Dear Friends,

When I was Pre-Field Director at EBM, the administrators were asked to read a short little book titled, Who Moved the Cheese?  Since I am famous for liking cheese in various forms, I approached the book a little concerned about where it was headed in its presentation, and why was I being asked to read it.  My fears were unfounded J. 

Instead, it was the story of some mice who became very upset when the cheese was not where it had always been.  This childlike allegory had a very important message:  How does one handle the situation when what you thought was a settled plan or pattern does not happen?  Instead, everything changes.  In a sense that is ministry.  It happens all the time.  In the very well used passage of Proverbs 3:5-6 we read, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”  Sometimes God “moves the cheese” and sometimes the world does, but God is the anchor we cling to when our earthly securities cannot be found.  In a sense it is God’s way of sharing don’t ever trust in earthly securities even when the cheese is right where you expected.

My most recent misplacement of “the cheese” was our trip to Alaska.  Through a series of circumstances our trip was moved to February of 2015.  This all took place within just a couple of days.  Did we experience disappointment?  Yes, I have to admit that we did.  Both Beabea and I were looking forward to being with many of the good friends we have come to love in the far north.

Yet, God made it clear that this was His will.  Was it a good thing?  Absolutely!  It allowed us to help others in several counseling situations in ways we would not have been able to do had we gone.

I had a great trip east earlier this fall.  I spoke in churches in Maryland and New York State.  (I have also been speaking locally in Illinois and Indiana.)  The trip to the northeast was a very special time in many ways.  My only regret is Beabea wasn’t able to be with me on the trip.  While I was in Maryland one of the pastors and his family took me to Antietam and Gettysburg battlefields.  Hegel, an absolutely horrible humanist, once made an interesting observation.  He said, “History teaches us that man learns nothing from history.”  Standing on those Civil War battlefields is a good reminder that the choices of men lead to disaster.  It was also a reminder that serving the Lord is a serious war with even more far reaching consequences.

(A side note:  I was asked on Veterans’ Day if I was a veteran.  I admitted that I had not had that opportunity to be a part of that special group of men and women.  Some of you may remember that my dad was a veteran of World War II.  There is a sense that those who serve the Lord are veterans of a spiritual war that rages around us.  It is a privilege to be a part of that special group of men and women also.)

Our schedule is full starting the first of the year.  I will be a month in Kansas in January.  In February, Beabea and I will be Alaska.  Toward the end of February, first of March, I will be in Florida speaking.  In 2014 most of my trips involved driving a car.  The three trips just mentioned will be all by plane.  I would appreciate your prayers for safety as I travel and for Beabea as she will join me in some of the traveling and will stay home working her caregiver job the rest of the time.

Some additional prayer requests: Continue to pray for us as we continue to counsel and encourage fellow believers in missionary and ministry service, and that we will continue to have opportunity to share Christ with those that do not know Him.  Pray for our spiritual lives that we will stay close to God.  Pray for our support and finances as we watch God provide in unexpected and amazing ways.  Pray for our son, Jeremiah, and his wife, Jessica, and for our daughter, Christy, and her husband, Michael, as they are all making major decisions in their lives.

Thank you for being there for us, some of you for most of the nearly 35 years of missionary service we have been involved in!

Clinging to God and learning not to worry about the cheese!

John

John (and Beabea) Rogers

jtrbem@gmail.com

Commissioning Church: Shepherd Road Baptist Church, P.O. Box 1054, Mulberry, FL  33860

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

(765) 667-2532

www.barnabasenrichmentministries.org

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