In Memoriam: Bishop Rufus R. Rogers
SUNRISE: SEPTEMBER 15, 1940 | SUNSET: OCTOBER 23, 2022
Who is the biblical servant? What does the servant look like, and what are the qualifications required to become one? Do I possess what it takes? For those who desire to follow in the footsteps of the servant, Bishop Rufus R. Rogers wrote The Church and Pastoral Care, where he sought to answer these questions by presenting the essential elements of the servant’s work.
To whom is the servant sent? Not to the privileged or the powerful, but to those who may be resistant, wounded, or in need, often likened to sheep in need of guidance and care. The qualifications for such service run counter to human nature, yet they are essential. The servant places the needs of others above personal interests. The shepherd-servant recognizes the vulnerability of the flock and provides care, protection, and guidance rooted in love for God and His people.
For the spouse, particularly the wife, this work highlights the indispensable role of faithful partnership. It reflects the spiritual, emotional, and personal strength required to support ministry with stability and grace.
The work of a servant is often unseen and uncelebrated, yet it is honored by the Lord. In Bishop Rufus R. Rogers, we saw a servant who stooped to lift the fallen while remaining mindful of his own humanity. His wife, Verona, a minister in the Church of God of Prophecy, wrote, “I am filled with a deep sense of gratitude and reverence for the journey my husband and I shared over nearly six decades. Our life together was a testament to the power of faith, love, and unwavering dedication to serving others.” Bishop Rogers’s heart was for pastors. He wrote The Church and Pastoral Care to pass on the experience and wisdom he gained throughout many years in ministry.
He and Verona met in a small church, bound by a mutual calling to serve and uplift their community. From the very beginning, their relationship was anchored in a shared vision of spreading hope and compassion. Their journey took them across continents, to bustling cities and remote villages, always with the mission of supporting and guiding those in need.
Passing the torch is the substance of a shepherd’s life. Sharing lessons learned through years of caring in the trenches of ministry, Bishop Rogers’s booklet highlights lessons from the heart of a faithful servant who endured adversity alongside his wife and children. The fabric of his ministry was tender care for God’s people. The tenderness with which he poured in oil and wine to the hurting, restored the fallen, and reconciled the straying was remarkable.
Minister Evelyn G. Gardiner, senior pastor (Brockton, Massachusetts) and Northern New England district supervisor, wrote of the Rogers:
Bishop Rufus and Minister Verona Rogers were both pioneers, serving with their entire family, each supporting the other with unwavering loyalty and commitment. They served as examples of a couple who both devoted themselves to each other, the service of the Lord, and the Church of God of Prophecy. The expansion of the work into areas despite hardships attests to the genuine love for God and a spark of ministry that began with his conversion when Bishop Rogers fell in love with God and later embraced a divine call on his life.
The Global Missions Ministries department recently shared the Centennial Celebration of the region where Bishop Rogers served. The Paragon Region, formerly Northeast Caribbean Region, reported the following:
In 1978, under the leadership of Bishop Rufus Rogers, the region grew to include the Leeward Islands, the ABC Islands, and Suriname. The area is multiethnic and multilingual. The languages spoken include English, Spanish, French Creole, and Papiamento.
The region continues to blaze new paths as we move into the future with the confidence that the same God who faithfully brought us through these 100 years will continue to open doors for ministry that will contribute to the growth and impact of the Church of God of Prophecy.
We honor Bishop Rufus R. Rogers for his legacy and the impact he has had on the Church of God of Prophecy.