LAST LESSON #249 — IN MEMORIAM

Dear friend of Rafiki,

It is with profound sadness, yet deep gratitude and hope in Christ, that we share the news of the passing of Rosemary McEachern Jensen, founder of the Rafiki Foundation. Rosemary went to be with the Lord on May 31, 2026, after a life marked by faithful service, steadfast vision, and a deep love for God’s Word.

Those who worked alongside Rosemary remember her as a woman of strong conviction and determination. Her work has left a lasting impact on countless lives throughout the world and for generations to come.

Rosemary had a clear sense of calling—to bring the truth of God’s Word to all and the gift of Christian education to Africa—and she pursued that calling with remarkable focus for decades.

Long before Rafiki, Rosemary and her husband, Dr. Robert T. Jensen, served as medical missionaries in East Africa, where together they helped found the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre in Tanzania. While raising their three daughters, Rosemary also taught at the International Elementary School.

Later, as General Director of Bible Study Fellowship (BSF), God used Rosemary to guide that organization to extraordinary growth over her twenty-year tenure, resulting in 971 BSF classes worldwide and nearly 250,000 people engaged in Bible study through the ministry. In 1985, Rosemary and Dr. Jensen established the Rafiki Foundation with the goal of helping Africans know God and raise their standard of living.

What began as a vision grew into a network of Rafiki Training Villages across ten African countries. These Villages support programs in classical Christian education, Bible study, orphan care, teacher training, outreach, and the marketing of handmade crafts made by widows. Thousands of children and widows have benefited from these schools and programs, receiving the doctrines of grace and the foundation for fruitful lives.

Key to Rosemary’s vision for long-term impact was a strong commitment to partnering with African Protestant denominations. This eventually equipped over 30 denominations and more than 35 seminaries with Rafiki’s Bible study materials, Bibles, and sound theological resources—laying the foundation for the discipling of millions of Africans.

Rosemary’s commitment to sound doctrine extended beyond Rafiki into the broader Reformed evangelical world. She was a member of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals, founded in 1994 by Dr. James Montgomery Boice, to call the church back to the theological foundations of the Reformation. Serving alongside towering figures such as Dr. Boice, Dr. R.C. Sproul, and D.A. Carson, Rosemary was notably the only woman among the Alliance’s founding council—a testament to her theological depth and the respect she had earned among the foremost Reformed leaders of her generation.

Rosemary authored two books, Praying the Attributes of God and Living the Words of Jesus, both of which encouraged numerous Christians in their walk with the Lord. She also edited Humble Heroes, a collection of biographical sketches of African church leaders.

In her later years, Rosemary founded the Rosemary Jensen Bible Foundation, which helped catalyze the distribution of over half a million Bibles through the Rafiki Foundation across ten African countries. Pastors, church leaders, and children all benefited from receiving their own Bibles. She also served on the board of the Rafiki Classical Academy. Loved by the students, she was fondly known as “Grandmama Rosemary” and was a constant advocate for the school in the community.

Rosemary believed that lives are transformed through the truth of Scripture, and she worked tirelessly to ensure that children, teachers, and communities had access to that truth. Colleagues often spoke of her unwavering commitment to both discipleship and practical care.

A devoted wife, Rosemary made it a priority to share her work and values with her family, taking her daughters, sons-in-law, and grandchildren with her on trips to Africa. Dr. Jensen predeceased her, and Rosemary spent her final days in the company of her three daughters. 

Rosemary is survived by her three daughters, Annie Jensen Holland, Katherine Jensen Cook, and Tova Jensen Kreps with their husbands Brandy, DC, and Israel; nine grandchildren and nineteen great-grandchildren; her sister Cecil McEachern Young, and her family; multiple nieces, nephews, extended family, friends, and the entire “Rafiki family,” including thousands of children in Africa and America who knew her as “Mama Rosemary.”

Though she was eager to be with the Lord and to be reunited with her husband, she will be deeply missed by the thousands she inspired to know God and serve Him.

While her earthly ministry has come to a close, her legacy endures in the countless lives touched through Rafiki’s work, the teaching of Scripture, and those who carry forward the mission she began. Rosemary’s legacy spans the globe from America to Africa and beyond, and we give thanks for her life and faithful service. We pray for peace and comfort for all who mourn, holding fast to the hope of eternal life through Christ.

Many tributes to Rosemary will be shared in the coming weeks, but the best way to honor her legacy is to pursue the mission God has given Rafiki with even greater zeal and a desire to bear abundant fruit.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, June 13, 2026, at 11 a.m. EDT at Saint Andrew’s Chapel, 5525 Wayside Dr., Sanford, Florida.

In lieu of flowers, Rosemary and the family request that gifts be made to the Rafiki Foundation in honor of Rosemary’s life and legacy here.

Grace and Peace,

Karen J. Elliott

To read more about Rosemary’s life and ministry, visit her 

memorial website.

LAST LESSONS #248 — PRAYER REQUEST

“Ask and it will be given to you ….” (Matthew 7:7)

I am writing to you this week on behalf of a friend of mine who needs prayer. You may know him. His name is Ben Sasse. I first met Ben when he spoke to the Council (of which I was a member) of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals (ACE) in 1997 in Philadelphia. Ben was then a very young man. We were all impressed with his knowledge of politics and his faith. Ben later became a Senator for Nebraska and finally the President of the University of Florida. We kept up with each other mostly because my great-granddaughter, Gracie Roach, became the roommate with the Sasses’ daughter Alex.

Why I am writing to you this week is to ask you to pray for Ben and his family. Ben has recently been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and as he has said, “given a death sentence.” He has gone to the M.D. Anderson Hospital in Houston for treatment. I stay in touch with his wife, Melissa, and asked her if I could ask you to pray as she has asked me to pray. Here is what she is asking:

Please pray:

• that the chemo will shrink the tumors so the pain will lessen.
• that there will be less nausea.
• that we will continue to trust the word of God as better than daily bread.
• that my children will be protected from the lies of the evil one and that this will be used to grow their faith. It’s tough to see their strong dad losing so much weight and becoming so weak.
• that this can be used to draw people to Christ and for God to be glorified.
• by faith for healing, but mostly pray, Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

I know that God answers prayer in one way or another and that he uses everything for his glory. Since you read this blog, you are probably a Christian who prays. Thank you for praying with me for Ben and his family.

LAST LESSONS #247 — CHRISTMAS 2025

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6

This will be my last LAST LESSON this year, but I can’t skip this message. Mostly, because I want to tell you how grateful I am to God for your faithfulness to read all my ramblings. I’m not sure how many blogs I will send out next year. That will depend on the Lord’s will. He will show me IF he wants me to write, and WHAT he wants me to write.

I know you are grateful to God too for all he has done and been to you in 2025. What a gracious God we have. Because we are his, everything he brought into our lives in 2025 has turned out for our good (Romans 8:28)—even if we did not see it at the time. So—“Come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord.”

Have a blessed Christmas and a wonderful New Year. 

LAST LESSONS #246 — WATCH AND LISTEN

“To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight, to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity; to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth—Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance.” Proverbs 1:2-5

There are a couple of people that I have learned from over the years that I want to suggest to you because I know you can trust them. You can get both of them on your electronic devices (computer, iPad, or cell phone). One of them is Al Mohler. His THE BRIEFING comes on each morning during the week, and it is free. Al Mohler is the president of the Southern Baptist Seminary and Boyce College. He gives today’s news from a Christian perspective, and I have learned so much about what is going on today from him, without all the other media bias.

My other suggestion for getting a great biblical perspective for today is Mike Horton’s SOLA MEDIA. I have known Mike Horton for a long time. He was with us on the Council for the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals (ACE). SOLA MEDIA is also free to watch, and Mike discusses (with others) Christian issues facing the church today. It’s very good.

Finally, I want to suggest a book that you might want to give to your pastor for Christmas. It’s called 50 PEOPLE THAT EVERY CHRISTIAN SHOULD KNOW, written by Warren Wiersbe. I am giving it to the pastors of the two churches I support. I think it will encourage them in their preaching as they read of other preachers with their struggles in preaching the Word of God. I was fascinated by learning about these people. Please read the book yourself. You will find it very interesting.

God has given us some wonderful resources so that we might become wiser and so we might know HIM better.  

LAST LESSONS #245 — BIBLES FOR KENYA

“So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come.” Psalm 71:18

I was reading in Psalms this morning and came across this verse that states exactly what I want to do in my waning years. That’s why I am attempting at this time to get 20,000 HOLY BIBLE FOR KIDS to the Anglican Church in Kenya for their schoolchildren. These children are some of the next generation in Africa and the Anglicans are asking for the Bibles because they know that these children will not only read them, but they will take them home to read to their whole families. The children have learned to read in the Anglican-run schools because the schools are using the Rafiki Classical Christian School curriculum that Rafiki has provided for them free of charge. What they do not have is Bibles!

The ROSEMARY JENSEN BIBLE FOUNDATION provides these Bibles and at this time has part of the funds necessary to purchase (at a good discount) 20,000 Bibles from Crossway Publishers but we still need about $50,000. If you are interested in helping, checks should be sent to RJBF, P.O. Box 488, Eustis, FL 32757.

LAST LESSONS #244 — NEEDED

“Do your best to come to me soon. For Demas, in love with this world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry. … When you come, bring the cloak left with Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments.” 2 Timothy 4:9-13

Apparently, Paul needed some help from Timothy. I just had my 96th birthday, (July 20th) and everyone, especially my family, was most kind to me. Of course, they said that I would live to be 100! Well, I don’t want to live to be 100. I am ready to go to heaven to be with Jesus unless I am needed here on earth.

Since God has left me here on earth, I have been asking him where I am needed. He has made it clear that I would be useful in helping to raise the funds needed to build the permanent Rafiki Classical Academy (RCA) building. This building is dear to my heart. Its purpose is threefold:

1. It will meet the local needs for a classical Christian school since it will be the only classical Christian school in Lake County.
2. Rafiki will use the school to train teachers to work in the schools in our Rafiki Villages in ten countries in Africa.
3. It will serve as a model and a training facility for those in the United States who want to start their own classical Christian school. They can receive the excellent curriculum that Rafiki provides.

No doubt you can see why I am glad to be involved in more than just being on the board for the RCA.

This RCA involvement will be taking most of my time, so I will not be writing blogs regularly as I have in the past. You don’t need them, but I will write a blog when I think it might be helpful for you to hear from me.

In the meantime, I would appreciate hearing from you if you have any friends who might want to give to the RCA fund. We need close to ten million dollars to build this school that will go from preschool through eighth grade. Know any billionaires? Or a few millionaires?

And for you, are you doing a work that is needed? Don’t waste this time in your life. Ask God where you are needed, and he will show you. He has always shown me. Just wait. “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him…” Psalm 37:7.

In the meantime, if you need me for anything, I’m here for you.

Rosemary

LAST LESSONS #243 — PREACHERS

“But how are they to call on him to whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?” Romans 10:14

When I heard of John MacArthur’s death this week, I was extremely saddened. I knew that one more of the great teachers of God’s Word had left us. Where are America’s great preachers today? Charles Spurgeon is gone. James Montgomery Boice is gone. John Stott is gone. J. I. Packer is gone. Tim Keller is gone. R.C. Sproul is gone. And now John MacArthur is gone.

I am grateful that we still have Scottish preacher Sinclair Ferguson who commutes from Scotland to preach regularly in the United States. And I am grateful for some great teachers like Robert Godfrey and Michael Horton. But I do not know of many “great preachers” today.

I am sure that God will raise up young men to fill the empty places left by these “greats,” but if ever we needed powerful trustworthy preaching, it is now. As I see it, some churches are called to plant new churches, some churches are called to send missionaries, and some are called to produce great preachers who can teach for changed lives as well as call sinners to repent and believe in Jesus Christ. The church where I am a member is one of those churches.

We have a very good preacher with the potential of being a “great.” He is still young, so he has many years to preach. He will become great. I also know that the devil attacks great preachers. That’s why I pray for my pastor every day.

Are you praying for your pastor every day?