April thru June: A Brief Review

Our third addition to the family has really had us hopping as we're trying to figure out what our new rhythm looks and sounds like. Between that and our work with G.O. its like we've blinked and 3 months went by! That being said, here's a brief update on what we've been up to.

Ella’s first two and a half months with us were a little daunting as the poor little girl was suffering from reflux. This meant that every waking hour we experienced of her was crying. With some prayer and some good reflux meds we are happy to report that at 14 weeks our little lady is mostly free of that discomfort and has settled comfortably into her sweet self. She is a pure joy!

In late April Jeff represented G.O. Ministries at the Exponential Church Planting Conference in Orlando, Florida. He encouraged new church planters to include international ministry in the DNA of their church plants. Partnering with indigenous Christian leaders and serving along-side of them via short-term mission’s trips grows the Kingdom abroad and deepens the Kingdom at home. If teams are lead well through their experience they can come back home more committed Christ followers, more willing to serve radically in other areas inside and outside of their own communities, as well as become more radically generous with all of their resources for the sake of Kingdom work locally and globally.

While in Orlando Jeff was able to report on G.O.’s Haiti relief effort to First Presbyterian of Haines City, FL, a new partnering church with the Rogers family. Much thanks to Pastor Tom and whole crew there for such awesome hospitality.

The G.O. Derby fundraiser at the first of May brought in $49,500 for G.O. Ministries which was a tremendous blessing!

Immediately after the Derby event we coordinated and lead a 4 day All Staff Meeting state-side, training and encouraging the G.O. Staff in ministry and fundraising. It was a sweet time to reconnect, fellowship, worship and celebrate how God used each of us in the Haiti Relief effort.

June 13th we reported on Haiti Relief to supporting church, Southside Christian in Versailles, Ky and met some new friends there. Afterwards we met with the mission’s committee of Christ Church United Methodist in Lexington. They have decided to partner with our ministry! It’s been a great year of God introducing us to new friends in ministry.

June 28th Jeff met with the mission’s committee of First Capital Christian Church in Corydon, IN to discuss G.O. and what a more intentional partnership might look like with a church in one of the sugar cane cutting villages we work with. We’re hopeful about the future of this Partnership.

Currently, we are getting geared up to represent G.O. at the North American Christian Convention. Please pray for good connections to be made for the sake of the ministry and our own support as well.

July 12th we leave for our family trip to serve in the Dominican Republic. Please pray for safe travels and service. This will be Ella’s first trip to the DR. We return August 13th.

Grace & Peace,

The Rogers

Haiti Relief Recap...

It's our hope that if you've been checking in here that you've also been checking in at G.O. Help Haiti.org but just in case you haven't we wanted to be sure you saw this News package done by Wave 3 in Louisville, Ky. Please take 5 minutes to watch it as it gives a holistic account of our relief response in Haiti. Watch it here.

Here's the breakdown of all of the supplies that were sent into Haiti by air the first month and a half after the earthquake by G.O.

Total Pounds Flown Into Haiti 653,911

Sub-Total Food 550,799
Sub-Total Supplies 61,543
Sub-Total Medical 41,569

Total Planes Volunteered 66

Total flights 447

Number of locations
Cap Haitien 8
Grand Goave 3
Hinche 1
Jacmel 163
Jeremie 36
Leogane 48
Les Cayes 50
Pignon 29
Port au Prince 20
Port de Paix 57

Total People Flown In 361

This does not include the poundage of supplies sent by truck, boat and shipping container. It's been an amazing blessing to respond in the manner in which we did. Much thanks to those of you who have continually prayed and given to help us do the work that we do.
The next steps in Haiti for G.O. are to come more intentionally around the 7 Haitian pastors that we work with there. Our plan is to build a multipurpose building in each of these 7 communities that would serve as the church, nutrition center, school, medical clinic and dormatory. The second phase of this effort will involve partnering with other organizations in Haiti to help with contextually appropriate economic development through various cottage industries and sustainable agricultural projects, all in Jesus' name. From these infrastructural centers we will further come alongside the work of the indigenous pastors as they lift up the communities they serve spiritually and materially. That's the long-term vision.