J.N. McFadden, a 60-year veteran in music ministry, recently retired as minister of music at United Baptist Church, Spartanburg. His music ministry spanned 65 years, five states and 12 full-time churches, as well as numerous interim positions. McFadden began his first position at Arkwright Baptist Church on Jan. 1, 1949. He went on to become an evangelistic singer for revivals, conferences and crusades, performing at 18 area-wide crusades with C.E. Autry, former director of evangelism at the Home Mission Board.

McFadden says one of his fondest memories was traveling with Harold Lindsey, then president of North Greenville University, to a crusade in Anchorage, Alaska. Upon leaving the airplane, there were 1,500 people who greeted them singing “Amazing Grace.”

His most recent position was at United Baptist Church in Spartanburg. McFadden began his ministry in Spartanburg and says that God brought him “full circle.” He plans to continue serving on a supply or interim basis for churches in the Upstate. McFadden lives in Greer, where he is a member of Fairview Baptist Church.