Evert Roberts was the founder and Pastor Emeritus of Meridian Gospel Tabernacle. His service to God and to the church was his life. He believed in what he was doing.
His life began in a two room farmhouse three miles outside of Prosperity, Arkansas. Evert was born into a family of ministers going back several generations. The autumn before he turned 8, the family decided to pack up and move west. They arrived in Meridian, Idaho on October 5, 1921. His father worked at various farm related jobs. Evert often shared about giving his heart to the Lord at 9 years old, and committing his heart to the ministry at 13 years old.
The family returned to Arkansas when Evert was 15 to start a church. It was during that time Evert first met Martha, his future wife. The family lived through the hard times of the Depression. In 1932 Evert, with some friends, returned to Idaho. He had decided this was where he was going to settle down, but made one return trip to Arkansas in August 1933 to court Martha Summers. They married on October 7, 1933 in the Boone County Courthouse in Harrison, Arkansas. They settled in Arkansas, had their first child, and then returned to Meridian in the summer of 1935.
In the early years, Evert worked in the local orchards. As he moved toward his calling into ministry, they would relocate several times before permanently settling. Meridian Gospel Tabernacle was founded in 1940. Pastor Roberts was officially ordained in 1941 by the Evangel Ministerial Association. He later served as president of this organization.
The first church on Carlton burned down, so the property on Meridian Street was purchased and the new church was completed January 6, 1948. At that time, it was on the outskirts of Meridian. The church has been remodeled and enlarged several times during the years. Pastor Evert retired at the age of 89 and his son took over the position of head pastor.
Evert and Martha raised four children, and just when life should have been slowing down a bit, they took in two granddaughters to raise. Over the years, their home was opened to others in need. Evert took great pride and joy in his family.
As a young man, Evert spent time hunting which he enjoyed. He loved to garden and took great pride in sharing the fruits of his labor. He also loved to sing, but was the first to admit he had no talent in that area. The joy as he belted out Amazing Grace or Oh How I Love Jesus, more than made up for the off-key rendition. He had a warm laugh and a great sense of humor. Pastor Roberts had a heart for God and a heart for people.
Pastor Roberts was involved in his community. He was always willing to lend a helping hand to those in need. He loved the city of Meridian. He loved people. In the early days of the church, he organized a church softball league. Later, after a gymnasium was built, he organized a church basketball league. He was honored by the Idaho Statesman in "Portrait of a Distinguished Citizen in 1991. He was Grand Marshall of the Meridian Centennial Parade in 1993. He served as president of the Evangel Ministerial Association, which furnishes ordination certificates to ministers in the U.S., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. He also served as president of the Pine Acres Youth Camp. He served as a member of the Meridian Cemetery Board for more than 20 years. Evert often spoke at community events such as the Mayor's Prayer Breakfast, as baccalaureate speaker at Meridian High School, the cities Centennial celebration, and numerous church conventions, traveling extensively in the Midwest, South, and West. Evert left a legacy of love and faith with those who knew and loved him.
This was written by family members, and was originally published in the Idaho Statesman and the Idaho Press-Tribune. This version is used with permission.
His life began in a two room farmhouse three miles outside of Prosperity, Arkansas. Evert was born into a family of ministers going back several generations. The autumn before he turned 8, the family decided to pack up and move west. They arrived in Meridian, Idaho on October 5, 1921. His father worked at various farm related jobs. Evert often shared about giving his heart to the Lord at 9 years old, and committing his heart to the ministry at 13 years old.
The family returned to Arkansas when Evert was 15 to start a church. It was during that time Evert first met Martha, his future wife. The family lived through the hard times of the Depression. In 1932 Evert, with some friends, returned to Idaho. He had decided this was where he was going to settle down, but made one return trip to Arkansas in August 1933 to court Martha Summers. They married on October 7, 1933 in the Boone County Courthouse in Harrison, Arkansas. They settled in Arkansas, had their first child, and then returned to Meridian in the summer of 1935.
In the early years, Evert worked in the local orchards. As he moved toward his calling into ministry, they would relocate several times before permanently settling. Meridian Gospel Tabernacle was founded in 1940. Pastor Roberts was officially ordained in 1941 by the Evangel Ministerial Association. He later served as president of this organization.
The first church on Carlton burned down, so the property on Meridian Street was purchased and the new church was completed January 6, 1948. At that time, it was on the outskirts of Meridian. The church has been remodeled and enlarged several times during the years. Pastor Evert retired at the age of 89 and his son took over the position of head pastor.
Evert and Martha raised four children, and just when life should have been slowing down a bit, they took in two granddaughters to raise. Over the years, their home was opened to others in need. Evert took great pride and joy in his family.
As a young man, Evert spent time hunting which he enjoyed. He loved to garden and took great pride in sharing the fruits of his labor. He also loved to sing, but was the first to admit he had no talent in that area. The joy as he belted out Amazing Grace or Oh How I Love Jesus, more than made up for the off-key rendition. He had a warm laugh and a great sense of humor. Pastor Roberts had a heart for God and a heart for people.
Pastor Roberts was involved in his community. He was always willing to lend a helping hand to those in need. He loved the city of Meridian. He loved people. In the early days of the church, he organized a church softball league. Later, after a gymnasium was built, he organized a church basketball league. He was honored by the Idaho Statesman in "Portrait of a Distinguished Citizen in 1991. He was Grand Marshall of the Meridian Centennial Parade in 1993. He served as president of the Evangel Ministerial Association, which furnishes ordination certificates to ministers in the U.S., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. He also served as president of the Pine Acres Youth Camp. He served as a member of the Meridian Cemetery Board for more than 20 years. Evert often spoke at community events such as the Mayor's Prayer Breakfast, as baccalaureate speaker at Meridian High School, the cities Centennial celebration, and numerous church conventions, traveling extensively in the Midwest, South, and West. Evert left a legacy of love and faith with those who knew and loved him.
This was written by family members, and was originally published in the Idaho Statesman and the Idaho Press-Tribune. This version is used with permission.
Evert Roberts was the founder and Pastor Emeritus of Meridian Gospel Tabernacle. His service to God and to the church was his life. He believed in what he was doing.
His life began in a two room farmhouse three miles outside of Prosperity, Arkansas. Evert was born into a family of ministers going back several generations. The autumn before he turned 8, the family decided to pack up and move west. They arrived in Meridian, Idaho on October 5, 1921. His father worked at various farm related jobs. Evert often shared about giving his heart to the Lord at 9 years old, and committing his heart to the ministry at 13 years old.
The family returned to Arkansas when Evert was 15 to start a church. It was during that time Evert first met Martha, his future wife. The family lived through the hard times of the Depression. In 1932 Evert, with some friends, returned to Idaho. He had decided this was where he was going to settle down, but made one return trip to Arkansas in August 1933 to court Martha Summers. They married on October 7, 1933 in the Boone County Courthouse in Harrison, Arkansas. They settled in Arkansas, had their first child, and then returned to Meridian in the summer of 1935.
In the early years, Evert worked in the local orchards. As he moved toward his calling into ministry, they would relocate several times before permanently settling. Meridian Gospel Tabernacle was founded in 1940. Pastor Roberts was officially ordained in 1941 by the Evangel Ministerial Association. He later served as president of this organization.
The first church on Carlton burned down, so the property on Meridian Street was purchased and the new church was completed January 6, 1948. At that time, it was on the outskirts of Meridian. The church has been remodeled and enlarged several times during the years. Pastor Evert retired at the age of 89 and his son took over the position of head pastor.
Evert and Martha raised four children, and just when life should have been slowing down a bit, they took in two granddaughters to raise. Over the years, their home was opened to others in need. Evert took great pride and joy in his family.
As a young man, Evert spent time hunting which he enjoyed. He loved to garden and took great pride in sharing the fruits of his labor. He also loved to sing, but was the first to admit he had no talent in that area. The joy as he belted out Amazing Grace or Oh How I Love Jesus, more than made up for the off-key rendition. He had a warm laugh and a great sense of humor. Pastor Roberts had a heart for God and a heart for people.
Pastor Roberts was involved in his community. He was always willing to lend a helping hand to those in need. He loved the city of Meridian. He loved people. In the early days of the church, he organized a church softball league. Later, after a gymnasium was built, he organized a church basketball league. He was honored by the Idaho Statesman in "Portrait of a Distinguished Citizen in 1991. He was Grand Marshall of the Meridian Centennial Parade in 1993. He served as president of the Evangel Ministerial Association, which furnishes ordination certificates to ministers in the U.S., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. He also served as president of the Pine Acres Youth Camp. He served as a member of the Meridian Cemetery Board for more than 20 years. Evert often spoke at community events such as the Mayor's Prayer Breakfast, as baccalaureate speaker at Meridian High School, the cities Centennial celebration, and numerous church conventions, traveling extensively in the Midwest, South, and West. Evert left a legacy of love and faith with those who knew and loved him.
This was written by family members, and was originally published in the Idaho Statesman and the Idaho Press-Tribune. This version is used with permission.
His life began in a two room farmhouse three miles outside of Prosperity, Arkansas. Evert was born into a family of ministers going back several generations. The autumn before he turned 8, the family decided to pack up and move west. They arrived in Meridian, Idaho on October 5, 1921. His father worked at various farm related jobs. Evert often shared about giving his heart to the Lord at 9 years old, and committing his heart to the ministry at 13 years old.
The family returned to Arkansas when Evert was 15 to start a church. It was during that time Evert first met Martha, his future wife. The family lived through the hard times of the Depression. In 1932 Evert, with some friends, returned to Idaho. He had decided this was where he was going to settle down, but made one return trip to Arkansas in August 1933 to court Martha Summers. They married on October 7, 1933 in the Boone County Courthouse in Harrison, Arkansas. They settled in Arkansas, had their first child, and then returned to Meridian in the summer of 1935.
In the early years, Evert worked in the local orchards. As he moved toward his calling into ministry, they would relocate several times before permanently settling. Meridian Gospel Tabernacle was founded in 1940. Pastor Roberts was officially ordained in 1941 by the Evangel Ministerial Association. He later served as president of this organization.
The first church on Carlton burned down, so the property on Meridian Street was purchased and the new church was completed January 6, 1948. At that time, it was on the outskirts of Meridian. The church has been remodeled and enlarged several times during the years. Pastor Evert retired at the age of 89 and his son took over the position of head pastor.
Evert and Martha raised four children, and just when life should have been slowing down a bit, they took in two granddaughters to raise. Over the years, their home was opened to others in need. Evert took great pride and joy in his family.
As a young man, Evert spent time hunting which he enjoyed. He loved to garden and took great pride in sharing the fruits of his labor. He also loved to sing, but was the first to admit he had no talent in that area. The joy as he belted out Amazing Grace or Oh How I Love Jesus, more than made up for the off-key rendition. He had a warm laugh and a great sense of humor. Pastor Roberts had a heart for God and a heart for people.
Pastor Roberts was involved in his community. He was always willing to lend a helping hand to those in need. He loved the city of Meridian. He loved people. In the early days of the church, he organized a church softball league. Later, after a gymnasium was built, he organized a church basketball league. He was honored by the Idaho Statesman in "Portrait of a Distinguished Citizen in 1991. He was Grand Marshall of the Meridian Centennial Parade in 1993. He served as president of the Evangel Ministerial Association, which furnishes ordination certificates to ministers in the U.S., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. He also served as president of the Pine Acres Youth Camp. He served as a member of the Meridian Cemetery Board for more than 20 years. Evert often spoke at community events such as the Mayor's Prayer Breakfast, as baccalaureate speaker at Meridian High School, the cities Centennial celebration, and numerous church conventions, traveling extensively in the Midwest, South, and West. Evert left a legacy of love and faith with those who knew and loved him.
This was written by family members, and was originally published in the Idaho Statesman and the Idaho Press-Tribune. This version is used with permission.
