Olivet The Magazine | First Person – Warren Rogers

Warren W. Rogers III '98/'09 M.A.R.

Looking in the rearview mirror, Warren Rogers clearly sees how God used Olivet Nazarene University to change his life. His Olivet journey began by his wanting to step out of his father's shadow and into a place where he could learn more about himself and God's calling on his life. He carried with him the grief of having lost one of his younger brothers, who was hit by a car and died at age 9.

"My father is a retired Nazarene pastor, and our family moved many times during my childhood,"Warren says. "I was born in England. I attended preschool in Los Angeles, elementary school in Mississippi, middle school in West Virginia and high school in Iowa. For college, my choice was ONU."

As an Olivet student, Warren majored in communication and worked at Shine.FM, the campus radio station.

"Professors like Dr. Jay Martinson and Dr. Beth Patrick-Trippel helped shape my undergraduate experience,"he says. "Dr. Martinson saw potential in me and encouraged me. When I was a senior, he helped me step into my dream internship at FOX32 in Chicago during the reign of the Bulls and Michael Jordan."

Warren holds a bachelor's degree in communication and a Master of Arts in Religion degree from ONU. Today, he is blessed to work for ONU as an advancement officer and nurture relationships with donors who give to help this current generation of ONU students flourish.

During his freshman year at ONU, Warren met Jeena (Samuel) '98. They married six years later and are the parents of four children. Their two older children are ONU students. Maya is a senior majoring in architectural interior design. Warren IV is a sophomore majoring in international business. They are hoping that their two younger children will choose ONU, too.

"I've been extremely fortunate to watch Maya and Warren IV flourish at Olivet,"Warren says. "Both are involved in student life activities and fully embrace the Olivet college experience. They participated in a Shalom Project ministry trip to Nicaragua with other ONU students. The trip bonded them closer as siblings and allowed them to partner with locals to impact the community with Christ's love."

Recently, Warren experienced once again ONU's commitment to living out "Education With a Christian Purpose" - this time, as a parent.

"Maya texted me and asked me to send her one of our favorite devotionals,"he recalls. "She wanted to share it with her architectural drafting class when she led their class devotion time. No matter what class the students are taking, God is part of their education. ONU is an exceptional Christian university, preparing the hearts and minds of students to carry out the Lord's restoration work in this world."

Two of Warren's passions are helping people live a generous life and helping college students step into their future.

"I am diligently cultivating a personal relationship with Jesus,"he says. "That causes me to step out in faith every day. The more I learn about generosity, the more I'm changed. I hope I'm teaching that to others every day."

From Olivet The Magazine, The Parent Issue - Autumn 2024. Read the full issue here.

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