This week was filled with unexpected challenges. Although these challenges were unexpected by us, they were, of course, known to our sovereign and loving God.

Our son, Larry, preached a powerful message at Coastline Baptist Church Sunday morning, where my brother Steve pastors. After the service, Larry became extremely ill and for the next thirty-six hours was in intense pain. After meeting with the doctors, they felt that Larry would need to have emergency surgery for what appeared to be an obstruction in his bowels, perhaps related to his previous surgeries.

We made the very difficult drive back down to Los Angeles to one of the major hospitals of our HMO. After spending twelve or thirteen hours in the emergency room, we met with surgeons, and through various therapies, they were able to avert the need for emergency surgery. (more…)

In just a week and a half, West Coast Baptist College seniors will be graduating and going out into the harvest field to serve in and plant local New Testament churches. The local church is the vehicle God has chosen through which to deliver His Gospel to the world. Christ promised that He would build His church, but, as we’ve taught our students, He’s chosen to do it through us. Here are 4 steps He has given us in New Testament church building: (more…)

Last week was another wonderful opportunity in ministry here at Lancaster Baptist Church and West Coast Baptist College as we hosted the annual  West Coast Baptist Youth Conference. Teenagers came from across America and from several foreign countries to be challenged spiritually with this year’s theme on “The Power of God.”

We are thankful for like-minded parents, pastors, and youth pastors who allow us annually the privilege of influencing their young people for the cause of Jesus Christ. There were many highlights of this conference, including a record attendance, a record number of young people accepting Christ as Saviour, and a record number of young people surrendering their lives to full time ministry.

But for many of us here at Lancaster Baptist Church, the highlight was hearing the message preached by our son and Sr. High youth pastor, Brother Larry Chappell. (more…)

I wanted to take a moment today to thank our many friends who are praying and trusting God with us regarding the physical needs in our son Larry’s life as well as our spiritual need for God’s sustaining grace and power.

About a week before Thanksgiving, Larry was summoned to the hospital for an emergency surgery. After the initial surgery and further consultations and studies conducted, it was determined that Larry should have a second surgery. This surgery (RPLND) was conducted at Kaiser hospital in Los Angeles, California, in late December. Although Larry had some post-surgery complications with the condition on his ileum, we are thankful that God brought him through the surgery and has blessed him with healing since the surgery. (more…)

In several days the Olympics will begin in Vancouver, British Columbia. Athletes from around the world will compete in various winter sports, each seeking a gold medal.

Throughout Scripture, the Christian life is often compared to athletic events, giving us insights into how we can finish our race with joy. The Apostle Paul wrote, “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13–14).

Allow me to share a few thoughts with you that I have been pondering this morning about the race the Lord has given me to run:

1. I must continuously look to Jesus as my goal.

In the Christian race, my main objective must never be the approval of men, keeping godly standards, or following a particular creed. While the encouragement of fellow Christians is a blessing, and biblical standards and creeds are needed, these are simply meant to be landmarks guiding me along my way to pleasing Christ. (more…)