Oklahoma minister — who died while helping others — remembered for reaching souls, changing lives

The Oklahoman reports on a memorial service for Rodney Carroll, who died March 1 near Chickasha, Okla. 

Carroll, 61, was minister for the Ninnekah Church of Christ in Oklahoma. He was returning from picking up his wife, Diana, at the Oklahoma City airport when the car in front of them lost traction on an icy road and struck a barrier. 

Before his wife could tell him to be safe, Carroll was out of their SUV and attempting to help the hurt couple in the wrecked car. That’s when a school bus behind them also lost control on the ice, striking Rod and killing him.
“We lost the best man we’ve ever known,” Diana said. “He left this world doing what he did best and that was helping others.”

A packed house filled the 26 church pews inside the small sheet metal building that houses Ninnekah Church of Christ just off U.S. 81, a couple of miles from the heart of Chickasha.

The building is no larger than a high school gymnasium as it usually only houses a 60-member congregation, but the place is filled for Carroll, easily passing the 200 mark. The church is filled with tokens of Carroll’s presence including writings left over from last Sunday’s bible study lessons and a hanging picture chart of prisoners who had requested prayer.

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Youth (minister) Landon Lewis led the service, taking Carroll’s place at the lectern with an entire congregation now looking to him for guidance.

Lewis encouraged everyone to be there for each other and to be there for Carroll’s family.

“We are all sitting in a mourning pew,” Lewis said. “Scoot a little closer to the person next to you and throw your arm around them. It’s what Rod would’ve wanted, to be there for each other.”

They kicked off with some of Carroll’s favorite hymns; two of them about being a servant for the Lord and others about living a more selfless life.

Longtime friend and fellow church member Richard Bennett spoke next about Carroll’s reach in the community.

“This church was a dream to him,” Bennett said. “The souls he was able to touch and the lives he changed… he definitely loved his neighbors.”