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Rogers Update 11/26/25
December 3, 2025
Dear Friends,
In our last newsletter, I mentioned a man who lives in our apartment complex not far from us. I also shared that Beabea and I have had a couple of really good visits with him in the parking lot. Since then, the Lord has provided many opportunities to talk with him. It seems he finds us regularly when we check our mail or walk out to our vehicle. Let me tell you about “Jim” (not his real name). Pray for “Jim.” God will know who you are referring to!
Jim was raised in a religious home. He shares that his father was “trying to buy his way to heaven” by giving lots of money to the church they attended. However, when his dad needed help from the “church” and the people in it, they did nothing. Apparently, his dad was bitter toward God after that, and Jim has lived with that reality in his life ever since. (I believe he is slightly younger than I am.) Jim has told me that he can’t stand religion. He seemed surprised that I agreed with him! I told him that instead of having a religion, I have a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. He then asked the million-dollar question, “What’s the difference?” I was able to share the truth about God from the Bible, and he listened. Well, actually, he interrupted me many times and continues to do so as we talk, but he listens intently.
Jim is not a believer, not yet. However, he has started finding other Christians in the apartments where we live and asking what they believe about God. He is also reading my book on Christ’s return and asking many more questions—good questions—some tough questions! He often stops me when I check the mail or am outside the apartment for some reason and asks even more questions.
Our last conversation was about how to get to Heaven, especially if none of us are good enough to be acceptable to God. I finished that conversation with the story of Charles Blondin, who in 1859 crossed Niagara Falls on a tightrope more than once. The story is told that on one of his crossings, he pushed a wheelbarrow in front of him. When he arrived on the other side, a man in the cheering crowd shouted loudly that he truly believed Blondin could walk back and forth with a wheelbarrow many times and never fall. Blondin challenged him to get in the wheelbarrow, but the man refused.
I shared with Jim that there was an important difference between believing Jesus can take a person safely to God and actually trusting Him to do so. I then shared that safety is not found in our trust, but in the One who holds God's wheelbarrow of eternal life. Pray for Jim that he will trust our Lord to give him eternal life and take him safely to God! Salvation is more than facts, it's a relationship!
I had hoped that the new type of injections into my back and neck would help with the pain in my aging spine. It looked promising, but the last injection barely lasted a week, and I became very sick from it. Pain is discouraging, but God is amazing. We are not alone in this world, nor are we abandoned by God! In the weeks ahead, I am scheduled to see several doctors. Pray they have wisdom. Also, pray that I will be alert to God-given opportunities to talk about Jesus. God has a way of opening the right moment to talk about Him, and I enjoy watching how He does it!
Pray for the many counseling opportunities God keeps opening up. They are mostly by phone. What a privilege to help others and experience God working in their lives! I have been asked more than once what our future plans are, considering all that is happening with my health. I don’t have answers, but God does. I want to thank all of you who have helped us serve our Lord through the many years. You are precious to us!
Curious about what God has ahead… Confident it will be good! (Romans 8:28)
Your fellow servant,
John (and of course, my superhero, Beabea—known as Wonder Wife, Servant of God, and The Incredible Grandma!)
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