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Adrian Rogers’ library donated to Southwestern


FORT WORTH, Texas (BP) — The library of the late Adrian Rogers, one of Southern Baptists’ most admired preachers, has been given by his widow Joyce and the Rogers family to Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas.

The donation includes 3,500 books, sermon notes, photographs, letters and desks of Rogers, a three-time president of the Southern Baptist Convention and pastor of the Memphis-area Bellevue Baptist Church from 1972-2005.

The seminary, in a statement, noted: “With the addition of this flagship collection to Southwestern’s library resources, future generations of scholars and pastors around the globe will be able to study the notes and sermons of a pastor who studied and wrestled with the Word of God prior to proclaiming it effectively from the pulpit.”

“Adrian Rogers is the greatest pastor and denominational leader whom I ever knew,” Southwestern President Paige Patterson said. “Together with Joyce, he modeled the relationship between husband and wife that I want every one of my preachers to have. I want to share this story of a great preacher with every successive generation.

“This library and study becomes the lynchpin for our Baptist heritage center and the center for expository preaching,” Patterson added. “I stand amazed at the foresight and kindness of the Rogers family.”

Craig Kubic, Southwestern’s dean of libraries, said, “Students and researchers will be able personally to examine the books and many files that informed the life, teaching and preaching of a giant in our denomination. Scholars will have the opportunity to understand the methodology Dr. Rogers used to formulate his sermons, which made such an impact on the Southern Baptist Convention and the world.”

Kubic added that Joyce Rogers “graciously gifted to Southwestern Seminary her personal scrapbooks in which she carefully documented each year of their life together with special attention to the accomplishments of Dr. Rogers. This uniquely personal insight will help scholars appreciate the monumental work and activities of Dr. Adrian Rogers.”

The Adrian Rogers Library joins other notable collections at Southwestern, including those of three of the seminary’s former presidents, B.H. Carroll, L.R. Scarborough and Robert Naylor as well as other key figures in Baptist life over the years, including George Truett, Jimmy Draper, Gipsy Smith, T.A. Patterson, J.M. Price and J.M. Carroll.

David Allen, dean of Southwestern’s school of theology, said Rogers’ preaching legacy “extends well beyond the Baptist world. There have been few pulpit masters like him with such a commitment to expository preaching. This collection of his books, sermon manuscripts and notes will be invaluable as a resource in our Center for Expository Preaching for our students as well as pastors. All will draw not only information but inspiration from this marvelous collection.”

Joyce Rogers, in presenting the library to the seminary, said, “It is with great joy that I give to Southwestern Seminary the books, filing system and other memorabilia that belonged to my husband. He was a diligent student of the Word of God. He especially delighted in expository preaching.”

Joyce Rogers, who authored a biography of her husband titled, “Love Worth Finding,” said she had “known and loved Adrian since we were children. We were married for 54 years, and he was a pastor and preacher of the Word for 54 years. I heard him preach his first sermon. I saw him develop from a topical preacher to a prince of expository preaching. I never heard him preach a boring sermon. He became known as a ‘Jesus man’ who passionately called millions to ‘Come to Jesus.’ He challenged me to love Jesus more than any other person.

She said Adrian Rogers “was not a collector of his own memorabilia — his legacy was not his focus. It was my joy to collect in scrapbooks and photograph albums items related to our wonderful five churches, his years as president of the Southern Baptist Convention, and a number of mission trips around the world.

“He would not want you to put him on a pedestal,” Joyce Rogers said. “He was a man — but a man of God who wanted to win souls and stand for the veracity of the Word of God. He was willing to risk all in his ‘battle for the Bible.’ Toward the end of his life he remarked, ‘It’s a win-win situation. Heads I win, Tails I win.’ He won!”

Rogers died in November 2005 at age 74. His election as SBC president in 1979 was the first in a series of elections that turned the convention back toward its biblical moorings. Rogers later was elected as SBC president in 1986 and 1987.

Rogers’ preaching continues to be heard through the syndicated Love Worth Finding radio and TV broadcasts.