The Rev. Dr. William L. Self

Denomination: Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (CBF)
Organization: Wieuca Road Baptist Church, Atlanta, GA (1964-1990) and Johns Creek Baptist Church, Alpharetta, GA (1991-2012)

Dr. William L. "Bill" Self, prominent Baptist leader and longtime Atlanta-area pastor, died Jan. 9, 2016, from complications of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis - also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease - one day shy of his 84th birthday.

Bill was pastor emeritus of Johns Creek Baptist Church - formerly First Baptist Church of Chamblee - where he served as senior pastor from 1991 to 2012. Previously he pastored the Wieuca Road Baptist Church from 1964 to 1990. More recently, Bill taught at Mercer University's McAfee School of Theology winter and spring of 2015, and served as chairman of Day 1 radio ministries, formerly the Protestant Hour. He also was a frequent speaker on that program. He was a 2014 recipient of the Candler Centennial Medal, given by the Candler School of Theology of Emory University, for extraordinary service to the school, church and society for the last century. Bill was a 1971 graduate of that school, earning the doctor of theology degree.

An unapologetic optimist, Bill was a visionary leader. His strong pulpit style, intellect, humor and evangelistic zeal impacted tens of thousands of people - not just in metropolitan Atlanta, but throughout the nation and around the world. Preaching was Bill's passion. His sermons - renowned for their clarity and boldness - impacted all generations, race and gender. He often said with a grin, "I have something to offend everyone." He also admitted to being "an evangelist disguised as a pastor." Although a Southern Baptist for much of his ministry, he was uncomfortable with the fundamentalist direction of the convention and helped create and support the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, an organization of moderate Baptists in 1991.

Bill was born Jan. 10, 1932, to Edgar and Della Self in Winston Salem, N.C. Following the unexpected death of his father, Bill and his mother moved to Delray Beach, FL. When he was 13, Bill acknowledged God's call into full-time Christian ministry and began speaking in area churches. He attended Seacrest High School, where he was on the football team and played trombone in the band. Upon graduation he enrolled in Stetson University. As a college student, Bill worked as part-time pastor of a small church in Palatka, Fla., and also was elected state president of the Baptist Student Union. He and a team of students held summer revival services throughout Florida.

Bill and Carolyn met at Stetson and were married his senior year. He graduated from Stetson in 1954 with a Bachelor of Arts degree, then returned to North Carolina, earning a bachelor of divinity degree from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1957. He remained in North Carolina and became the first full-time pastor of Edgemont Baptist Church in Rocky Mount, serving from 1957 to 1960. During his second year there, Edgemont was named "Church of the Year" by the North Carolina Baptist Convention. He was also elected vice president of that organization. In 1960 Bill went back to Florida to pastor West Bradenton Baptist Church for four years. The church grew rapidly. He cultivated a relationship with the local business community and was elected president of the Bradenton Chamber of Commerce.

The Wieuca Road Baptist Church in Atlanta called Bill as pastor in 1964. Under his guidance, that church experienced tremendous growth, becoming one of the most innovative and influential churches in America. To help expand the ministry of the Wieuca Road church, Bill became a weekly guest on WSB-TV's "Today in Georgia" morning talk show, a privilege which lasted 16 years. He also joined both the Buckhead Coalition and the Buckhead Business Association, becoming president of the latter in 1990.

Bill was one of the first Baptist pastors to endorse and promote ordination of women as both deacons and ministers. He also embraced early on acceptance of single adults - never married, widowed and divorced - into all aspects of church life. The rapid growth of the Wieuca Road church attracted much attention, elevating Bill's prominence among Baptists locally and nationally. He was elected president of the Georgia Baptist Convention, president of the Georgia Baptist Pastors' Conference, and chair of the Georgia Baptist Executive Committee. On the national level, he served as president of the Foreign Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention and second vice president of the SBC. In 1977 he preached the annual sermon - the showcase event - at the Southern Baptist Convention in Kansas City, MO.

Bill was a much-sought-after speaker for business and professional meetings, as well as college and seminary convocations and special assemblies. He was guest speaker several times at the Annual National Conference of Preaching and International Congress of Preaching in London, sponsored by "Preaching" magazine, and was the 1978 speaker for the Governor's Prayer Breakfast. The Billy Graham Crusades School of Evangelism recruited Bill to speak at numerous venues throughout the world. He also preached in various churches and missions both in the United States and abroad.

At a time when many people look toward retirement, Bill decided to start over. In 1991, just before his 60th birthday, he became pastor of the First Baptist Church of Chamblee - a struggling congregation trying to survive. He led the relocation of that church to Johns Creek, changing the name to Johns Creek Baptist Church. The church experienced phenomenal growth in organization, finances, and membership. Within his 21 years there, he guided the planning and construction of four buildings and the total reorganization of the teaching program.

Bill wrote four books, including his most recent, "Surviving the Stained Glass Jungle," about his years as a pastor. He also co-authored five more books with Carolyn and frequently wrote numerous articles for various publications.

Some of his other honors and accomplishments include: Appointed special ambassador by President Gerald Ford to the inauguration of William Tolbert as president of Liberia. As part of his special assignment, he discussed Idi Amin's relationship with the United States. Invited to the Republic of Korea by Prime Minister Kim Jung Pil to negotiate religious liberty issues Invited by the government of Republic of China to visit Taiwan, during which he met with the president, secretary of state and other leaders. Chair, Board of Visitors, McAfee School of Theology, Mercer University.Board member, Baptist House of Studies, Duke Divinity School. Trustee, Mercer University. William L. Self Preaching Lectureship established at McAfee School of Theology, Mercer University. Received the Louie D. Newton Award for Service to Mercer University. Received the W. Lee Arrandale Award for Vocational Excellence 2000-2001 by the Rotary International District 6910, sponsored by The Rotary Club of Johns Creek.Received the Distinguished Alumnus Award, 2007, by Candler School of Theology, Emory University. Chair, Board of Visitors, McAfee School of Theology, Mercer University; Annual lectures on preaching at Erskine Theological Seminary (Associated Reformed Presbyterian), 1972, and Golden Gate Theological Seminary, 1978. Lecturer on preaching at Salvation Army Training School 1993, 1994, 1995. Featured speaker for "Day 1" Armed Forces Radio program, 2010. Served on Board of Trustees of the Alliance for Christian Media, and on Advisory Committee of Day 1, Received honorary degrees from Stetson University; Mercer University; Han Yang University in Seoul, Korea; and Campbell University.