Crossroads Baptist Church

U. G. Robertson:Virginia's aggregate pastorBy Mike Randall

Ulysses G. Robertson was born the youngest of four children in the family of Floyd N. and Lucy Robertson in Charleston, West Virginia, on December 6, 1925. (One brother and two sisters are now deceased). His father used his skills as a carpenter and foreman to provide for the family. U. G. grew up in Charleston and attended the area schools.

A Marine during WWII
After he graduated from high school in 1944, World War II was still being fought and he enlisted in the Marine Corps. He had tours of service in the Philippines and China before being discharged with the rank of corporal in 1946. After the war he returned to Charleston and teamed up with his brother in starting a service station business.

His marriage to Betty
He met his future wife, Betty DeBolt, while they were in high school, but they didn't date each other. When he returned from military service, a mutual friend arranged for their first date. Soon they fell in love and after a period of courtship, they were married in September 1949. The Robertsons have four children, Vicki Williams, Krista Ryan, Tim Robertson and Dana Callaghan. They also have 10 grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

Death of family member leads to salvation
As a child, Robertson attended Sunday school and church services with his family. His parents were involved in their Baptist church and encouraged him, but U. G. remained unsaved. After the war ended and Robertson returned to Charleston, he returned to the church of his childhood. Pastor W. Z. Rose, who had recently been called to the church, was a fervent soul winner. He was a graduate of Bob Jones University and was leading the church in a resurgence of evangelism and growth. Near the end of 1951, Robertson's father-in-law suddenly passed away. This death brought U. G. under deep conviction. In January 1952, he could resist no longer and during the services at his church, he accepted Christ as his personal savior. His wife Betty accepted Christ in their home. Together they made their profession of faith. Not long afterwards, they were both baptized in the Lens Creek. After accepting Christ, he immediately became involved in his church and received discipleship from Pastor Rose. His growth as a Christian became apparent to all.

The call to preach and Bible college training
After being a Christian for six months, Robertson felt the call to preach. Through the summer, he continued to receive counsel and instruction from his pastor. He was concerned about receiving training for the ministry and when his pastor recommended it, he moved to Springfield, Missouri, to enroll in Baptist Bible College. He began his studies in the fall of 1952. Before the end of the year, he preached his first sermon. A few months before he graduated from BBC in 1955, he accepted the call to pastor his first church, the Temple Baptist Church of Springdale, Arkansas. He continued in that ministry for two years.

Burning desire to plant a church
In 1957, although the Lord was blessing his efforts in the Arkansas church, Robertson had a burning desire to plant a church in some other place. At a national meeting of the Baptist Bible Fellowship International, he spoke with pastor Thornton Hall of Newport News, Virginia, who was looking for a preacher to come to his area and start a church. Immediately, Robertson felt God's leadership to go. He resigned his pastorate and prepared to leave. With borrowed money he took his family to Charleston, West Virginia to be with family and he went to check out the opportunity in Portsmouth, Virginia.

The birth of Central Baptist Church of Portsmouth, Virginia
After meeting with and preaching for Thornton Hall, plans were made to begin the new church. Robertson moved his family to Virginia. In August of 1957, a tent was set up in Portsmouth and Hall preached a series of meetings. On the first Sunday, seven people attended, consisting of the Robertsons and another family. Before the meetings were concluded, approximately 20 people were attending the services. Within a year after the work was started, the Central Baptist Church was organized under the leadership of founding pastor U. G. Robertson. To provide for his family, he worked at Robbie's Hardware and continued as a bivocational pastor for one and a half years.

Continued growth and building
At first, the church met in a storefront building. During the first five months, average attendance was 22. A permanent location was secured in June of 1958, with the purchase of a building formerly occupied by a Congregational church. Financing was secured through a bond program. Attendance continued to grow to an average of near 60. Robertson was able to quit his job and become a full-time pastor in February 1959. During that year, he led the church to purchase more property, which included a building for Sunday school classes, and hosted the church's first missions conference. BBFI Mission Director Fred Donnelson and Fellowship missionaries Bobby Finch and Lloyd Baker were the speakers. In 1960, the church built a two-story education building and continued to grow in attendance, offerings and results.

Relocation to the present property
When continued growth filled the facilities, it was decided to purchase property and relocate the church. In 1963, a 6.5-acre plot was purchased and plans were made to build new facilities. Financing was accomplished through a $160,000 bond program. In 1965, the new building was dedicated. Attendance continued to grow, as did all other aspects of this ministry. In 1966, the previous church facilities were sold and proceeds helped reduce the church's debt. New ministries were added in 1966. In 1967, a full-time music minister was hired and space needs prompted the church to begin construction of a two-story education building. This facility was dedicated in 1969. A year later, the church established the Central Baptist Academy. During the 1970s, three buildings were constructed to house this education ministry. Enrollment has reached a high of over 400 students. The continued growth of the church resulted in an average attendance of over 800 and a high attendance of over 1,200. The church supports 94 missionary families and projects and gives over $135,000 per year to missions.

A leader among Baptist pastors
Soon after establishing the Portsmouth church, Robertson became involved in the Virginia Baptist Bible Fellowship and the Mid-Atlantic Baptist Bible Fellowship. Over the years, he has served as president of these organizations. He was called upon by his alma mater, Baptist Bible College, to serve two terms as a trustee. He also served three terms on the Missions Committee of the Baptist Bible Fellowship International. When issues were presented in the political arena that were harmful or in conflict with Christian values, Robertson was instrumental in organizing public support against them. One result of his efforts was the Virginia Assembly of Independent Baptists, which Robertson helped establish. It still functions as a political action organization to rally public support for candidates and policies favorable to family and Christian values. He also was active in promoting support for Christian schools and Christian education. Over time his work among Baptists brought his ministry to the attention of many in his state and the country.

President of Atlantic Baptist Bible College
In 1978, the leaders of two Bible colleges in Virginia were seeking to consolidate their work and establish a new college. As a result, the 18-year-old Virginia Bible College and the five-year-old Mid-Atlantic Baptist Bible Institute were merged. The new school was named Atlantic Baptist Bible College and U. G. Robertson was elected to become the founding president. In 1979, Tim Robertson was called to serve as copastor with his father. This added assistance in the church allowed Robertson more time for his expanded ministry. During his 18-year tenure as president of Atlantic Baptist Bible College, a 26.4 acre campus was purchased in Chester, Virginia, buildings were constructed for classes and activities, additional property (16 acres) was purchased and enrollment grew to over 70.

Under his leadership, the school became approved by the BBFI to provide training for missionaries. It was also approved by the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) for the certification of Christian Elementary Education majors. It is a chartered, degree-granting institution recognized by both the Virginia and United States departments of education. Robertson retired as the school president in 1996.

Burdened to reach Black America
In 1993, Robertson hosted a missionary symposium at the Atlantic Baptist Bible College in which the spiritual needs of black Americans were discussed. As a result of that symposium, he, Lou Baldwin and others established the Conference On Evangelizing Black America (COEBA), an organization specializing in sending black preachers to black communities to plant fundamental Baptist churches. (See the report on the most recent COEBA meeting in the August 15, 2001, issue of the Baptist Bible Tribune.) Robertson continues as a representative for COEBA, speaking in churches and participating in conferences to advance missions and reaching the black community.

Retired from pastorate in 1997
Robertson retired from the pastorate in 1997 and was named pastor emeritus. He is also the author of the book, The Faith Promise Mission Confer-ence. Over two dozen people have entered full-time ministry under his leadership, including 12 career missionaries. In retirement he continues to minister at the Central Baptist Church of Portsmouth under his son, Tim Robertson, who succeeded him. He also conducts an extensive itinerant ministry throughout the United States and abroad. He speaks in revivals, mission conferences and other meetings. At the Portsmouth church, he is constantly doing visitation and winning people to Christ. He also teaches the senior adult Sunday school class. Average attendance is between 70 and 80 and there are 120 enrolled.

The aggregate pastor
Robertson has had a long, successfuland varied ministry. As the aggregate pastor, he has been a church planter and builder, an educator dealing with primary, secondary and higher learning, a bridge builder among independent Baptists, a participant in the public arena, an author, a missionary stateman and a leader in gospel outreach to the black community.

Most influenced by his pastor and BBFI founders
When reflecting on his life and those who most influenced his ministry, Robertson says, "I suppose my life has been most influenced by my home pastor, W. Z. Rose, G. B. Vick, Noel Smith and W. E. "Bill" Dowell. God has been very good to me. He has allowed me to be involved in many things outside my pastorate. He has given me a host of friends throughout the state and the country. I intend to continue to minister as long as the Lord gives me health and strength."

The Baptist Bible Tribune [ http://www.tribune.org ](Used with permission from the Bible Baptist Tribune, December 15, 2001:Volume Vol. 52, No. 5. )
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