Will Roberts: The World-changer

Jason, Brittney, Will, and Charlie Jane

Jason and Brittney Roberts are friends of mine (Pastor Jason) and Page’s. They were members of our church before moving to Tuscaloosa. Brittney’s sister and brother-in-law are friends and leaders in our congregation. Our church family knows and loves the Roberts, even our newer members who have never met them.

Thirteen years ago, Darby Kate was born, a beautiful and perfect child. But the Lord wanted Darby Kate to come into this world only briefly, to do a job He had planned for her, and then He took her home. Jason and Brittney and Will mourned her loss after only two months. She spent most of her time at Children’s Hospital in Birmingham, but God used her precious life to make an impact on the world. Through her, God drew many people to Himself. And through the power of the internet and Brittney’s regular updates, thousands of people heard of God’s grace and love in the midst of severe trials. Darby Kate provided a tangible, real-life example of what it means to fully trust and depend on God (Proverbs 3:5–6).

Darby Kate Roberts: World-changer

God also used Darby Kate and her circumstances (and Brittney’s openness on Facebook), to put a tight circle of concerned supporters around the Roberts family. This circle of supporters has now grown into, I don’t really know, maybe hundreds of thousands of people. Maybe millions. I exaggerate not.

After a bit, Sweet Charlie Jane came along, giving Jason, Brittney, and Will a ray of sunlight and lots of joy. Life does move on, doesn’t it? God’s grace is wonderful.

Then the unthinkable.

Will’s cancer diagnosis came in January 2025.

Since that time, like his little sister, Will Roberts has changed the world.

I’ll not recount all the horrific or astounding details of Will’s journey here. Brittney has done so on Facebook. A book needs to be written based on her many posts so that people can have a record of the work of God in the good, the bad, and the ugly of Will’s journey.

But I will say this: Will Roberts has given the world an example of unsinkable faith in the goodness of God, even while walking through the valley of the shadow of death. His parents, sister, and other family members have done the same.

Will Roberts: World-changer

Because of Brittney’s persistent posting about the journey, all aspects of it, and because Will has himself taken to the internet, news of Will’s fight made it around the world and all the way to the White House. Robert Kennedy got involved, Dr. Oz got involved, Senator Katie Britt and other politicians got involved, President Trump got involved. Surely, the entire pharmaceutical industry got involved, or at least they’re paying very close attention.

Because of the platform and foundation Darby Kate provided in her two months of life on earth, her brother’s story is known by hundreds of thousands around the world, even in the places of highest earthly power. And Will is from Ralph, Alabama, not exactly known as a place of global influence!

But God does what God does.

Will Roberts’ simple faith in Jesus, in the goodness of God in the midst of horrific trials, has changed the world. I think lives will be saved as a result (I am talking here about the cancer drugs that may be made available to more people because of the Roberts’ advocacy throughout this process).

Darby Kate changed the world. Will has changed the world. She was two months old and he’s fifteen. How can we make sense of this? Only by seeing the hand of God in it all.

I want to honor Will and thank God for his faith, his testimony, and his fight. I want to encourage my friends, Jason and Brittney and Charlie Jane, and tell them how much I love them. I want to thank them for helping our church family at RMLBC and believers all around the world to pray, and I mean pray for real. The situation itself calls for authentic, deep prayer, and I’ve seen and heard so many praying that way for Will. That’s another way he and his family have changed the world for the better.

What does the future hold for the Roberts family? Who am I to speculate? Only God knows the future. What is clear to us is this: God’s got it. Darby Kate and Will have taught us that lesson, right? The same God who changed the world through these two amazing kids is the same God who holds tomorrow and the entire universe and full span of human history in the palm of His mighty hand.