Nearly twenty-four years ago our family moved to Lancaster, California, to begin ministry at Lancaster Baptist Church. At that time, we had two children, Danielle and Larry, and God soon blessed us with two more children, Kristine and Matthew.
This past week, our youngest son, Matthew, was engaged to Katie Crockett of Redmond, Washington.
Matt and Katie have just begun their senior years here at West Coast Baptist College. Matthew is a church ministries major with a desire to pastor someday, and Katie is an elementary education major with a desire to teach and serve along side her husband.
Following family tradition, Matthew arranged a special place for his engagement to Katie, which was followed by a special dinner with our family members and the Crockett family who traveled from Seattle to join us for the occasion.
Terrie, our daughters Danielle and Kristine, and our daughter-in-law Ashley took Katie on what she thought was simply a trip to have a special lunch time together. Instead they brought her to a conference room where Matthew was waiting with a video that chronicled the last few years of their dating experiences. At the end of the video Matthew brought Katie outside where he proposed to her on a beautiful Southern California coastal bluff.
Katie’s family serve the Lord in an independent Baptist church where Katie’s father serves as a deacon. Katie attended public school in Seattle, and her life was significantly influenced by a missions trip to Africa with her grandfather, Brother Gary Williams, who pastored for many years in Missouri. Later, her youth pastor, Bro. Sam Green (a 2003 graduate of West Coast Baptist College) brought Katie and her youth group on a trip to the college.
Soon after meeting here at West Coast, Katie and Matthew began dating. It has been a joy to watch them grow and develop a heart for God and a desire to serve Him.
Matthew currently preaches at our Fontana chapel ministry on Wednesday nights and has recently concluded expository studies with them in Philippians and Ruth. The chapel is located about 10 minutes from the Ontario airport, and the folks in the midweek study are enjoying the ministry provided by Matt and the team of young men from the college.
Third John 4 says, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.”
By the grace of God, we have seen three of our children honor the Lord through their teen years and then marry godly spouses. Each of them now serve the Lord in full time ministry.
We covet your prayers for Matthew and Katie as they continue to develop a relationship in Christ. Pray that our Lord will direct and guide their paths as they make plans to give their lives to the Lord in full time ministry.
