Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Vivian Janice Durbin - Eulogy

Vivian “Janice” Rogers Durbin was born on July 15, 1933, in Mine La Motte, MO to Lloyd Glenwood and Blanche Elizabeth (Scott) Rogers. Janice was the oldest of three children. Janice accepted Christ as her personal Savior and was baptized at the age of 7 in the little creek in Mine La Motte. Janice graduated from school in 1951 and was the valedictorian of her class. Janice grew up with a love for singing, and joined the Rogers Quartet at the age of 13. She met her husband, Elmer “Lloyd” Durbin when he joined the Rogers Quartet. Janice and Lloyd were united in marriage on December 4, 1952 and were blessed with fifty-seven years of marriage. Janice and Lloyd had two children. Roger Dale was born in 1956 and Mary Elizabeth “Beth” was born in 1964.

Janice held a few jobs such as bookkeeper, secretary, and store clerk, but made taking care of her family and fulfilling the role of “minister’s wife” her career. Lloyd referred to her as his “spiritual director”. Janice also made time to squeeze in the roles of “singer” and “piano teacher”. Beginning in 1961, Janice served as the “minister’s wife” to many church congregations: Mill Creek Free Will Baptist Church for 21 years (two different times), O’Fallon Free Will Baptist Church for 1 year, Mine La Motte Free Will Baptist Church for 15 years (two different times), and most recently, First Free Will Baptist Church of Fredericktown for 5 years. Janice traveled across Missouri and the surrounding states for over 50 years singing the gospel first with the Rogers Quartet and later with The Durbin Family. Throughout her lifetime, Janice taught dozens of men and women to play the piano and served the Lord faithfully through many other positions such as Sunday School teacher, church pianist, church camp counselor, church camp teacher, and Vacation Bible School teacher. Janice was a member of First Free Will Baptist Church of Fredericktown.

Janice passed away on July 23, 2010, at the age of 77 years at St. Clare Hospital in Fenton, MO. She is preceded in death by her parents, and one daughter, Mary Elizabeth Durbin Standley. Janice is survived by her husband, Lloyd, one son, Roger (Tamera) Durbin of Farmington, five grandchildren, Andrea (Rick) Pirtle of DeSoto, Rachel (Micah) Inman of Ironton, Benjamin (Becky) Durbin of Farmington, Seth (Amanda) Durbin of Park Hills, and Isaac Standley of Fredericktown. Janice is also survived by six great-grandchildren, Trevor and Taylor Pirtle, Nolan and Evan Inman, Brylee and Halle Durbin, and has one great grandchild (Addelynn Joy Durbin) who will arrive this September. Janice is also survived by one sister, Phyllis (Clyde) Berry of Bonne Terre, one brother, James “Jimmy” Rogers of Mine La Motte, Richard (Barb) Standley of California, and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Janice always loved this poem by CT Studd :

“Two little lines I heard one day,Traveling along life’s busy way;
Bringing conviction to my heart, And from my mind would not depart;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.
Only one life, yes only one, Soon will its fleeting hours be done;
Then, in ‘that day’ my Lord to meet, And stand before His Judgement seat;
Only one life,’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.
Only one life, the still small voice, Gently pleads for a better choice
Bidding me selfish aims to leave, And to God’s holy will to cleave;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.
Only one life, a few brief years, Each with its burdens, hopes, and fears;
Each with its clays I must fulfill, living for self or in His will;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.
When this bright world would tempt me sore, When Satan would a victory score;
When self would seek to have its way, Then help me Lord with joy to say;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.
Give me Father, a purpose deep, In joy or sorrow Thy word to keep;
Faithful and true what e’er the strife, Pleasing Thee in my daily life;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.
Oh let my love with fervor burn, And from the world now let me turn;
Living for Thee, and Thee alone, Bringing Thee pleasure on Thy throne;
Only one life, “twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.
Only one life, yes only one, Now let me say,”Thy will be done”;
And when at last I’ll hear the call, I know I’ll say “twas worth it all”;
Only one life,’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last. ”


Janice spent her lifetime serving God, knowing what’s done for Christ will last. She was a true example of what it looks like to surrender your whole life to Jesus. She leaves behind a legacy of ministers, ministers’ wives, Sunday School teachers, worship leaders, small group leaders, musicians, and a host of family and friends who will see Janice again in Heaven.

Sunday, July 25, 2010

Vivian Janice Durbin



I have been hearing many terrific stories about grandma Janice and how her life impacted others. If you have a story to tell about her, our family would love to hear it. These can be serious or funny stories. Grandma left us this past Friday to be with Jesus, but her impact on us all remains.

Would you like to share a story? Here are some questions to help get you started. Share your story in the comment section below.

What about her life impacted you the most?
What was your favorite memory with Janice?
What did she teach you?
What about her made you laugh?
What was your favorite song to hear her sing?

Our family would like to thank everyone for the prayers, friendship, and food. And we look forward to reading your stories!

Friday, July 23, 2010

Haiti 2010

I had the privilege of traveling to Haiti early in July for a mission trip. Below is a picture video that captures our time there. We worked with Growing Hope for Haiti to begin constructing a community in Leogane, and we provided VBS to some local tent villages and orphanages. We are continuing our mission efforts in Haiti and are planning two trips in 2011. I will be blogging about our continued efforts in the future, but check out this video put together by Michael Goldsmith for now!

Haiti 2010 from Roger Durbin on Vimeo.

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Preview of upcoming CD/DVD

Take a peak at the first song from The Bridge Community Church's upcoming CD/DVD from "A Night of Worship"

<---video embedded at benjamindurbin.com --->

All Because Of Jesus from Roger Durbin on Vimeo.


The upcming CD/DVD includes:

1. All Because of Jesus
2. Sing, Sing, Sing
3. Your Love
4. Beautiful Jesus
5. Lead Me To The Cross
6. How He Loves
7. It Is Well
8. Glory To God Forever
9. Today Is The Day
10. God Is With Us
11. Happy Day
12. Jesus Paid It All
13. No One Greater/The Stand
14. God Is Alive

More details TBA

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

I want to be a radical

Do you really believe that Jesus is worth abandoning everything for?

Do you and I really believe that Jesus is so good, so satisfying, and so rewarding that we will leave all we have and all we own and all we are in order to find our fullness in him? Do you and I believe him enough to obey him and to follow wherever he leads, even when the crowds in our culture--and maybe in our churches--turn the other way? - David Platt in Radical

I am back from Haiti with a very unsatisfied feeling with where we are as a people. I want to be a part of a people who delight in him like the brothers and sisters that worship in a shack in Haiti who have nothing but Him. And I want to be a part of a people who are risking it all for him.

For the sake of more than a billion people today who have yet to even hear the gospel, I want to risk it all. For the sake of twenty-six thousand children who will die today of starvation or a preventable disease, I want to risk it all. For the sake of my life, my family, and the people who surround me, I want to risk it all.

It is time to re-orient our lives around a radical abandonment to Jesus.




P.S. I highly recommend that everyone read Radical by David Platt. It is the most important book I have read this year.