Paul Violet

From the Biographical History of Primitive or Old School Baptist Ministers, Vol. II, by David Montgomery and Mark Green, 2001:

Elder Paul Violet writes, “I was born in Lawrence County, TN, on October 10, 1939. My parents were both members of the Second Creek Church, about 40 miles from home. Being so far away, with very little money and with four sisters, it was hard to attend very often. As far back as I can remember, I loved the Lord. I felt safe in the church. Oh, how I was thrilled to hear those old sisters shout for joy when the Gospel was being proclaimed in Spirit and power! I began to feel strongly about joining the church at about age 6.

Finally, at the age of 13, I found myself up front with my arms around Elder White, asking for a home with these humble people. They seemed so happy to receive me and scheduled my baptism for the following month in a little creek not far from the County Line Church, a log building that still stands today. It seemed that Sunday would never come, but come it did, and it was cold, with ice on the ground. Some suggested that I put it off, but that never entered my mind. I rode the back of our truck twenty miles that morning, and as we came up out of the bank singing “How Firm a Foundation,” I was finally at peace and so overcome with joy I thought nothing would ever mar my happiness again.

The Lord blessed me with the marriage to one of our deacons' daughters, Mary Kathleen Mattox. She has been a wonderful helpmeet all these 41 years.

In my early teens, I began to be burdened about speaking in the name of the Lord. I tried to keep this hidden, but my dear mother and Elder O.L. Newton were well aware of my burden. Elder Newton began to call on me to offer prayer at Goshen Church, and finally I asked to open services for him one Sunday morning. I took Psalm 23 as my subject and stood for about fifteen minutes. We moved to Cookeville, TN, started looking for an Old Baptist Church, and found Mt. View Church. It just seemed we had come home. Elder Avery Land, the pastor, recognized my burden and began to call upon me to offer prayer. As he grew weaker in health, my burden became stronger. Elder Rupert Nobles, whom I consider to be my father in the ministry, recommended to the church that they use me as often as I felt inclined to speak. I began to exercise and after eight months was ordained and called as pastor of the church that day, March 27, 1994.

I hope it can be said when my Maker calls me home that I was faithful and a peacemaker. May God help us in our efforts to keep the old paths, neither adding to nor taking away from the perfect work of the Savior.”