[4everfsu]

went to Heaven on Christmas morning. I am looking for any article of news that states that.
It was always a joy to sit in his class and hear him teach. May God comfort his family and friends during this time.

[Cider Jim]

Details of Dr. Wemp's passing are on the Liberty University Facebook page, with comments from Chancellor Falwell: https://www.facebook.com/#!/LibertyUniversity?fref=ts

Chancellor Falwell said today that "Dr. C. Sumner Wemp was truly one of Liberty's most influential and inspiring founding professors. His daughter, Carolyn, texted on Christmas morning to notify me of his passing. Dr. Wemp has been loved and respected for decades by so many in the Liberty University community. I have fond memories of Dr. Wemp as a friend and as one of my professors at Liberty. He will be greatly missed. An important part of this university's history was lost this morning but, when I spoke with Dr. Wemp recently, he sounded like we all remember him -- upbeat and praising God! He told me how proud he was that Liberty had remained true to its Christian mission." The family has asked that, in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to Liberty University in memory of Dr. Wemp.

[ATrain]

I never met him, and really didn't know who he was until now, but thoughts and prayers for those impacted by his passing.

[BJWilliams]

The one thing I always heard about him was he was known for saying "well glory" when he preached. Sounds like he was very much an integral part of LU's history along with Dr Falwell and Dr Towns. Prayers for the Wemp family in this time that, though they can rejoice that he is in glory, still leaves much pain for those still on earth.

I have to also say that its interesting how a lot of people (including Dr Wemp in his last days according to JLFJR's comments) mention being proud of LU for staying true to its Christian roots. A couple of my alumni friends were sounding off to me about how LU was going off track or something.

[Sly Fox]

Sumner was a longtime friend of my grandfather's even though they weren't related. He wrote a column in my grandfather's newspaper for pastors for decades. He was a very visible fixture on campus up until the '90s.

Yes, his opening line was always a very theatrical, "Weelllllllllllllllllll, GLO-ree!" But he was also just as famous for his over-the-top emphasis on how much he LOVED his wife.

I remember having him for a 7am Evangelism class that was actually one of the more popular ones on campus. Dr. Wemp was practically a stand-up comedian at times and the class was a cakewalk with one major caveat .... at exactly 7:00 am he would lock the doors and take attendance. And attendance was about 99% of the grade. My Grandpa would always ask me how I was doing in Sumner's class and I would try to quickly re-direct. I think I salvaged a C that semester and thought that was the end. It was until my grandfather came to visit Lynchburg while he was speaking at the seminary and he invited me to lunch. I thought it was just the two of us until I arrived and saw Dr. Wemp sitting there. It was a very awkward moment as my grandfather insisted we probably knew each other since I had just been in his class the semester before. It was obvious that Dr. Wemp didn't know me from Adam. I joked about being a wallflower and we moved on. The truth was that if I arrived at 7:01, I would just head over to SAGA for a long breakfast.

He was passionate about evangelism and it was part of his lifestyle. I remember working as a porter at Grand's and stumbling across him delivering the full plan of salvation to one of our salesmen on the showroom floor. And he did it in a way that was compassionate and not condescending.

[flamehunter]

Probably his second most famous line was "Quick like a bunny rabbit", told to us when finding a seat or opening our Bibles. I agree with Sly, he was the most compassionate evangelist I knew. He was sort of the antithesis of JO Grooms "you are going to Hell" method.He was probably the most loved man on campus, rivaled only by Doc himself.

[PAmedic]

my memories of him are like those above... very nice man who always seemed to be in a great mood.

God Bless his family

[Cider Jim]

Dr. Wemp wrote his own obituary (below), and as you can see, it's all about Jesus and almost nothing about himself:

My partner in this email ministry, Steve, asked me to write something to send to you when Jesus calls me home. Well GLORY!! If you are reading this, it means I’ve seen Jesus! He has called me home and has spoken those cherished words, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant!” (Matt 25:21) I’ve seen my beautiful wife, Celeste, and others who went to heaven ahead of me, those who may have read a gospel tract that told of how much Jesus loved them!
To those still thinking about trusting Jesus:
What are you waiting for? God loves you and sent His Son, the Lord Jesus to suffer and die for your sins and mine. He paid the eternal punishment for all you and I both have done wrong, all of our sins for “the wages of sin is death” and Jesus paid the debt in full, rose again and was seen alive by hundreds of people. If you will believe Him, that Jesus really did pay for your sins too and receive the Lord Jesus as your Savior, He will save you and will give you a home in heaven, instead of sending you to hell. And I will see you someday again!
To those already saved:
You and I have been given the awesome and eternal privilege of giving everyone a chance to get saved, to get their sins forgiven and go to heaven instead of hell. We have been commanded by the God who saved us and told to “preach or give the gospel” to every person. Of course we must be as courteous as we can and do it graciously which I genuinely tried to do. Out of the thousands of tracts I gave over my lifetime, less than a few dozen people have refused them or were rude to me. But as happened a couple of months ago, I gave a tract to a lady on an elevator and she blurted out. “Oh, I need to be saved, tell me what to do.” In just seconds we got off the elevator and I had the thrill of giving her the gospel and the thrill of praying with her as she understood and accepted Christ as her Savior. Minutes later when I got outside the building, I started weeping and wanted to fall on my face and thank almighty God for the inestimable privilege He had just given me. So help me, witnessing and winning people to Christ will give you the most wonderful experience of your life. If you are not caring and sharing the gospel to lost human beings just like you once were, Satan is robbing you blind of eternal rejoicing and rewards that such precious experiences bring. Why don’t you do the logical and sensible thing and obey God and get in on the greatest privileges of your life? Help people to go to heaven instead of hell. Make sense?

“Father, You are so wonderful to let us have a part in this eternal privilege. You said, we shall catch men. Dear God please help each one reading this get in on it! In Jesus’ name”

Oh, how I wish I could have known each of you personally and how I long for you to be so mightily used of God! My race is finished but God can still use you. Won’t you get in on it? You too can win souls. There is nothing greater, more lasting, more rewarding you will ever do. I implore you to stick with it and do what the Word of God says. I LOVE YOU, all because of Calvary, Sumner

[Sly Fox]

Probably his second most famous line was "Quick like a bunny rabbit",.

Ha! I had forgotten that one. But he did use it frequently.

[The Judge]

I have to also say that its interesting how a lot of people (including Dr Wemp in his last days according to JLFJR's comments) mention being proud of LU for staying true to its Christian roots. A couple of my alumni friends were sounding off to me about how LU was going off track or something.

Sumner led me to Christ ! He influenced the lives of thousands of preachers and just ordinary folk. He loved more than anything to share the Good News of Jesus Christ. I was priveleged to spend some quality time with him in Arizona this past Memorial Day weekend. I took him to church and and out for lunch. He witnessed to the Hostess, people waiting for a table and the waiter. He gave them tracks to read and told them Jesus loved them and that they could be saved. Other than that, all he talked about was Celeste...his angel. I left that day...knowing his final days were near. Heavens gain...our loss.

Sumner, as I am sure many others before and after him loved and continue to love Liberty. BJ, I don't post unless there is an overwhelming reason to like Sumner Wemp and the impact his life had directly with me. May I suggest you be careful using his death and obvious love of Liberty to somehow " prove " that the mission hasn't changed. Many of us "alumni" who may or may not hold to that opinion can and do love Liberty for many more important reasons than you can fathom. Simply put, DR. C Sumner Wemp loved Jesus. Because he did with his whole heart...he wanted everyone to KNOW Jesus. He embodied the mission and heart of LU. He loved Doc unwaveringly in every conceivble way imaginable. That is a great legacy.

Forever Grateful to ( Sumner ) and Calvary !

David A Mitroff
Cornerstone University
Head Baseball Coach

[PAmedic]

excellent post, sir. Captured what Dr. Wemp was all about.

thank you very much for stopping by!

[Sly Fox]

The Judge - For the record, we haven't completely ignored your current passion ...

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Thanks for the personal thoughts about Dr. Wemp. You would hard-pressed to ever find anyone who could find an unkind word for Sumner.

[The Judge]

For those able to travel or who live in Dallas...Dr. C Sumner Wemp will have a funeral service on January 3rd at 11:00 AM. The wake will be the day before from 4-7 PM at Restland Funeral Home. It is only a couple of miles from where Celeste and Sumner lived in Dallas.

It would be great if all the alumni and folks who knew Sumner made a donation to Liberty to honor this Man of God !!

Well Glory !!

Sly Fox...thanks for the kind words !