Walk Beside Me

John R. Rice (1895–1980) was an influential American Baptist evangelist, pastor, hymn writer, and Christian leader best known for founding The Sword of the Lord, a widely read independent Christian newspaper and ministry publication that shaped conservative evangelical circles in the twentieth century. He was born in Cooke County, Texas on December 11, 1895 and was raised in a devout Christian home. Rice pursued theological education at Decatur Baptist College, Baylor University, and did graduate work at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and the University of Chicago. He was ordained as a Baptist minister and served churches in Dallas and Shamrock, Texas early in his career, but his passion for evangelism soon led him into full-time revival work.

During the 1930s and 1940s Rice became widely known for holding large evangelistic campaigns in major cities such as Chicago, Cleveland, Buffalo, and Seattle, drawing crowds to gospel preaching and calls to faith in Christ. In 1934 while serving as pastor in Dallas he launched The Sword of the Lord newspaper, which began as a small street-handed publication and later grew into one of the most influential independent fundamentalist Christian weeklies in the United States. The ministry moved to Wheaton, Illinois in 1940 and eventually to Murfreesboro, Tennessee, where it continued to expand. Through this platform Rice championed evangelism, biblical preaching, and conservative theology, influencing thousands of pastors and laypeople.

In addition to his evangelistic and editorial work, Rice wrote a number of gospel hymns and songs that appear in collections such as Soul Stirring Songs and Hymns. His hymn texts emphasize personal devotion to Christ, urgency of evangelistic witness, and the hope of heaven. Titles attributed to him include evangelistic and testimony-style songs like So Little Time! The Harvest Will Be Over and Ask, Seek, and Knock, which were used in revival meetings and evangelistic services. 

Rice was married to Lloys McClure Cooke in 1921, and they had six daughters, many of whom continued in Christian service. He remained active in ministry, writing, and evangelism until his death on December 29, 1980, leaving a legacy marked by fervent evangelistic outreach, influential publishing, and contributions to gospel hymnody.