Moultrie, GA—For 63 years, Rev. Shelvie Summerlin has devoted his mornings to a singular pursuit—reading the Bible. Day after day, the 95-year-old retired minister opens the scriptures for two to three hours, a practice he began in 1962. Today, he has read the Bible cover over 1,025 times, a feat born out of discipline and deep faith.
Summerlin’s journey began with a simple goal. Inspired by the renowned evangelist George Muller, who read the Bible 200 times, Summerlin set out to do the same. “I started with that goal, and I hit it pretty quick,” he recalls. But he didn’t stop there. Recording each reading in ledgers, he surpassed his goal many times over.
The Bible remains fresh to him with its 783,137 words in the King James version. “It’s like a new book every time you start,” Summerlin says, his voice full of the reverence that has marked his lifelong relationship with the text.
His favorite passage, Romans 8:1, was the first chapter he ever memorized: “There is now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”
Summerlin’s journey of faith began long before his daily Bible readings. A World War II veteran, he served with the 7th Air Force, spending years in the South Pacific during nuclear tests.
During his military service, his faith deepened, and he was influenced by his older brother Ralph, a minister himself. After leaving the military in 1954, Summerlin was ordained by the Assemblies of God and led congregations across the country.
His pastoral work eventually led him to higher education, where he earned a Doctorate of Literature in Humane Letters from Logos College in Jacksonville, Florida. He was driven by a desire to guide his flock with wisdom and understanding, recognizing the importance of education as a spiritual leader.
Summerlin’s contributions extend beyond the pulpit. In the 1970s, he and his wife founded Provident Church Ministries, a corporation dedicated to financing church construction.
Despite early financial struggles, Summerlin turned the company around, helping over 300 churches secure the funds needed for their buildings. “Churches have been very reliable at paying off their loans,” he notes, proud of the legacy he built.
His life, however, isn’t solely defined by his faith. A general contractor by trade, Summerlin once owned one of the largest millwork shops in the Southeast. He also harbors a passion for collecting, amassing over 3,000 hammers and a significant collection of Case knives.
Summerlin reflects, “The whole thing is, I’ve had a good time. There’s a lot of work, but it’s been a joy.” For Summerlin, each day is another opportunity to discover a “nugget,” a truth that keeps his journey with the Lord ever new.
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