THE MASTER’S ENCOURAGERS: BLAINE AND BOYD CORNWELL

By Rick Cherok

Although they are often referred to as simply the Cornwell twins, Blaine and Boyd Cornwell have served the Lord in a ministry known as the Master’s Encouragers for over 45 years. During this time, the identical twin brothers have traveled throughout the United States and several other countries presenting a unique blend of secular music with Christian lyrics and biblical teachings for the purpose of sharing the gospel message.

The Cornwell twins were born and raised in Athens, Ohio, where their family owned and operated the oldest jewelry store in the country. Cornwell Jewelers opened in 1832 and had been handed down through the generations as a family business. The jewelry store ultimately closed its doors in 2019, but that was long after Blaine and Boyd decided against taking over the family business in order to pursue the Lord’s calling for their lives.

After graduating from high school, the sports-minded twins completed degrees in physical education from Ohio University in 1966. Desiring to become physical education teachers and coaches in the public school system, they soon found positions they believed would fulfill these aspirations. Boyd accepted a job in the school system of Medina, Ohio, and Blaine was later invited to take a similar position in nearby Barberton, Ohio.

The Cornwells had never envisioned themselves as singers or evangelists during their brief teaching careers, but their interest in athletics prompted them to take part in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. While attending an FCA camp, where former Dodgers’ pitcher Carl Erskine was speaking, the twins were unexpectedly called upon to sing for the group. “This was our first experience singing in front of a group,” Blaine said, “and afterward we both decided we needed to get our lives turned around.”

With a newfound interest in advancing his Christian faith, Blaine discovered that Betty Wisdom, a first-grade teacher at the school where he worked, was also a devout follower of Jesus.  Through Betty, the twins were introduced to her husband, Bill Wisdom, who was both a factory worker and a minister.  “Bill became our mentor,” Blaine recalls, and he ended up baptizing both of the brothers.

When the brothers unexpectedly lost their jobs at roughly the same time, the Wisdoms encouraged them to consider preparing for ministry. Bill Wisdom had recently interacted with Don DeWelt and became a friend of the Ozark Bible College professor, so he recommended that Blaine and Boyd go to Ozark. As they considered the possibility of simply taking over the family’s jewelry store, a student group from Ozark visited their church and stayed in their home. Afterward, they decided to visit Ozark, but with no intention of enrolling in the school.

At the conclusion of their Ozark visit, the twins resolved to “drop it all and see what God has in store.” So, amid uncertainties about paying for their education, they enrolled in classes for the fall 1973 semester at a school that was nearly 800 miles from their home. Reflecting on that decision, Boyd exclaimed, “I’m so glad we did that 51 years ago.”

As Ozark students, the Cornwells coached the girls’ basketball team, taught the college’s physical education classes, and sang for school’s “Good News Quartet.” During their junior year at Ozark, the quartet sang for a spring revival in Fort Gibson, Oklahoma. At a fellowship dinner following the revival’s completion, an elder at the church encouraged the twin brothers to consider traveling the country as full-time singing evangelists. In May 1978, as they graduated from Ozark, the duo began their ministry of itinerant musical evangelism.

To make their ministry distinct, Blaine and Boyd borrowed popular music from the 60’s and 70’s and substituted Christian lyrics into the songs. As we present our program to a church, Blaine shared, “the congregation goes wild because of the uniqueness of the oldie-but-goodie songs with Christian words.” Moreover, the brothers have memorized hundreds of scripture passages that they intersperse with their music as a “sermon in song” for their audiences.

An additional dimension of the Cornwells’ ministry emerged in 1987, when the twins became professional golf caddies. During a ministry trip to Florida, the twins attended a nearby LPGA (Ladies Professional Golf Association) tournament. Upon learning that some of the ladies in the tournament were Christians, the brothers introduced themselves. The golfers later asked the Cornwells to sing at their Bible study and to assist them as caddies. “We soon realized we could sing on Sunday and Wednesday nights,” Blaine said, “and be paid to caddy during the day.”

The brothers caddied for the LPGA from 1987-1992 and for their male counterparts in the PGA (Professional Golf Association) from 1992-2009. “We did all the major tournaments,” Boyd said, “and it was a great evangelistic tool.” In addition to sharing their faith with other caddies, spectators, scorekeepers, and golfers, the twins met a number of celebrities (Blaine once gave a Christian tract to Clint Eastwood at a celebrity tournament) with whom they could share the gospel.

Although the Master’s Encouragers are now semi-retired and octogenarians, their ministry has not ended. They continue to preach and sing in churches around the country as opportunities become available. Along with this, however, they have created a ministry in which they continue to share the gospel and sing about Jesus as they deliver Meals on Wheels to homebound people and visit hospitals, nursing homes, and assisted living facilities.

Rick Cherok is the Managing Editor of CHRISTIAN STANDARD and the Executive Director of Celtic Christian Mission.