A Brief Biography
Of
V. P. Black

By: Dr. George S. Benson
President-Emeritus
Harding University
Searcy, Arkansas
1991

V. P. Black was born in Lamar County, Alabama. He was born into a family of ten boys, of whom four became Gospel preachers.

V. P. Black attended Freed-Hardeman University and received his B. A. degree at Faulkner University. He received is L.L.D. degree by the Alabama Christian School of Religion.

He worked with the church in Booneville, Mississippi, four years, and with the church in Avon Park, Florida, two years. He worked with the Plateau church (now Central) in Mobile, Alabama, for forty years. He was the pulpit minister for 28 years and for the next twelve years conducted Gospel meetings for this church.

V. P. Black is a long-time friend of mine. We worked together for twenty years promoting Christian Education. We served together for twenty years on the Board of two schools, Faulkner University and the Namwianga Christian School in Zambia, Africa. We made two trips to Zambia promoting Christian Education.

V. P. Black has been a strong supporter of Christian Education. It is amazing what this man had done in promoting Christian Education. He has worked almost thirty years for Faulkner University and has never received a salary for his work. He has given to Faulkner University over one hundred thousand dollars from the sale of his four hardback books. He has set up a fund at F.H.U. and has built that fund to one hundred thousand dollars. Only the interest on this money can be spent to help young men to prepare for the ministry. He has raised money to send hundreds of young people to school in Zambia.

V. P. Black has been a very influential writer. Over four-hundred thousand of his books on Stewardship have been studied in churches of Christ. No doubt, V. P. Black has taught more people to give liberally of their means than any man living.

V. P. Black is an outstanding evangelist. He has preached in almost all the states and in foreign countries. A few years ago, he preached in a meeting for his home congregation and baptized 52 people. When the churches in Mobile decided to have a cooperative meeting, they asked their own V. P. Black to preach in this revival. 98 people were baptized and 169 were restored. He preached in a cooperative meeting in Anniston, Alabama, and 69 were baptized. 65 were baptized in Summerville, Georgia. He has conducted many great revivals. The last twenty years, Brother Black has spent all his time preaching in revivals, teaching on Stewardship and working for Christian Education.

V. P. Black by nature is a leader. I have been in many Board meetings with him. When some problem was being discussed, someone would ask, “What does Brother Black think about it?” I have detected that he is a man of wisdom and good judgment.

V. P. Black is a very dedicated man. He is a hard worker. He has memorized much of the Bible. He is constantly promoting good works. He has converted and baptized great numbers. He is a great inspiration to the churches. I needed Brother Black to come to Searcy to help me raise some money. He came and we got the money. After working with Brother Black for twenty years, I am convinced that there is no man higher on God’s measuring rod than V. P. Black.