Ralph O. Burns (1921-2011), a graduate of Practical Bible Training School, served in a long series of ministries that included churches in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania and several ministry boards. At the time of his death, Pastor Burns had been serving as associate pastor of Southside Baptist Church, Sebring, Fla. Believing that "new believers in Christ need to be instructed in the Word of God as soon as possible after conversion," he wrote Basic Bible Truths for New Converts, the best-selling title ever for Regular Baptist Press.