In the spring of 1970 I got on a plane in Nashville to return to Fort
Worth after an interview for a position as director of Baptist student
ministries at Middle Tennessee State University. I was in my last year of seminary with a wife, small daughter, and a baby on the way. I had a good visit in Murfreesboro and was impressed
by Glenn Yarbrough, the state director of student work for Tennessee, who had
invited me to consider the position, and the local committee. As I boarded the plane, I recognized Charles
Roselle, the director of National Student Ministries at the Baptist Sunday
School Board. I had met Charlie once, so
I went over and reintroduced myself and asked if I could sit with him. Charlie
was not only the director of NSM, but he was the former director of student
work in Tennessee (and I could not imagine that I would hold that Tennessee position one day!). On the way back to
Love Field, I “bent his ear” and learned what I could about MTSU and student
work in Tennessee. As I made the decision
to accept the position In Tennessee, I considered my time with Charlie a
providential affirmation to pursue this opportunity. I thought about this encounter when I learned that Charles had died on Wednesday.
I liked Charles Roselle.
He had the good sense to not only accept the veterans who flooded the
campuses after World War II as leaders, he also encouraged them. Charles had a warm, accepting style that made
him a good BSU director and a great mentor for college students. His charm and communication skills made him a
success as state director in Tennessee. Most
of all, I appreciated the fact that Charlie knew himself—his strengths and
where he needed help. Whenever I think
of Roselle, I think of Ed Rollins.
Charlie was a great people person and was in his element meeting with
state directors, denominational leaders, and agency heads. He brought Rollins to NSM to run the day to
day operations. Charlie was “Mr. Outside”
and Ed was “Mr. Inside.” They were a
well matched team that trusted and supported one another.
As a new student director, I admired Charles Roselle because
he was not only the leader of National Student Ministries but he was a person
who had “paid his dues” as a local director and a state director. He had the good sense to know that he could
not “tell” state directors of student work what to do; he encouraged and
persuaded them to work on cooperative projects for the common good. When you talked with him about working with
pastors and local committees, you knew that he understood the territory. As I had the opportunity to do some special
assignments for NSM, I came to admire his vision and his political
astuteness. I also admired Charlie as a
husband, father, and church leader. He
set a good example for me in all three areas.
After his retirement, I had the opportunity to work with Charlie, Ed Rollins, Joe Webb, and Tom Logue in setting up the BCM/BSU Advancement Fund to benefit collegiate ministry in newer conventions. Spending time with those guys was always a highlight in my schedule. They enjoyed teasing each other and reminiscing about the ministry they loved.
In the last several years, I have only seen Charlie a few of
times, but he continued to be alert and expressed interest in me, my work, and
my family. He leaves a great legacy.
Thank you, Charles Roselle, for a life well lived.
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