Al Janney was born on January 26, 1928, near Chiefland, Florida. He received Christ as his Savior at the age of 14 at the Beaver Street Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Florida.
After having served in the Army during World War II, he returned to Jacksonville and married Elinor Brantley in 1947.
He and his wife moved to Fort Worth, Texas, to attend Bible Baptist Seminary. He completed his training at Baptist Bible College in Springfield, Missouri. He was the president of each class and was the first president of the Alumni Association.
He added to his education by attending Cincinnati Bible Seminary in Ohio and Barry College in Miami, Florida.
He was an assistant pastor to John Rawlings at Lockland Baptist Church, later named Landmark Baptist Temple in Cincinnati.
In 1954, Janney and his family went to Miami, Florida, to begin an Independent Baptist Church. He started the New Testament Baptist Church with 35 charter members. In ten years, the membership grew to over 2,000. The church moved to the northern part of Dade County to occupy 75 acres of land adjacent to a major expressway.
In 1961, New Testament Baptist Church started the Dade Christian School. It began with 4 students and has had a high enrollment of 2,400 students.
In 1968, Janney led in starting the Florida Association of Christian Schools, which now represents over 50,000 students in Christian schools in Florida.
In 1969, he received an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Bob Jones University in Greenville, South Carolina. Later he received an honorary Doctor of Letter degree from Hyles-Anderson College near Hammond, Indiana.
In 1970, Janney began the American Association of Christian Schools, which represents over 1,200 schools across the nation with over 100,000 students.
Janney served as president of the Baptist Bible Fellowship International for three terms in the 1960s.
After 23 years as pastor of the New Testament Baptist Church in Miami, Dr. Janney resigned in order to travel more extensively for the cause of Christian schools.
In October of 1981, Janney became the pastor of the Jacksonville Baptist Temple. In his first year there, attendance more than tripled. Under his leadership, the church has relocated and is now called First Coast Baptist Church. In 1990 he resigned as pastor there.
Until his passing, he lived in Orlando, Florida, and traveled and spoke for the cause of Christ, missions, and Christian schools.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday, March 28, 2023, at Orlando Baptist Church in Orlando, FL, at 5:00 PM.
If you plan to attend the funeral service, please let the family know by completing the form found by clicking here.
My sincere condolences to the Janney family. Bro. Janney was a giant in the faith and a visionary in church growth and Christian education. He leaves a legacy in his children and grandchildren who follow in his capable and committed footsteps.
Psalm 116:15
Great preacher, friend and supporter of missionaries !:) Dr Janney preached for us in Hong Kong in the 1970’s!:) Also fond memories of mission conferences at New Testament Baptist church in Miami, Fl.
I can’t thank him enough for starting NTB church. It was my life saver and the place were I accepted Christ as my savior. I know you will be missed.
I’m thankful he started Dade Christian school. I received a good education and Dr. Janney was well loved. Class of 1977
I was a student at Baptist University of America and Dr. Al Janet left his imprint on us preacher boys. I am thankful for his faithful legacy. Blessings to the family.
What a gentleman and man of God. At these times we sorrow at the absence of a great man and remember his kind and gentle way with everyone he met. He had the ability to remember you and make you feel welcome in his presence. I can never remember a time when he would not make time for you, no matter how busy he was. We all feel the loss, but trust the timing and wisdom of our Lord. We pray that his influence goes on for many years through his family and friends.
I will always remember Dr Janney fondly. He truly made a difference in my life growing up. From leading my mom to the Lord to dedicating me as a baby, coming to our house and leading my dad to the Lord years later, baptizing both of us and pastoring our church in Miami for most of my childhood. Making a way for youth to go to summer camp, absolutely knowing each of his congregation personally and remembering everyone for years to come whenever we would see him out. What an icon and spiritual leader for so many! He leaves behind a legacy for sure.
An amazing legacy – my dad’s best friend (Charles Johnson) our love and special thoughts to family
I’m grateful to Dr. Janney. He impacted so many for the cause of Christ. I was a member at NTBC and a student at DCS and BUA.
One of my all time heroes. As the founder of BUA where Bobbi and I went to College, he was such a great leader and teacher and example of Christ and ministry. He was on my ordination board and was an honor to serve with his son David for many years. His greatest achievements above ALL his many accomplishments is his family (son and grandkids) who ALL serve in ministry multiplying his impact and legacy.