February 12, 2026

Greetings in the Name of Jesus Christ,

What a joyous time for the Tate family. Our oldest daughter Emily and her husband Igor have just given us our first grandchild. Persephone Natanya Levit was born on Sunday, February 8^th. Julie and I couldn’t be happier to be grandparents for the first time. Somehow, I never thought this day would come that I would be a grandfather. I don’t think this ever crossed my mind when we left for Kenya over eighteen years ago, but here we are, grandparents. I guess at fifty-six I am old enough for that now. Gladly, Julie is there in the United States right now to celebrate Sephi’s birth. Sadly, I am not able to be there right now. I will have to wait until later to meet her. But, also joyously, another granddaughter is due later this year. Can’t wait to meet them both.

Not being present at the birth of your grandchildren is certainly sad. But even if I can’t be there right now for that event, there are still good things happening for me in Kenya. Our academic year began back in late August but there was still one group of new students that I had not yet had the privilege and pleasure of teaching in class. This group of students, however, I am now teaching in my Basic Theology class. We have all been on campus together since August, but I have not really had much interaction with them as of yet because they have not been in any of my classes. The only interaction I had with them prior to Basic Theology class was discussing financial issues with them in my office. So, on the first day of class this term I was just kind of introducing myself and telling them a little bit about myself and how I approach teaching and classes and so on. After students have had a class with me before they quickly learn that I give assignments every week that are due on Sunday evening at 11:59pm (they can turn their assignments in online, so I know exactly when they submit them). Anyway, I am somewhat well known for assignments “every Sunday evening at 11:59pm”. So, I began giving these students, whom I hardly knew at all, my normal speech about when their homework assignments were due. These students, whom I hardly knew at all, actually interrupted me and proceeded to playfully tell me that they already had heard and knew that there would be assignments due “every Sunday evening at 11:59pm”. I guess I was a little shocked, but it seems my reputation had preceded me. So, we laughed together about this and then, because interested, I asked them what else they may have heard about me and already knew about me from the other students. What they told me next left me speechless but also full of joy and contentment. They told me two other things they already knew about me. First, they told me that they knew I loved them. Second, they told me that they knew I was teaching them the Bible and about the ministry so that they could take what they learn and better minister to their people and their churches back home. Wow, this was the reputation that preceded me? They knew that I loved them and I am here spending my life teaching them because I want them to be better ministers of the Word of God and of the love of Jesus to their people? And they knew this because this was what they had heard and learned from the other students? I’m telling you right now, beloved friends, I couldn’t have scripted that answer any better even if I had tried. If there are two things I would want my students to know about me, it would be those two things. They may eventually forget everything I say in my Basic Theology class this term, but if they can know these things about me and it can rub off by them showing the same kind of love to their people and ministering better to their churches, what more could I ever ask?

Blessings to all,
Roger, Julie, & Chloe

They knew that I loved them and I am here spending my life teaching them because I want them to be better ministers of the Word of God and of the love of Jesus to their people…what more could I ever ask?

Contact Info:

Roger & Julie Tate
Moffat Bible College
P.O. Box 70
Kijabe, Kenya 00220
rojuta@gmail.com

For ministry donations:
Pastor George Sledd, Treasurer of BFM
P.O. Box 471280 | Lake Monroe, FL 32747-1280
or click here to donate to BFM online.