Bob Shelton, Awaiting the Blessed Hope

By John Vaughn | August 28, 2020 |

Dr. Bob Shelton, aged 92, lived an exemplary life, and died in the blessed hope of the imminent return of the Lord. On Wednesday morning, August 26, 2020, just over four months after his beloved wife, Nan entered her eternal reward, Dr. Shelton completed his personal earthly ministry, a ministry that will go on until the Lord’s return through his recordings and writings. His book, “God’s Prophetic Blueprint” has been greatly used to communicate and clarify the biblical promises regarding the Second Coming of Christ.

First published in an era when increasingly complex and often confusing charts proliferated among dispensationalists, Dr. Shelton illustrated his compact book on Bible Prophecy with a simple, easy to understand timeline often recommended as a source of help to pastors and their people. Readers will find every element of his presentation fully supported directly from the words of the bible.

Dr. Shelton’s gentle manner, joyful spirit, and loving smile endeared him to all who knew him. Although his teaching will continue to reach many for many years to come, his Christlike person is no longer with us, but in the unforgettable impact he made on us as a Christian to emulate. His humility was a shining light on the paths now trod by others whom he influenced over the many decades of his life and ministry. To have known him was to have loved him. We are deeply indebted to him for his great example of what a Spirit-filled Christian gentleman should be.

Those of us who served with him in local church meetings, ministry boards, and in countless acts of service to Christ, would do well to learn from our memories of him how to live better lives as we, for now, remain behind to live as he did — loving our Lord, our families, and our friends. Bob Shelton did not promote himself, but his Savior. Countless times he greeted us with a ready smile and these words, “Oh brother, it won’t be long. I believe the Lord is coming at any moment.” Perhaps we would honor him best to adopt some of his encouraging greetings with each other more frequently.

  • You can find additional information about the life and ministry of Bob Shelton at bobshelton.org, see especially https://bobshelton.org/2018/11/27/a-note-from-bob-shelton/
  • For details and remote viewing of the memorial service scheduled for 11:00 am, Saturday, August 29, 2020, at Faith Baptist Church, Taylors, SC 29687, search www.fbctaylors.org or on FaceBook at Faith Baptist Church, Taylors, SC

Visitation: 10 am

Service: 11 am

Location: Faith Baptist Church — 500 West Lee Rd, Taylors, SC 29687

John Vaughn, past president of the FBFI and retired pastor of Faith Baptist Church, Taylors, SC, continues to serve through the John C. Vaughn Evangelistic Association.

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3 Comments

  1. Cynthia Shelpman on August 28, 2020 at 8:02 am

    I always loved hearing him preach and sing



  2. David Oliver on August 30, 2020 at 9:05 am

    Bob Shelton was very much appreciated at Ashley Baptist Church. Here is the brief tribute that was posted on our church’s Facebook page:

    Many of you remember fondly Dr. Bob Shelton and his sweet wife, Nan. On three occasions Bob preached here at Ashley Baptist Church. His messages on Bible prophecy were insightful and always well received. Bob passed into glory yesterday at the age of 92. He was a missionary, pastor, evangelist, author, and a gentleman of the first order. He did not live to see His Savior’s return, but he is seeing his Savior today. Praise the Lord for a life well-lived to the glory of God!



  3. Kevin Schaal on August 30, 2020 at 11:01 pm

    I did get this testimony from Nathan Mestler, President of International Baptist College.

    I was sad to learn of the passing of Dr. Bob Shelton. I did not know Dr. Shelton well, but he made an impact on my life. Dr. Shelton came to Kenya where I grew up as a missionary kid. He did a week-long Bible conference for us. What I remember most was the personal interest he showed me. He went out of his way to engage me as a teenager. He gave me a copy of his book, God’s Prophetic Blueprint which I pored through over the following weeks. He also encouraged me to consider a path of ministry. Dr. Shelton was a gracious servant of the Lord with a passionate heart for the Bible and to see people come to the Lord.

    Nathan