Just Before His 90th Birthday, Chuck Swindoll Retires From Stonebriar To ‘Embrace New Chapter’

Chuck Swindoll Credits His Mother for Much of His Early Spiritual Formation

In a clip from a recent sermon, Chuck Swindoll told stories of his mother. “My mother was the earliest one to bring the name of Jesus to me,” shared the pastor.

Swindoll’s father worked long hours at a machine shop, so dinnertime often included Swindoll’s mom, his older brother, his older sister, and himself. Most nights after they prayed over the meal, Swindoll’s mom would share a Scripture with her children. She’d give each of them a handwritten note with the verse and encouraged each child to memorize God’s words.

“For every verse you memorize,” she said, “I’ll memorize two.”

Swindoll took the challenge to heart. “So, I memorized one,” he shared. “Sure enough, she memorized two.”

“So, I put her to the test. I memorized two; she memorized four,” Swindoll continued. “I memorized a chapter; she memorized a chapter. I decided, okay, I memorized James, and I strutted myself before her and quoted the book of James.”

Swindoll’s mother said, “Sit down,” and proceeded to quote the books of Philippians and Colossians.

“I said, ‘Game is over. I’m done,'” shared Swindoll. “That was my mother.”

Swindoll went on to tell more of his deep love, appreciation, and respect for his mother. “She had her own problems; she certainly wasn’t perfect, but she loved Jesus. And she made it clear that we were to know Jesus and walk with him and learn his Word,” he said.