Three years ago this month, a man whose soul-winning abilities reached tens of thousands of people locally and around the world was buried beneath three crosses on a knoll in Chattanooga's Greenwood Cemetery.
Steve Cape, for one, thinks such a man is deserving of a monument.
The pastor of Hillside Baptist Church said he believes a memorial to the life of Dr. Lee Roberson, the longtime pastor of Highland Park Baptist Church and the founder of Tennessee Temple schools, "will inspire others to do great works for our savior."
Ten months ago, he, with the backing of many others, began a drive to erect a granite, 10 feet long-by-9 feet wide memorial to the man.
His final resting place, along with that of his wife, Caroline, his infant daughter, Joy, and several staff members, is already the most visited gravesite in the cemetery, Mr. Cape said.
"We're hoping to not only honor the life of Lee Roberson," he said, "but to give thanks to the savior for giving his life for (people like) Lee Roberson," he said.
To date, $5,529.73 of the $60,000 needed has been raised. In order to raise more money, the Lee Roberson Memorial Fund (www.leerobersonmemorial.com) is offering personalized brick pavers that would be used at the base of the memorial and in a pathway to it.
A 4 inch-by-8 inch paver is $75, and an 8 inch-by-8 inch paver is $100.
Mr. Cape said he first heard the longtime pastor speak at a Sword of the Lord conference in Murfreesboro, Tenn., in 1983.
Upon hearing Dr. Roberson, he said, he was further challenged to "give my all" for Christ. Later, he said, he often sought the just-retired pastor for counsel and advice.
When he became pastor of Hillside Baptist 12 years ago, Mr. Cape said, he invited the Tennessee Temple University founder to speak at his church.
Until his death, Dr. Roberson spoke at the church some 30 times and eventually was made its honorary pastor, he said.
Indeed, the last time he spoke from pulpit, less than two months before his death, he spoke at Hillside Baptist.
Mr. Cape said although Dr. Roberson varied his subject matter in sermons, he always wove in soul winning, the second coming of Christ, living a separated life as a Christian and living a totally surrendered life.
He said thousands of men and women in ministry and thousands more in the foreign missions field were influenced by the late pastor.
"His impact has been amazing and phenomenal," Mr. Cape said.
Once, he said, when he and Dr. Roberson were driving over the Ridge Cut on Interstate 24, he remarked how beautiful the city looked in the distance.
His older companion agreed but said Chattanooga's beauty -- nor growing Highland Park Baptist, nor starting Tennessee Temple University -- wasn't why he came here in 1942.
"I came to reach the people for Christ," Dr. Roberson said, "and to further the gospel around the world."