The Story of the Rafiki Foundation
Founders Rosemary and Robert Jensen
Rosemary McEachern Jensen
Born on July 20, 1929, Rosemary is the fourth of six children born to Don and Mayhoward McEachern. Raised near Jacksonville, Florida, Rosemary knew at an early age that she wanted to tell others about God. In the summer of 1946 when a pastor challenged a group of youth to give their lives to the foreign mission field, Rosemary felt compelled to answer the call. That one step began her journey in overseas service, first as a missionary to Tanzania, then as the executive director of Bible Study Fellowship International, and most recently as the president of the Rafiki Foundation.
Robert Travis Jensen
Born on March 19, 1926, Robert was the younger of two boys born to John and Katherine Jensen. He was born in Minot, North Dakota, but spent most of his youth in Indiana and Minnesota. When WWII began, Bob decided to join the Navy when he came of age. He was accepted in 1944 while in medical school. He hoped to serve his country during the war but did not see action at that time. After completing medical school, Bob joined the Army Medical Corps in 1948 and served as a physician in Japan and Korea during the Korean War.
Rosemary McEachern, born in 1929 in Florida, felt called to missions as a teenager and later served in the Army as an occupational therapist. Robert Jensen, born in 1926 in North Dakota, served in both the Navy and the Army Medical Corps, using his medical training to care for soldiers in Japan and Korea. The two met in Texas in 1953, married the following year, and shared the desire to serve overseas.
In 1957, with their young daughter, the Jensens moved to Tanzania. Dr. Bob established the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre, while Rosemary taught English and searched for ways to share the gospel. After nearly a decade, they returned to the U.S. to deepen their biblical training. Rosemary later served as executive director of Bible Study Fellowship for 20 years.
In 1985, Rosemary founded the Rafiki Foundation with help from Dr. Bob and others. What began with a few missionary doctors grew into a multifaceted ministry—including educators, artists, and professionals—all trained to teach the Bible. Rafiki Villages were eventually established in ten African countries.
Dr. Bob and Rosemary continued to search for ways to serve both God and his people. Dr. Bob re-entered the military and began advanced training at Johns Hopkins. He used his skills and knowledge to serve in the U.S. and in Africa. Rosemary’s heart for those in need caused the founding of the Widows Program in 1988. Through this program, she sought to provide dignified work for impoverished widows in Africa as well as theologically sound Bible study materials.
In 1992, afater being approached by the First Lady of Uganda, Rosemary prayed for a way to help the country’s 1.5 million orphans. God provided, and Rafiki began building orphanages.
Dr. Bob, now a decorated Colonel, retired from the Army and began serving as Chief of Medicine at San Antonio State Chest Hospital. He gave lectures, searched for solutions to HIV/AIDS, and wrote many papers. He continued to share the gospel wherever he worked, bringing both physical and spiritual healing.
The Jensens traveled to Africa many times for the dedication of Villages, to meet with church partners, and to oversee Village operations.
In 2014, Dr. Robert Jensen, a humble, kind, clever, and compassionate man of God, went to his eternal home with his Lord. Thousands of people benefited from his knowledge and care during his lifetime, and many continue to benefit today, both at Rafiki and at the Medical Centre in Tanzania.
Today
Rosemary Jensen lives in an assisted living facility in Mt. Dora, Florida, and continues to serve God in many ways. She is president emerita of the Rafiki Foundation and founder of the Rosemary Jensen Bible Foundation, which helps supply Bibles and theological material to churches and universities in Africa.
The vision God gave Robert and Rosemary Jensen has flourished into a beautiful ministry. Today, the Rafiki Foundation partners with 26 churches in Africa. Over 3,000 children attend the Rafiki Schools, and 8 teacher training programs have been established. The Widows Program consists of more than 15 groups of ladies, and over 700 national workers help keep the 10 Rafiki Villages operational. The first Rafiki Classical Academy in the United States was established and continues to grow each year.