Dear Friend,
On August 3, 1983, when Susan and I, along with our three children ages four and under, left Glasgow for Cleveland on a one-way ticket, none of us could have ever imagined the adventure awaiting us. I’m often asked, why I “deserted” Scotland when it is so spiritually needy.
The answer is that I came out of a sense of divine compulsion and in the awareness that God’s calling upon our lives is not primarily about geography. When Jesus called the first disciples, they left their homes and all that was familiar to follow Him into the unknown. When we’re open to God’s leading, we can trust that He’ll guide us to the place of service where we will be most useful. God is more concerned about what is happening than where it’s happening.
In the early chapters of Acts, we have the dramatic example of the disciples, guided by the power of the Holy Spirit, spilling into the Jerusalem streets and proclaiming the Gospel in obedience to Christ’s command to “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19). The great wonder is that God chooses to use mere mortals for His purpose and to establish His kingdom.
While God calls some to distant places to serve Christ, for most of us, the place of service is in familiar surroundings and during the course of our daily routines. It is here that we are called to reflect the light and humility of Christ by demonstrating patience and love as we share the Gospel with those around us.
Eric Alexander once told me, “There’s no ideal place to serve God except the place where He has set you down.” I’ve been proving this for the past 35 years here in Cleveland.
Who would have thought that from the relative obscurity of Northeast Ohio we would have the privilege of reaching the nation—indeed, the nations! This privilege is not unique to me, but is shared by the large team of Truthpartners who, from countless places around the world, participate in this global ministry. Our prayer this month is that God will add to this enabling team—and so I invite you today, living in the place where God has set you down, to become a Truthpartner.
Our first book offer this month is Made for His Pleasure. It’s a book I wrote that draws upon many of my own personal experiences learning how to live a life pleasing to God. Made for His Pleasure explores ten benchmarks of a vital faith, offering a roadmap to a joy-filled life devoted to God’s glory. Our second offer, written by friends Keith and Kristyn Getty, is a book titled Sing! Singing in church is not an add-on to the service, but a call to worship from the Lord. Keith and Kristyn explore the important role of music in our churches—particularly, lifting our voices from the heart as a measure of our praise. I’m sure you’ll find Sing! a good addition to your library.
With my love in the Lord Jesus,
