'The walking Bible:' Scripture-memorizing minister to speak in Cape

The Rev. Jim McNiel has done many things, including a notable turn as a Gospel singer, but he didn't find his purpose until he began memorizing the New Testament and delivering it in character as the Biblical writers.

Known among Southern Baptists as "The Walking Bible," McNiel will be the featured speaker during a revival Oct. 11 through 14 at Bethany Baptist Church at 1712 Randol Ave. in Cape Girardeau.

The Paragould, Arkansas, native played basketball at Hannibal-LaGrange Junior College in Hannibal, Missouri, and received a bachelor's degree at Oklahoma Baptist University in 1966.

Having recorded 18 albums with RCA Records and other companies, McNiel was discussing "How to Grow the Evangelical Church" for the Home Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention in the mid-1980s when he saw the Rev. Norman Arrington in costume as the Apostle Peter.

"The Lord spoke to me and said, 'Son, this is what I have trained you for,'" he said. "I'd recorded in the same studios as Elvis and The Beatles, but they sold more records then me. I haven't figured that out yet. Maybe I didn't twist my hips enough."

Jim McNiel

It took McNiel six weeks to memorize the Book of James, and since then he has become adept with scripture, including Philippians, Galatians, Ephesians, First and Second Thessalonians, Romans, Hebrews, Revelation and the Gospels of Matthew and John.

"I have some of Luke, some of Mark and all of Acts except the first two chapters," he said. "Studying my mother's King James Bible in giant print, I see in my mind right where those words are on the page.

"When I get alone with the Lord from midnight to 3 a.m., I read it out loud and see it."

The minister of evangelism at Tower Grove Baptist Church in St. Louis will be in costume as Matthew for the first Bethany Baptist service at 7 p.m. Oct. 11, which will be preceded by a 6 p.m. fish fry, and he will be in regular attire at 10:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. Oct. 12 and 6 p.m. Oct. 13 and 14, portraying Matthew, John, Luke, Paul and John again as the author of Revelation.

"I say, 'John was almost 100 years old, but I will be speaking to you tonight from the strength of his youth,'" he said.

Bethany Baptist deacon Doug Austin first heard McNiel 10 years ago during a meeting of the Missouri Baptist Convention.

"Jim can quote scripture for 30 minutes at a time," Austin said. "He has a phenomenal memory when it comes to the word. He's an extraordinarily gifted speaker, but you have to help him remember where he parks his car. He forgets that."

McNiel has no trouble identifying with the writers he portrays "because they were men," but he has never been at ease in the character of Jesus Christ. "I was doing the Sermon on the Mount in costume on TV at Grove Avenue Baptist Church in Richmond, Virginia, a mega-church," he said.

"I was very uncomfortable because I knew I was not worthy to portray our Lord. Then He spoke to my heart and said, 'If you will tell the people you are not worthy, I'll bless this message,' and He did."