[TruthTalk] Adrian Rogers died

[ShieldsFamily]

Adrian Rogers, Southern Baptist statesman, dies at 74 By JONI B. HANNIGAN Managing Editor Published: November 15, 2005 UPDATED: November 15; 10:00 (EST) MEMPHIS (FBW)-Adrian Rogers, 74, pastor emeritus of Bellevue Baptist Church in Cordova, Tenn., and a former president of Southern Baptist Convention passed away in the early hours of Nov. 15 after battling cancer and double-pneumonia. He was born Sept. 12, 1931 in West Palm Beach. BP News Photo Rogers, who was the only person in modern times to serve three terms as president of the 16.4 million member Southern Baptist Convention, saw the SBC through tumultuous times in two decades, beginning in1979 and then again in 1986-87. In an Oct. 6 interview with Florida Baptist Witness Executive Editor James A. Smith Sr., Rogers acknowledged the importance of his part in the SBC’s conservative drift and told Smith: “I look back on my life and there are a lot of things that have happened. I have written books, pastored churches, preached on radio and television around the world. But I think the part that God allowed me to have in the turning of the SBC may have the longest-lasting effect and be the most significant,” Rogers said. “[The conservative resurgence] is part of church history. We think of the ancient councils of the church in decisions and so forth, but this thing is not small; it is big.” The following announcement was made at 5:30 a.m. (CT) on the Web site of the ministry Rogers founded, Love Worth Finding (www.lwf.org): “Dr. Adrian Rogers, Founder of Love Worth Finding Ministries, pastor Emeritus of Bellevue Baptist Church and a gifted man of God passed away in the presence of the Lord early this morning after battling cancer and double pneumonia. “I imagine literally thousands who came to know Jesus because of his ministry met him at the gate as he stepped over to glory and beheld the face of Jesus.” More details will be announced later. The Love Worth Finding Web site asks readers to “continue to pray for the Rogers’ family.” Ken Whitten, pastor of Idlewild Baptist Church in Tampa, who served on the staff of Bellevue Baptist Church from 1982-1990 said Rogers had been his “spiritual father” for over 30 years. On hearing of Rogers’ passing, Whitten told Florida Baptist Witness his prayers are with the Rogers’ family. “The Psalmist said precious is the sight of the Lord in the death of his saint (Psalm 116:15),” Whitten said. “Our pastor, friend, counselor and spiritual mentor went home to be with his savior this morning and his faith has turned to sight. He is in the very presence of the One he has trusted, preached about and worshipped all of these years. We will all miss his wisdom, his counsel, and his leadership he has provided in this great denomination. He fought a good fight. He had a grand finish. He kept a Godly faith and he has a glorious future. “Our tears are for ourselves and for his precious wife, Joyce, and their four children—Steve, Gayle, Janice and David—and their families but our joy is for him,” Whitten continued. “I am confident he heard the words of his master, ‘Well done thou good and faithful servant. Enter in the joy of heaven.’” Whitten also told the Witness Rogers’ granddaughter, Angela, birthed a daughter Nov. 14 who was named Maryanne Rose after Adrian’s mother, Rose. Copyright © 2001-2005, Florida Baptist Witness, All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.