Adrian Rogers on "Wit & Wisdom of Pastor Joe Brumbelow"

Adrian Rogers was one of the most loved and respected pastors of the Southern Baptist Convention. His preaching blessed the lives of many thousands. Not only those he pastored at Bellevue Baptist Church, Cordova, Tennessee, but also the TV and radio audience of Love Worth Finding (see right margin) and Southern Baptists who heard him preach at conventions. Many, including my dad, called him the greatest living preacher.

Part of my advice to young preachers would be to study, emulate, and learn from the preaching, practice, and theology of Adrian Rogers. It’s not bad advice for older preachers as well. Get Adrian’s sermons and books. He is a great model for preaching and pastoral ministry.

Rogers was a leader in the Conservative Resurgence of the Southern Baptist Convention. The year it all began, 1979, was the year Southern Baptists elected Rogers president of the SBC. This began the process of bringing our convention back to its historic belief in the inerrancy of the Bible. Adrian was elected three times as SBC president.

The times I was around Adrian Rogers I was impressed with him acting like a regular preacher, not someone special. He had a very personal, gracious way about him.

When I wrote The Wit and Wisdom of Pastor Joe Brumbelow about my preacher dad, I decided to write Adrian Rogers to see if he would consider writing an endorsement for the book. I was advised not to do to, since Adrian was such a highly visible leader; he would have no time to bother with such a request. Regardless, I sent him a letter and a rough copy of the book. He had known dad and my family through the days of the Conservative Resurgence. Adrian soon sent a very gracious reply and endorsement for the book. It was used on the back cover.

When the book was published, I sent a couple of copies to Adrian Rogers and thanked him again for his help. Later I would find these were his last days on this earth. He was battling cancer and no doubt did not feel like responding to my letter.

I had not asked for a reply, just wanted him to have the final copy of the book and to thank him again. Nevertheless I received an even more gracious letter concerning the book. The letter said:

Dear David,

Thank you, my friend, for the finished product - The Wit and Wisdom of Pastor Joe Brumbelow.

I spent much time this morning reading, smiling, amening, and just nodding my head. It is a beautiful book, easy to read, and full of genuine spiritual wisdom.

God is love. Jesus is wonderful.

In His Dear Name.
Adrian Rogers
Memphis, TN.
June 21, 2005

-David R. Brumbelow, Gulf Coast Pastor, March 1, AD 2011.

Note - The Wit and Wisdom of Pastor Joe Brumbelow can be ordered at:

Your local bookstore, or
Hannibal Books, 800/747-0738
Amazon.com
Signed copy directly from the author:
David R. Brumbelow, P.O. Box 300, Lake Jackson, Texas 77566 USA. $12.95 postpaid.