15 Years of Service at ESC:
Thank You, Sister Nancy Rogers!
When Nancy Silvers Rogers moved to Indianapolis in the early 90’s, she began looking for a church home. At Eastern Star Church (ESC), she not only discovered a home, she became part of a growing Christian family, immersed in a mission of Evangelism and Discipleship.
Over the years, Sister Rogers has blessed her church family and her community with her wisdom, leadership, teamwork and upbeat personality. Now, she’s beginning a new chapter, one that involves volunteering more, traveling with her husband, Colonel Tony Rogers, and possibly relocating to a warmer climate! After nearly 15 years on ESC’s staff, Sister Rogers is retiring on April 16, 2021.
The impact Sister Rogers or “Ms. Nan,” as she is affectionally known, has made on ESC is immeasurable. She laid a foundation for excellence serving in many roles, most recently as Executive Director of Ministries. With a membership of over 10,000 and three campuses, ESC has more than 30 ministries.
Prior to joining the church senior leadership staff, Sister Rogers was an independent consultant and principal of Silvers and Associates, a consulting practice that specialized in strategic planning, organizational development, community development, and program management and evaluation.
In her role at ESC, Sister Rogers helped strategize, plan and develop ESC’s Renewing Our Community for the Kingdom (ROCK) Initiative with the four platforms of community stability, housing, financial literacy and education.
Sister Rogers also is a former Indianapolis Deputy Mayor, and has held key senior positions at the federal, state and local government levels, and the private sector.
ESC, led by CEO and Senior Pastor Jeffrey A. Johnson, Sr., thanks Sister Rogers for her dedicated service. She’s leaving a lasting legacy at ESC. We congratulate her and look forward to seeing all the ways God blesses her in retirement.
TRIBUTES TO SIS. NANCY
“Nancy has been a vital part of the success of Eastern Star Church. I really thank God for sending her our way, and for Eastern Star Church, Nancy and I to connect in the way we have. Together, we have made a big difference in the church and the community.”
“When I think of Nancy I think of wisdom, I think of humanity, and I think of hard work. Rarely do you have a conversation with Nancy without talking about meaningful data and meaningful outcomes. Nancy talks about, ‘Here’s what we’re trying to get to, so how do we get there?’ She talks about the fact that we need to be able to measure it, and then also be able to accomplish it for our church. She consistently demonstrates her love for her church.” ”
“I’ve always appreciated Nancy’s willingness to be available to help on whatever might be needed. She is incredibly talented. For her, it can’t just be a job here; it’s much more than that. She has always given over and above what might be expected in her role, and she had the ability to do that. She’s been blessed.”
15 YEARS OF IMPACT
Q & A WITH SISTER NANCY ROGERS
We asked Sister Nancy Rogers about her reflections, insights and plans as she embarks on her next chapter.
ESC: April 16th is the day you retire, what kinds of emotions are you feeling right now?
Sister Rogers: I think the emotion of turning from vocation — to the opportunity to pursue advocation. My husband and I will both be retiring around the same time and there are things we want to do. There are organizations that we hold close to our heart that we would really like to give some roll-up-the-sleeve volunteer time. We’re travelers so we’re really looking forward to stepping that up. Just knowing that our time now can be spent on some other things that are important and very interesting to us. These are the things now that will make our heart sing.
ESC: How did you come to work for Eastern Star Church?
Sister Rogers: I joined Eastern Star Church about 29 years ago, when I first came to Indianapolis I was searching for a church home. And immediately the Christian Education people put me to work. I was working as a volunteer, I was teaching Sunday school, I was participating in some of the events. And then I was asked to consider coming onboard to work for the Christian Education Department and head that up. Over the years, as we’ve been able to spread our wings and go into more community development activities through the ROCK initiative, then my department began to evolve into what we now call the Department of Ministries.
ESC: How did your experience in Government, including as a former Deputy Mayor, transfer to your work at Eastern Star Church?
Sister Rogers: As a Deputy Mayor the one thing you do learn is you’re closer to the people. When I came to Eastern Star Church it’s sort of the same, where we’re close to the congregation, so we have to be very careful in our messaging, we have to be very careful in our policymaking because of the implications. It’s good for us to have a whole lot of ideas, but we have to filter them and we’ve got to look at them and say, in the end are we really getting those results and outcomes that we need? Just because it’s an idea or a good idea is it the idea for us at the given time that we’re talking about it?
ESC: What has been your greatest accomplishment at Eastern Star Church?
Sister Rogers: Pouring into others. What is it that you know? Well, let somebody else know that too. I went from a staff of five when I first got there, now to a staff of close to probably 40. What I like to do is spend time developing the staff. I knew I wouldn’t be there forever, but we do have some folks who are choosing this as their vocation and full-time ministry and I think it’s important that we pour into our people all that we have, all that we experience. I don’t think God blesses us to experience working out of the country, working in different cities, and understanding and learning things just to keep that. What I’ve been telling my staff for the last couple of years, as we try to push more people out front, I want to be the background to your foreground. I want to see you out front doing the things that need to get done, then I can be in the background coaching, helping, nudging, doing whatever is necessary.
ESC: What are some of your favorite memories at Eastern Star Church?
Sister Rogers: When I first came to Eastern Star and I became a member of the board, and Pastor Johnson sat in that conference room, I’ll never forget, we had just gotten to 30th street, and he said we’re going to do some stuff out here in this neighborhood. We’re not just going to be a church out here on 30th street — we are going to do some things. So my fondest memory right now is to see the ROCK initiative… to say now we really can do some of these things. We’re doing community development with impact because it’s been thoughtful, it’s been mission-oriented, it’s been a prayerful initiative. To see us go outside the walls like we’re doing to battle a food desert with a fresh market, and battle certain insecurities with the ability to do housing, mortgages and rental, and to come alongside and really help people in a very tangible way. I will always take that away with me.
ESC: Describe your time at Eastern Star Church in three words.
Sister Rogers: Interesting; Because when we work with thousands of people, it is going to get interesting! People’s perspectives — staff, congregation and community. I think you’re always learning in that regard. Where are those perspectives coming from? It’s taught me to be as open and broadminded as I possibly can be.
Prayerfully led; With Eastern Star Church, we are unapologetically prayerful. We’ll start a meeting with prayer. You can pray with somebody who needs you. We pray about our decisions, about our plans. God, what do you want to see?
Knowledge; If you can come to Eastern Star Church with an open-mind, you’re going to learn something. Every week there was something that I could learn and get my thinking aligned with — not only what we do that is mission-led, but also, what kinds of things touch my heart. Every week there was something to be learned and that’s wonderful on a job. You don’t always want to be the person who knows it all — you want to be the person who receives knowledge too.
ESC: What will you miss most about being on the staff at Eastern Star Church?
Sister Rogers: I’m going to miss seeing a church walk into its destiny. By that I mean, Churches know what they’re supposed to do, what they’re set up to do — biblically you are to evangelize and then disciple those you have evangelized. But at Eastern Star Church, I believe we take it a step further in how we do things. We just continue to build upon another success; God’s blessing us and we extend that — God blesses us then we expand that — God blesses us then we’re reaching out further. I think that’s what I’m going to miss the most is just seeing Eastern Star Church walk into that destiny. I’ll be around for a while — my husband and I, we no longer want snow and ice! So at some point we’re going to say goodbye to the snow and ice. But it’s been a wonderful time at Eastern Star Church.
LIFELONG PARTNER
During her retirement, Sister Nancy Rogers plans to spend a lot more time with her husband, Colonel Tony Rogers, exploring new destinations.
NANCY-ISMS
When it comes to motivating colleagues and team members, no one does it quite like Sister Nancy Rogers. We talked to a few employees at Eastern Star Church to collect their favorite “Nancy-isms” — the unique and effective phrases and terms Sis. Rogers employed to get things done.
Here are a few inspiring ones:
“Cut out all the yah, yah …”
“Don’t make me hit that head …”
“Don’t knee-jerk decisions …”
“That dog don’t hunt …”
“Somebody with some sense … “
“Hold on, hold on … “
“Skin in the game … “
“Politics with a small ‘p’ …”
“What’s the mechanics and outcomes?”: Who does it touch? … “
“Don’t go down in the weeds …”
“Details, details, details …”
“Low-hanging fruit …