Colossians 3:1-2 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. COVID-19 has had a big impact on “our plans” in many ways this year. Brian’s sister’s wedding was postponed. The CBM family conference was cancelled. A speaking engagement at a hunter’s banquet cancelled. Deputation meetings need to be rescheduled. The kids’ spring concert became a virtual concert. After three years we finally made it back to Boundary Waters for a vacation in August. Shortly into the trip, Brenda developed a tooth issue that ultimately led to a root canal. Our vacation ended sooner than we planned. Honestly, if we dwelt on the things of the earth we could easily be discouraged.  And yet, the command is to set our minds on heavenly things. The hope … Read More

And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? Luke 12:25-26 (NKJV) God provides in amazing ways! When Brenda was leaving the kids’ music program one Wednesday she discovered a flat tire on the van. We were in a time crunch because we had a deputation meeting scheduled that evening. Brenda was able to put air in the tire and get home. Brian changed the tire and while we didn’t arrive at our planned time, we arrived with just enough time. During the presentation, Brian dropped the clicker and broke it. Between Brenda and Amanda they clicked through the rest of the presentation manually. Despite all the chaos, the meeting went well and when we went to buy a new clicker … Read More

“Let the wise hear and increase in learning.”   Proverbs 1:5a (NKJV) God continues to provide each us opportunities to learn and grow. The kids are challenged by their homeschooling curriculums. Amanda is learning French and uses it around the house which challenges everyone. The kids continue to push their limits and excel in musical pursuits. It’s a lot of fun listening to them practice. Brenda desired to be in a Ladies Bible Study and since we are officially members of Baptist Bible Church (BBC), they challenged her to take over leading it. That was definitely out of her comfort zone! She is being stretched, but enjoys her time with a wonderful and diverse group of fifteen ladies. To help facilitate his own learning, Brian is taking an AutoCAD class from the local community college. Not only is he learning how to use this tool, he really enjoys going over … Read More

“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.” John 15:5-6 (NKJV) One of the fun things about being in a new house in the spring is discovering all of the new flowers that the previous owner planted. We discovered an overgrown raspberry patch and as we worked to clear the weeds we found a vine. The branch was easy to cut off, but the vine was a totally different story. We have attacked it with hoes, spades, axes, and a tiller but the vine is still showing itself through branches that keep popping up in the raspberry patch. The verse about the vine and branches … Read More

“While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, winter and summer, and day and night shall not cease.” Genesis 8:22 (NKJV) Our first Michigan winter has been CRAZY! Yes, it was crazy weather, but it was also interesting trying to figure out the ins and outs of keeping our new house warm. For the first part of winter our master bedroom ran between 50 and 54 degrees. We learned that the return duct work wasn’t hooked up and it took a while to solve that problem. The cold weather also exposed drafty doors and windows. Due to a major ice storm we were on generator power for 36 hours. We were very grateful for the generator that came with the house! Now the melting snow has brought unwanted water into our pole building. Still, we know, based on God’s Word, that summer will come and we’re looking forward to new … Read More

“And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” Galations 6:9 (NKJV) It’s one thing to have an idea, it’s another thing to make it happen. The move to Michigan has presented us with many challenges and as we look back, we know that without God’s peace and provision we would have given up. But God answered and provided in His ways (which were not always ours.) Things rarely went according to “our plans” and yet, here we are in Michigan! God sent many people to help and encourage us. It’s been hard leaving friends and family behind, but following God’s will and plan has been so worth it! We no longer own a house in Iowa! Our favorite quote from the Iowa City home inspection was, “This is an above average, quality built house for its … Read More

“It shall come to pass that before they call, I will answer; And while they are still speaking, I will hear. Isaiah 65:24 (NKJV) Jehovah-Jireh – God Provides!! We have been reminded once again how God provides for our needs. God has given us the desire to move near the home office. The list of things that needed to happen to move was simply overwhelming. How or where do you even start? God was already preparing that answer. Brian’s parents have made many trips to help fix up our house to sell. We have also had 8 other adults labor alongside of our family. We know that God is behind all of this and we know we could not have done it on our own and we are grateful. As we defined our dream home to buy in Michigan we came up with our list of desires. We found a … Read More

“I am not worthy or the least of all the mercies and of all the truth which You have shown Your servant; for I crossed over this Jordan with my staff, and now I have become two companies.” Genesis 32:10 (NKJV) As a mission’s agency, Continental Baptist Missions celebrated its 75th anniversary this year. CBM started as Hiawatha Land Independent Baptist Missions in May of 1942 with six missionary families. These missionaries had a burden to bring the gospel to the remote logging and mining camps in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. CBM now has missionaries serving across the continental United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. In Genesis, Jacob crossed the Jordan the first me with only his staff. When he crossed again, he did so with two companies of family, servants, and animals. Just as God was faithful to Jacob, God has been faithful to CBM and its desires … Read More

Download a PDF version of the Newsletter! “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;” Ephesians 4:11-13 (NKJV) As we have been involved with Continental Baptist Missions we have witnessed firsthand the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry. God calls and equips people with a unique skill set to do the job He has called them to. This month we attended Harvest Baptist Church’s ten-year celebration of their church building built by CBM. During the Sunday school hour, we watched a video of the construction … Read More

Download a PDF version of the Newsletter! “And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us, And establish the work of our hands for us; Yes, establish the work of our hands. ” Psalm 90:17 (NKJV) As we serve God, our prayer is that He would truly “establish the ministry of our hands.” This month we joined a workday at Camp Manatoumi in Illinois. Brenda, Nathanael, and Rebekah planted hundreds of flowers, Luke helped another man install a water heater and Brian put up fascia on the ladies bath house. Amanda did not join us because she went to the Adventureland youth rally with the youth group. 
We decided that the month of May would be our only opportunity to make a trip out to the build site in Ft. Ashby, WV, so we went. God was so good to us. Our mechanic informed us that our … Read More