Hugh's News & Commentary

John W.Swails
Holmes Bible College Student 1937-1941

John W. Swails was a true son of Holmes. His love for the Word of God and his remarkable ability to teach it set him apart as one of the greatest Bible teachers in the Pentecostal Holiness Church and the Pentecostal world. Hundreds of students at Emmanuel College were shaped by his sound Bible instruction. Pastors and lay leaders were instructed and inspired by his teaching and preaching at Bible conferences and camp meetings.

He committed a great portion of the Bible to memory. He memorized the book of Romans when he was confined with a broken leg. It was a blessing to hear him quote whole chapters of the Bible while he was teaching or preaching.

I still remember two of the messages he preached at the Christian Worker's Institute in Falcon while I was the pastor at Culbreth Memorial. I thought the messages on "Breakthrough" and "The Voice of Fear and the Voice of Faith" were two of the best sermons I had heard. I would still like to hear them again, and I imagine that David Butts still has a copy. I had the privilege of preaching with Dr. Swails at the Mid-Atlantic Ministers Conference in Washington, D. C. He preached a masterful message on "The Keys of the Kingdom." I still have copies of his notes on Thessalonians which he also taught at Falcon.

I talked with Clarence Blanchard right after Brother Swails' homegoing, and he told me that he was a classmate of Brother Swails and Brother Padget Robinson. The other day at the Cornerstone Conference, I met Mrs. Esther Baker Hopkins (93 years of age). She graduated in 1938 and Brother Blanchard told me that she was there with him, John Swails and Elmo Hopkins. Three of these have lived to be in the nineties. Brother Swails and Brother Robinson came from the South Carolina Conference.

It was always a pleasure to be around John W. Swails. He was not only a great Bible teacher and preacher, he was also a prince of a person. I always looked forward to seeing him when I visited Emmanuel, especially while I was serving in general leadership. He was always so gracious and kind. I would leave his presence encouraged and giving thanks to God for the marks of grace that exuded from him.

When I came to Holmes, I noticed that he was a faithful supporter of the college. I did not get a chance to thank him in person, but each time he sent a contribution I would write a personal note on the receipt and let him know how much I appreciated his thoughtfulness and faithfulness. It was so encouraging to see a Holmes graduate still expressing his gratitude for the impact Holmes had made on his life seventy years after his graduation.

We have received a number of gifts in memory of Brother Swails. The South Carolina conference has sent a check for $5,000 to the college to remember its favorite son and to assist his alma mater.

As a person I am deeply thankful for the life and ministry of John Swails. As president of his alma mater, I am extremely proud of his impact on the Pentecostal Holiness Church and the Pentecostal world.