About Mike Spradlin
Mike Spradlin, host of the Live by the Word broadcasts, also serves as President of Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary in Memphis, TN since 1997.
Although he serves in two positions, they are one in purpose.
The founders of Mid-America Seminary recognized the urgent need for a seminary where every professor would believe the entire Bible – the pure and true Word of God with an emphasis on sharing that Word through faithful witnessing.
That same hallmark resounds in the ministry of Live by the Word - taking the pure and true Word of God to you – the listening audience. If you have a desire to learn more about God’s Word and how it applies to your life, then Live by the Word is for you.
God began preparing Dr. Spradlin years ago for this broadcast ministry. In 1981, he began serving as Youth Director at a church in Little Rock, AR. Along his ministerial journey, he even served as Minister of Youth and Youth Music in Smackover, AR.
In 1985, he came to Mid-America Seminary and received his Master of Divinity and then in 1991, he earned his PhD. During these years, he was the Associate Pastor of churches in Arkansas and Kansas. He then returned to the seminary assuming the role of Assistant Professor of Evangelism and Practical Theology.
In each broadcast of Live by the Word, Mike Spradlin demonstrates evangelism and practical theology by opening God’s Word and revealing Jesus ─ the Word, to a hurting world and then helping apply God’s Word to your life so that you can learn to live by the Word.
By bringing a deep knowledge of God’s Word, a love for Jesus and a sense of humor, he is a sought-after speaker around the country.
Mike is married to Lee Ann and they have three children ─ David, Thomas and Laura. He and his family have traveled on mission trips, most recently to Lithuania for a crusade, bringing their singing and orchestral gifts to promote the crusade. Mike is also a coach of a boy’s varsity basketball team which recently competed in the National Championship in Oklahoma.
Mike Spradlin's Salvation Experience
Born in Columbus, Ohio and raised in Little Rock, Arkansas by great parents, I realized that something was missing in my life at the age of thirteen. Though it would be two years before I gave my life to Christ, the Lord sent several people into my life to share the Gospel with me.
At the invitation of some friends at school I visited Sunset Lane Baptist Church in Little Rock, Arkansas and heard Bro. Ed Edmondson preach about the need to make a personal commitment to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. So, as a fifteen year old, I gave my life to Christ following a Sunday evening service in February 1977. Repenting of my sins and accepting Jesus as Lord is the greatest event in my life and I will never get over it.
Within six months I sensed that the Lord was calling me to preach. At first I wrestled with a call to ministry because it did not fit into the plans that I had for my life. I finally came to a moment of surrender when I realized that I must follow whatever my Lord and Savior wanted me to do. I made my decision public as a sixteen year old and have never looked back.
It is a sweet privilege to preach the Gospel to people who need the Lord and to teach the Bible to people who love the Lord.