(RISE Ministries CEO Rob Roozeboom - KIWA Staff Photo)Washington, D.C. (Sioux County Radio) — An unexpected acknowledgment from President Donald Trump was one of the highlights of a recent trip to Washington, D.C., for RISE Ministries founder and CEO Rob Roozeboom, though he says the experience ultimately reinforced his commitment to sharing the Christian faith.
Roozeboom says he was among about 140 pastors and Christian leaders from across the country who attended an Oct. 6-8 event that included a White House briefing, a Capitol tour, and a visit to the Israeli Embassy.
During the White House portion of the trip, Roozeboom said the group was participating in worship when they learned Trump wanted to address them. Attendees were then escorted to the Rose Garden.
Roozeboom described the moment as humbling and said he was still processing the experience when he spoke with reporters.
An Invitation Worth Rearranging Plans
Roozeboom said the opportunity came through a friend who encouraged him to join a group of Iowa pastors and Christian leaders traveling to Washington.
At the time, Roozeboom already planned to attend Christian Festival Association annual meetings in Nashville, but he ultimately arranged to leave those meetings early to make the Washington visit possible.
His father helped persuade him to accept. Roozeboom was filming a ministry project in the Pella and Oskaloosa area when a call about the opportunity came through on speakerphone.
Roozeboom said he initially did not fully understand what he was agreeing to attend, but was grateful his father encouraged him.
In addition to the White House visit, he said the trip included viewing statues of Billy Graham, Martin Luther King Jr., and Ronald Reagan during a Capitol tour and networking with ministry leaders from across the country.
Bringing Renewed Purpose Home
Roozeboom says the trip reinforced the mission that has guided RISE Ministries for the past 25 years.
The visit to the Israeli Embassy also left a strong impression. Roozeboom said attendees viewed footage from the Oct. 7th attacks and heard from young people who had been injured while protecting others.
He said their experiences, along with conservations with ministry leaders in Nashville and Washington, encouraged him to approach his work with greater courage.
Roozeboom says he returned home motivated to continue sharing the message of hope he has found in Jesus and to look for additional opportunities to serve and bring that message to others.
