“…let us run with patience the race that is set before us. Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith...” Hebrews 12:1b, 2a Happy greetings to you today. May your day be filled to overflowing with the presence of the Lord. I am gearing up for a very busy summer this year, and “busy” is good. Here is what is on the agenda. At my Pastor’s request, I have begun writing a 13 week study titled, “Preparing for the Mission Field,” to be taught in our church as a simple introduction to missions text for anyone desiring to go on any of the many foreign mission outreaches our church is involved in each year, as well as our very active local home missions endeavors. Once it is finished, it will be published so that anyone – pastor/church, missionary, Bible college/institute, or individual – can obtain it for their own use if they so desire.   Beginning June 23rd, I will be leading a nine week Women’s Bible Study every Tuesday evening in my home church. The ...

Mark and Julie send their warmest greetings to you today, but they are so busy with their move from Juneau, Alaska, to Redding, California, that they have asked me to write for them this month. Julie is presently holding down two jobs: her new job in Redding, and helping her former employer in Juneau for a time via the internet while they make their transition with new employees. Needless to say, she is a very busy lady right now.  Mark is still in Juneau, wrapping up two jobs he was committed to when this move came into view, finalizing the curriculum for the school of ministry in Romania, and reducing their possessions and packing what they are taking to Redding. Likewise, he is one very busy man. Mark will be leaving Juneau on June 10th, going north to Skagway, Alaska, via the sea-going ferry, (there is no road in or out of Juneau) then by land connecting to the Alaska-Canadian, aka ALCAN highway into Washington State onward to Redding, pulling an enclosed trailer filled w...

“ It’s not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, sayeth the Lord of hosts.” Zachariah 4:6 (KJV)   Greetings in the wonderful name of Jesus Christ. Seasons come and seasons go. For most of us, Spring has officially arrived and brings with it new hope and new life.   The big story for LTI this month is about Mark and Julie, details of which are revealed in their column “News From the North.” In fact, you may want to read their column right now to see what is going on. All of us are very excited about these new events and we are looking forward to all that will be forthcoming as a result. God is good. All the time.   The next story is that my fourth great grandchild made his entrance into this world on April 23rd at 10:25 PM, weighing 8 lbs. 2 ozs., and measuring 21 in. long. Hunter Ryan Groth is his name, and we welcome him with open arms. In just 21 months, I have been blessed with four - I say four - great grandchildren. Three boys and one gi...

 Greetings from the beautiful North, We hope this month’s newsletter finds you all doing well. Since our last newsletter, so much has happened it will be hard to fit it all in as our “suddenly” season continues. In January of 2005, we decided to do a cross country road trip to visit with family and friends before heading to Nigeria. One question we had before the Lord on this trip was, long term, where could we find a place more convenient than Juneau for ministry purposes that we would both be happy to call home. One of the stops along the way was Redding, California to visit the “favorite” cousins. While we were there, the Lord started placing Redding in our hearts. At that time, it didn’t really seem to make sense and we couldn’t imagine why God was saying Redding, but we kept lifting it to the Lord, knowing we were hearing Him. When we returned from Nigeria, Redding was not an option. So, we did what was before us to do, continuing to lift Redding to the Lord trusting His...

“ Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,...’” John 11:25 (ESV) Greetings in the wonderful name of Jesus – the only name by which any person, young or old, can obtain salvation. We must continue to declare His name until we no longer have breath for speaking. If we who know Him do not declare the truth of who He is and why God sent Him into this world, how will the world who does not yet know Him learn of Him? John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” Last Sunday, the choir in my home church sang God So Loved the World , which is a beautiful rendition of this very verse. As they sang, the phrase “ should not perish ” rang loudly, over and over again in my spirit. It has continued to ring over and over, non-stop, in my mind and spirit ever since. Should not perish! Shoul...

Greetings from the Sunny North, We’ve been blessed with some amazing weather these last few weeks. Juneau is dressed in her finest when she is all decked out in her Spring duds! Isn’t it funny how Spring can happen overnight? What seems like a never ending winter suddenly becomes green, fresh and full of life. Sometimes seasons change like that: seasons in nature, and seasons in our lives. We are definitely in a “suddenly” season. After a prolonged period of waiting, now we are running to keep up! Over the last couple of weeks our youngest daughter has been accepted into a school of ministry, landed a job, pretty much has all her housing arranged and will be heading out mid-May. The two boys we have been fostering are moving to their forever home next week. And, we believe the Lord has given us a timetable for moving to the Lower 48. A chorus from Ghana says it so well - “Cause when the Lord gets ready, you’ve got to move, move, move, move, move.” This month we want to share ab...

  “…upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Matthew 16:18 (KJV) Greetings in the wonderful name of Jesus. Yesterday the sky was overcast. Today, it is filled with sunshine. What a difference a day makes. Sunshine in the sky. Sonshine in my soul. A perfect combination. ON THE ROAD AGAIN Stateside travel time is upon me/us, and it appears that the weather is going to be good for the first trip out. Three exciting opportunities are taking place in the next 6 weeks. They provide wonderful venues where we, as missionaries,  can engage in dialogue with multiple Pastors, Missions Directors and friends about the particular work God has called each of us to do in His world. They also provide opportunities for us to get to know one another better, to be strengthened by one another, and to be knit together more closely in the spirit of fellowship and Christian love. I am really looking forward to each of them. Nothing ...