Tributes, Sweet Memories of Rev. Adrian Rogers
by Allie Martin
November 18, 2005
(AgapePress) - - Thousands of people turned out Thursday night (Nov. 17) to pay tribute to the life and ministry of Dr. Adrian Rogers, the radio preacher with the thundering voice who pastored one of the largest Southern Baptist churches in the country for 32 years. Dr. Rogers died on Tuesday at the age of 74 after a bout with cancer and pneumonia. (See earlier article) The main sanctuary at Bellevue Baptist Church in Memphis, Tennessee, was packed as more than 8,000 people attended a public memorial service for the world-renowned pastor, teacher, author, and family man. Longtime friends and family testified to the impact the three-time president of the Southern Baptist Convention had on their lives.
One of those offering fond memories of the Baptist pastor was Dr. James Dobson of Focus on the Family. Rogers served on the board of that ministry for nine years. "There are times when the pieces don't fit," Dobson confessed. "We all needed him; he was like a great oak tree where many, many little creatures found a home in his branches. Many of you did -- we did."
Dr. Adrian P. Rogers | |
But Dobson said Dr. Rogers left a rich legacy and example for others to follow. "Adrian has produced much, much fruit for the Lord -- and now he's gone on to the crown of righteousness that he has talked about for so long," the Focus founder said. "And we're going to see him again, and I'm so grateful for that moment," he added. "I tell you what, I would've given everything I own to have had the privilege of being there to watch him when he met Jesus for the first time."
Scotty Shows, minister of activities at the church, came to Bellevue in 1975. He recalled Rogers as a true servant who exalted Christ.
"One of the things he taught us was that his responsibility was to teach his flock, mainly, to love Jesus and obey Jesus -- and if he could that, then he was the pastor he needed to be [and] that didn't sound real complicated," Shows offered.
"But that was his trademark: that as he taught us as a staff, he wanted us not to become like him, not to become like anything else, [but to] become like Jesus. Everything, anything was to bring glory and honor to our Lord Jesus Christ."
Southern Baptist Convention president Dr. Bobby Welch said Rogers never compromised when it came to the Word of God. "The wonderful thing about it is when you read all of these different people's comments and hear them speak, he is definitely definable," Welch shared.
"There are not a lot of long-range differences in what people say," Welch offered. "They talk about his contribution overwhelmingly to the conservative resurgence and the battle for the Bible in the Southern Baptist Convention. Then they follow that by his great [preaching from the pulpit]. But they never end without talking about his passion for souls worldwide."
Rogers' daughter, Janice Edmonson, shared special memories she has of her dad. Through her tears, she explained that her father was the same wherever he was -- whether in the pulpit before thousands or at home with family.
"And today I'm here to tell you that if everything that has been said today about my daddy's character, his love, and his greatness -- take that, multiply it by a hundred, and yet the half has not been told," Mrs. Edmonson said. "And when he stepped over into glory -- although he left a hole in my heart the size of the Grand Canyon -- we are comforted to know that our loss is heaven's gain."
Adrian Rogers retired from his position at Bellevue this Spring and was given the title of "Pastor Emeritus" of the church. He is survived by his wife, Joyce, four children and their spouses, nine grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.
Allie Martin, a regular contributor to AgapePress, is a reporter for American Family Radio News, which can be heard online.
