50 Years of Preaching the Gospel

Roger Ellsworth

Born to William and Erma Ellsworth on March 11, 1948
in Vandalia, Illinois.

Roger preached his first sermon on February 21, 1960
at Vanburensburg Baptist Church, Vanburensburg, Illinois.

Since that day 50 years ago, he has preached in more than 200 revivals and conferences, pastored 9 churches, and written 40 books. The text of Roger's first sermon was Hebrews 9:22, "..without shedding of blood there is no remission." For 50 years the central message of his preaching and writing has been the historic gospel of Jesus Christ-- his virgin birth, sinless life, substitutionary death, bodily resurrection, and promised return.

We, the family of Roger Ellsworth, have created this web site as our way of saying thank you, Roger, Dad, Grandpa, for the great example and legacy you have given us as a Christ-centered preacher
of the gospel for 50 years.

Sylvia Ellsworth,
Tim, Sarah, Daniel, Emmalee, and Noah Ellsworth,
Marty and Rebekah Ellsworth

The Greatest Decision of my Life by Roger Ellsworth

English 2 – May 1, 1964

Life is full of decisions. Many of our decisions are small and unimportant; yet many of our decisions might change our course in life. Some of my decisions consists of simply choosing the pair of socks I wear to school or the food I want for my dinner, but each day, I face a decision that could possibly affect my life and the lives of people around me for many years to come. Such decisions as these, should be carefully made. They should be viewed from every angle and every value should be weighed, and then, the most practical way should be taken. The way that will progress our own future and help the ones around us.

My greatest decision was the decision of my voacation. Actually, God had my vocation fully planned, but it was my decision to follow his blueprint or plan. It was in February of 1960 that I surrendered my life unconditionally to God for the gospel ministry. I was very sick, close to pneumonia and I spent day after day in bed. I passed the time by listening to gospel programs and reading my Bible. The more I studied the Bible and prayed, the more confident I became that God was definitely calling me to preach. I answered his call on February 21, 1960 in Vanburensburg Baptist Church. That night I brought a message on the atoning blood of Jesus Christ and I chose my text from Hebrews the ninth chapter and the twenty-second verse which says, “Without the shedding of blood, there is no remission.”

Ever since that memorable night, I have been preaching at every opportunity afforded me. I have now been preaching four years and I’ve preached more than three hundred sermons in my lifetime or career and have held more than forty revivals. I have almost completely covered the state of Illinois in my ministry and part of Missouri. This decision, to answer God’s call to the ministry has led me to even more decisions which are significant and important. For example, there is the decision as to where to get my college and seminary education in order to further my ministry and there are many other decisions that I must make because of that great decision I made when I decided to surrender my life to God.

After I preached my third sermon in Vandalia, Illinois, at the Second Baptist Church, I was very crestfallen and discouraged. The pastor of the Second Baptist Church, Lester Dean, came to me with a bit of encouragement. He told me to read the fourth chapter and thirteenth verse of the book of Phillipians. When I got home that night, I flipped my Bible to the place he had designated for me to read and the words that I read there were like a light in a world of darkness. They have been a constant source of strength to me and they always will be no matter what happens to me, or how far I go. The words I found there were the following: “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”