Harold Brown Sain
1912-1980
The Life Of Harold Sain
Harold Sain was one of the most energetic and widely known gospel preachers among churches of Christ in the mid–twentieth century, remembered for his tireless evangelistic spirit, his love for people, his prolific preaching career, and his enduring influence through preaching, writing, correspondence courses, radio work, and the faithfulness of his family.
Born March 18, 1912, in Viola, Tennessee, Sain grew up in the rural farming communities of Warren County. He was the son of Morris and Jessie Mansfield Sain and was raised in a large family of nine children. Much of his youth was spent working on the family farm near Viola and Irving College, Tennessee, chopping Johnson grass, tending crops, and learning the discipline and work ethic that would characterize his life. He often reflected warmly on those years, recalling long horseback rides through the Tennessee countryside on his beloved saddle horse “Dan,” whom he reluctantly sold in order to help finance his college education.
At fourteen years of age, in September 1926, Sain obeyed the gospel and was baptized by John T. Lewis at Viola, Tennessee. During his late teenage years he worked at the Doak Harne Factory near Irving College, where he earned meager wages manufacturing mule hames and plow handles while saving money for school. Influenced by faithful gospel preachers including A. J. Rollings, W. J. McElroy, and Marshall Boyd, Sain gradually became convinced that he should dedicate his life to preaching the gospel.
He preached his first sermon on September 15, 1935, at Hebron near McMinnville, Tennessee, only one day before entering David Lipscomb College. That first sermon became a defining moment in his life, for at its conclusion he baptized a middle-aged man named Clifford Hill—an unusual experience for a young preacher just beginning his ministry. Sain would later recall with gratitude how Marshall Boyd unexpectedly announced his first sermon publicly before Sain felt fully ready, effectively “putting him on the spot” and launching his preaching career.
While studying at David Lipscomb College and later at State Teachers College in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Sain preached extensively throughout rural Tennessee congregations, often hitchhiking home on weekends to fill appointments. In those earliest months of preaching he traveled among small congregations such as Hebron, White Chapel, Viola, West Riverside, Arlington, and Rockcliff, gaining invaluable experience and encouragement.
On June 27, 1937, Harold married Dorothy Trammell, who became his lifelong companion and partner in gospel work. Together they raised five children: David, Sarah, Paul, Mark, and Jesse. The Sain home became deeply rooted in Christian service; eventually four sons—David, Paul, Mark, and Jesse—became gospel preachers themselves, while son-in-law Elbert Richey also faithfully served the church.
Sain’s preaching career spanned more than forty-five years and carried him across Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri, Illinois, Georgia, and many other areas through gospel meetings and local work. Congregations he served included Westmoreland, Tennessee; Fountain Run, and Cave City, Kentucky; Horton's Chapel, Muhlenberg County, Kentucky; Union Hill near Benton, Kentucky; Linden, Tennessee; Hamill Road in Hixson, Tennessee; Dexter, Missouri; and West Riverside in McMinnville, Tennessee. He became especially known as a vigorous meeting preacher. In one remarkable series of campaigns near the Macon–Clay County line in Tennessee, he baptized 182 people in five meetings held within only a few miles of each other. On another occasion he baptized ten Missionary Baptists during a single meeting.
His preaching extended far beyond the pulpit. Beginning in 1945, Sain developed a Bible correspondence course using fifteen sets of questions. What began modestly eventually expanded to enroll over 10,000 students across numerous states. He believed strongly in using every available means to teach the gospel and was also a pioneer in religious broadcasting among conservative churches of Christ. Over the course of his ministry he preached sermons on more than twenty-five radio stations and several television stations, including broadcasts in Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri, North Carolina, Alabama, and South Carolina. For years listeners regularly heard his voice over stations such as WKAY in Glasgow, Kentucky, and WHIN in Gallatin, Tennessee.
In addition to preaching, Sain was an active writer. His publications included Sermon Charts and Outlines, Sain’s Scrapbook, and the autobiographical work One-Half of My Life, written in 1960 when he realized he had spent exactly half of his lifetime preaching the gospel. The title reflected both his sense of gratitude and his awareness of the remarkable providence and experiences that had filled his years in ministry. He also published numerous tracts and issued a long-running bulletin entitled Truth in Love.
Those who knew Harold Sain remembered not only his preaching ability but also his warmth, humor, and deep appreciation for Christian fellowship. He often wrote affectionately of the many friendships developed through gospel meetings and congregational work. Whether among Christians in Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri, or Michigan, he treasured the hospitality and closeness shared among brethren and considered those relationships among the richest blessings of his life.
Sain also engaged publicly in defense of the faith through several religious debates, including discussions with denominational preachers on the subject of baptism. One particularly meaningful story surfaced after his death when a former denominational minister told David Sain that Harold’s teaching and debating had convinced him to abandon error and become a gospel preacher himself—a fact Harold apparently never knew during his lifetime.
Even in his final days, Harold Sain remained actively engaged in preaching. On September 29, 1980, after closing a gospel meeting in which he baptized two people less than twelve hours earlier, he died suddenly in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. He was sixty-eight years old. Fittingly, his funeral service reflected the legacy of faith he had established. His four preacher sons conducted the service, and his son-in-law directed the congregational singing.
Harold Sain’s influence continued long after his death through his family, his writings, his students, and the countless lives touched by his preaching. As one son observed at the funeral, “Though a man dies, his works continue on.” Few statements summarize Harold Sain more accurately. His life was wholly invested in the proclamation of the gospel, and his works indeed followed him.
-Scott Harp, 05.25.2026
World Evangelist Obituary
"In the meeting he closed less than twelve hours before his death he baptized two. His death was very sudden, and he was gone in two minutes or less." Harold Sain's widow, wrote these words in a letter to me a few days after Harold passed away.
Brother Sain died September 29, 1980, in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, where he lived. He was born in Viola, Tennessee, on March 18, 1912. Viola is located in beautiful Warren County, Tennessee, in the midst of mountains and great natural beauty.
Harold preached the gospel for more than 45 years. His labors included "located" work in 14 places in Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri, Georgia, and Illinois; hundreds of series of meetings in 13 states; six public religious discussions; and preaching on 25 radio stations.
Brother Sain is survived by his wife whom he married June 27, 1937. He is also survived by four sons: David of Florence, Alabama; Paul of St. Louis, Missouri; Mark of Montgomery, Alabama; Jesse of Mayfield, Kentucky; one daughter, Mrs. Elbert Richey of Poplar Bluff, Missouri; one son-in-law and four daughters-in-law. He is also survived by two brothers, Fred and Jim, both of McMimville, Tennessee; and five sisters: Abrs. Hue1 Cunningham of Nashville, Tennessee; Mrs. Albert Gonce of Winchester, Tennessee; Mrs. Noel Wemack, Mrs. Carl Southard and Mrs. J. C. Davis all of McMinnville, Tennessee.
The funeral service for brother Sain was conducted by his four sons, who are gospel preachers. His son-in-law, Elbert Richey, directed beautiful congregational singing at the service.
Harold's son, Jesse began the service by reading these scriptures: "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints." (Psalms 116: 15. ) "And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them."(Revelation 14: 13.)
The following is part of what Harold's son Mark said at the funeral: "Quickly, I want to relate to you a passage of scripture that means a great deal to us. On the 8th day of February, 1965, my Dad and my Mother bought this Bible for me. I was six months later to begin using it as a preacher. In between that time and while I was developing and maturing as a preacher, I would listen to my Dad who would share things with us as his children. On one occasion he read these following verses, and I read them to you now: 'Let not your heart be troubled; ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.' Several years ago, soon after getting this Bible I wrote in the margin, to the side of this verse, a statement that my Dad made, which was that he "would not take a million worlds for that promise."
Included in what Harold's son Paul said at his Dad's funeral was the following: "The longest and the most lasting memorial to my Dad IS no doubt to see the good news of Lord spread - because of the example he gave us. And who is it that can number the people that, though never hearing or meeting my Dad, have felt his influence - through his descendants, through those he taught that #I turn taught others. No one could ever possibly number them. My Dad was just ONE in the army of the Lord. He has given a true and wonderful legacy to his children, who are passing it on to their children, that the Word of the Lord may abound to all generations."
Harod’s son, David centered his remarks at his Dad's funeral around five passages of scripture. Here is what he said about one of them.
"The fourth passage that comes to my mind is Revelation 14:13, that Jesse read earlier, where those reassuring words are found, that those who die in the Lord are blessed. They are blessed, and their labors follow them.
"Last Thursday, less than a week ago, at International Bible College in Florence, Alabama where I live, I was attending their annual fall workshop. While meeting a number of people, a gentleman walked up to me and said, 'Are you David Sain?' I said, 'Yes.' He said, 'You don't know me, and I don't know you. Someone pointed you out to me.' He said, 'David, your father used to preach in a town where 1 preached. I was a denominational preacher, a false teacher.' He grinned and said, Your father and I debated on the radio. Today I am a -gospel preacher, and your father was the one who convinced me that I was wrong.' Dad never knew that. That man never bird the opportunity to tell him that.
"His work is following him Through the printed page and the books that Harold Sain wrote: the sermons that he preached which are recorded: and through Me hundreds upon hundreds of lives that he has touched, lives that still continue - there is an influence. He is touching people today, through those that he has already touched
"I think the lesson in that for us is quite obvious. Friends, we are all touching people. We are touching lives. You are touching people. We are touching lives. You are influencing people daily. We need to recognize that though a man dies, his works continue on his influence continues. And we do not need to take that lightly; but recognize instead that our influence for the Lord may continue for years because of our efforts while we are alive."
-Basil Overton, Editor, January, 1981, p.3
I Thank God for Harold Sain
David Sain
Losing one's father brings tears and a pain unlike all other hurts. Though I have tried to understand when another lost a father, it is only now that I can truly sympathize. The greatest comfort and source of strength with which you can face a moment like this is Christian faith.
I thank God my father was a child of God, and I thank God my father was a gospel preacher. He preached the gospel for forty-five years, working with churches from Michigan to Florida and from Texas to the Carolinas. He was a defender of the truth, engaging in six public debates. His last one was in 1965 at Morrison, Tenn., where he met Albert Batts on the subject of Holy Spirit baptism and water baptism. In my judgment, this was one of his finest hours as a servant of God. Following the debate, the Morrison church held a gospel meeting and over 40 were baptized.
Dad spent his last week (even his last night) on earth doing exactly what he loved to do: preaching the Word! He preached in a meeting at Grandin, Mo., during which two were baptized.
I have been aided immensely as a gospel preacher by the help and advice of my father and mother. I quote scriptures today which they helped me memorize 30 years ago. I preach God's truth today because they helped me get started and opened numerous doors for me to get training and experience.
The response and actions of people as they heard of his death made us feel greatly loved. When I consider all of the phone calls, letters, cards, telegrams, long-distance driving, flowers, and kind words from hundreds whose lives he touched, it sobers me to think of the far-reaching influence we preachers have. I thank God for my father because of the hundreds (ex-denominational preachers, grandmothers, farmers, etc.) who say to me, "I knew your father and heard him preach," or "Your father baptized me."
I miss my father badly, but while I am sad for myself, I am happy for him. I thank God for my father, a soldier of the cross!
-David Sain, Gospel Advocate, November 6, 1980, p. 708
Directions To Grave
Harold and Dorothy Sain are buried in the Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. In Poplar Bluff, the cemetery is located on Bus. 67. GPS below is for the actual location of the graves in the cemetery.
GPS Location
36°43'48.8"N 90°26'51.4"W
or D.d. 36.730224,-90.447612
Memorial Gardens Entrance - Sain plot next to car in photo under a tree in 2025
Looking back toward entrance
Harold B. Sain - 1912-1980
Dorothy T. Sain - 1917-1993
In God's Loving Care
Photos Taken May 08, 2025
Webpage Produced on May 25, 2026
Courtesy Of Scott Harp
www.TheRestorationMovement.com
Special Recognition: In May 2025 I had the blessed opportunity of going to Missouri for a Gospel Meeting at the South Hwy. 5 church of Christ in Lebanon, Missouri. Precious people! And, a precious opportunity to visit graves of gospel preachers along the way. On the Saturday previous to the meeting I stopped in Poplar Bluff to see if I could find the Sain family plots. However, Saturdays are usually difficult to get help, so after walking around the cemetery for an hour I gave up and headed on to the next stop. So, heading home at the end of the week I was able to make inquiries ahead of time and I found the graves of this great and good man of God. I never knew him, but I knew his sons, Paul and David, both great gospel preachers in their own right. David passed away fairly recently, and Paul still lives in southern Tennessee as of this writing.