It has been a busy week few weeks of ministry here in Lancaster, to so say the least. With graduation just a few days behind us, the summer weddings have already begun. Last week, just two days after graduation, I performed the wedding ceremony for two couples.

One of the joys of the ministry for me has been to see families accept Christ through Lancaster Baptist and then bring their families up in the knowledge of the Lord. Such is the case with the Palencia family. Their oldest son, Roberto, grew up in the youth group where he made many great decisions for the Lord. After high school graduation, Roberto began attending West Coast Baptist College. During his college years, he maintained a strong testimony for the Lord and kept himself involved in the work of the ministry. During college Roberto met Jessica Marrow, who was raised in a godly Christian family on the East Coast. Last week, I performed the wedding ceremony for Roberto and Jessica Palencia, and it was a joy to see these two lives joined as one in Christ. I thank God for His work in their lives.

I also had the privilege of marrying Derrick Williams and Darci Tyler last week. The Williams family was also reached through the ministry of Lancaster Baptist and Derrick grew up in our youth group and Christian school. He always kept a good testimony and seriously endeavored to follow God’s will for his life. During Derrick’s high school years, his mom went home to be with the Lord after a long battle with cancer. Through it all, Derrick found his strength in God. After graduating from Lancaster Baptist School, Derrick enrolled in West Coast Baptist College to prepare for his future ministry. During college, Derrick began to date Darci Tyler. Darci also comes from a strong Christian family that loves the Lord. Over 25 years ago, I attended Bible college with Darci’s parents, who are now faithfully serving the Lord as missionaries in Romania. I was thrilled to be able to take part as Derrick and Darci were joined together through a beautiful, Christ-honoring ceremony.

It’s an amazing thing to see God work in the lives of His people. Pray for these young couples as they begin their ministries together for the Lord.

Saturday, November 3, I was privileged to conduct the wedding ceremony for Josh Beeson and his new bride, Jennifer. I remember knocking on the door of the Beeson home in Palmdale years ago. It was a joy when Brother Curt decided to bring his family and raise them at Lancaster Baptist Church.

Although Josh was only a ten-year-old boy at the time, he always had a heart to do the will of God. Josh was an outstanding basketball player in high school and also at West Coast Baptist College.

We rejoice with him and Jennifer as they will serve the Lord in the ministry together in Southern California.

One of the things I am beginning to see in the ministry is how quickly time flies by! So many young people are now adults serving the Lord and beginning their ministries as we did what seems like just a few years ago!

Last week it was a great joy to travel to the Seattle, Washington area for the wedding of our son, Larry, and his beautiful bride, Ashley. Through the years, we have prayed for each of our children daily. I have also prayed that God would provide godly spouses for each of them. We thank the Lord for Ashley’s parents who faithfully raised their daughter through prayer, the Word of God, and faithfulness to their local church. What a thrill it was to see the culmination of many years of prayer, love, and nurture come together at the wedding of Larry and Ashley.

The wedding ceremony was truly beautiful to behold! Many friends, guest pastors, and family members from various states gathered to support Larry and Ashley as they began their lives of marriage and ministry. Please pray for them as they begin serving our Lord!

Terrie and I thank the Lord for each of our four children. Last weekend was Danielle’s special time, as she was united in marriage to Mr. Peter Mordh from Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Peter is a senior here at West Coast Baptist College and has surrendered his life to full-time ministry.

While our hearts are filled with joy for Danielle and Peter’s love for one another, the night was filled with emotion for Terrie and me as we gave our daughter away in marriage. Their testimonies truly have exalted Christ and we are thankful that they went to the altar in a Christ-honoring way, and that their lives will be dedicated in marriage to the Saviour.

While the auditorium and wedding ceremony were beautiful sights, I have always felt the beauty of a marriage depends on the lives of the two who are becoming one. I thank God for a daughter who has walked with Christ since her salvation at an early age, and that God brought a godly and pure young man into her life.

Our son, Larry, will wed in a few months and Terrie and I are prayerfully and joyfully anticipating this time, as well.

Truly, life has a variety of seasons and we are thankful, at times like these, for the grace of our Saviour in helping us raise children who will honor Him!

Of all the events to take place in our lives or ministry this year, none are as important to Terrie and I as our daughter Danielle’s wedding this Friday. We were just finishing Bible college when she was born, and I honestly have been amazed that this day has come so quickly. We have always felt that our family is our first ministry, and I have prayed daily for twenty four years that God would bring the right man into her life. We are thrilled that Peter came to West Coast Baptist College where he met Danielle, and we covet your prayers for them as they begin to serve the Lord. About a year or so ago, Danielle wrote me the following note. I think she was trying to help me through the transition of watching her fall in love!

Dear Dad,
You are the kind of dad every girl dreams of. I thank the Lord all the time for placing me in our family… Thank you for raising me in a Christian home… in a godly and balanced environment. Thank you for staying in one place my whole life and for providing consistency and security in our home. Thank you for being such a great leader. Thank you for staying faithful to mom and our family. Thank you for staying faithful to the Lord. Thank you for being the world’s greatest pastor… for providing godly influences and hundreds of opportunities to make decisions for the Lord and to grow spiritually in one place. Thank you for ensuring that we received a quality education. Thank you for starting a Bible college. Thank you for the spiritual battles you fight for our family. Thank you for all the long talks – helping us with bad attitudes or bad grades or bad friends. Thank you recently for all the long talks about dating and the future. Thank you for incredible family vacations and for the thousands of wonderful memories we share. Dad, you are the best. God has blessed me beyond measure by allowing me to grow up in your home. I love you and thank you for all you’ve done for me.

Thank you for all the counsel and time you’ve given me in my relationship with Peter. Thank you for loving and guiding me through this transition in my life and for being patient as I have struggled at times in my communication to you regarding Peter.

After much prayer, Bible reading, and meditating on counsel from you and mom, I believe God has given me a perfect peace that Peter is the one for me. God has given me a peace that my heart is not dividing love between you and Peter… but enlarging my heart to be able to love you both differently.

Because the Lord has given me such an awesome and secure upbringing, I have struggled in the aspect of trusting the Lord in my relationship with Peter in one area: I’m leaving the known for the unknown. But I do want to enter the unknown with Peter. I don’t know what God will have in store for our future, but I am trusting the Lord and am excited to see what He will do with our lives.

I love Peter because he loves the Lord. He has a desire to serve Him. He has a drive to be the best he can be for God. He is patient with me, yet firm when he needs to be. He loves me and is incredibly good to me. He has a consistent spirit and temperament, and he has a good attitude. I love Peter because of his desire to grow… personally and spiritually. He seeks counsel and lives life on purpose. He makes decisions based on principle, not on whim or preference. I believe that our strengths and weaknesses compliment each other and make us more effective in the Lord’s work. He’s the first person I want to share things with and my favorite person to be with. He’s got the chemistry, competency, and character you’ve always told me to look for.

Dad, my desire is to live my life in a way that would please the Lord and make you proud. I love you so much…

Love,
Danielle

It is only by God’s grace that He has blessed us with four wonderful children. Today I thank God for a daughter who desires to live for the Lord.