Gertha Rogers
CEO & Founder
Loyce
Johnson
President -
E-Mail Here
P.O. Box 7324
The Woodlands, TX 77087
281-687-2696
See 2007 Governor's Award Below
Premier Prison Ministry in Texas and beyond, serving prisons, prison staff, volunteers and the families of all for over twenty years, all to the Glory of God. Affectionately designated the
Queen of Prison Ministry
Click Here to See News Article
by Chaplain Michael Maness of the Gib Lewis Unit, for her unqualified love and dedication to helping prisoners for over 25 years and her support for staff and prison chaplains.
Gertha and her team serve God in a gracious, dynamic, multi-faceted and sensitive ministry. She has visited most of Texas' 100+ prisons and has ministered to chaplains, wardens and many of the top prison leaders in Texas.
She and her team care and have paved the way for many other Texas prison ministries.
2007
Texas Governor's
Award
Austin, Texas, March 24,
2007
Gertha
Rogers of Coldspring was presented the Governor’s 2007 Criminal Justice
Volunteer Service Award today in recognition of her volunteer service in
providing ministry to inmates incarcerated within the Texas Department of
Criminal Justice.
The
award was presented by Christina Melton Crain, Chairman of the Texas Board
of Criminal Justice, and TDCJ Executive Director Brad Livingston during a
ceremony held in Austin. Rogers is one of 13 individuals and 6 organizations
from across the state recognized for their efforts to help inmates and those
who are on parole or probation.
Rogers, known to many as “Sister Gertha,” began volunteering in 1994 and
continues her efforts today as
president of the Joy Prison Ministry. She brings her ministry to a number of
TDCJ prison units, helping inmates find an alternative to a self-destructive
lifestyle. Last year, services were held at the Darrington, Eastham, Ellis,
Byrd, Young, Wynne, Lewis, Clemens and Duncan units, as well as in the
Lychner and Kegans state jails.
Rogers, an active member of Grace Christian Fellowship Church and former
registered nurse, began her prison ministry in 1981, shortly after her
husband died.
“My
husband died on July 19, 1981, and radio station KJOJ in October 1981
inspired me to call the station and take two prisoners in the Lord’s work.
I began prison ministry with those two inmates,” she recalls. “God has
blessed me with several hundred volunteer helpers since then, and I began a
radio, pen-pal and preaching ministry throughout the state.”
Rogers has received several certificates and recognitions from TDCJ units
honoring her dedication. She said that she is particularly proud that some
of her volunteers who are also TDCJ employees and chaplains.
Rogers has eight
children, 23 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren and by her estimation,
“15,000 spiritual children.”
Marriot at
Greenspoint
Houston, Texas, October 3, 2003
Christina Melton Crain, Chairman of the Texas Board of Criminal Justice, honored Sister Gertha and Joy Prison Ministry with the following keynote address at the ministry's annual banquet.
Sister
Gertha with
TBCJ Chairperson
Christina Melton Crain's 2003 Keynote Address
It is a pleasure to be here today to represent the Board and express our appreciation to Sister Gertha Rogers and Joy Ministries.
Sister Rogers began her ministry work in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice over 22 years ago. Focusing her work at that time in the Huntsville area, she visited offenders providing support and guidance. Gaining the respect of agency and unit leadership through her devotion to her faith in the Lord, her group became the first woman ministry allowed on Death Row. Over the last 14 years, Sister Rogers has expanded her ministry to serve facilities in the Houston and Gatesville areas.
Joy Ministries has been an effective ministry to the incarcerated. Its success is greatly due to the compassion, love, and faith exhibited to the ministry's volunteers. They reach out to all offenders, crossing over all ethnicities and religious affiliations. Their work instills pride and helps the offenders develop a desire to improve their lives.
Sister Rogers has earned the respect of offenders, their families, wardens, chaplains, and agency administrators. As the offenders talk about her work, Joy Ministries continues to expand. At this time, through the recruitment of additional members, Sister Rogers is now able to send ministry members to other units simultaneously in various parts of the state.
Not only is Joy Ministries growing within Texas, it has expanded across state lines and is ministering to offenders incarcerated in Iowa and Kansas. Sister Rogers even hopes some day to go international, a goal I am sure she will achieve.
The work of Sister Rogers and Joy Ministries have been a great benefit to the offenders. It has also been a tremendous benefit to the Department of Criminal Justice. Particularly now, as the agency has had to dramatically reduce the number of chaplains on the units, Joy Ministries and similar volunteer groups have allowed us to bridge the gap by providing ministry, worship, and counseling services.
Sister Gertha, you are a tremendous individual. You radiate energy and compassion for your work with the offenders. Your loving heart and your dedication to improving the lives of others have earned you the respect of many. You have the appreciation of the Board, the agency, and the State of Texas.
Christina Melton Crain, Chairman
Texas Board of Criminal Justice
October 3, 2003
