Some of you have asked me about Ivan A. Rogers–one of my most faithful readers and commenters on this blog. Ivan often used my blog to promote his books which are about God’s universal grace and salvation. I permitted him some freedoms here that I do not ordinarily extend to people.
I am told Ivan, in his late eighties, passed away since yesterday when he posted a comment responding to my blog post about Oliver Stone.
Ivan was one of my oldest friends. Let me explain. Ivan was converted to Christ and called to the gospel ministry under my father’s ministry many, many years ago. He attended Bible college and then was ordained a Pentecostal pastor. He dedicated me to the Lord when I was an infant.
Ivan served many, many years as a Pentecostal pastor, denominational leader, and college president. In fact, he was president of the college I attended and graduated from.
Late in life Ivan became convinced of universal salvation and was persecuted for that by the very denomination he had served so faithfully and at such high levels for many years. His ministerial credentials were revoked for that alone. In my opinion, a very sad way to treat someone who has served so faithfully and so long.
Ivan’s son Steve is also a regular participant here. (But there are two “Steve Rogers” here, so it’s sometimes confusing.)
I often allowed Ivan to say things here I did not agree with and occasionally things I would not have allowed others to say here. The reason should be obvious; he was a dear friend and someone I admired very much for his faithfulness in service and his courage in expressing his convictions.
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