Rev. Dr. Shadrach Meshach Lockridge

Beloved Local Pastor

Shadrach Meshach Lockridge was born 1913 in Robertson County, Texas, and was the oldest of eight children. Attending schools in and around Waco, Texas. Dr. Lockridge graduated Bishop College, Marshall, Texas and Southwest Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth and received several Divinity Degrees from Schools of Theology in California, including California Graduate School of Theology, Glendale, California; Doctorate of Divinity. Baptized into the Mt. Olive Baptist Church in Waco, Texas, he acknowledged the call to preach in 1940, at the Munger Ave. Baptist Church, Dallas, Texas.

Dr. S.M. Lockridge and Virgil May Thompson Lockridge were married in 1941 in Dallas. After pastoring several churches in Texas in the 1940s, he became the Pastor of the Calvary Baptist Church, San Diego in August 1952. While Pastor of Calvary, Dr. Lockridge also served as Moderator of the Progressive Baptist District Association, President of the California Missionary Baptist State Convention, and the National Missionary Baptist Convention of America. He was a faculty member of the Billy Graham School of Evangelism as well.

Rev. Dr. S.M. Lockridge was indeed renown in the US and abroad. Calvary Baptist Church was one of the largest congregations in San Diego’s African American community. Under his leadership, the church hosted such civil rights leaders as Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and other dignitaries affiliated with the church and civil rights. His friendship and travels with the famed Evangelist Billy Graham further accelerated his renown.

Some of his publications include, “The Challenge of the Church”, Zondervan Press, 1968, 1969; “Rekindling Holy Fires” and “The Lordship of Christ.” His notoriety and travels included preaching in several countries in Europe, Asia, Latin America, and Africa where he was featured during revivals, rallies, crusades, and conferences. In the fictional and New York Times best seller series Left Behind, which was based on Biblical accounts of the world’s end, Rev. Dr. S.M. Lockridge is referenced by the authors and noted as having been one of the greatest of preachers. His best remembered sermon is perhaps “That’s My King” which can be found on YouTube. It is a popular sermon from a minister whose message continues.

Rev. Dr. S.M. Lockridge passed away April 2000 and is remembered as a great preacher and mentor to many who were or who became ministers. He was a civil rights activist, community leader and advocate, and a beloved Pastor.