Raised in a pastor’s home, I do not remember a time in my life when I was not constantly exposed to and impacted by the ministry of Adrian Rogers. A black-and-white picture of him preaching at the Southern Baptist Convention Pastors’ Conference hung above my father’s desk, and his books were often found on the end table beside my father’s recliner. Cassette tapes and CDs from Love Worth Finding were either playing in my dad’s truck or placed in the cup holders. I remember my father pointing him out to me during our family’s vacation to the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention and hearing him preach in chapel for Founders Days during my first semester at Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary. While I was a seminary student, I worked in the college ministry at Bellevue Baptist Church before being sent to start a church in Ohio with Bellevue as one of our sponsors.
The ministry of Adrian Rogers has impacted my entire life, and I’m thankful to have been mentored by him from afar growing up and more closely in my early years as a pastor. My gratitude to him for instilling in me a love for God, his Word, and seeing people come to Jesus is beyond my ability to express adequately. So, I am honored to introduce you to my pastor, Adrian Rogers.
Rogers’s Legacy
Few pastors in the modern era have as enduring and impactful a ministry legacy as Adrian Rogers. His ministry, which lasted more than five decades, reverberated within his beloved Bellevue Baptist Church, and it continues to resound across continents and generations. As you learn more about this remarkably influential pastor’s personal and ministerial journey, you will discover a legacy and lessons that continue to shape and inspire pastors and believers worldwide.
Adrian Pierce Rogers, born on September 12, 1931, in sun-kissed West Palm Beach, Florida, became a towering figure in American evangelicalism. His experiences and education at Stetson University and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary laid the groundwork for a ministry characterized by an unwavering stand for Christ, an uncompromising commitment to Scripture, and an unbridled passion for the gospel.
In 1972, Rogers was called from the thriving FBC Merritt Island, Florida, in the shadow of the Kennedy Space Center at the height of the space race, to pastor the historic Bellevue Baptist Church in Memphis, Tennessee. Under his leadership, the congregation relocated from its landlocked location in downtown Memphis to the fast-growing area on the eastern edge of Shelby County, where it witnessed unprecedented growth and became one of the largest and most influential churches in the United States. However, beyond the significant growth seen in Bellevue’s ministry, Rogers’s influence went beyond geographical and denominational boundaries, reaching the far corners of the globe through his books, evangelistic crusades, and Love Worth Finding, a global multimedia broadcast ministry.
Rogers’s Lessons
Watching and examining Adrian Rogers’s ministry, at first from a distance and then closer, I gleaned nuggets of wisdom and ministry principles that I believe can equip modern pastors to have more faithful and fruitful ministries.
1. THE UNSHAKEABLE FOUNDATION OF SCRIPTURE
At the heart of Adrian Rogers’s life and ministry was an unwavering belief in the authority, inerrancy, and sufficiency of Scripture. His preaching, unflinchingly grounded in the timeless and unchanging truth of Scripture, gave witness to the life-changing, church-building, world-impacting power of God’s Word. Rogers’s commitment to and proclamation of the Bible served as a trumpet call for his Southern Baptist Convention to embark on what has come to be known as the Conservative Resurgence, the first time a major U.S. denomination had recovered from the advancing liberalism in modern times.
2. A PASSIONATE PURSUIT OF SOULS
Adrian Rogers was not merely a local church pastor but also a fervent evangelist with a consuming desire to see souls won for Christ. This evangelistic passion was seen in his pastoral and public ministries. His heart beat with the urgency of the Great Commission as he tirelessly proclaimed the message of salvation for the lost and broken to “come to Jesus.” In fact, from the day when God saved him as a 15-year-old, his life was wrapped around Matthew 28:18-19. Rogers’s enthusiasm and example of evangelism encourage and serve as a model for modern pastors and Christians to embrace a similar zeal for the lost, recognizing that eternity hangs in the balance.
3. HARNESSING TECHNOLOGY FOR KINGDOM PURPOSES
In an era characterized by rapid technological advancement, Adrian Rogers foresaw media’s potential as a tool for spreading the gospel. Through his pioneering broadcast ministry, Rogers leveraged the power of technology to reach hearts and homes worldwide. I find it interesting how, in 2024, some can look back and view his ministry as old-fashioned, but at the time, Rogers was at the forefront of using technology to reach the world with the good news of the gospel. That’s why I believe his innovative spirit is a compelling reminder of the need for creativity and adaptability in advancing God’s kingdom in the digital age.
4. A PASTOR’S HEART
Beyond the pulpit, Adrian Rogers epitomized the role of a caring shepherd, tenderly guiding and nurturing God’s flock. His pastoral ministry was marked by genuine compassion, empathy, and a willingness to walk alongside his congregation through life’s joys and sorrows. Rogers’s example underscores the timeless truth that effective ministry flows from a heart of love and genuine concern for God’s people. I remember hearing him tell stories of how he had prayed with families during the loss of a loved one, as well as church members sharing how he had ministered to them during times of sorrow, suffering, and loss. It is remarkable to consider how Rogers could pastor and minister so faithfully and effectively with tens of thousands of members. His pastor’s heart is undoubtedly a reminder for modern pastors of the importance of “shepherding the flock of God” (1 Peter 5:2).
5. A LEGACY OF FAITHFULNESS AND FRUITFULNESS
Ultimately, Adrian Rogers’s enduring legacy resides not in buildings or budgets, institutions or organizations, accolades or achievements but in a life fully and faithfully lived for the glory of God. His unwavering commitment to the gospel and relentless pursuit of excellence bore fruit that continues to flourish and multiply even today. Love Worth Finding continues to reach the world with his powerful, practical, and biblical preaching, seeing thousands give their life to Christ each year. Rogers’s life challenges believers to aspire to a similar standard of faithfulness, recognizing that true success in ministry is measured not by earthly metrics but by heavenly rewards.
My pastor’s ministry and legacy are a testament to the earthly and eternal impact that one life, surrendered to God’s purpose and plan, can have for the kingdom. I pray that as you learn more about the legacy he left behind and the lessons he exemplified, you might be encouraged to live more faithfully for Jesus and proclaim Him more boldly, for as Pastor Rogers so often reminded us, “it’s getting gloriously dark!”
Editor’s Note: As a part of its commitment to fostering conversation within the Southern Baptist Convention, the Baptist Review may publish editorials that espouse viewpoints that are not necessarily shared by the TBR team or other contributors. We welcome submissions for responses and rebuttals to any editorials as we seek to host meaningful conversations about the present and future of our convention.
Brad Whitt
Brad Whitt serves as the pastor of Abilene Baptist Church. He graduated from Union University with a B.A. in Religion/History and Political Science and from Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary with a Masters of Divinity. He has a Doctor of Ministry in Expository Preaching from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and a Ph.D. in Preaching from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Brad is married to Kim, and they have four children: Laura Kate, Jack, Benjamin, and Jonathan. He is an avid fly-fisherman and professional quail hunting guide.
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