Minister Roderic Stephen Sims

Today we stand here to reflect, reminisce, and regard a man who left us too soon. A man who loved his family, loved his children, who loved this country, and who loved our Lord Savior Jesus Christ.

According to David in Proverbs 17:17 NIV, “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.” Roderic being the elder brother to his sisters was available to his siblings in a time of adversity. As a young man, Roderic accepted his role as leader and protector of the family when they lost their father while they were still young. As the son of a Marine, he understood the values of leadership, purpose, and protection of his younger siblings. He carried the family name with great pride. Through school, he would be the one to watch over his sisters as an eagle watches over their young. His sister Shettora shared that they were very close siblings, like peanut butter and jelly. When you saw one of them, the other was near behind.

Roderic Sims was a man who loved his children. He was a caring man who operated with purpose, plan, and persistence toward the goals that he set for himself. From what I understand, Roderic was not without his share of faults. I think we all can say that we have stumbled or strayed from the straight and narrow path from time to time. When our savior Jesus Christ was confronted by a group of men regarding a woman found in sin he said this, “he that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.” I would ask you the same question that Jesus ask, “if there is anyone here that is without sin, let him cast the first stone at our brother”. Just as our heavenly father showed mercy to the woman who was caught in the very act of adultery, he gave each one of us the opportunity to receive that same type of mercy. Amen. This mercy was extended to Roderic as Jesus called him to serve.

Speaking of service, some of you may know our brother as a lover of his country. I must say that YOU MUST love the country if you volunteer to join the ANY of the armed forces. Those individuals, like Roderic and his father before him, stepped forward to place their lives in harm’s way for the liberties that we enjoy as a nation. These are the men and women who deserve all of the benefits that are due to them. Again, Roderic found himself in a leadership position serving as a Sergeant in the U.S. Army. He would go on from his military service to serve in various leadership capacities as a civilian. Until one day he was drafted into that heavenly Army. If I were a betting man, I would say that one of his favorite hymns was, “I’m a Soldier, In the Army of the Lord”. If I die let me die, in the Army.

One day, Roderic Stephen Sims heard a knock at the door. This wasn’t an ordinary knock that you might hear at your home. This was a knocking of the door of his conscience mind. Calling him back home. Back to the one who created us all . . Jesus said, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.” He told the woman at the well, “I will give you water that you will never thirst again.” Brother Roderic heard that knock one day. He opened the door to the possibility of a risen savior. Then he begin to make the necessary life changes that would please the one who sent him. Since that day, Roderic’s life was never the same; he was forever changed. One day, Roderic heard the knocking at the door of his heart, opened the door and allowed Jesus into his heart. Do you hear the knocking? Do you hear the knocking? Open your mind to the possibility of a risen savior.

Roderic made his choice and now he has left us to sleep with the fathers. Until the return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ return. Today you have an opportunity to make a choice; to believe in the one who is on the other side of the doors to your heart (mind). Our savior wants to come into your heart, mind, body and soul to make the difference that most of us would like to see in this world. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life.