Dear Friends,

James 1:5 says, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”  I have been praying for wisdom a lot during the months since our former mission, EBM, closed its doors.  This has been true in so many areas.  There was the obvious need for wisdom to identify the where and what that God has mapped out for us.  With God’s clear leading to Barnabas Enrichment Ministry, we are not only at peace, but are in joyful anticipation of what is before us!  During this process, however, I have rediscovered another area where I truly need wisdom.  That is in the area of communicating well the opportunities that are before us in this new ministry.  Will you pray with me that I will know how to wisely share the potential of BEM to others so they will experience the same excitement that we have for it?  I am still overwhelmed with gratitude to God that He is allowing us to do the ministry that we would have done through EBM, but now in a larger expanded way.  We want so much for others to be able to appreciate the great value of what God has planned.

Our schedule is starting to fill up for 2012 with additional opportunities coming in 2013.  We are thrilled that we continue to see opportunities to be helpful in churches and with missionaries in the areas of consulting and evaluating.  We have also a developing privilege of being involved in the early stages of a church plant in Utah this year.  Please remember to pray for us as we are involved in several areas of conflict resolution as well.  We have watched God do some unbelievable things in restoring relationships this last year.

Another prayer request I would like to share is in the area of finances.  I am always cautious when it comes to presenting these issues.  There are some very good discussion points on both sides of the question of “should missionaries ask for funding or even present financial needs?”  I have come to the conclusion (as missionaries should) that God is the source of our funding, and we should trust Him alone.  God has totally amazed us over the last three years as He has provided when it should not have been possible.  I also believe that in the provision of God, He chooses to use His people, and He has done exactly that in our lives through so many precious brothers and sisters in Christ.  So as I share in this update about our financial adventures, I want to do so as Paul when he wrote in Philippians 4:11-12, “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.  I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.”  He also further wrote in verse 17, “Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.”

So what kind of financial adventures are we experiencing?  We have lost some support do to the transition we are in with possibilities of losing some more.  God has softened this for us with some extra gifts that have come in.  Those gifts of course are deeply appreciated.  From our human perspective, we do need regular support, so we would appreciate prayer in this vital area.  There is also the added need for extra funds at this time as new prayer cards are being printed and a new flier about our ministry with BEM is being prepared.  In addition we have experienced other expense in the transition to our new mission agency, BEM, such as travel.  Thanks for bringing these needs in your prayers to our Lord!  

IMPORTANT!!

For those of you have not already done so, please begin mailing any financial gifts and support to:

Barnabas Enrichment Ministries
P.O. Box 229
Elkhart, IN 46515-0229

In our last email, we gave the street address.  Please use the Post Office Box from now on.  As always, make sure the funds are designated for the Rogers.

VERY IMPORTANT!!

I am pleased and privileged to announce the birth of our grandson, Garrett Tjapkes, on January 16^th, 2012!  Now, before any of the grandparents get ready to be upset at me for saying some inflammatory statement about having the most fantastic grandchildren in the world, I want you to know that I am better than that and will control my comments.  After all, the truth is obvious!

Thanks for being partners in our ministry!

John

Please send all financial gifts to Barnabas Enrichment Ministries with a note designating the gift for the ministry of John & Beabea Rogers.