Lasserre Bradley Jr.

FROM THE BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF PRIMITIVE OR OLD SCHOOL BAPTIST MINISTERS BY DAVID MONTGOMERY AND MARK GREEN: Lasserre Bradley, Jr. was born in Lexington, Kentucky, May 6, 1935. At an early age he made a profession of faith in Christ and joined the Baptist church where his parents were members. At the age of 13 he felt the call to preach and became active in filling speaking appointments. At age 16 he was called to pastor a church and was then ordained at the church of his membership, which was affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention. At age 17, he was called to pastor an independent Baptist Church in Cincinnati,Ohio. While serving this church, he began to see that the doctrine of God's sovereignty and the principles of election and predestination, as taught in the scriptures, were not consistent with many of the things he had been preaching. When these doctrines were preached on his radio broadcast, the Baptist Bible Hour,which he started in 1953, people wrote stating that he was preaching the doctrine held by Primitive Baptists. After attending meetings among the Primitive Baptists for over a year, he became satisfied that these people held the doctrine and practice of God's word. In October 1958, a number of the people, who were members of the congregation that he served, followed him in constituting the Cincinnati Primitive Baptist Church. In addition to serving as pastor of this church since that time, he has traveled extensively among the Primitive Baptists throughout the United States. He is editor of The Baptist Witness and continues to conduct the Baptist Bible Hour radio broadcast. He and his wife Emily have three children, Leanna Tomlinson, Peggy Stewart, Lasserre Bradley III, and ten grandchildren. FROM DAVID MONTGOMERY: Elder Bradley has written a very brief synopsis on his life and ministry; but to this writer, so much more could and should be said. He has traveled thousands of miles to preach the gospel. He has spent much of his time counseling those in need. Many a young minister, including the writer, has benefited from his sound advice and the example of his life. He has continually put himself last, the Lord first, and others second.

O B I T U A R Y  - (Highlights from Legacy.com)

Born May 6, 1935 - Died May 9, 2026

“Lasserre Bradley Jr., a beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, pastor, and servant of God, passed peacefully into glory on May 9, 2026, at the age of 91. Born on May 6, 1935, in Lexington, Kentucky, into the family of Judge Lasserre and Mary Benton (Adair) Bradley, he then went on to run with patience the race set before him. (I Corinthians 9:24).

While still a teenager, with enough money for only the first broadcast, Lasserre preached into a radio microphone and began what would become the Baptist Bible Hour (BBH) broadcast, a ministry that continued uninterrupted for 73 years, spreading the good news of Jesus Christ. At its peak, the program aired on over 70 US stations and on short-wave radio, reaching people around the world. For many years, he preached live every Sunday night at 10:30 pm on WKRC in Cincinnati and later developed a daily broadcast which can still be heard weekdays across the country. He published the Baptist Witness, extending his written ministry alongside the radio broadcast.

At the age of 17, he became the pastor of the New Testament Baptist Church in the St. Bernard neighborhood of Cincinnati. The fact that such a young man became the pastor of a large congregation caught the attention of Life Magazine, which featured the story in the March 1953 issue. In 1958, he helped constitute Cincinnati Primitive Baptist Church (CPBC), where he served faithfully for the rest of his ministry. In addition, he traveled the country extensively visiting churches and giving speaking invitations.

He went on to preach thousands of sermons over the course of his life and career, pastor churches in Lexington, Central Kentucky, and Cincinnati, Ohio, perform hundreds of baptisms, marry numerous couples, provide comfort at the bedsides of the sick from every walk and stage of life, and preach untold number of funerals including his parents, siblings, baby daughter and granddaughter and soldiers from multiple wars.

In 1964, Lasserre married Emily Jane Messer, the love of his life. He later recounted the moment he first noticed her when a group was sled riding: “the moon was shining down and her blue eyes sparkled on that snowy night.” They were married for nearly 62 years. Emily was his steady companion through the demands of ministry, the years of business, and every season of life that followed. She tirelessly organized and ran the administration of the BBH ministry and faithfully served their family and church in ways that freed him to the study God’s word and ministering to the saints through preaching and biblical counseling. Together they raised three children and built a family that grew to 21 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren (with 3 more currently on the way), a legacy he treasured above all earthly achievements. One of his and Emily’s greatest joys as grandparents was to have the family gather and sing hymns together.”  

Testimonials from Primitive Baptists Brethren:

“Br. Bradley had a profound impact on me at our first meeting that abides with me a quarter century later. While I enjoyed many sermons he preached, I gleaned even more in our private conversations and continue to appreciate his interest in the young preacher I was. While we didn’t always agree, he always had my love and respect. I appreciated our phone calls, even up until recent times, when he’d faithfully inquire about members of the church I serve - and that he visited many times through the years. I also knew his interest was genuine, his love was felt, and I will miss him until we meet in heaven! May God bless his dear family and Cincinnati Church.” (From Chris Crouse, Pastor of Little Union Church in Lithia, Florida.)

“Brother Lasserre was a gifted minister. Through the years, we have been greatly blessed by his preaching and counseling. What a joy to know that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. All our love, Dickie and Charlotte Halbgewachs.” (Richard Halgbewachs, Pastor of Oak Hill PBC in Austin, TX.)