Andrew R Rogers

Well, yesterday was hard.  We had our interview and were basically told that there is no family housing available for us aboard the Africa Mercy.  You see, family housing is provided specifically for certain positions.  And neither the A/V Tech position nor the Ward Nurse position would qualify us for these limited family units.

Hard. To. Take.

But it’s ok.  Becuase God has other things in mind.

Mieke and I have gotten to know a very interesting couple over the last few days.  He is a surgeon and she is a wonderful lady who has grabbed Jace from us many times and entertained him in the back of the classroom.  They are considering joining Mercy Ships.  They are being heavily recruited by Mercy Ships.  You see, there has been a recent event on board the ship that has left the ship without a head surgeon.  And when there is no head surgeon, the production line of life changing surgeries comes to a halt.

The couple is not sure that they will be able to cover their expenses while on board the ship.  They are highly paid professionals here at home, but once on board they will have no capacity to make money to support themselves.  And the social circles they are involved with may not be able to understand how a highly paid surgeon is now asking THEM for money.

That’s where you and us come in.  Mieke and I would like to challenge any of you who have said you will support us to consider supporting this couple instead.  I know it’s quite a mind – bending leap of faith.

Look at it this way – any money you send will DIRECTLY impact the life of hundreds or even thousands of Africans as the surgeon’s skilled hands literally become the hands of Jesus.  I hate to say it, but your dollars will have much more IMPACT if you choose to support this couple than if you were supporting Mieke and I.

Hard.  Yes, I know, hard for us and hard for you.  But I truly believe that the Lord would be pleased with this sacrifice.

Please send an email to andrew@findyourfans.com if you would like to be a part of getting the Mercy Ships production line running again.  Please also include an estimate of how much you would like to commit (either monthly or a one – time – gift) so that we can give this number to the couple and to Mercy Ships administrators here.

Shortly there will be a web page  setup that will allow you to give directly to this couple via Credit Card, Check, or over the phone.   We will send this information out to all who have responded.

Thanks for your prayers.  It’s exciting to think that one day we may be able to join Mercy Ships.  But it’s even more exciting to see God working right in front of us, in a way that we and YOU can be involved NOW!!

Once again, please send your email with your estimated gifts (either monthly or one – time gifts) to andrew@findyourfans.com as soon as possible.  The week is coming to a close and we want to be able to clear the way for this couple to go as soon as possible.

My hope is that we do indeed live in an upside down Kingdom where to live you have to die, and to die means to be with Christ.

It all started with the death of a good job.  Two years ago I worked for a music production company.  The Lord blessed my efforts.  The money flowed in.  Everyone was fat and happy – our partners, my bosses, and myself.  Everyone except my wife.  The hours and long commute added up to stress in the family department.

But then weird things began happening at the company.  After three rounds of layoffs, the company was a shell of its former self.  I found it hard to accomplish anything new.  Those of us who were left twiddled our thumbs while waiting to collect a check every two weeks.  After a few months, I decided to strike out on my own.  My wife was happy.

At first I wanted to be an indie – music distributor.  I had great relationships with all the top digital retailers and their suppliers.  After a year working with independent musicians I realized I was losing more money in distribution costs than the artists were generating. That dream shriveled.

I was also involved with a local rock band.  We began honing our songwriting and recording skills.  After years of practice and occasional gigging, it became apparent we were all headed in different directions.  Another death.  This was one of the most painful, because those guys had become my closest friends.

There were many other little deaths.  Realizing I’m not meant to be a music producer.  Working with a band and record label that couldn’t quite tie the knot.  Starting a website development company with no future.  The motorcycle of my dreams, with a dead transmission.  I decided to sell the parts on eBay.  This paid the bills for a few months.

Somewhere in there, the biggest death happened.  The death of my motivation and desires.  I just stopped caring about anything.  Music, money, jobs, trips, vacations, work, careers, gadgets, gizmos, stuff in stores, church.  All these things began to seem stupid.  A chasing after the wind.  Meaningless.  I read Ecclesiastes and was pleased that the wisest man in the world agreed with me.

I just didn’t care about the stuff we spend our lives and energy obtaining and protecting and packaging and selling and marketing.  I can walk through the luminous halls of any department or electronics or music store and I actually feel pangs of revulsion at all the shiny plastic and metal.

But I also realized the danger.  I had never stopped caring about my wife and family.  Or my friends.  I realized that protecting and caring for my friends and family means buying and selling and working and creating and interacting in meaningful ways.  All of those things and actions that I no longer cared about.

So I went searching for my missing passion. This went on for months.  I needed to find something I cared about.  I took some personality tests.  Slowly a few things surfaced.  I like helping people.  I like adventure.  I am technical but can also communicate well with people.

I talked to many wise friends throughout these adventures.  A few key thoughts stuck with me.  My friend David shared something about his own quest “I stopped living for myself and started living for something greater.”  My friend Bill encouraged me to ask a simple question whenever trying something new, “Will this please the Lord?” Such a simple, powerful thing.

So I’ll cut to the chase.  I’ve found my passion again.  Something that fills me with hope and inspiration and a desire to “GO” as they say at Glenstone Chapel. And the crazy thing is that it is something that I never would have considered, if all my dreams hadn’t died.  They had to die, to make room for this passion.  Check ‘er out:

You are all invited to an evening of music with two great bands! Sitka and Trisonic. I have seen both bands play previously and I can guarantee you will not be disappointed!  The admission price is 1 can of food.  Bring more if you want to.  All cans and proceeds to be given to the Second Harvest Foodbank which directly impacts hurting people in the Charlotte area.  Help us make this a success, please invite all your friends! The venue can seat 800, and we want to FILL IT UP!!

When: Jan. 31st @ 6:30

Where: Marvin Ridge High School Heres a MAP

Cost: 1 Can of Food

Type of Music: Sitka is acoustic guitar – driven indie rock with hints of folk and pop. Trisonic is classic rock at it’s finest!

Who’s invited: You and all your friends.

Do you ever wonder “How did we get here?” I ask that question a lot about church. I wonder, “Why do we gather in a large building each Sunday and file into seats, and sit, stand, and greet each other in an orchestrated production called a worship service? How did we get here?”

The song “Speak To Us” really explores this question. It asks “do we remember why we do church?” Is it about religious tradition, or is it about a true story and a real person that all of us can get caught up in, and become part of…

Click here to listen and read the lyrics of “Speak To Us.”