Update from the Blanchards in France
November 14, 2015
Thank you for your prayers, and please continue to pray for France. Pray for wisdom and courage for the French leaders. But even more, please pray that our Lord will bring good out of evil, and somehow use this tragedy to bring others to know the One who gave His life as a sacrifice, the perfect sacrifice, so that others may have eternal life.» Read the rest of this post.
Tokens of Love and Gratitude to Christ | Part 17
August 17, 2015
Yet, contentment was illusive. Family tragedy was constant. It begged the question: if the Emperor Franz and his Empress, for whom every desire known to human beings was fulfilled many times over, were unable to find fullness of life, then how can the rest of us expect anything different?» Read the rest of this post.
Tokens of Love and Gratitude to Christ | Part 16
August 14, 2015
The Roma in Ukraine brim with warmth and express genuine gratitude to us for visiting their village. To mix with this struggling group of joyous human beings could not but inspire our hearts, slow our pace, and prompt searching questions such as what it is that actually constitutes fullness of life.» Read the rest of this post.
Tokens of Love and Gratitude to Christ | Part 15
August 9, 2015
It is not lost on the rest of eastern Europe that the Russian bear is stirring. People, who for forty years were oppressed by the Soviet system, now are speaking forebodingly about Vladimir Putin and his nationalistic agenda. Poland, the Baltics, Ukraine – in these countries people are very wary.» Read the rest of this post.
Tokens of Love and Gratitude to Christ | Part 14
August 6, 2015
We praise God for the youth retreat at Lake Powell. Similarly, exciting reports poured out about this year’s VBC. The summer preaching series on the gospel of Luke has been so very rich. our missionaries in Slovakia are doing Christ’s work diligently, prayerfully, and effectively. On both sides of our beautiful earth, then, Camelback Bible Church is throwing itself – with full heart and energy – into the greatest work all.» Read the rest of this post.
Tokens of Love and Gratitude to Christ | Part 13
August 2, 2015
Taken aback, I asked Pavel whether he would then welcome a return to Communism. He responded instantly: ‘Absolutely not, we are far better off without it.’ In the next many moments, and in my presence, he expressed tremendous grief over the fact that the Bible-believing churches of Slovakia are only partly full. He said the empty seats on Sunday mornings were impossible for him to bear, knowing that each seat represented a soul who might otherwise be introduced to new life in Jesus Christ.» Read the rest of this post.
Tokens of Love and Gratitude to Christ | Part 12
July 30, 2015
It was here that the grandmother celebrated our visit by cupping my cheeks with her dirty hands and pulling me to her chaffed and bloody lips for three successive kisses. Had I anticipated such a moment before the fact, it surely would have made me wince. But I can honestly say that in real life the woman’s expression of affection humbled me and filled me with joy.» Read the rest of this post.
Tokens of Love and Gratitude to Christ | Part 11
July 26, 2015
Without prior thought, my first words were: ‘I was born in Hollywood, California.’ That produced a spate of giggles and I could tell I was off to a good start. Other superficial details ensued, and, then, about half way through my ‘presentation’ I felt a clear tug of the heart to begin addressing a matter of utmost importance – Jesus Christ and how he had changed my life.» Read the rest of this post.
Tokens of Love and Gratitude to Christ | Part 10
July 23, 2015
That was the last evening I spent with mamma. The next day, we were forced to board a truck. Calo was there too, but my little brother Besso was not. The adults were allowed to wave us goodbye. In her desperation to give us something, my mamma took off her socks and gave us one each.» Read the rest of this post.
Tokens of Love and Gratitude to Christ | Part 9
July 19, 2015
None of us wanted to visit Auschwitz. We talked about it – Lesli, Jon and I – and agreed it would be unendurable. We also agreed it was unavoidable. For two reasons: 1) It is important to reckon with the worst of human behavior in order to seek out a solution; and 2) It is essential to honor human life by commemorating those whose lost their lives so viciously, painfully, and needlessly.» Read the rest of this post.
Tokens of Love and Gratitude to Christ | Part 8
July 16, 2015
We drove south four hours to one of Europe’s most beautiful cities, Krakow, Poland. Unlike Warsaw, Krakow survived World War II relatively unscathed, and it is an architectural masterpiece. It was a blessing to spend a day and a night in this elegant city, drinking in the best of human creativity.» Read the rest of this post.
Tokens of Love and Gratitude to Christ | Part 7
July 11, 2015
Feeling unable to keep the rules perfectly, and unable to relate to God personally, she became buried in pangs of guilt, which morphed into bitterness at the bleakness of her eternal prospects. Then she was confronted by a rarity in Poland, a person who had experienced personally the grace of God in the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ.» Read the rest of this post.
Tokens of Love and Gratitude to Christ | Part 6
July 10, 2015
I see now, more than ever, why the apostle Paul implores us to ‘make supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings . . . for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way’ (1 Timothy 2:1-2). Do we, in our prayers, fulfill this admonition. We must – because war ravages humanity, destroys generations, subverts Christianity.» Read the rest of this post.
Tokens of Love and Gratitude to Christ | Part 5
July 6, 2015
While it would have been better to depict the hand of God cradling our solar system, and billions of other solar systems as well, the lesson which Christians can take away from Copernicus, himself a professing Christian, is the importance of humility in our assessments of the natural world.» Read the rest of this post.
Tokens of Love and Gratitude to Christ | Part 4
July 4, 2015
She was amazed, exhilarated, at the freedom we have in Jesus Christ, that we are no longer bound to submit to sets of rules, that legalism has run its course, that because of the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we are free to enjoy our new status as sons and daughters of a loving heavenly Father. We are ‘called to freedom.’» Read the rest of this post.
Tokens of Love and Gratitude to Christ | Part 3
June 30, 2015
These people are so hungry for Christ. They are so alone as true Christians. They say the 6,000 who filled The Gospel Coalition national conference last month are more than the sum total of all evangelical Christians in Poland. They are so gripped by Christ’s love for them, and they want their countrymen to know his love more than they want anything else.» Read the rest of this post.
Tokens of Love and Gratitude to Christ | Part 2
June 28, 2015
There are presently 38 million Poles, but only 150,000 Protestants. Of the Protestants, only 6,000 are committed evangelical Christians, about the same number of people as recently convened in Orlando, Florida for the national conference of The Gospel Coalition. How would a small assembly of pastors and church workers refined by the fires of affliction respond to my talks? How would the Lord answer our prayers for a spiritually fruitful conference for his glory?» Read the rest of this post.
Tokens of Love and Gratitude to Christ | Part 1
June 24, 2015
For your joy and encouragement, I want to pass on many of our memorable experiences. You sent me to minister in lands far away from the Arizona desert. I know you are praying for us as a family. In the following series of posts, I will send tokens of our love for you, and of our gratitude to Christ.» Read the rest of this post.
The Business of a Church: A Look Behind the Scenes at Camelback Bible
May 20, 2015
The ministry of Camelback Bible is on a great track. The business of the church is on a better foundation. Yet in all of these plans, we continue to look to God for His guidance and strength as He uses us to carry out His purposes.» Read the rest of this post.
Memories of Missionary Kedress Nziramakenga
March 4, 2015
Camelback Bible-supported missionary to Rwanda Kedress Nziramakenga died February 20, 2015. She will be missed by her husband Simon and their many biological and adopted children. They returned to Rwanda after the genocide during which they lost dozens of family members. Kedress was a key player in the founding and administration of the primary school begun under the umbrella of the church they founded, Good Shepherd Community Church.» Read the rest of this post.