Happy New Year to all of you,
I hope this letter finds you well. First of all, let me just again thank you for
your support prayerfully, as well as financially while I am here in The Forge. How to
sum up this last semester in one letter seems near impossible but I shall try my
hardest.
Well, where to begin? I guess I’ll start from the beginning...it’s a very good
place to start according to Fraulein Maria [Sound of Music]. September 6th I
moved into a house to live with nine guys for eight months. I have never lived with
that many guys. I grew up with one sister in the house and, in college, the most I
ever lived with was five guys and we came and went as we pleased so I was
nervous about how this living situation was going to go. Having lived in this
community, the Lord has brought a lot of character flaws to the surface for me to
see and confront. He has used this community to teach me how to love others, and
not just those others I choose to love, but those I am commanded to love. Had I
had my own choice, I would have picked nine guys like me to live with. That would
make living with other people easier and more comfortable. But the Lord has put
nine guys with nine different personalities together to live, to sharpen each other,
and to grow together. I am learning a ton about how to live with and love people
who aren’t like myself.
The Forge is rightly named. I am definitely being refined and when I think
the refining is over, I get put back in the fire to be refined some more. When
people ask how The Forge is going I usually can only respond by saying, “It hurts,
but it’s good [Hebrews 12:11].” The greatest realization I have had is that I am no
better than anyone else. We are all sinners saved only by the same grace of Jesus
Christ. Jesus has brought sixteen people together and it is through spending every
waking moment together that we are being refined. Community means that we
have everything in common. I am constantly learning this.
This semester mainly focused on learning how the Lord has designed me. I
am learning about my personality type and how to relate to other people’s
personalities. I am also learning that the Lord has given me certain gifts to be used
for Him. Knowing my spiritual gifts is huge while seeking how the Lord can best
use me after The Forge. God has given many different gifts to many different
people for only one purpose, the glory of God. “For as in one body we have many
members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though
many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having
gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them...Romans
12:4-6” This semester I have also got to surround myself with amazing men of
God. He has also used them to refine me and show me great examples of what a
godly man looks like.
Let me wrap up this update by saying, “Thank you.” Thank you for your
continued support and prayer. I honestly could not be in this program if it wasn’t
for your generous support. I am honored and privileged to be in this program. I
am part of the few who get the amazing opportunity to take a year out of the
busyness of life and focus solely on their relationship with the Lord. I am learning
so much about myself and the Lord and sometimes it is overwhelming. Like I said,
“It hurts, but, it’s good.” I still lack $2,764.64 for the cost of the program and
would love for you to consider continuing to invest in my time here. I am not
worried about raising the funds or if I am being prayed for. The Lord is faithful and
he is using you! Thank you! I ask God’s blessing on you in return for your
investment in His kingdom. I hope 2009 is a great year for you and once
again...Thank You!
Peace,
John Rogers
P.S. I would love to send you email updates throughout this next semester. Email
me at johnfifteen@gmail.com so I can have your email address. Thanks.
If you would like to give online:
Go to www.pinecove.com
click on Forge Leadership Training
click support a student
under designated giving, choose a fund and select support a Forge
Student
then follow the directions from there. Itʼs easy!
I apologize for what I said in my last blog about Seminary being for people who can't do anything else. I refute this statement and am sorry if I offended anyone. After dwelling upon this statement I have come to find it ridiculous. I have seen some of the most gifted men and women come from seminary and I hope to follow in their footsteps and get the experience of seminary. So I ask forgiveness.
His grace is sufficient for us all,
John
