Photo courtesy Kevin Clark Photography
Born and raised in the rural farming community of Fisher Branch Manitoba, Rodger never imaged music would be part of his future. For him, music was about ‘top 40’ and ‘back 40’...singing Elton John songs while driving the tractor on the solitude of the family farm.
By age 19 Rodger was employed at a construction company in Saskatchewan. An injury to his hand left him off work for an extended period of time so he took up the guitar to help with his rehabilitation. Bored with what he heard on the radio, Rodger’s sister Carole encouraged him to write his own songs.
And so he did.
Rodger immediately discovered the healing outlet music provides. His song writing and deep soul searching eventually brought him to his knees. Literally. In the late 80’s in Regina Saskatchewan, Rodger prayed and asked God: “If you’re real, show me. I need your help.” And God did, revealing His grace and forgiveness is available to all who ask.
One of the first audiences Rodger played for was at a Correctional Institution in Kamloops, BC. It was an experience that would change his life and career in two ways. First, his stereotype of a prison inmate was shattered: “There are people there that want to live life, too” says Rodger.
Second, a bright light known as Ray Parker, the facility Chaplain, made a huge impact on Rodger. “When I first saw him,” says Rodger, “I wondered how somebody could be so joyful in such a dark place.”
Rodger watched as Reverend Ray demonstrated the process of walking beside someone through life’s difficult times. It was an adept balance of listening skills, compassion, encouragement, and guiding without fixing. “The joy and the hope that he could get across to those men was amazing,” says Rodger.
Rodger knew there were hurting and captive souls on both sides of prison walls and he wanted to learn to reach out to them. His experiences at the facility and with Rev Ray shaped some of the music on his first CD Another Side to Life which was recorded in Nashville in 1999.
More CD’s would come: Nothing New Under the Sun in 2001 and Get It and Live in 2003. His latest release, Acoustically Speaking, is a celebration of life’s journey and is dedicated to those who have shared their lives and stories with Rodger.
In addition to his music ministry, Rodger holds a Diploma in Ministry from Carey Theological College and works part time as a Corporate Chaplain with Outreach Canada. He currently lives in Cloverdale, BC with his wife Heidi.
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