Obituary - Evangelist Freddie Gage

Evangelist Freddie Gage

"Baptist churches had altar calls, tent revivals, all-night prayer services, testimonial meetings and open-air crusades. … We were taught that real discipleship was teaching and training new converts to go reach another lost soul. ... Back then if you were not a soul-winner, you were out of place. Today, if you are a soul-winner, you are out of place. Souls being saved was not only on the agenda, it was the agenda." -Evangelist Freddie Gage, speaking of the glory days of evangelism; BP.


Freddie Gage, longtime Southern Baptist evangelist, died September 12, 2014 in a Houston hospital following an extended illness. He was 81.

Funeral services will be held on September 26, 2014 at 1:00pm at Sagemont Church in Houston, Texas. Gage’s longtime friends and fellow ministers John Morgan, Jimmy Draper, John Bisagno, James Merritt, Johnny Hunt, Darrell Robinson, and Jonathan Falwell will be conducting the service.

Gage’s four sons, Daniel, Paul, Rick and Rodney, all followed their father into evangelism and ministry careers.

Besides his wife Barbara and four sons, Gage is survived by four sisters, 10 grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

The evangelist was born in a charity ward in a Houston hospital and reared by his grandparents in one of the city’s ghettos. By the age of 16, he was a gang leader.

When challenged to attend a revival service at Melrose Baptist Church, Gage was convicted of his sin by the Holy Spirit through the preaching of Evangelist Dan Vestal, Sr. Gage then decided to give his life to his Lord Jesus Christ. Gage’s wife also received Jesus as her Savior at the same service. Not only did Gage find faith that night, he also felt called to preach the Gospel. At age 19, he committed himself to a life of evangelism.

My dad, Joe Brumbelow, knew Freddie in the early years of his ministry in the Houston area. Brother Joe was one of the first pastors to have Freddie Gage preach for him in Revival at Doverside Baptist Church in Houston, TX. While not always agreeing at all points, they were lifelong friends. Freddie Gage, Joe Brumbelow, Larry Taylor, Dan Vestal, and so many others were a part of those glory days of evangelism mentioned above.

Last April, 2014 I visited Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, TX. I noticed a display in chapel dedicated to Evangelist Freddie Gage. Few seminaries have the commitment to revivals and evangelism as Paige Patterson and SWBTS.

You can honor Freddie Gage’s memory by having an evangelist in revival at your church, and by telling someone about Jesus.

For more information:

http://editor.des05.com/vo/?FileID=d74adefc-b1a1-44b3-b44a-ef3197a63f4f&m=f13d0884-376f-45fd-8aad-054bf98c24a5&MailID=28836353&listid=23216

gotellministries.com

http://www.bpnews.net/43362/freddie-gage-6-decades-an-evangelist-dies

Update: Barbara Gage: 

http://www.bpnews.net/50806/sbc-digest-sbc-travel-help-available-to-small-church-pastors-sebts-conf-focuses-on-diversity-in-the-church-barbara-gage-dies-at-82

-David R. Brumbelow, Gulf Coast Pastor, September 16, AD 2014. 

More articles in lower right margin.

New Calvinist President At International Mission Board, SBC

The International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention has just elected a new Calvinist president, David Platt. Some may think it unusual to have a mission president who does not believe Jesus Christ died for the sins of all humanity. 

For those unaware, a 5-Point Calvinist does not believe Jesus died for the world, only for the elect. This view is often called Limited Atonement, or Particular Atonement. Therefore, if Jesus did not die for you, you have no chance to ever be saved and go to Heaven. You never had, and never will have a chance to be saved.

Southern Baptists have always had Calvinist and non-Calvinist (aka Moderate Calvinists, Traditionalists) as a part of their convention. The majority, however of Southern Baptists for over 100 years have believed Jesus died for all, and as the Holy Spirit convicts, all have the free choice of accepting or rejecting Jesus as Savior. In contrast, many Calvinists do not believe in that free choice, or free will, of man concerning salvation.

Dr. Rick Patrick, of Connect 316, has pointed out the following new SBC executive positions in the SBC all lean heavily in the Calvinist direction.

2011 - North American Mission Board - Kevin Ezell
2012 - Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary - Jason Allen
2013 - Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission - Russell Moore
2014 - International Mission Board - David Platt
And, of course, the strongest Calvinist SBC seminary is Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville. 

Baptist Press has not said much about David Platt’s Calvinism. I’m awaiting a reply from questions I’ve sent directly to the IMB concerning this.

The following from the more moderate / liberal ABP has this to say about David Platt:

“He has been active in Together for the Gospel, a biennial preaching conference for followers of the so-called ‘New Calvinism’ — popularized by leaders including John Piper of Desiring God Ministries and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary President Albert Mohler — that emphasizes God’s sovereignty in deciding who is saved.”
http://abpnews.com/ministry/organizations/item/29141-david-platt-elected-imb-president

From all indications, David Platt is a very capable preacher, husband, father. He is a strong supporter of missions. He has many strengths. But some are wondering when the calvinization of the Southern Baptist Convention is going to end. Must all our agency leaders be Calvinists? Some non-Calvinists (Traditionalists, Moderate Calvinists) are feeling alienated in their convention. I’m convinced things will balance out, but I’m not sure when. Just thought you should know. 
*******

Note & Update:
I am now reading articles implying Dr. Platt does not believe in Limited Atonement.

My evidence for the above, however, includes

The ABP story referred to above.

Christianity Today has referred to him as a Reformed Baptist (aka Calvinist).

Several Calvinists themselves have said that Platt believes in Limited Atonement.

At a 2012 Together for the Gospel (a Calvinist organization) conference, Platt preached on Particular Atonement (another name for Limited Atonement). Among his points were, “The atonement of Christ is graciously, globally, and gloriously particular.” He used the same Scripture in the same way as other Calvinists who believe in Limited Atonement.

Saying I believe everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved (said about Platt in one news article), does not exclude belief in Limited Atonement. Those who believe in Particular Atonement simply believe the non-elect (those for whom Christ did not die) will never call on the name of the Lord.

I have seen some, not all, Calvinists twist words, be deceptive, and say most anything, to get a job as pastor or other office. Both Paige Patterson and Al Mohler have pointed out this problem. We need to be open, clear, transparent about what we believe. If asked about Limited Atonement, I would have no problem clearly explaining what I believe. Our leaders should have no problem answering it either.

An answer like Dr. Jason Allen gave (I struggle with Limited Atonement) is not sufficient. Let’s be clear about it.

I well remember in the days of the SBC Conservative Resurgence being told by moderates that we all believe the same thing about the Bible. Well, that was obviously not true. Some today seem to want us to think we all believe the same thing concerning Calvinism. Or, that if we just ignore it, it will go away.

If Platt used to, but no longer believes in Limited Atonement, then let us know that.

I have not yet received a reply to questions related to this issue that I sent to the IMB.

As Southern Baptist Texan Editor Gary Ledbetter said, “There are some constituencies that have concerns about the comments and theological statements Dr. Platt has made as a popular speaker and writer - nothing unorthodox but pretty Calvinistic at times.”

There are 5-point Calvinists I greatly admire. But in this day when Calvinism is on the rise in the SBC, especially among our SBC agencies, we need to be open and specific about what we believe.

-DRB; 9-11-2014

-David R. Brumbelow, Gulf Coast Pastor, September 3, AD 2014.


The Calvinists Are Here; Gerald Harris, Christian Index
Books on Calvinism, Predestination
Limited or Universal Atonement by Dr. David L. Allen

Connect316 - A SBC group that believes: God loves every person. Christ died for every person. God wants to save every person.