Hi Everyone,   There is an old saying, and we all have heard it said many times on television and in real life.  The phrase I’m talking about is this… “Do you want to hear the good news or the bad news first?”  This famous and common question is actually […] [READ MORE]

Hello from Michigan … Finally, home! This has definitely been a summer of “Firsts” for us!   From June 11th through July 16th we assisted a church in Harrah, Oklahoma, helping them in a variety of ways, including organizing their new pastoral search strategy.  Then, for me (Sandy), there was the ldquo;first” […] [READ MORE]

Hi Everyone, Have you ever had something terrible happen and you feel like Habakkuk, wondering if God has forgot who He is or, at the very least, fails to remember His promises?  Of course not, we believers wouldn’t never question God, right?  Right?  However, we may have a moment or […] [READ MORE]

Hi Everyone,   I am pleased to share with everyone that BEM will be having another Small Church Conference this fall.  The Lord has blessed these conferences in so many ways, and it is a privilege to be a part of them.  In the past we have held these conferences […] [READ MORE]

Jeanne and I have the privilege of sharing in Barnabas Enrichment Ministries’ Small Church Pastor’s Conference in Milan, Michigan, September 22nd and 23rd.  The theme of the Conference is “The Joy of Small Church Ministry”. There is no charge for this Conference and it is planned for the entire family […] [READ MORE]

Hi Everyone,   In our last Newsletter I talked about God not doing what we want or expect Him to do. Well, He has gone and done it again!  Many of you have been praying for me as I have been preparing to leave for Alaska tomorrow.  I was to […] [READ MORE]

Greetings from Ypsilanti, Michigan!  Question…  Has God ever changed your direction?  Have you ever experienced a circumstance where you had big plans for an event or ministry, you truly believed that God was directing those plans, yet, at some point, well into planning, all was changed … cancelled?  If so, Irsquo;m […] [READ MORE]

Dear Friends,   How many of you have read missionary newsletters that begin with ‘I want to share with you that God answered your prayers for us!’ or something similar to that.  Most of the time the missionary asked in a previous letter for everyone to pray that a certain […] [READ MORE]

Greetings from Michigan! As I begin this “catch-up” letter, I first want to say Thank You all for your commitment to BEM, your love, friendship and prayers.  From the inception of BEM 14 years ago, God has blessed us with quality Board Members who were committed to our ministry, loved the […] [READ MORE]

Dear Friends,   As a young lad growing up, I remember a common phrase – “If I had a dime for every time some…(Named whatever happened!), I’d be a rich man or you wouldn’t see me plowing ground or pumping gas (they actually paid people to pump gas at one […] [READ MORE]

Merry Christmas Once Again!

Dear Friends,   I have been told that when a person enters the “Elderly” stage of life, there are certain things that start to happen.  One is you don’t bend as well and another is when you do bend, the movement is slower!  I have come to understand those are […] [READ MORE]

Dear Friends,   All of us at one time or another have become excited about some future event in our lives.  I remember as a kid looking forward to birthday parties, and of course, Christmas.  Well, that’s me as I write this! (Not about Christmas yet, and I’ve tried to […] [READ MORE]

Dear Prayer Partners: (Family & Friends!)  August 2022   Since our last letter we had an opportunity to serve God’s people through a conference for Pastors and their families, in Nephi, UT.  It was a wonderful experience to challenge these Pastors and servants for Christ.  From the comments we received I am […] [READ MORE]

Dear Friends, Besides knowing the Lord God, Creator of the Universe, who personally rescued me from Hell to live with Him till the end of time and beyond – I think the best part of being a Christian is getting to spend time with my brothers and sisters in Christ!  The […] [READ MORE]

Dear Friends and Prayer Partners, We apologize for the time delay since our last update with regard to Barnabas Enrichment Ministries (BEM).  Although the mission of BEM has remained the same since its inception in 2008, for a number of reasons, our methods have changed.  While we still offer intense -2 […] [READ MORE]

Dear Prayer Partners: (Family & Friends!)  April 2022“What a wonderful change in my life has been wrought, since Jesus came into my heart!” I could sing that song every day of my life, as God gives us opportunity, to live for Him and speak in His favor.  Several months ago, I […] [READ MORE]

March 23, 2022   Dear Friends,   In our December Newsletter I talked about our move from Indiana to Tennessee and shared some thoughts about our future move as believers from earth to heaven someday.  Since then, a very close friend of mine made that journey to heaven.  Dan Snyder attended our […] [READ MORE]

December 2021 Christmas Greetings to our Family & Friends! This season gives me pause to reflect on God’s goodness & grace.  Both Thanksgiving (just past) and Christmas (on our heels) make my heart, mind and life fully satisfied with what God has and is doing. I am so grateful that He is […] [READ MORE]

Dear Friends, It has been said that moving is a great adventure.  There is some truth in that, but another term that might describe it is insanity.  My dad once told me that living in a place for more than seven years was a mistake.  He was referring to the number […] [READ MORE]

Dear Friends, When Joseph was asked by his father, Jacob, to check on how Joseph’s brothers were doing tending the flocks of sheep, Joseph didn't hesitate.  He probably was aware of some of his brothers’ negative feelings about him, but I doubt if he even considered what might happen out in […] [READ MORE]

Dear Friends, My mom’s brother, Uncle Tell, was an exceptionally wise pastor that I enjoyed talking with in my grade school years.  We would discuss theology from subjects such as the Second Coming of Christ to the Sovereignty of God.  I remember one discussion when he said something that I […] [READ MORE]

April 29, 2021 Dear Friends, I remember watching a TV show when I was a kid called the “Six Million Dollar Man”.  (Obviously inflation and government spending would change the title today!)  There was a famous line that was said at the start of each show – you are probably thinking […] [READ MORE]

April 17, 2021

Dear Friends,
I mentioned in my last newsletter that I was teaching the Adult Sunday School Class at First Baptist in Russiaville (the local church we attend when we are not traveling).  This has been a mind-expanding study for me.  The title of the series is “Is Your Christianity Cultic? – What is Real Christianity?”  I have often thought about this subject for many years, ever since I did church planting in Utah, an area of our country that is highly religious.  What has been interesting recently is we are in a church that takes this topic very seriously.  Over and over again I have watched the people of First Baptist live out Biblical Christianity.  It is amazing what can happen when the people of a church remove “religious activity” and replace it with “relational interaction” toward each other.  God is the God of Relationships and always has been.  In eternity past God had perfect relationship within Himself.  The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit enjoyed the harmony of unity in one.
 
An example:  Recently, on my birthday, I sat in church without Beabea.  (She has been in Tennessee helping our daughter with our granddaughter, Laurie, who has had health challenges – by the way Laurie is doing much better.)  The people of the church knew Beabea and I have been apart quite a bit in the last year because of this.  I also mentioned on occasion that I had been missing my grandkids in Tennessee.  So, there I was sitting by myself in church on my birthday when the pastor announced there was going to be special music provided by some visitors.  I glanced over my shoulder down the aisle and thought, “Hum, that first kid looks a lot like my granddaughter, Morgan.  It was then that I realized the visitors were my daughter, Christy, and her three children including, Laurie!  Many commented on the very surprised expression on my face.  Then Beabea quietly came up behind me and gave me a kiss.  I remember thinking that better be Beabea or we have a serious situation here!  I found out after the service that the people of the church had paid the cost for these family members to come up and see me on my birthday.  The church even had a surprise birthday cake (at the fellowship afterward) with presents!  Beabea's birthday is close to mine so they celebrated hers as well!
 
This is just one example.  There have been many including financial gifts from people in the church (we are at the 50% support level) to physical help around our home when there is need.  Recently there has been need because of the increasing severity of pain in my left knee.  This has been going on for a couple of years – but now it is at the level that requires surgery.  On Friday, April 23^rd, I will be having my second knee replacement.  (The first was the right knee back in 2004 and it has done very well.)
 
I have to admit that I am not exactly thrilled as I anticipate this upcoming surgery.  I remember in Bible College praying for the Rapture just before finals.  I am experiencing a very similar emotion.  However, I love the definition of faith that I have lived my life by for many years.  “Faith is the decision to trust God even with all my doubts and fears!”  Circumstances are not what brings “Hope”.  Hope comes from the quality of who God is – that He is trustworthy.  The trustworthy God has been meeting my needs for the upcoming surgery in many ways.  (Another example of Relational Christianity is a couple from the church brought over their kids and moved my office from the basement to a room upstairs because of the knee surgery!)
 
So here are some prayer requests…
 
Please pray for the upcoming knee replacement surgery.  Of course, I don’t mind you praying that I heal quickly, but more important, pray that I will live out Christ to the many people who will be a part of the surgery and the recovery afterward.  God has always amazed me how He opens doors of opportunity to encourage those around me with the wonder of God.  He especially seems to do it when I have a medical need.  I get to interact with people I normally wouldn’t be involved with and that is special!
 
Pray for strength and patience for Beabea as she takes care of me after the surgery.  (It is great having her back!  She is a fantastic cook!! – not to mention really pretty!)
 
Pray for Christy, our daughter, as she will not have Beabea to help with Laurie while I am recovering (and of course, continue to pray for Laurie).  While you are at it, pray for all of my grandkids!  They are very special!  After all, they have Beabea’s genes!
 
Continue to pray for our ministry and the upcoming travel this fall.  With Covid cases dropping, doors are really starting to open up.
 
Finally, Relational Christianity is precious.  Thank you for the relationship we have with you, and your interest in our lives!
 
Your fellow servant and brother in Christ,
 
John (and Beabea) Rogers
jtrbem@gmail.com [READ MORE]