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]

February 19, 2021 Dear Friends, 2020 is the year where God says you are not going to figure me out!  It doesn’t matter how much you analyze what is happening (and so much is happening), you still won’t be able to put the pieces together to clarify a constant ldquo;Why?”  […] [READ MORE]

December 2020 Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year: Jeanne and I want to thank you as our friends and co-labors for your faithful prayers for us.  We are convinced without you pleading for us to have opportunities, remain clean and spiritual, and be effective in helping others, we can easily practice […] [READ MORE]

November 24, 2020   Dear Friends, Proverbs 16:9 states this, “A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.”  In other words, “We make our plans, but God decides!”  When any of us (who know the Lord) sets out to serve Him in a major endeavor or any […] [READ MORE]

BEM Small Church Conference 2020 Rogers Newsletter Dear Friends, Although a majority of the people around us (and maybe us at times) seems to be focused on the Coronavirus, elections, and the end of “American Life” as we know it, I want to encourage those of us who know Christ to consider our […] [READ MORE]

Hi: God has been good to us and we praise Him for that; for who He is and for what He has done for us. Jeanne and I have been busy even though our ministry opportunities are limited during this Cocid-19 restricted period.  Barnabas Enrichment Ministries is hosting  a Small Church Pastors […] [READ MORE]

Dear Friends, In my life as a missionary one thing has always been certain. Just when I think I understand ministry, God takes it to a whole new level.  I am fairly certain that is true for everyone seeking to serve our Lord.  I would also venture to say that this […] [READ MORE]

Dear Friends,   When I stepped off the plane in Fairbanks, Alaska, in the middle of the night, I remember thinking, ‘I forgot how cold it could be up here!’  Well, it was the middle of the night, and that didn’t help temperature wise either.  It was the last of February and […] [READ MORE]

Dear Friends,   “North to Alaska, gone north, the rush is on!”  Words from the opening song of a very old John Wayne movie titled… North to Alaska.  Big surprise!  Anyway, that is my theme this week as I prepare for a trip to Alaska.  (Not John Wayne, but going north to […] [READ MORE]

Dear Friends,   One of the most precious aspects of knowing Christ is the relationships we have in the family of God.  Beabea and I literally have people who care about us and pray for us all over the world.  We know this through the emails, notes, and letters that are sent […] [READ MORE]

Dear Friends,   Disappointment – No body likes it.  It comes when you expect something to happen that you are looking forward to experiencing, and it doesn’t happen for one reason or another.  Disappointment can also come from people when you expect something from them, and they fail your expectations.  Our world […] [READ MORE]

Greetings from Home!   Yes, I am finally home after my Alaskan adventure!  So much happened.  Where do I begin?  Let’s see… I was in Alaska about six weeks.  I spoke in three churches, spent time with many close friends, did Bible studies, saw one moose, had 53 meetings with people including […] [READ MORE]

April  2019 Greetings: James 1:1 uses this term when he is writing to the scattered believers of his day.  We’re told the term ‘greetings’ has the connotation that challenges us to rejoice.  There is after all so much to rejoice about.  I trust this letter will find you rejoicing as well. Since our […] [READ MORE]

Dear Prayer Partners,  After a long pause in our communication, we would like to take this opportunity to bring you up to speed on what has been happening in our lives with regard to Barnabas Enrichment Ministries (BEM).  Thankfully, God has blessed us with a wonderful Board of Directors.  Our Annual […] [READ MORE]

Dear Friends,   The famous words, “God is good all the time!” are certainly true – not just when life is going well and God is doing what we want, but also when life is challenging and God is doing something that doesn’t make sense to our limited understanding.  However, it is […] [READ MORE]

Merry Christmas! Life is often referred to as a journey, and we can certainly vouch for that!  I am writing from Ypsilanti, Michigan, our new home since late July!  2018 has been a whirlwind of activity for us.  Retirement from full time church ministry has offered us many new found freedoms […] [READ MORE]

Dear Friends,   I remember a phrase that was popular at one point in our culture, “I love it when a plan comes together!”  It was from an action TV show that was a big hit for a while.  That is how I feel about the Small Church Conference that we were […] [READ MORE]

Fall  2018 Dear Friends & Prayer Warriors: We want to thank you for all of your prayers, love and the concern you have shown. Two surgeries later, a lot of Doctors appointments, and a number of hospital stays, we praise God that I am making progress and am in the process of healing  […] [READ MORE]

Dear Friends, Before I share about us personally, I want to announce a very exciting new ministry that Barnabas Enrichment Ministries is planning.  On November 10th of this year BEM will be doing a Small Church Conference in Kokomo, Indiana.  This will be the first time that BEM has offered such […] [READ MORE]

Dear Friends:   It is great to be a part of a ‘Team Ministry’ that has clear vision and the ‘wind of God’s Spirit’ under their wings.   Jeanne & I find real joy and satisfaction in being able to serve with you as we pray for each other about what God is doing […] [READ MORE]

May 2018 Dear Friends, The last year and a half have been filled with the unexpected (by me, not God!) Here are edited versions of the emails that tell the story of how wonderfully God was in control as we served Him: April 7 (2017)…Those special moments when we see God working in […] [READ MORE]

April 2018   Dear Friends:   Hi, you guessed it, we have been busy.  I’m sure you know what that is like.  God has provided us with good health and a number of opportunities to connect with people in order to have input into their lives.  I know individuals constantly influence us as well   Jeanne […] [READ MORE]

Dear Friends,   I am sitting at a desk in an apartment in Fairbanks, Alaska.  This warm, cozy basement apartment belongs to one of the two churches where I am speaking in Fairbanks, Alaska.  The other church has also provided a nice basement apartment as well.  In fact the whole time I […] [READ MORE]