Joel Vestal

Medical science and spiritual faith joined forces to make whole the life of Dan Albert Vestal of Fort Worth, Texas. Rev. Vestal, who was born in northeast Texas in 1918, suffered severe burns of the face when he was seven months old, and as a young man eventually underwent 14 plastic surgery operations. Sitting in a high chair in front of an open fireplace at the family home, Dan dropped his doll, and reaching down for it, fell head first into the fireplace.  He was rescued by his ten-year-old sister and was rushed to a doctor.

Since he was only a baby he has no memories of the horrible experience, but knows of the agonies of his mother who tended to him. However, the scars on his lips and left side of his face, which grew as he grew, caused psychological wounds which were most prominently evidenced in an inferiority complex during his high school years. In the year 1935 he was examined by Dr. James T. Mills, of Dallas.  He told the youngster and his parents that help could be given to him.

The youth finished high school at Trenton, Texas, and in the latter part of 1937, with effects of the depression years bringing financial difficulties to his family, he joined the CCC at Wolfe City, Texas.  He served in the federal aid group for 23 months, but in the meantime, in 1938, he was called to Dallas to which he underwent 14 operations from that year until 1942. Using skin from his arms the doctors performed four major grafts on Vestal’s face and also transplanted an eyebrow, using hair from his head. With the confidence gained through the remarkable medical help, Vestal, after the third operation, was converted and, feeling the assistance of God; answered the ‘call of the Lord.’

He began preaching in country churches, including the Wolf City Baptist Church, where he met the former Marie Savage, who became his wife in the latter part of 1942. Prior to that he had entered Decatur Baptist College in 1939, and then after their marriage, both Mr. and Mrs. Vestal attended Baylor University at Waco, Texas.While in Waco, the ministerial student was pastor of the La Vega Baptist Church, and during the 27 months he was with the church there were 527 additions – 220 of this number were conversions for baptism. The church led the entire Southern Baptist Convention in proportionate new membership in 1944. Later, he continued his studies at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Forth Worth.

Simultaneously, with enduring the operations this young man of faith worked his way through school and also earned money to pay the medical bills. Dedicated to the ministry and steadily conquering his handicap, Vestal brought to the Baptist faith and conducted full baptisms, for his parents, his sister, and an older brother.

Before his death in 1980, he averaged 21 revivals a year across America with an average of 1,000 conversions each year.  He also preached on "The Challenge" an evangelistic radio program that was heard weekly on numerous stations.

He was often known and referred to as the "Dean of Southern Baptist Evangelists".