There was not much there. The beautiful country road leading to the little Indiana town gave no clue to greatness. The plain and humble homes along the way left an impression of timelessness – a place where time stood still.
The sign “English” was the marker that revealed to those coming that way that they were in a town indeed. Without the sign the traveler might have missed the beginning or ending of the village. There was a church – a service station – a few scattered homes – and then more roads beyond.
The cry of a little baby born on November 24, 1909, in the village probably did not generate any undue attention with the locals other than with a few relatives and friends of the family. However, the birth of that little boy, Lee Roberson, was perhaps the tiny village’s finest moment. What happened on that day in November 1909 would touch untold thousands of people and through those thousands – MILLIONS.
The citizens of English could never have imagined that one of their own would influence multitudes and nations in the far corners of the earth. It is doubtful if the present-day citizens know much about the story. Amazingly, God had passed through their midst with hardly a notice.
At age 14, Lee Roberson was led to Christ by a humble Sunday school teacher in Louisville, Kentucky, where the family had moved. That teacher was Mrs. Daisy Hawes.
During his many years of ministry, Lee Roberson served the Lord as an evangelist and then as pastor of churches in Germantown, Tennessee, Birmingham, Alabama, and Chattanooga, Tennessee. At Chattanooga, he initiated a multitude of ministries to “catch men” for Christ. There was the radio broadcast, which became “Gospel Dynamite.” A church newspaper The Evangelist followed, which reached a record circulation of 75,000.
By 1983 there were 70 chapels around the city and in the surrounding mountains proclaiming the Good News. When most churches in America had not even heard of church buses, the church under his ministry and that of M.J. Parker was bringing in hundreds of people to hear the Gospel. The soul winning ministry of Lee Roberson extended around the world with hundreds of missionaries being supported by the church.
Other ministries included Camp Joy, where 20,000 young people professed faith in Jesus Christ. Union Gospel Mission, a ministry to the down-and-out, recorded over 30,000 salvation decisions. A major university, Tennessee Temple, was begun in 1946 and has trained thousands of Christian workers, missionaries and pastors whose ministries continue to shape the world.
During the years, Lee Roberson continued his ministry of evangelism in addition to the ministry based in Chattanooga, preaching in and touching thousands of cities in America. Over the years he authored and published over 40 books. During the 40 years of ministry at Chattanooga alone, 63,000 people were converted and baptized.
This great man would quickly give credit to the team of godly associates surrounding him through the years, especially J. R. Faulkner, who excelled in abilities that most men only dream about. His spirit and zeal for this great work of God is almost unparalleled in this century. Thousands were motivated by his leadership to “be all that they could be.” Under the leadership of these two men, Highland Park Baptist Church in Chattanooga, Tennessee, became one of the most visited churches in America.
Lee Roberson takes his place in history among great men who have touched the world. John R. Rice called Lee Roberson “the Spurgeon of our generation.”
A prominent pastor R. Gene Payne surrendered to the ministry under Lee Roberson’s powerful preaching. This author surrendered under the ministry of R. Gene Payne. How much we owe to him. How much we owe to Daisy Hawes, the Sunday school teacher who led him to Christ…and yes, how much we owe to English, Indiana…the little village that touched the world.
In recent weeks we said goodbye to Lee Roberson and literally goodbye to greatness. I have such mixed emotions. Dr. Lee Roberson has been one of the giants of history. Those of us who sat and served under his ministry there recall with joy those services. Every service seemed Spirit-filled. His messages were pure power. He always spoke to the heart and went after the “life.” He made no excuse for preaching separation, standards, soul winning and missions. He was an Independent Fundamental Baptist preacher without apology.
I do not remember any invitation being barren. Always there were Christians making their way to the altar to do business with God. Always there were unsaved people weeping their way to Christ. His missionary enterprise and achievements were unparalleled in America for most of his ministry.
Dr. Roberson was one of the founders of Baptist International Missions. He provided the launching pad at Highland Park Baptist Church that launched the mission. He, with Dr. J. R. Faulkner and other men of vision, had organized the Congo Gospel Mission in 1955. The Congo was closing and the missionaries had to be evacuated. With the door closed in the Congo, something had to be done. Dr. Roberson made the motion in a meeting with the Board of the old mission in 1959 that “the sphere of the mission be broadened to EMBRACE the WORLD.” Tom Freeney was invited to lead the new venture which eventually became known as Baptist International Missions, Inc. The mission today has over one thousand missionaries worldwide.
My last visit with Dr. Roberson a few days ago will always be in my heart. He held my hand in both of his, looked up into my eyes, and with the same, sincere, genuine look said, “If I can ever help you, let me know.”
Dr. Lee Roberson has followed in the steps of Spurgeon, Wesley, Meyer, Livingstone and others. We ask you, along with us at BIMI, to celebrate his life and his journey home.
