Agnes Pylant, Church Recreation Specialist

AGNES DURANT PYLANT was an early pioneer and a specialist in recreation sponsored by a religious organization or denomination in America. Her long career in recreation and leisure ministries first came to the attention of Baptist denominational leaders during the decade of the 1930's and continued into the 1940's. She was noticed because of her colorful personality and organizational skills as she led numerous types of recreation activities at camps, assemblies, and conference centers from Virginia to Arkansas and across the southern states. In the early 1950's, Mrs. Pylant served as dean of women at Wayland Baptist College in Plainview, Texas. As an additional assignment, she taught the first class ever offered in church recreation at the Texas school.

Born in 1900 in Palmetto, Florida, Agnes Durant was later married to Lake Pylant. The couple raised two daughters: Rose Melody and Patsy Lake. A tragic accident claimed the life of husband Lake. He was killed in an airplane crash in 1953.

On February 1, 1954 in Nashville, Tennessee, Agnes Pylant was employed by the Baptist Sunday School Board of the Southern Baptist Convention as the first director of a brand new area of ministry: the church recreation service. For eight years Pylant served as head of church recreation for the nation-wide denomination. Her duties included traveling from coast to coast leading recreation conferences and workshops, as well as directing recreation activities, for state Baptist association meetings, regional and national assemblies, colleges, and churches. She also served as editor of "Church Recreation Magazine," the only publication of its kind in the world.

In 1962 Pylant retired from her position in Nashville and returned to Palmetto, the place of her birth, where she became the part-time minister of senior adults at First Baptist Church. She continued to help churches across the country in the area of church recreation and senior adult ministry during all of her retirement years. She was in demand as a speaker, a conference leader, and a program personality. She was an accomplished pantomime artist and entertainer!

Pylant was the writer of numerous articles concerning church recreation, and was the author of several books on church recreation and senior adults. Some of her more popular titles included Playtime, Fun Plans for Church Recreation, Gee Whiz - I'm Old, and Fourscore and Ten - Wow. In addition, Pylant was the voice on several professional tape recordings.

Agnes Pylant was a graduate of Texas Christian University and Southwestern Seminary. She also received an honorary degree, the doctor of ministry (D.Min.) in church recreation, from Southwest Baptist University in 1976. She passed away in the summer of 1985.

Agnes Pylant was the model for a life well-lived. As a church recreation specialist, she stood head and shoulders above all who followed in her steps. And, at least in Baptist circles, she will be remembered as one of the greatest servant-leaders the denomination has ever produced. May her tribe increase!
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-- Photo provided by John Garner and Lifeway Christian Resources.