Memphis, TN — Three-time president of the Southern Baptist Convention and longtime pastor Adrian Rogers passed away in the early morning hours on Nov. 15. He was 74.
Visitation with the family is scheduled for 4-6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 17, at Bellevue Baptist Church in Cordova, a Memphis suburb. Funeral services begin at 6 p.m. The sanctuary will be open Wednesday from 5-8 p.m. and Thursday from 1-6 p.m. for viewing.
He had been undergoing treatment for cancer and had developed double pneumonia.
Rogers served Bellevue as pastor for more than 32 years. Ordained by Northwood Baptist Church, West Palm Beach, Fla., he was called to Bellevue in 1972. He retired on March 6 this year and was named pastor emeritus.
Rogers, who had served churches in Florida and Tennessee in his 46-year ministry, was SBC president in 1979, 1986 and 1987. He was chairman of the Baptist Faith and Message study committee that revised the statement of faith in 2000. He also had served as president of the SBC Pastors Conference.
In 2003, he was inducted into the National Religious Broadcasters Hall of Fame for his work as founder and president of Love Worth Finding Ministries, a radio and television-based outreach.
In addition to his preaching ministry, Rogers authored several books, including his latest, "What Every Christian Ought to Know," published by Broadman & Holman earlier this year.
He also preached in crusades in Central and South America, Taiwan, South Korea, Israel, Russia and Romania.
Joyce Rogers, his wife of 53 years, four children and nine grandchildren survive.