Dallas Billington
1903 - 1972

"Dear Lord, I promise You that, however I can, or whenever I can, or wherever I can, I'll do my best to preach the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ."

Dallas Billington was born in a log cabin in western Kentucky just after the turn of the century. His formal schooling ended at age 12 in the eighth grade. Although his parents were heavily involved in church activity, Billington did not accept Christ until he was 21.

In 1925, Billington moved to Akron, Ohio, to work for Goodyear and save money to marry his sweetheart, Nell Stokes. His consistent Christian witness led to the salvation of many of his coworkers, who later became members of his church.

Billington was married in 1926, and his only child, Charles, was born in 1927.

In 1930 Billington began preaching revival campaigns in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana while continuing to hold his job at Goodyear. In 1932 he began a radio broadcast of WJW (which he nicknamed Watch Jesus Win) in Akron. Two years later, a group of listeners asked him to come and preach to them. Thirteen people met and formed the foundation for what was to be for many years the largest Sunday school in the world.

The church was officially organized in 1935 with 81 charter members. Despite the hardships of the Great Depression, the church grew and conducted a continual building campaign. By 1939 they were running 1,800 in attendance. The church's membership continued to grow during World War II. On Easter Sunday, 1943, there were 10,123 in attendance at the morning services. The Akron Baptist Temple was the largest Sunday school in the world in 1971, the year before Billington died.

Billington chose to title his autobiography “God Is Real.” His life story gives ample evidence to that fact. At his death, his son, Charles, became pastor of the 17,000-member church his father had started.