Vance Havner often said, “If we do not take time to come apart, we will come apart.” Terrie and I are thankful that we have been able to take some time away from the normal rigors and challenges of ministry and spend some time together as a family the last several days. Our oldest son Larry and his new wife Ashley stayed faithful here in the ministry at Lancaster Baptist, but we were able to take Kristine and Matthew and spend some time resting and relaxing with them. Our oldest daughter Danielle and her husband Peter were able to join us for a few days of our vacation as well. It is always such a blessing to spend time one-on-one with our family members, reminiscing about God’s goodness and enjoying time with one another.

It was a blessing to get some time of physical rest and do some fun things together as a family, like play board games and go miniature golfing. Personally, I always enjoy reading when we take family vacations. I was able to read about a dozen books on a variety of topics. The book I enjoyed the most this summer was a book entitled Amazing Grace. It was the life story of William Wilberforce, an English man who was used of God to help abolish the slave trade in England and throughout the British empire.

Wilberforce was a man who was not content with the dead orthodoxy in the church in England, and through his friendships with non-conformists (i.e. Baptists, John Wesley, etc) he was able to come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. When he became a Christian, his view of the slave trade radically changed.

I was amazed to read of how John Newton, the author of Amazing Grace, encouraged Wilberforce as he made his fight through the British parliament to abolish slavery. The British poet Cowper wrote poems to aid in the process and even John Wesley wrote letters of encouragement to this man in his fight.

The chapter that described Wilberforce’s salvation was called “The Great Change.” It is my desire that through the ministry of Lancaster Baptist Church many lives will experience such a great change that they will affect the lives of others, even as Wilberforce’s life did.

I hope you will have some time this summer to come apart from the normal routine and spend some extra time reading God’s Word and perhaps some good books as well. Have a great day!

It was a great joy to travel with seven or eight hundred men to the Sequoia National Park for our annual campout at Camp Able. For more than twenty years we have gathered, as men, in these mountains for the purpose of hearing red-hot preaching and enjoying times of prayer and fellowship together. The men enjoy shooting contests, fishing contests, hiking and a variety of other activities; but the highlight is always the preaching.

This year’s preaching from Evangelist Paul Schwanke and Pastor Tim Ruhl was especially challenging and encouraging. As men, we were challenged to live by the Word of God and to stand up for the faith in this needy day.

Having just returned from our family vacation, it was a blessing for me to be reunited with the men of our church and be able to join them for this special time.

There is a great need in this hour for men who will lead their families, have a real walk with God, and love and support the local church. I thank God for the men who live this way in our generation!

Spiritual Leadership Conference is only 27 days away! Countless hours of prayer and preparation have already gone into this highly anticipated conference. We are counting down the days—literally! On the second floor of our office building, we have mounted a countdown to the wall. Our staff has diligently worked to coordinate schedules, transportation, meals, and thousands of other details related to the conference.

It is our prayer that first, God will be glorified through every aspect of the conference. Second, we pray that fellow Christians will be encouraged and edified. Finally, it is our prayer that we will all leave this year’s conference challenged to to something great for God.
For more information about Spiritual Leadership Conference, click here.