Roger Erikson’s legacy of disciplemaking

Moments before ascending to Heaven, Jesus instructed His disciples to “go therefore and make disciples of all nations…teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20). Few have taken that commission more seriously than Roger Erickson.

Not long after coming to know Christ through CBMC in Fort Wayne, Ind. in 1973, Erickson started going through an early prototype of Operation Timothy. Through that he gained a strong spiritual foundation, and from that time remained committed to making disciples through OT, typically meeting with two to five men each week. In 1980, he left a successful career as an insurance executive to become Executive Director and Vice President of CBMC-USA in Chattanooga, Tenn. He then became President of CBMC International, serving in that role for 10 years. Erickson “retired” in 1997, but that only meant he had more time for meeting with and discipling men, equipping them to become disciplemakers in keeping with 2 Timothy 2:2. When he went home to be with the Lord at the age of 90 on Aug. 3, joining his wife Mary Ann, who had preceded him in death, Erickson left a rich legacy of investing in the lives of other men, helping them to grow in their faith and learn how to become fruitful followers of Christ in their homes and in the workplace. A list of people who could speak about Erickson’s impact on their lives would include hundreds, if not thousands, but here are three who engaged with him in different ways: Tim Philpot succeeded Erickson as CBMC International president in 1997. He recalled, “1996 was one of the greatest years of my life as I was fortunate to spend that entire year learning from Roger as we traveled together around the world. His passion for saving the lost and discipling men in the workplace was unmatched. Honestly, he may have discipled more men one-on-one than anyone ever.” Rodger Piersant was a ServiceMaster franchise owner in Chattanooga when he first met Erickson. “Roger and Mary Ann led my wife, Suzanne, and me to Christ in 1981, and then he took me through Operation Timothy and Mary Ann took Suzanne. We maintained a long-standing relationship over the next 40 years; we were always in contact with each other. Doug White, who earlier this year became an Area Director for CBMC in Chattanooga, met Erickson in 2011 when he was speaking at a church event. “I was drawn to his obedience and devotion to making disciplemakers. I asked Roger once how many Timothys he had over his lifetime, but he said, ‘I don’t know – I don’t count.’” Matthew 25 recounts Jesus’ parable of the talents, with the master declaring “well done, good and faithful servant!” to those who had been good stewards of what he had entrusted to them. No doubt Roger Erickson heard those words from the Lord as he stepped to the other side of eternity.

Roger Erickson, center, with David Meyers and CBMCI leaders