The Rogers August 2025 Report

Dear John,

   From June 14 to August 7, during a very warm summer, we enjoyed the chance to travel in the USA. We started in Harrisburg, PA, where we attended the "Roots of Faith, Old Testament" class. What a fun, memorable, and illustrious class! Both the interaction with others in the class and the easy-to-learn chronological study of the entire Old Testament in 40 hours were enriching and enlightening.
     From there we returned to New Jersey for a much anticipated rendezvous with supporters, the brethren of Grace Bible Church, in Barrington. Both ministry opportunities, on Sunday and on Monday, were joyful, warm and encouraging! Thank you to all those how housed us, hosted and treated us so kindly.
    Then we flew to Phoenix and began a trip through 6 western states as a 45th wedding anniversary celebration. For 13 days we toured through several national parks. What breath-taking scenery! We could have stayed for much more time! A special treat was spending a day with a relative of Dave's who lives in Casper, Wyoming. 
    To return to the east coast, we flew from Phoenix, AZ to Des Moines, IA, where we visited a former missionary friend who had served in Chile. We enjoyed a brief but very gracious visit with she and her sister. We continued our drive through Iowa, Illinois and Indiana, stopping to see former missionaries in each state. Our last stop was in Ohio, where we stopped to see a dear aunt of Dave's. who turns 96 this year. 
    We wrapped up our summer travels by vacationing with all four of our children, their spouses (three are married) and our five grand children at a cabin in the hills of West Virginia. Not since 2016 have we enjoyed a time away with our entire family! We are so thankful for this unique and memorable joy!
    Many of you have asked about Andrea. She continues in Pennsylvania and is learning the ropes of living on her own. She is about done with the 1 year Bible certificate course at Lancaster Bible College. She just moved in with three girls in an apartment near Lancaster and would like to continue working in that area. But as of today, she does not yet have work. Her plans for the future may include additional college level studies, but she needs to get established financially first. Please pray that she find a solid, well-paying job soon.
   Back in Chile, one week before we traveled for the summer to the States, the GROW Training & Publisher partners conducted a 3-day evangelism and discipleship seminar called Good Soil (see video below). This was conducted in a local Baptist church, pastored by a friend and Seminary Graduate, Jaime Solano. Those who participated were the entire leadership team of the church with 32 people (see the photo below). The 12 hour seminar was facilitated by Pastors Patricio Diaz (New Life Bpt. Ch.) and Alejandro Bravo (Missionary Bpt. Ch), as well as ourselves. The results are yet to be seen but judging by the faithful attendance this church will make good use of the training. 
   In our absence the leadership of the GROW training & Publications ministry was carried out by the one paid employee we presently have, Matthias O. Both a full-time pastor and director of publicity, website and social media, Matthias is a well-trained and passionate leader, both on the local church level and in church communications. Please PRAY for God to confirm whether or not he is the leader that should assume the full-time leadership as director of GROW. (Below are some photos of a recent missions conference, lead by one of the pastors we are mentoring, Pedro Palma).
    Following all that travel, here are some of the goals we are focusing on in the coming months:

1. A two day Spiritual Gifts seminar for the church plant in Iquique (1,240 miles north of Santiago), the Baptist Church pastored by our ABWE Colleagues Pedro and Stephanie Garcia. Dates: Aug 23-24.
2. Continue the training on Church planting and missions in a new church in Isla de Maipo (1 hour outside of Santiago) being launched in the home of friends and partners, Juan and Carla Bello. (Dates to be confirmed)
3. Begin assisting a church without a pastor, having traversed deep waters of division, for a time frame to be decided in conjunction with our ABWE team and our Seminary Director, Mauricio Vilches.
4. Preach twice during a couples weekend event in Rancagua (1.5 hours from Santiago), Sept. 27.
5. Equip the Missionary Bapt. Ch. congregation of La Faena, in the field of basic Christian apologetics. Dave will have 3 Sundays for what will be his first time to give a concentrated training in a local church. Dates: Sept. 28, Oct. 5 and 12.