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Stories on the Front Porch
Filled with warmth and humor, meaning and tender-ness, this ia an unforgettable collection of tales that will make you smile, encourage you and help you to remember that sometimes, truth is best discovered in a good story.
- GenresSouthernNonfiction
239 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2002
About the author
Elmer L. Towns
328 books49 followersDr. Elmer Towns is a college and seminary professor, an author of popular and scholarly works (the editor of two encyclopedias), a popular seminar lecturer, and dedicated worker in Sunday school, and has developed over 20 resource packets for leadership education. He began teaching at Midwest Bible College, St. Louis, Missouri, for three years and was not satisfied with his textbooks so he began writing his own (he has published over 100 books listed in the Library of Congress, 7 listed in the Christian Booksellers Best Selling List; several becoming accepted as college textbooks. He is also the 1995 recipient of the coveted Gold Medallion Award awarded by the Christian Booksellers Association for writing the Book of the Year, i.e., The Names of the Holy Spirit.
He was President of Winnipeg Bible College for five years, leading it to receive American Accreditation and Provincial authority to offer degrees (1960-1965). He taught at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, in greater Chicago, Illinois, in the field of Religious Education and Evangelism (1965-1971).
He is co-founder of Liberty University, with Jerry Falwell, in 1971, and was the only full-time teacher in the first year of Liberty's existence. Today, the University has over 11,400 students on campus with 39,000 in the Distance Learning Program (now Liberty University Online), and he is the Dean of the School of Religion.
Dr. Towns has given theological lectures and taught intensive seminars at over 50 theological seminaries in America and abroad. He holds visiting professorship rank in five seminaries. He has written over 2,000 reference and/or popular articles and received six honorary doctoral degrees. Four doctoral dissertations have analyzed his contribution to religious education and evangelism.
His personal education includes a B.S. from Northwestern College in Minneapolis, Minnesota, a M.A. from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, a Th.M. from Dallas Theological Seminary also in Dallas, a MRE from Garrett Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois, and a D.Min. from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California.
He was President of Winnipeg Bible College for five years, leading it to receive American Accreditation and Provincial authority to offer degrees (1960-1965). He taught at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, in greater Chicago, Illinois, in the field of Religious Education and Evangelism (1965-1971).
He is co-founder of Liberty University, with Jerry Falwell, in 1971, and was the only full-time teacher in the first year of Liberty's existence. Today, the University has over 11,400 students on campus with 39,000 in the Distance Learning Program (now Liberty University Online), and he is the Dean of the School of Religion.
Dr. Towns has given theological lectures and taught intensive seminars at over 50 theological seminaries in America and abroad. He holds visiting professorship rank in five seminaries. He has written over 2,000 reference and/or popular articles and received six honorary doctoral degrees. Four doctoral dissertations have analyzed his contribution to religious education and evangelism.
His personal education includes a B.S. from Northwestern College in Minneapolis, Minnesota, a M.A. from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, a Th.M. from Dallas Theological Seminary also in Dallas, a MRE from Garrett Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois, and a D.Min. from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
July 24, 2019
Sweet, clear, honest stories of a child’s “come to Jesus” journey. Lovely adult and children’s read. A history of an earlier America and its mores. Endearing in its vulnerability. Re-readable. Highly recommended for everyone.
July 13, 2019
Happy, pleasant reading with excellent principles
I have read two of Elmer Towns books and both brought me great pleasure. Some bring back pleasant memories, while others were before my era, which enabled me to learn some history. I would have given this book 5 stars had it not been for the poor editing. So many words are either misspelled or wrong it made it very difficult to understand. At times I felt as if I were taking a test to see if I could figure out the word from the context or if it were written by someone who knew English as a second language. Nevertheless, they are a relaxing way to spend the day. I look forward to the next one.
I have read two of Elmer Towns books and both brought me great pleasure. Some bring back pleasant memories, while others were before my era, which enabled me to learn some history. I would have given this book 5 stars had it not been for the poor editing. So many words are either misspelled or wrong it made it very difficult to understand. At times I felt as if I were taking a test to see if I could figure out the word from the context or if it were written by someone who knew English as a second language. Nevertheless, they are a relaxing way to spend the day. I look forward to the next one.
October 2, 2020
This was an autobiographical reminiscence of the author's childhood and the things he learned from his experiences growing up in a small southern town. At the conclusion of each chapter Towns summarizes what he learned with "Principles to Take Away." He emphasizes that he wrote the book to "help you look within so you too can live by principles." The stories were sweet, and in addition to describing a 1940's childhood in a large extended family, he includes his how he grew in his faith.
My complaint with this book is the overwhelming number of typos! I can't believe anyone reviewed or proofread it before publication. This was somewhat distracting, and I was surprised that the author, a college and seminary professor, an author of popular and scholarly works (he has written more than 100 books), could allow these typos to be published.
My complaint with this book is the overwhelming number of typos! I can't believe anyone reviewed or proofread it before publication. This was somewhat distracting, and I was surprised that the author, a college and seminary professor, an author of popular and scholarly works (he has written more than 100 books), could allow these typos to be published.
January 30, 2022
Stories on the Front Porch
The author takes the reader on a real, up close journey of his growing up years. I sat on the porch with Elmer Towns listening (reading) stories that shaped his life. I love reading the 'principles at the close of each chapter' ...lessons we can apply and be better humans. A good read for family evening reading. Turn off the TV and tech gadgets and read together as a family.
The author takes the reader on a real, up close journey of his growing up years. I sat on the porch with Elmer Towns listening (reading) stories that shaped his life. I love reading the 'principles at the close of each chapter' ...lessons we can apply and be better humans. A good read for family evening reading. Turn off the TV and tech gadgets and read together as a family.
October 27, 2022
Stories worth reading
Dr. Towns is an excellent storyteller. This collection of his childhood and early adulthood take the reader a fun-filled adventure in Savannah and South Carolina. The stories will remind the reader of his or her own childhood adventures, and that’s a good thing. Towns’ life lessons at the end of each chapter motivate the reader to identify their own life lessons. The author makes a relationship with Jesus Christ attractive as a real person.
Dr. Towns is an excellent storyteller. This collection of his childhood and early adulthood take the reader a fun-filled adventure in Savannah and South Carolina. The stories will remind the reader of his or her own childhood adventures, and that’s a good thing. Towns’ life lessons at the end of each chapter motivate the reader to identify their own life lessons. The author makes a relationship with Jesus Christ attractive as a real person.
September 2, 2020
Good book
I really enjoyed reading this easy flowing book. I was able to somewhat put myself into the stories the author shared through memories of his childhood. His takeaways at the end of each chapter were like “morals of the stories.” Some were educational; all were inspiring.
I really enjoyed reading this easy flowing book. I was able to somewhat put myself into the stories the author shared through memories of his childhood. His takeaways at the end of each chapter were like “morals of the stories.” Some were educational; all were inspiring.
July 31, 2019
I wasn't sure I would like this at first but kept reading and found it quite interesting. But it was a little hard to read due to misspelled words and wrong words. One that happened several times was the word "he" when it should have been "lie".
July 28, 2020
This book made me reminisce about my childhood. Very good book, but I didn’t turn out near like the author did. Guess I didn’t have anyone that cared, makes me wonder how different I would have been. There were lots of typos, didn’t interfere with the book.
October 3, 2020
Stories Remembered from Childhood
The stories are from the childhood of Elmer Towns as he remembers them. It tells how events and people shape our lives and sometimes our destiny. Good entertaining read.
The stories are from the childhood of Elmer Towns as he remembers them. It tells how events and people shape our lives and sometimes our destiny. Good entertaining read.
August 6, 2019
disappointed....did not meet my expectations
February 15, 2020
Stories from Towns life with principles taken from them. Inspirational reading
July 20, 2021
Porch story telling days
A good story about growing up in the early part of the war. Had some great points to take and app to your own life.
A good story about growing up in the early part of the war. Had some great points to take and app to your own life.
July 26, 2021
Liked it
Very nice
Quaint, honest, straightforward in a sweet and natural fashion. I enjoyed my time with the author very much
Very nice
Quaint, honest, straightforward in a sweet and natural fashion. I enjoyed my time with the author very much
May 16, 2022
Enjoyable
This memoir was very engaging and enjoyable. Very talented author who offers entertainment but also guiding principles. I enjoyed both.
This memoir was very engaging and enjoyable. Very talented author who offers entertainment but also guiding principles. I enjoyed both.
October 9, 2025
great read
Brought back memories of my childhood even though my time was much later on. I remember sitting on the porch and how neighbors were there for you Good book
Brought back memories of my childhood even though my time was much later on. I remember sitting on the porch and how neighbors were there for you Good book
September 5, 2025
This is basically a teaching biography. I am finding it interesting, but the kindle version is in bad need of an editor. Misspelled words, misprints and grammatical errors abound. It's worth plowing on but I realize that would bother some people to the point of distraction. Example: "Greenacres was impeccably dean and modem." [clean and modern]
Less than 2 weeks later I finished [I read multiple books during the same period]. This is a great book aside from the need for an editor for the kindle edition (assuming the print edition does not have those issues). For that problem it loses 1 star but this is a great book - highly recommended.
Less than 2 weeks later I finished [I read multiple books during the same period]. This is a great book aside from the need for an editor for the kindle edition (assuming the print edition does not have those issues). For that problem it loses 1 star but this is a great book - highly recommended.
July 19, 2016
Many of these events occurred in the era in which my
parents lived. I can understand some of the events and
people and see some similarities with relatives.
I also see some similarities in Dr. Town's childhood with
some things that I remember experiencing or watching in
the lives of others.
The homespun humor is nice...especially for depression
era and boomer era readers.
parents lived. I can understand some of the events and
people and see some similarities with relatives.
I also see some similarities in Dr. Town's childhood with
some things that I remember experiencing or watching in
the lives of others.
The homespun humor is nice...especially for depression
era and boomer era readers.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews