SBC presidents remember Adrian Rogers

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)–Adrian Rogers was the first in their number – men elected to the presidency of the Southern Baptist Convention during the course of the Conservative Resurgence within the nation’s largest evangelical body.

Since Rogers’ election to the SBC presidency in 1979, messengers have voted 12 men into the post. With the news of his death Nov. 15 at the age of 74, the current and former SBC presidents voiced profound appreciation for the life and ministry of a man who they say possessed superior skills in preaching and a gracious spirit – even in the midst of the tumultuous early days of the conservative resurgence in the SBC.

During each man’s presidency, Rogers offered advice, support and encouragement, the past SBC presidents said. He was also a personal mentor and unofficial preaching instructor to many.

Among their memories:

n Jerry Vines, pastor of the First Baptist Church in Jacksonville, who served as SBC president from 1988-90.

“I remember the many times we ‘sermonized’ together on the phone. He was a master expositor. I’m not the only preacher I know who ‘creatively disguised’ his outline and used it! As I heard him say so often, ‘If my bullet fits your gun, fire it!’ I also remember the times we rejoiced together over the victories God gave us in the Conservative Resurgence.”

• Jim Henry, pastor of First Baptist Church in Orlando, who served as SBC president from 1994-96.

“I have hundreds of wonderful memories with Adrian; two quickly come to mind. The first was when I was a supply preacher at Bellevue while they were searching for a pastor to follow Dr. Pollard. I was primed to preach, already in Memphis, when word arrived that the search team wanted to present a young man from Florida to preach in view of a call. Name? Adrian Rogers! I got bumped. Adrian was called, and I was in the congregation when they called him.

“The second was the night I was elected president of the SBC. I came into a room where a large crowd had gathered. Adrian had come out earlier and endorsed my friend, Fred Wolfe, for the position. He said something to the effect of, ‘I promised Fred my support and I kept my word. Our people have chosen my friend Jim Henry to the office. He is our president, he is my president, and I will pray for and support him and urge us all to do the same and stand together.’ That kind of statesmanship was typical of Adrian. That moment of encouragement meant more than these words can describe.”

• Tom Elliff, senior vice president for spiritual nurture and church relations of the International Mission Board, who served as SBC president from 1996-98.

“In all of our meetings focused on the conservative resurgence, I never saw on Adrian’s part any uncharitable or un-Christlike attitude. In those rooms sometimes, there were men who had every reason to be angry about what was being said about them. The issues were inflammatory issues. But his voice and moderation had an effect on all of us. His vision saw farther down the road than the most of us. He was very incisive. He could follow a concept to the end, and he would trace it all the way to its end. He would say, ‘That might work in the short term, but in the long run it won’t be good for the Kingdom of God.’ What he was in private was what he was in public – very gracious and incisive.”

• Jack Graham, pastor of Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas, who served as SBC president from 2002-04.

“As a young pastor in Oklahoma in 1975, I was amazed by his preaching ability, and determined to get to know him. So I called and made an appointment and then drove across the state to meet him in Bartlesville, where he was preaching a revival crusade. We had lunch at Long John Silvers. I was in awe. The warmth of his personality took me in. His interest in me, a young preacher, encouraged me. I soaked up every word and left knowing I had been in the presence of a man of God.

• Bobby Welch, pastor of First Baptist Church in Daytona Beach, who currently serves as SBC president.

“Fresh out of his morning shower, hair still uncombed, barefoot and in his undershirt ... hurriedly searching for his tie, there he was... the already legendary, Dr. Adrian Rogers!

“In an hour or so he would speak the words publicly that would fire one of the starting guns in what would become an unprecedented and historical victory in the “battle for the Bible” within the Southern Baptist Convention.

“Most memorable to me was that I was sitting there on the edge of his hotel bed having been invited in for his encouragement to become the pastor of the First Baptist Church of Daytona Beach.

“I was a young associate pastor who had driven his pastor, Bob Mowery, to this impending meeting. Yet Dr. Adrian Rogers had taken time out of his intense and extraordinary life for an unknown and very ordinary and inexperienced guy like me.

“That act of kindness and encouragement has stayed with me throughout all these many years and has urged me to try to be accessible to others on their journey for Jesus.”

For the full text of this story, go online to: www.FloridaBaptistWitness.com and look for “Adrian Rogers: Special Report.”