Well, another OCC is in the books! What a wonderful ministry. I am so very proud of our Operation Christmas Child leader, Jim Lee, our staff liaison, Benji Lavender, and every one of the many dedicated volunteers! Lakewood is a blessing to Samaritan’s Purse as we serve as a regional collection center for OCC, but … Continued
On January 12th, 2016, my wife and I were 32,000 ft somewhere above Central Europe. We had crossed the night before from Atlanta to Amsterdam, and we then had a short hour-long flight connecting us to Berlin. I had decided to read a chapter a day of Genesis starting with the new year. Accordingly, my … Continued
“Sing to the Lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples!” –Psalm 96:2-3 At the beginning of this month, I went with a team to visit some workers that live amongst unreached people groups. It was a unique … Continued
My husband and I dedicated our baby girl to the Lord on Mother’s Day, 1989, but did I really know what that was going to entail one day? Hannah dedicated Samuel to God, and Mary even went to the temple to dedicate Jesus, so it must have been what a mother was supposed to do, … Continued
When someone thinks of a missionary, they ask that person “Why do you do what you do?” I am asked that question often, and I respond with the answer: “It’s a calling from God.” I know that each person receives this call differently. I can personally say that I did not hear an audible voice … Continued
“I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” – Psalm 121 I have read/heard the verse above several times in my 30+ years as a Christian. But now that my American-bred family of five lives as ex-pats in a … Continued
Living my life overseas while exemplifying Christlikeness entails many complexities that God continues to use in order to make much of Himself and less of me. I often think that God brought me halfway around the world to work on my own heart more than anyone else’s. For reasons unbeknownst to me, He does love … Continued
Each year, Lakewood is a Drop-Off location for Operation Christmas Child (OCC). This year we collected, packed, loaded, prayed over and shipped 20,898 shoeboxes. That translates to 20,898 children all over the world receiving a Christmas gift and hearing about the original Christmas gift: Jesus Christ. Of these boxes, 1,100 came from members of Lakewood. Highlights of the week include: … Continued
While reading the book 30 Days to Understanding the Bible by Max Anders, I came across a story of a missionary serving in the South Sea Islands. The missionary was teaching his people about Christmas. “The giving of gifts is a spontaneous act of celebration over an extremely joyous event. And that,” he explained, “is why many … Continued
