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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
Bless the LORD! There are no great men. But there are men chosen, called and equipped by a great God and used of Him in great ways. Dear Brother, there is no doubt that the LORD has called you out and equiped you to serve Him in His kingdom in ways above measure. Judgment Day alone will reveal all the wonderful effects the LORD has used you to make in this fallen world as He touches it with redeeming love. May your remaining days among us be full of grace and truth that you might continue to paint word pictures and point men and women, boys and girls to the great Triune God through the Son, our LORD JESUS CHRIST,in whom we find everything we need.
ReplyDeleteYou are one of my favorite preachers to read and listen to because you are faithful to handle with care the precious Word of our God. You always preach the word! in season and out of season.
Last of all, thanks for your pastoral love to me and my family over the years. We are blessed.
Blessings in Jesus, our ALL in all,
Chuck Todd, pastor, Grace Covenant Baptist Church, Hannibal, Mo.
Roger,
ReplyDeleteI've had a deep appreciation for your ministry for many years. Believe it or not, I'm not far behind you---44 years of ministry. I know something about the "agony and the ecstasy" of it. You've been faithful. Thanks for that example for those of us coming along just behind you.
Your writing ministry has been helpful to many of us also. What a legacy you're leaving.
The ministry together a few years ago in Brazil was so memorable. I hope we will do it again before we die.
Press on to the end!
Jim Elliff
Dear Brother and Friend,
ReplyDeleteThank you for allowing our God to use you in ways you may never know. We learned to heal and grow while at Immanuel and were privileged to hear the consistent, Bible-based teachings which He has certainly equipped you to present. The lessons you taught continue to aid us in attempting to follow the path He has for us. Through your books, sermons on CDs, and the lives you have touched, your ministry reaches farther than you will know here....but, one day....One Day!
Thank you,
Bruce and Sharon Soulsby
Dear Roger,
ReplyDeleteWe wanted to add our words of congratulations to the milestone of 50 years of proclaiming the glorious gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. We are so grateful for faithful men who preach the whole counsel of God today, seemingly becoming a rare occurrence.
We are also grateful to our God for providentially placing you and Sylvia in our lives~ you have been an evidence of His grace to us.
We are praying that God will grant you many more years of faithful service in proclaiming the excellencies of His glorious grace. We love you both.
For His glory,
Patrick & KK McGill
Bro. Roger, your preaching was a blessing to us for nearly twenty years. You married our daughter Mitzie and Matt and our son Ryan and Tara. You were a counselor in times of need. It is our prayer that God will continue to bless you and Sylvia as you labor for Him. To Christ's honor and Glory and in His love, John and Jackie Willis
ReplyDelete"I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given to you in Christ Jesus." (1 Cor. 1:4)
ReplyDeleteI could not admire or appreciate you more than I do. I thank God for the Christian man you are and the Christian ministry that He has given to you. Your friendship has been a treasure to me for the twenty years that I have known you, and I look forward to every occasion to be with and to work with you in the future.
God bless you, your family, and PBC!
God has blessed you, Roger, with gifts of preaching, teaching and writing. Through the use of these gifts, you have been a blessing to us and countless others. Your printed messages each Sunday helped us to remember and apply God's truths. Thank you for walking closely with God as you studied and prepared those messages. As undershepherd, you loved and guided and fed your flock. Again thank you for living what you taught. We cherish the friendship of you and Sylvia and the special times we have had together, whether it be worshiping, working, talking or eating. May God grant you many more years to be His servant. We love you both and wish we could be there to celebrate this great milestone with you. Andy and Barbara Moye
ReplyDeleteWhat I would like to say are some "thank yous"
ReplyDeleteThank you for being the man who baptised me after I came to know the Lord at 11 years of age. Thank you for marrying Ben and I. Thank you for counseling us during questions that arised with infertility issues we faced.
Thank you for being at the hospital when Korinn was heading into eye surgery at 7:00 a.m. and it was a 2 hour drive to get there. Thank you (and Marty) for coming to our home and praying with Ben and I the night before Ben's heart surgery.
Thank you for using your gift of writing to bless us through the books you have written.
Thank you for so boldly preaching to us the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I can remember sitting through many sermons feeling as if I was the only person in the sanctuary and you were preaching to only me. You know your congregations. You know their needs. I'm so grateful to have been a part of your 50 year ministry. You have blessed our lives in a way words can never describe.
You and your family are a precious blessing from our Lord and Savior and I'm so thankful that He placed you in our lives. I pray that God will continue to bless you and Sylvia as you continue to do His work.
Thank you for loving our family and ministering to us the way you have.
Dear Roger,
ReplyDeleteAs you approach the 50th Anniversary of the beginning of your preaching ministry we have reviewed, both with mutual friends and alone, many of the sweet memories we have of the nearly 20 years of your ministry to us as part of the flock God gave you to shepherd in His name. We do not have the space to list them so a few highlights seem best. The "Four Pillars of Your Ministry" which you preached the weekend you came in view of a call to be our pastor set the tone for what was to come. I still have the notes I took which I review once in awhile. Then during the first time you preached 'Paradise Lost and Regained,' and just when I was over come with gratitude to our God for such powerful, even anointed, preaching, Carrie heard her Saviour calling her name. You were the tool used by the Holy Spirit that day. What joy that was to us. Others include the messages on the Plagues sent on the Egyptians, many from Psalms, the comfort sermons from Isaiah, the series on I Corinithians and the one on John, and the most recently preached message on the resurrection of Christ wherein you depicted death saying of Christ "Yes, we have Him, but we can't keep him; He is Holy." Heart thrilling and eliciting gratitude based service to God through His church were those messages. One more memory stands out. The sweet observances of the Lord's Supper are imprinted in our minds.
This anniversary is of the beginning of your preaching ministry, but in addition to the blessings we received thereby, we were equally blessed by your pastoral ministry to our family in good times and sorrow.
Today, we passed by Bethel Baptist Church where God began His good work in you. Floods of memories came rushing to mind again, and to borrow from your sermon on the Shepherd's neck, even at this distance I lavished tears and kisses on your neck.
Love,
Bob & Jody Fuson
Dear Roger,
ReplyDeleteHopefully, this site has remained a surprise to you until now. We have thoroughly enjoyed looking back on your fifty years in the ministry, as it is beautifully laid out in this labor of love of your family.
Kyle and I credit Jackie Miller as the person most instrumental in bringing us back to church. We were already Christians, but not serving in the capacity God desires from us. We credit the messages that you continually delivered from the pulpit for nurturing our Christian life. We sat under your preaching, week after week, and began to yearn to study the Bible. I listened to Sylvia's lessons in Sunday School and watched her life as an example of a Proverbs 31 woman. God continued to work in our hearts and in our lives, all while under your teaching.
Every message that I ever heard you preach came back to the cross. Regardless of the depth of your message, it was still very simple- Christ is the center of everything. We run to the cross. Our life must reflect Christ. Christ's atoning blood. God's perfect plan. I have notes of your sermons, and I am confident that every one ended that way- pointing to the cross.
We appreciate the leadership you showed while under your pastorate. The church saw tremendous growth while you were there. Solid foundations were laid in many families because of your willingness to unashamedly lead a Bible believing and Bible preaching church.
We appreciate the love you showed to our family while at Immanuel. Looking back, there were times you gently nudged us along. You guided us, you challenged us, and you loved us. You were always available, at times we didn't expect. You and Sylvia were true servants of God, always friendly, but always respectful to us as individuals and to your position as the pastor.
I can say that the last two years affected many of us in our Christian walk. Our faith and relationships have been tested. I believe our family received the blue ribbon for most churches visited. I say all for for one reason. Very few modern preachers are willing to preach the Bible. Many modern preachers want a feel good message that will wow the crowd and make them return for a few more good jokes. As we visited more and more churches, we realized what a difficult position it must be to preach weekly straight from the Word of God, knowing you are accountable for your flock. We realized that you did just that, you continued to preach the Word. You had us open our Bible and look at Scriptures. We realized that you took your calling very seriously and were truly concerned for the condition of each one of our souls. My prayer is that in the remaining days of your ministry, you will be surrounded by a flock that truly appreciates the powerful sermons that God lays upon your heart to teach His people.
Congratulations on your accomplishments thus far. May your loving family and friends surround you on your special day. May you rest at night knowing you have been a faithful servant who has molded the lives of many.
In Christ,
Kyle, Deidre, Mason, Kate, Alec, and Tessa Childers
Dear Roger,
ReplyDeleteIn a day where Christ-centered preaching of the Gospel has vanished from far too many pulpits, it is a GREAT joy and blessing to know that there are still pastors who are truly "men of God" like you. As Ezekiel warned hundreds of years ago, pastors and preachers are to be faithful watchmen who consistently communicate the Word of God to the people of God. Thank you for being such a dependable soldier of the cross who is not afraid to engage in the warfare that every true man of God must face. It has truly been one of the greatest titles I have ever received when I was referred to as one of your "preacher boys" years ago. It is humbling to me that someone as gifted as you would take so much of your time to help a preacher like me. From the first time I heard you years ago in Fairfield, Illinois, I realized what a tremendous blessing God had given me and our church. Years later, when you married Brenda and me, we rejoiced in the way you focused on God during the wedding service. It has been and continues to be one of our greatest blessings to have you and Sylvia as our friends. You have been our pastor, our friend, and my mentor. Your insight, counsel, and preaching have affected me more than any other pastor or preacher I have ever known or read. May our gracious God continue to use you for His glory's sake as you keep pointing people to the cross and to Christ. Love always,
Bill & Brenda Savage
I want to congratulate you on 50 years of serving God in the ministry. Serving God as evangelist and pastor all these years spreading the gospel to so many people who are in such need of a Savior. As your niece, I am especially proud of you and thank God that he chose you for this ministry. I know God has blessed you in so many ways. You have a gift of writing to make the Word of God come to life for so many people. I truly pray God will continue to use you for His glory. God bless you and Sylvia till he returns to take us home
ReplyDeleteBrother Roger,
ReplyDeleteI am very thankful to God for you and your Christ-centered preaching. You are a great example of a man who is not ashamed to preach the Gospel. It was a blessing to be a part of your congregation for many years and your influence continues to be a blessing. Congratulations to 50 years in the ministry!
In Christ love,
Kristen Thompson
Brother Roger,
ReplyDeleteYour sermons, your books, your family, and your life have richly blessed my life and ministry. Congratulations on your first 50 years of ministering for our great God and Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Thank you for your faithfulness to our Lord and His Word!
May Jesus continue to pour out His blessings on you and your family for many more years!
In Christ's love and for His glory,
Bruce D. Walker
Roger,
ReplyDeleteIt would be hard for anyone to know the vast number of lives you have touched with the word of God over the past 50 years. We certainly have been blessed, and thank God, that you have touched ours. You have inspired, encourage, and influence many. We can only say "Thank You", and that seems so terribly inadequate. Best wishes to you and all your family.
God bless you Roger.
Thank you...David, Barbara, & Kaitlin