Dale and Rita Brown Outlive Your Life Award

Dr. Tony E. Roach Sr. (’79 M.S.; ’92 D.Min.)

Dr. Tony E. Roach Sr. wears the title “doctor” humbly for two reasons. First, because he dropped out of school in the 10th grade at age 16 because he couldn’t read. Today, when he speaks to young people, he tells his story of the dropout who became a doctor – the illiterate man who has become an author. The second reason Roach wears the title humbly is because he was the first African American to earn a doctoral degree from ACU.

Roach grew up in Cleveland, Ohio. After dropping out of high school, he eventually returned to graduate after teaching himself to read. He earned a bachelor’s degree in social science from nearby Hiram College before earning his Master of Science degree in biblical text from ACU in 1979. He completed his Doctor of Ministry degree in 1992 as part of the third graduating class of ACU’s first doctoral program.

He and his wife, Candyce, planted the Minda Street Church of Christ in Abilene in 1979. For 45 years they employed a Sound Doctrine Training program known as The GOD Link As a result of the training, the Minda Street congregation baptized thousands of people as well as training and ordaining eight elders, four deacons and 22 preachers, most of whom still serve in the Kingdom in some capacity today.

Roach also created the God’s Love Bank program and curriculum, which focuses on the core values of Jesus and helped Minda Street to baptize many people from different backgrounds, ethnicities and cultures. Minda Street is recognized by the Abilene community for its multicultural outreach, and Roach has been an influential voice in ACU’s racial reconciliation work in churches for more than five decades.

He retired as evangelist of Minda Street in 2016 and now works to expand the reach of his God’s Love Bank program, which is used around the world. He also continues to serve as minister emeritus at Minda Street.

Roach is the author of seven large books, a 12-volume small-book series and a five-volume annual church curriculum. He and Candyce live in Irving, Texas, and have four grown children and 11 grandchildren.

The Outlive Your Life Award is named for its first recipients, Dale and Rita Brown, and takes its name from the 2010 book by ACU alumnus Max Lucado (’77), Outlive Your Life: You Were Made to Make a Difference, used with permission. The award recognizes all types of servant leadership exhibited by friends or alumni of the university.