Emmett P. Roper
First Baptist Church, Jacksonville
Calhoun Baptist Association
Favorite Verse: Philippians 4:13
Favorite Hymn: “Amazing Grace”
Hobbies: Operating HAM radio
Family Status: Husband of nine years to wife, Lela; became widower in 2004 after 52 years of marriage to wife, Bobbie; daughter, Brenda Reaves; one grandson
Emmett Roper, of Webster’s Chapel, has been in ministry 62 years. He was a bivocational pastor in Jacksonville, Webster’s Chapel and Pine Level; a full-time pastor in Columbia, Gadsden and Dothan; has published three books; and has taught classes on how to evangelize. Called to preach at 16, he had a radio show at 17 with another preacher. He has preached in a variety of places and spoke at a prayer breakfast for the Alabama Legislature. Roper also was moderator of Columbia Baptist Association, vice president of the Alabama Baptist Pastors Conference and evangelism chairman for Etowah Baptist Association. The 78 year old, who deems himself “a country preacher,” is a graduate of what is now Baptist College of Florida in Graceville.
Q: What influences in your life pointed you to Christ at the beginning of your faith journey?
A: The first person that witnessed to me was my grandmother who lived in our home. And Leon King, a committed Baptist deacon at Mount Gilead Baptist in Webster’s Chapel who was in the insurance business, invited us and picked up my sister and me to take us to church. At age 11, in 1948 at Mount Gilead on a Tuesday night in August, I went forward in a revival meeting with bare feet and asked Jesus to come into my heart.
Q: When and how were you led into your ministry?
A: I was 16 years old. At about 15 and a half, I rededicated my life to the Lord. I had to go to church to see my girlfriend (Bobbie, who became his wife). A series of impressions came to my mind and stayed on it constantly. I just felt in my mind that is what the Lord wanted me to do. He called me to be a preacher.
Q: What does your ministry demand?
A: It demands a daily walk with God, prayer, preparation and study — a daily devotional life, really. It’s a 24/7 walk.
Q: How do you see yourself involved in this in the future?
A: I do pulpit supply and teaching, one-on-one witnessing. I think my ministry today is encouraging young preachers and helping wherever I can. I want to continue to do this as long as God gives me a mind. I think you can serve God if you’re bedridden. I don’t intend to quit.
Q: What difference will this ministry make for you in the future?
A: It’ll let me go out of this life into heaven feeling like I contributed something good for the cause of Christ, for His kingdom.
Q: What difference has Jesus Christ made in your life?
A: He’s given me peace instead of fear. He’s given me a purpose in life and that purpose was to serve Him as preacher, teacher, soul-winner. He’s given me power (Phil. 4:13) not within myself but through Him.
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