A young pastor in Franklin, Tennessee once described Scott Roley as one of the fathers of the community – a pillar in this city of nearly 62,000. I first met this friendly, unassuming patriarch a few months ago in downtown Franklin over sweet potato fries and fried bologna sandwiches. I had recently read his book, Hard Bargain, A Beautiful Place to Live, so when he began to share his story, I impulsively matched his words with the images in my head.
Roley would likely shrink back from being heralded as a patriarch. Nevertheless, we can learn from men and women like Roley. Each smaller story they share can tune our ear to the harmony of grace in the gospel song.
A few weeks ago, at the Tennessee Baptist Children’s Home, I heard some of Roley’s grace notes again. Roley grew up in what he called a privileged life. He recalled how his father took him to hear King deliver his “I have a dream” speech. His life would later take on a purposeful cadence toward racial reconciliation – becoming both a relocated neighbor and a community developer a la CCDA. Roley also shared his personal connection to the Baptist Children’s Home in Brentwood where, 28 years earlier, he and his wife met a 10-year-old girl who they would graft into their family through adoption. The Roley’s went on to adopt two more times.
But for the past 25 years Roley has also been a pastor. And, as he attempted to answer the question: What is the role of the church among children at risk, he revealed his motivation:
The Church is driven out of the glory of the gospel. It is an amazing gospel and it has everything to do with those at risk because we are all at risk… Let me be a preacher!
Those last five words were a telling song as Roley punctuated them with a zealous sharing of the life-giving gospel. Roley’s resonant words brought to mind Paul’s words to the church at Corinth, “Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel.” Here in 1 Corinthians 9, we find Paul’s life and ministry being examined and we hear his passionate defense: “I do it all for the sake of the gospel.” Paul was driven out of the glory of the gospel.
The young pastor who bestowed the title “city father” on Roley likely did so because he has heard Roley sing this gospel song. Not in actual verse, but as he worships God and proclaims the gospel as a husband, father, pastor, community developer and neighbor. When we understand the glory of the gospel we cannot help but sing the same song in gratitude, worshiping the Father of Lights.