 - Reel-to-reel, 7-1/2 ips speed, approximately 15 minutes. One side. Great Moments with the Master. Program consisted of hymns, spirituals and other sacred music sung by Jerome Hines and a brief sermon by Huffman. Produced by the Educational Broadcasting Association. Program 35. Huffman's sermon topic: Christianity Proved by Experience. Broadcast on November 17, 1963
T16 - Reel-to-reel, 7-1/2 ips speed, approximately 15 minutes. One side. Great Moments with the Master. Program consisted of hymns, spirituals and other sacred music sung by Jerome Hines and a brief sermon by Huffman. Produced by the Educational Broadcasting Association. Program 52 . Huffman's sermon topic: Christmas. Broadcast ca. 1964.
T17 - Reel-to-reel, 7-1/2 ips speed, approximately 15 minutes. One side. Great Moments with the Master. Program consisted of hymns, spirituals and other sacred music sung by Jerome Hines and a brief sermon by Huffman. Produced by the Educational Broadcasting Association. Program 66. Huffman's sermon topic: Things that Cannot be Shaken. Hines sings "How Great Thou Art." Broadcast October 25, 1964.
T18 - Reel-to-reel, 7-1/2 ips speed, approximately 15 minutes. One side. Great Moments with the Master. Program consisted of hymns, spirituals and other sacred music sung by Jerome Hines and a brief sermon by Huffman. Produced by the Educational Broadcasting Association. Program 75 . Huffman's sermon topic: The Deity of Christ. Broadcast December 27, 1964.
T19 - Reel-to-reel, 7-1/2 ips speed, approximately 15 minutes. One side. Great Moments with the Master. Program consisted of hymns, spirituals and other sacred music sung by Jerome Hines and a brief sermon by Huffman. Produced by the Educational Broadcasting Association. Program 83. Huffman's sermon topic: Mother Nature. Broadcast February 21, 1965.
T20 - Reel-to-reel, 7-1/2 ips speed, approximately 15 minutes. One side. Great Moments with the Master. Program consisted of hymns, spirituals and other sacred music sung by Jerome Hines and a brief sermon by Huffman. Produced by the Educational Broadcasting Association. Program 84. Huffman's sermon topic: Adam's Sin. Broadcast February 28, 1965.
T21 - Reel-to-reel, 7-1/2 ips speed, approximately 15 minutes. One side. Great Moments with the Master. Program consisted of hymns, spirituals and other sacred music sung by Jerome Hines and a brief sermon by Huffman. Produced by the Educational Broadcasting Association. Program 87. Huffman's sermon topic: Pray Without Ceasing. Broadcast March 21, 1965.
T22 - Reel-to-reel, 7-1/2 ips speed, approximately 15 minutes. One side. Great Moments with the Master. Program consisted of hymns, spirituals and other sacred music sung by Jerome Hines and a brief sermon by Huffman. Produced by the Educational Broadcasting Association. Program 91. Huffman's sermon topic: Christ's Resurrection. Hines sins "Crucifixion" Broadcast April 18, 1965.
T23 - Reel-to-reel, 7-1/2 ips speed, approximately 15 minutes. One side. Great Moments with the Master. Program consisted of hymns, spirituals and other sacred music sung by Jerome Hines and a brief sermon by Huffman. Produced by the Educational Broadcasting Association. Program 92 . Huffman's sermon topic: Faith in God. Broadcast April 25, 1965.
T24 - Reel-to-reel, 7-1/2 ips speed, approximately 15 minutes. One side. Great Moments with the Master. Program consisted of hymns, spirituals and other sacred music sung by Jerome Hines and a brief sermon by Huffman. Produced by the Educational Broadcasting Association. Program 93. Huffman's sermon topic: Christianity is a Set of Convictions. Broadcast May 2, 1965. A slightly different version of the same sermon can be found in a typed script in folder 1-1.
T25 - Reel-to-reel, 7-1/2 ips speed, approximately 15 minutes. One side. Great Moments with the Master. Program consisted of hymns, spirituals and other sacred music sung by Jerome Hines and a brief sermon by Huffman. Produced by the Educational Broadcasting Association. Program 95. Huffman's sermon topic: Natural Man and Spiritual Man. Broadcast May 16, 1965.
T26 - Reel-to-reel, 7-1/2 ips speed, approximately 15 minutes. One side. Great Moments with the Master. Program consisted of hymns, spirituals and other sacred music sung by Jerome Hines and a brief sermon by Huffman. Produced by the Educational Broadcasting Association. Program 96. Huffman's sermon topic: Trial in Hard Places. Broadcast June 6, 1965.
T27 - Reel-to-reel, 7-1/2 ips speed, approximately 15 minutes. One side. Great Moments with the Master. Program consisted of hymns, spirituals and other sacred music sung by Jerome Hines and a brief sermon by Huffman. Produced by the Educational Broadcasting Association. Program 100. Huffman's sermon topic: A New Type of Man. Broadcast June 20, 1965
T28 - Reel-to-reel, 7-1/2 ips speed, approximately 15 minutes. One side. Great Moments
with the Master. Program consisted of hymns, spirituals and other sacred music sung by Jerome
Hines and a brief sermon by Huffman. Produced by the Educational Broadcasting Association.
Program 113?. Huffman's sermon topic: Christianity is a Body of Fact. Broadcast September 19,
1965.
CONTAINER LIST
| Box | Folder | Description |
| 1 | 1 | Radio sermon scripts, ca. 1963-1965 |