Bruce Salmon served for 33 years as pastor of Village Baptist Church in Bowie, Maryland, a suburb of Washington, D.C. After he retired, he began to write books, four of which (thus far) have been published by Nurturing Faith Books, Good Faith Media’s publishing imprint.
1. What story, verse or passage from your faith tradition’s sacred texts has significantly influenced / shaped your life?
The Greatest Commandments: love God; and love your neighbor as yourself.
I’m still trying to figure out how to do both, but that’s the goal.
2. Who are three people (other than your family) who have shaped your life and worldview? And why?
J.P. Allen, my pastor at Broadway Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas, when I was in junior high and high school. He later recruited me to volunteer for several months at the SBC Radio and Television Commission as a correspondence counselor when I was recovering from an illness that forced me to drop out of seminary for a semester.
John Claypool, the Broadway pastor when I was in college and seminary. He encouraged me to follow my calling to ministry, led the church to license me to preach, and invited me to preach at Broadway one Sunday night before I returned to seminary.
Jim Langley, the executive director of the D.C. Baptist Convention. He gave my name to the pastor search committee at Village Baptist Church, which called me in 1984. Jim later became a golf buddy, a National Gallery of Art Museum buddy, and one of my best friends.
3. List three of your “desert island” books, movies or TV shows.
The Magnificent Defeat by Frederick Buechner, Les Misérables by Victor Hugo, and “Call the Midwife” (TV show).
4. What is one of the most critical issues people are facing today?
Political divisiveness on almost every issue.
5. What are a few of your hobbies?
Playing golf, watching sports on television, and traveling.
6. If you could freeze your life into an already-lived 10 seconds, what would they be?
Marrying Linda, watching her four-year-old daughter Amy walk down the aisle as the flower girl, and holding Marc after he was born.
7. Our tagline at Good Faith Media is, “There’s more to tell.” What’s your “more to tell”?
I’m still a work in progress.
Reflection and resources at the intersection of faith and culture through an inclusive Christian lens.
