Trinity Missions Conference; Ministry to State Symposium, Park Cities Presbyterian in Dallas

The Mission Foundation
P.O. Box 46358
Baton Rouge, LA 70808

September 29, 2009

Dear friends,

Thank you for praying for the World Missions Conference at Trinity Church, Covington, LA. Almost all of Trinity’s missionaries were able to attend this special weekend of celebrating existing work and calling men and women to launch themselves more fully into the work of fulfilling the Great Commission. I preached on Acts 13:1-5, “Antioch Church, World Christians” and called the brothers and sisters at Trinity to see the world through the lens of the cross. It was great to be back at Trinity where I served as pastor from 1986-93.

Last Monday and Tuesday, September 21-22, I was in Dallas for the Ministry to State Symposium. Rev. Chuck Garriott, director of MTS in Washington, D.C., did an excellent job of facilitating the discussion among the nine of us who participated in this symposium which was held at Park Cities Presbyterian Church. We discussed theological foundations, goals, and strategies for ministry as well as personal experiences in ministry to those in government.

Initial greetings being exchanged among us


Brad Braddley of Park Cities Presbyterian and

Chuck Garriott, Ministry to State, Washington, D.C.

On Monday afternoon, Chuck Garriott called on us to share

our experiences and perspectives, as he engaged in something

of an interview with each of us. Chuck's final question to

each man was "Why do you love the Church?"

On Monday evening, we had a very enjoyable and

profitable working dinner.

During our symposium, I was asked what is the outcome that I am seeking in my ministry to those in government. Here is a more complete answer than the one I gave at the symposium.

During my 16 years at our state capitol, my earnest intention has been to do all that I could, through prayer, Bible study, personal interaction, and private counsel, to help these men and women grow in spiritual healthiness. Why these people?

Romans 13 says that the governing authority is “a minister of God to you for good.” In January of 1993, God called me to minister to these ministers of God – first, for their sake and for the sake of their families. Among those in government, there are men and women whose service to us requires great sacrifice to them and to their spouses and children. They are away from home where they are as needed as you are to your home. Also, they are away from their normal business and professional endeavors for long periods of time. Beyond this, these men and women constantly live with two great challenges to their healthiness as followers of Christ. They face a steady barrage of temptations that can lead to impurity of heart, mind, and body, and they must deal with pressures and disappointments that can lead even the strongest to discouragement. So my reason for being at the State Capitol is first and foremost for these men and women.

However, I am also hopeful that these governmental leaders will have a positive impact on their colleagues (which they are) and that they will grow in the wisdom and holiness necessary to make good decisions for the people of the State of Louisiana. I am especially hopeful that they will fulfill the injunction received by King Lemuel from his wise and godly mother: “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.” (Prov. 31:8-9)

Well, dear friends, thank you again for your prayers and for your financial support of us in our work. If you are among those who receive this letter and do not participate financially, would you please consider becoming a monthly supporter? Even what you may think of as a very small contribution would be greatly appreciated. May the Lord bless you all.

In the Savior,

Rod and Bec

Disciplemaking Pastors - Following Jesus' Model; Trinity Missions Conference; Ministry to State Symposium in Dallas; Jim, Amelia, and Josiah to Kenya!

The Mission Foundation
P. O. Box 46358
Baton Rouge, LA 70895

August 23, 2009

Dear friends,

Thank you again for all that you do financially and in prayer to support us in our work. Here is a brief look back on August and a look forward to September.

In August, we continued with our weekly study of the Beatitudes at our Gathering of Men morning and luncheon meetings. Also, the Men at the Cross Conference, which focused on men discipling men, was well attended. Thank you for praying for me as I spoke at the pastors’ breakfast.

I called the men to look to Jesus as our model as disciplemaking pastors. We turned to John 17 in which Jesus is with his disciples in the upper room. He has just completed His final discourse with them and is only hours away from His execution. He lifts His eyes and begins praying to His Father. And what does He say?

In verse 4, Jesus says to His Father, “I have glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work that You gave me to do.” What was the work that He had accomplished? It is possible that Jesus was talking about everything He did in His earthly ministry. Or some have suggested that He was speaking of the work of the cross as if it had already been accomplished. But listen to what He says in verse 6: “I have manifested Your Name to the men You gave Me.” Then in verse 8, “For the words that You gave Me I have given to them.” Verse 9, “I ask on their behalf.” And verse 18, “I have sent them into the world.” – Who? Eleven men! The eleven men who were listening to Him as He prayed. They were the focus of His pastoral ministry! My prayer is that pastors everywhere would follow this model so that they might one day say to their Father, “I have accomplished the work You gave me to do.”

Trinity Evangelical Free Church, Covington – World Missions Conference, Sunday, September 13th: I am full of thanksgiving and feel very honored to be preaching in the morning worship services at Trinity Church as they and many of their missionaries will be joining together for a full day and evening of focus on world missions! Twenty-three years ago, the Lord took Bec, our boys, and me to Trinity where we were blessed to serve for seven years. Now, sixteen years later, I give thanks to God and to our dear friends at Trinity for the special privilege of being with them for their missions conference. If any of you are in that area and would like more information on the conference, you can contact Trinity at 985-893-0218. Would you please take a moment and pray for Pastor Michael Sprague and for this conference?

Ministry to State Symposium at Park City Presbyterian Church, Dallas, TX, September 21, 22: Chuck Garriott, who leads Ministry to State in Washington, D. C., has invited me to join him and several other men for a symposium in Dallas. The focus of our meeting will be four-fold. First, we will be discussing ministry activity and sharing observations of that which is taking place on the state and national levels as well as in the international context. Secondly, we will give attention to the theological and historical basis for ministry to those in government. Thirdly, we will look to the future and discuss ways in which we can be more effective in our ministry and encourage others around the country to become involved in ministry to those in government. And finally, we will pray together. Please pray above all else for our prayer time.

Jim, Amelia, and Josiah to Kenya! On September 14th, Jim and his family will be leaving to serve at Kijabe Hospital in Kenya for about six weeks. As some of you know, Jim is doing a residency in general surgery in Denver, and his wife Amelia, a pediatrician, will have just finished a fellowship in neonatology. I hope you will go to their blogspot www.kijabemission.blogspot.com to get more details. Please pray for them.



Thank you, dear friends. We thank God for you. We are praying that each of you (and we ourselves) will listen carefully to our Father with a readiness to go wherever, whenever, to do whatever He would have us do beyond the comforts of our western world.

Your brother and sister,

Rod and Bec

37 YEARS OF HAPPY ADVENTURE TOGETHER! - BEC AND I

I met Karen Rebecca Hunter on Sunday evening, October 10, 1971, after a Campus Crusade for Christ meeting at an auxillary building of the Parker Ag Center at LSU. A story that I have often told unfolded over the next 10 months. I won't try to tell it here. The end of that story was actually the beginning of a 37 year story that I like to think about even more. We were married at Rayne Memorial Methodist Church on St. Charles Ave. in New Orleans at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday afternoon, August 19, 1972.

After the reception, which was held in the fellowship hall of the church, Bec and I got into my '68 Cutlass and took off on our great adventure together! I give thanks to our Lord for His goodness to us. I am grateful to Him for the places to which He has taken us and for the many people with whom He has allowed us to enjoy friendship. I'm looking foward to the next chapters of the story!

38 Years Ago Today - Changed Forever

It was 38 years ago today --- 9:25 a.m., 1971 -- at a Campus Crusade meeting in the Marriott Hotel in Dallas, Texas that my life was forever changed by the Holy Spirit. I am very grateful to my faithful Savior that He has brought me this far, and I am trusting that He will enable me to go on to the finish line.

On October 10, 1971, at another Campus Crusade meeting, my Lord introduced me to the one who would be my lifelong sweetheart with whom I would run for the prize promised by our Lord.

Preaching in Colorado

The Mission Foundation
P. O. Box 46358
Baton Rouge, LA 70895

July 28, 2009

Dear friends,

I know that I often begin and end our letters by thanking you for your prayers and for your financial support of us in our ministry. Once again Bec and I want to tell you how grateful we are. Thank you very much.

This morning I was meditating on Joshua 21:45, “Not one of the good promises which the Lord had made to the house of Israel failed; all came to pass.” Verses 43-44 tell us specifically that the Lord gave all the land to Israel that He had sworn to their forefathers, that they possessed it and were living in it, and that God gave them victory over all of their enemies so that they had rest in the land.

My prayer for you, my brothers and sisters, is that you will experience the security that comes from knowing that “not one” – no, not one! – of God’s “good promises” will fail. The Apostle Peter says, “He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises.” Let’s ponder this together: God’s promises to you and me are “good”, they are “precious”, they are “magnificent”, they will NOT FAIL. So enter the land, possess it, live in it, and enjoy rest in your soul today.

Now for a bit of news –

Harvest Bible Church, Elizabeth, Colorado, Pastor Walt Rogers: It was a blessing to be with Pastor Walt and the HBC congregation and to have the privilege of preaching God’s Word. I give thanks for the work God has been doing in and through HBC in the town of Elizabeth, which lies about 40 miles southeast of Denver. As many of you know, Walt was involved in The Fellowship at LA Tech during our days in Ruston, LA about 30 years ago. Please pray for Walt and his wife Connie and for their children Zac (16), Remington (14), and Savannah (9).


Walt, Rod, and Jim

Providence Bible Church, Denver: Our son Jim and his wife Amelia are members of Providence, a multi-cultural church pastored by Rev. Jason Janz. We greatly enjoyed worshipping with the brethren at Providence as Jim led the music team in the morning service. On the preceding Friday night, the church held an all night prayer meeting. In the wee hours, about 4:00 a.m., some of the members went outside to check on their cars. They discovered a young Hispanic man lying in the street behind one of the cars. He was very drunk and was weeping profusely while talking on a cell phone. They asked him if he would like for them to pray for him, and he told the person on the phone that he had to get off because there were people there who wanted to pray for him. The Providence believers sat in a circle on the pavement with the young man and prayed with him and ministered to him. They invited him to come to worship at Providence on Sunday. On Sunday morning, while we were worshipping, the young man came walking down the aisle and joined one of the families who welcomed him with loving arms and tears. Soon the young man was standing before the congregation giving heart-felt testimony of how God was at work in his life. The entire congregation (probably about 300) all moved to the center aisle and prayed for him. This testimony and two others (that were similarly stirring) were then followed by Josh Larsen’s excellent exposition of Colossians 3:22 – 4:1 on “Worshipping God Through Our Work.” I have mentioned their website before, but I would like to again encourage you to go to http://www.providencedenver.org/videos.html

In addition to the worship services, I enjoyed a breakfast meeting with Walt as well as several profitable meetings with Jason and other leaders of Providence in which we discussed matters of theology and ministry. Also, Bec was blessed by her personal appointment with Jen Janz, Jason’s wife.

In case some of you are wondering, yes, Bec and I did very much enjoy getting to spend time with a special person who lives in Colorado: Josiah Wood! He is now almost 9 months old and was with us on a one-night camping trip on which his dad Jim and I caught lots of brook trout and cooked them for dinner!

Trusting in His “good promises” with you,

Rod and Bec

Youtube Video of Medical Mission to The Dominican Republic

Please click on the following to see the youtube video of our mission to The Dominican Republic. I have just received this from Beth and Joe Hitt whose sons, Lyle, Mason, and Tucker were on the missions team. It is very well done.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wK8btax3guU