Following Her Dream
Montana minister teaches about Martin Luther King
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| The Rev. Denise Rogers speaking at the Bozeman Public Library after a march honoring Martin Luther King, Jr., on Sunday January 14, 2007. (Photo: Doug Loneman) |
The Reverend Denise Rogers of Bozeman, Montana has had many trials throughout her life.
“The longest journey begins with the first step,” says Rogers.
She should know. The 54-year-old African Methodist Episcopal minister has survived many difficult times to become one of Bozeman’s strongest leaders.
Growing up in Cleveland, Ohio, Rogers suffered through emotional and physical abuse from her alcoholic father. When she was 7, Rogers’ mother committed suicide by jumping into Lake Erie. In school, Rogers was teased about being fat.
When times were hard she turned to books as her friends. Her favorite authors were Edgar Allan Poe and Charles Dickens. She also loved music, but her father said to her when she sang, “Shut up. You sound horrible.”
Rogers says she is no longer the fat, shy little girl she used to be. She is now a strong, confident woman living her life to the fullest “because I know God loves me so much.”
In 1992 she and her daughter moved to Bozeman, Montana, where Rogers became Bozeman’s first black minister and first woman minister.
She was sent by her bishop to the West to minister to this small Montana town, which is about 98 percent white. Though most people were accepting and welcoming, she received bomb threats and was on a Ku Klux Klan death list.
The local paper wrote a series of positive articles about Rogers. Today, she credits the paper with helping her become accepted in the community.
Rogers said she does not consider herself a minority. “Two-thirds of the world is my color, and I never considered myself a minority because it’s a position that makes you think you are less than, and I am not less than!” she said.
Rogers says she encourages kids to be leaders and loves to work with children. Her message to them is, “Accept who you are at whatever age you are. There’s something special that you can do; you have a gift. Everyone has at least one gift.”
Rogers says she encourages kids to know that they are going to be teased at some time in their lives. “I wish it were a different world, but don’t let it affect you,” she says. “If you have a dream, keep it to yourself and work towards it.”
Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King are her heroes. Rogers says she wouldn’t have a life if not for King. She says it was King’s work and dedication that gave her the freedom to live wherever she wants.
Recently, Rogers helped organize a two-day celebration in Bozeman to honor King. She spoke at the events imploring people to carry on the civil rights leader’s dream of equality for everyone.
In Bozeman, Rogers carries on the dream through her ministry by being a “prophetic voice” for the homeless, immigrants, and single mothers. She also encourages Montanans to reach out to the Native Americans who have not yet realized King’s dream.
In the 1990’s Rogers started a Hate Free Zone in Bozeman to fight bigotry. Her movement was copied throughout the world. She now plans to return to her music by recording a gospel album. She also wants to travel across the United States to speak to youth to “encourage them to follow their dreams and to let them know that no matter who you are, if you have a dream, it can come true.”
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Mila Loneman is a member of the Scholastic Kids Press Corps.
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