<div>Dr. Jerry Vines accepted the call to pastor First Baptist Church, Jacksonville,FL, in July 1982 and retired in February of 2006. He was elected president of the Southern Baptist Convention in both 1988 and 1989. He traveled the country preaching and teaching the Bible at churches, conferences, and denominational meetings.<br><br>Now, in his autobiography, the pastor, Baptist statesman, and father tells his story that begins in Carrollton, GA, takes him to Jacksonville, FL, and whirls through the fiery controversies of the conservative resurgence.Readers gain perspective on some of a denomination’s pivotal moments through the eyes of one of its most influential figures, focusing on his life and ministry.<br><br></div>