Our Lead Pastor Candidate: Dustin Rogers
We are so thankful for God’s guiding and sustaining hand on our church and in our committee over this past year – and for how so many of you supported us in prayer and encouragement. After many hours of evaluation and seeking what God would have for us, we are excited to present to you Dustin Rogers as our candidate for Lead Pastor of Preaching & Vision at Calvary Simpsonville.
This packet will give you basic information on Dustin and his family. We encourage you to read through this before Dustin’s visit and also do further research on your own by listening to sermons and checking out his ministry. We are confident you will be encouraged by hearing his passion for the Gospel and love for people. If you have any questions, feel free to connect with one of the members of the search committee or one of the pastors.
— Pastoral Search Committee
From Calvary’s Pastoral Team
We have really enjoyed getting to know Dustin over the past months. He has a wonderful combination of both theological and relational depth, along with true biblical humility. He loves the Word, he loves people, and he is passionate to bring truth and love to God’s people and to the lost in his community. We believe he is such a great fit with our church and our team personally and theologically, and that God has provided the man we have prayed for. We are indeed excited about what God is doing, and what He has for us in the days ahead!
About Dustin
- Born in Kentucky (age 44)
- Married to Catherine for 17 years
- Bachelor of Arts in Youth Ministry from Bob Jones University (2002)
- Youth Pastor at Grace Memorial Baptist Church in Bedford, VA for 7 years:
I was tasked with the responsibility of leading the children’s ministry and launching a youth group in a small church that had a handful of teenagers and no formal youth ministry. The fields were ripe for harvest here, and in a short time, we were able to minister among a youth group that regularly ran 40 to 50 teenagers. I taught Sunday School on Sunday mornings and ran a regular gathering for teenagers on Wednesday nights where I taught the Bible. During my time here, I also led congregational singing and had ample opportunity to preach to the whole congregation on Sunday nights.
- Lead & Founding Pastor at Heritage Bible Church, Lincoln, NE since 2009:
The vision to see an authentic, gospel-centered church planted in northeast Lincoln originated within a small group of about 15 believers who began to meet and pray together toward this end in 2006. In 2009, they invited me to move to Lincoln from Virginia to lead the launch of this new church. God has richly blessed us over these last 14 years as Heritage has grown from a small community into a thriving congregation. In September of 2023, we were able to rejoice in a milestone for us as we sent a large group of people to the south of our city in order to plant a new church.
- Regional Leader of The Gospel Coalition Nebraska
Dylan (14), Dustin, Catherine, Zoe (10), Dawson (16)
Schedule
Sunday, June 9
- 9:30 am – Combined Sunday Classes in Auditorium (6th grade and older) – Dustin shares his story
- 10:30 am – Dustin preaches in morning service
- 5:30 pm – Q&A with Dustin in Auditorium (Nursery available, children 4 and older with parents)
Wednesday, June 12
- 1:00 pm – Golden Gems Luncheon at the Graziano’s (Dustin attending)
- 6:30 pm Drop-in reception with Dustin in Atrium (College, Ladies Class, Lamplighters, Adult Bible Fellowship, Discussion Groups)
Thursday, June 13
- 6:30 pm – Drop-in reception with Dustin in Atrium (Abundant Life, Ambassadors, Encouragers, Young Marrieds, Spanish)
Sunday, June 16
- 9:30 am – Combined Sunday Classes in Auditorium (6th grade and older) – Q&A with Dustin
- 10:30 am – Dustin preaches in morning service
Sunday, June 23
- 10:30 am – Family Meeting to vote on Dustin
Relevant Links
For more information about Dustin’s beliefs, current ministry, and more, check out the links below:
Q&A from Dustin
Describe your family life and hobbies.
Thanks primarily to my wife and a great church, we have been able to enjoy a healthy work/family life balance. We’ve been committed to pursuing family as our “first congregation,” as Luther put it.
I believe it’s important and healthy for pastors to have outlets. I love golf and play some basketball with a group of guys here and enjoy the community and exercise. I also enjoy writing poetry and music as a hobby.
Describe a healthy church.
You can’t have a healthy church without sound doctrine. Moreover, this sound doctrine must be understood through the lens of the gospel. Sound doctrine is then understood and preserved through consistent exposition. When the Body gathers, Christ should be exalted through the passionate singing and preaching of His Word.
Healthy churches operate within an atmosphere of grace. It’s a place where the people have a growing awareness of just how much they have been forgiven by God and a growing eagerness to extend that grace to others. Healthy churches strive to be intentional to follow the biblical commands towards community. Elders must be humble as under-shepherds to serve the people of God. This should result in transparent and approachable leaders who invite questions and posture themselves as servants of God for God’s people. A healthy church should also be committed to the intentional advance of the gospel where they are and around the world.
What is the greatest threat to the church today?
I believe that the greatest threat to the church in any age is the threat of losing the gospel. I say this because the gospel is “the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16). The church must protect, preserve, preach, and promote the gospel. We cannot assume it and move on to “deeper things.”
Something else I try to be aware of is the tendency for reactionary swings that end up going too far. It’s easy for movements to begin in reaction to an overemphasis on one element of Christian doctrine and then swing too far in a different direction. As this is one of the ways in which the gospel can be subtly compromised and then lost, it’s so important that we seek by God’s grace to understand and uphold the whole counsel of God’s Word.
Have more questions for Dustin? You can go ahead and submit a question for our upcoming Q&A times at the link below!
