Reading Resources to Encourage and Equip Your Soul
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Waiting With Hope
“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.” – Romans 8:18-19 -(ESV). Waiting isn’t easy – and it’s rarely comfortable. Struggles, conflicts, and trials…
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April Mission Updates: Saturday, May 2
Where I am: Zaderaand surrounding villages, Armenia. Today in a sentence: A day of steady ministry – moving from village to village – where quiet conversations, shared meals, and the Word of God continue to strengthen hearts and renew hope. There is a rhythm to these days now. Roads that wind through hills and valleys.Villages…
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April Mission Updates: Friday, May 1
Where I am: Artashat – Vayk – Zadera Teaching in villages of Armenia Today in a sentence: A full and meaningful day of teaching, travel, and fellowship in the mountain villages of Armenia. Pastor K and Lilit (my interpreter) picked me up early this morning for our drive to Vayk. I’ve traveled this road several…
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April Mission Updates: Thursday, April 30
Where I am: Artashat, Armenia Teaching at a pastor/leader conference today and a village church this evening. Today in a sentence: A full day of teaching ministry – strengthening leaders and encouraging hearts with the truth that fear does not define our faith. Today was a full and meaningful day of ministry. We began with…
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April Mission Updates: Wednesday, April 29
Where I am: Artashat, Armenia Meeting with Belarus representatives today. Today in a sentence: A meaningful day of conversation, unity, and preparation – reminding me that the Church’s strength is found in shared truth, not divided preferences. At 10:00 a.m., Pastor G and Pastor E arrived, along with two young men, to meet with me.…
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April Mission Updates: Tuesday, April 28
Where I am: Artashat, Armenia Meeting Lilit today. Today in a sentence: A full and meaningful day of preparation, partnership, and reconnecting with my Armenian family. I had a good night’s sleep and awoke to discover that my head cold is improving. Thank You, Lord. This morning provided a quiet space for study and preparation…
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April Mission Updates: Monday, April 27
Where I am: Yerevan – Artashat, Armenia Leaving Yerevan for Artashat. Today in a sentence: Reunited with my Armenian family – reminded again that love speaks clearly, even without words. At breakfast this morning, David and Anastasia once again greeted me with kindness. These dear people have become familiar faces over the years, and it…
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April Mission Updates: Sunday, April 26
Where I am: Yerevan, Armenia Worship & Ministry at Pastor Natalia’s church today. Today in a sentence: A full and meaningful day of worship, ministry, and fellowship – despite a fading voice and weary body. Hovo, Hasmik, and their three small children picked me up at the hotel at 10:00 a.m., and we made our…
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April Mission Updates: Saturday, April 25
Where I am: Yerevan, Armenia Looking forward to seeing Pastor Natalia and her leaders today. Today in a sentence: After a long day yesterday, I was grateful for a slower morning and meaningful reconnection. After a full day of travel on Friday, I welcomed a more leisurely start to the morning. I made my way…
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April Mission Updates: Friday, April 24
Where I am: Tashkent – Istanbul -Yerevan Closing retreat session in the morning, then travel to Armenia for the next leg of the mission. Today in a sentence: A meaningful close to our retreat in Uzbekistan, followed by a long and humbling day of travel to Armenia. After checking out of the hotel, we traveled…
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April Mission Updates: Thursday, April 23
Where I am: Tashkent, Uzbekistan Uzbek Pastors/leaders retreat Today in a sentence: I was up early (6 a.m.) to study and prepare for today’s sessions. Yesterday’s teaching on fear and faith seem to resonate strongly with our pastors and leaders. Whether we are in Uzbekistan or Arizona, fear is something we all encounter. There was…
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April Mission Updates: Wednesday, April 22
Where I am: Tashkent, Uzbekistan Uzbekistan Pastor/Leader Retreat Today in a sentence: A full and meaningful day – traveling to the retreat, reconnecting with pastors, and stepping once again into the sacred work of listening, encouraging, and teaching. Oleg picked me up at the hotel at 9:00 a.m. for the hour-and-a-half drive to a secluded…
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April Mission Updates: Tuesday, April 21
Where I am: Tashkent, Uzbekistan Looking forward to reconnecting with our pastors and leaders in Uzbekistan this week. Today in a sentence: My flight arrived on time and I cleared passport control smoothly. I arrived at my hotel around 1:30 a.m – ready for rest. I awoke at 8:00 a.m. and had a light breakfast,…
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April Mission Updates: Monday, April 20
Where I am: Tbilisi, Georgia to Baku, Azerbaijan, to Tashkent, Uzbekistan Beginning “leg 3” of my mission. Today in a sentence: Grateful for what God has done in Georgia, I now step forward into the next leg of this mission journey with a renewed sense of purpose. My time in Georgia has been deeply rewarding-…
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April Mission Updates: Sunday, April 19
Where I am: Tbilisi, Georgia Looking forward to meeting Bishop Oleg today. Today in a sentence: A full day of ministry, meaningful connections, and a growing sense that God continues to guide each step. I slept well last night and woke up at 6:00 a.m. local time. It seems that my internal clock is beginning…
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April Mission Updates: Saturday, April 18
Where I am: Tbilisi, Georgia Grateful to arrive safely in Tbilisi and begin reconnecting with pastors and leaders in a place that has become deeply meaningful to me. Today in a sentence: My departure from Athens was delayed for 2 hours, and by the time I arrived in Tbilisi, it was nearly 4:00 am. After…
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April Mission Updates: Friday, April 17
Where I am: Athens, Greece Today in a sentence: Grateful for deep rest and a quiet day to reflect and prepare for what lies ahead. When I woke up this morning, it was already 10:30 a.m.-nearly 10 hours of sleep. That’s almost unheard of for me, and a clear reminder of how much I needed…
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April Mission Updates: Thursday, April 16
Where I am: Athens, Greece Today in a sentence: Grateful to arrive safely, get some much-needed rest, and take in my view of Athens. After clearing Passport Control, I was relieved to see that my suitcase made it. The weather was pleasant, but overcast – fitting for a slower, restful start to the day. I…
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April Mission Updates: Wednesday, April 15
Where I am: Phoenix – Atlanta – Athens Today is a travel day. I leave Phoenix to Atlanta, and then on to Athens, Greece. 17.5 hours of travel time. Today in a sentence: Long travel days have a way of reminding me just how emotional we are as people. days. I already miss my wife…
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When Saying Yes Feels Quiet and Clear
Have you noticed? God’s invitations do not always come with urgency or dramatic clarity. They do not always disrupt everything at once or demand immediate action. Instead, they come quietly, often over time, settling into the heart with a kind of steady weight. What begins as a passing thought returns again, and what first feels…
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When God’s Heart Becomes Our Direction
There are moments in our spiritual lives when God gently shifts something within us – not through pressure or urgency, but through invitation. It is rarely abrupt. More often, it comes as a quiet reorientation – a subtle turning of the heart over time. We begin to notice that what matters to God starts to…
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Becoming Repairers of the Breach
“You shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to dwell in.” – Isaiah 58:12 Isaiah’s words are timely for us who live in a fractured world. His proclamation resonates with those who walk faithfully with God – and offers a vivid picture of hope in a divisive environment. A breach is…
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Conviction Without Contempt
Conviction and combativeness are not the same. In an age of noise, the two are often confused. Conviction is rooted in Scripture and anchored in Christ. Combativeness is reactive.Conviction flows from settled belief.Combativeness feeds on threat (and the internet apparently is unaware of restraint). I carry deep convictions – about faith, truth, leadership, and what matters…
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The Power of Our Words
Words travel quickly—often faster than wisdom. Think about it. A sentence can circle the globe in seconds. A comment can be shared, screenshot, forwarded, and dissected before we have had time to reconsider it. Speech is immediate and often permanent. And yet Scripture reminds us that words matter. James writes with bracing clarity: “The tongue…
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When Disagreement Becomes Division
Not every disagreement becomes division. But some do—and often more quickly than we expect. Have you ever noticed how a conversation begins with differing perspectives? The tone is civil. The exchange is thoughtful. Then something shifts. A phrase lands harder than intended. A motive is assumed. A past frustration quietly attaches itself to the present…
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Steady Living in an Age of Noise
“If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.” – Romans 12:18 (ESV) It doesn’t take long to notice the volume. Shouting surrounds us. Opinions travel quickly. Headlines compete for our attention. Conversations, once manageable, suddenly carry an edge. Even ordinary disagreement feels heavier than it once did. Sometimes I catch myself…
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Staying Faithful for the Long Road
Do you remember how you felt when you stepped into your new career or launched your business? For me, my first calling to serve a small church in a beautiful location was a moment of excited anticipation. My energy—physically, emotionally, and spiritually—was high. I launched into my new role as pastor with high hopes, faith,…
Read More God Sees the Women the World Overlooks
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” — Psalm 34:18 In many parts of the world, women follow Jesus quietly — not because their faith is weak, but because the cost of open faith is high. In Central Asia, women who choose to follow Christ often face rejection,…
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A Faithful Presence in a Fractured World
We don’t have to look far to notice fractures. They show up in public discourse and private conversations, in families and congregations, in social media feeds and at dinner tables. Tension has become so familiar that many of us no longer ask why things feel divided—we simply brace ourselves for the next moment of misunderstanding…
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The Loneliness No One Sees
I first recognized loneliness as a child in Newton, Kansas. Forced to move again, I told myself, “There’s no point in making friends.” I was in fifth grade and had already attended four different schools—from Washington to Michigan and beyond. Stability seemed out of reach for this eleven-year-old boy. When my parents told me we…
Read More Hear from pastors, leaders, and learners who have been impacted
Rev. John Fairchild
Pastor, Spirit of Hope United Methodist Church
Deacon Richard Kijewski
Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix
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