- Published on
Creating a training campus on a steep site seemed more than challenging. Is it possible I questioned. Building on a very steep site terraced for planting corn and grazing for large animals was what was available in Nepal by our partner ministry. First a survey of the site took place. Yes it's possible, let's proceed. Fencing of the property provided safety and defined the perimeter of the property. Then providing water was required and a pond was improved and water from two local streams filled it in due time.
A historic house made with packed mud blocks was crumbling and needed to be removed for construction to begin. Local workers are hard at work building the campus that is already being used for training, even before it is completely ready. Even in remote Nepal the good news of the saving Grace of our LORD Jesus Christ is making an impact on people of all ages. It is rewarding to be a smart; part of this outreach.
A historic house made with packed mud blocks was crumbling and needed to be removed for construction to begin. Local workers are hard at work building the campus that is already being used for training, even before it is completely ready. Even in remote Nepal the good news of the saving Grace of our LORD Jesus Christ is making an impact on people of all ages. It is rewarding to be a smart; part of this outreach.
- Published on
In our ministry globally we sometimes engage with Christians in countries where their very lifestyle resilience (noun: the act of springing back, rebounding, or resiling) is stretched. We do not mention the countries for the protection of those we partner with as they reach out with the saving love of God's grace.
One current report includes; "Today millions of (restricted country) face enormous challenges including severe food insecurity, lack of basic health services, employment access to education, gender apartheid, and consequences of natural disaster, (loss of loved ones, homes and livelihood). Mental health of women inside the country has continued to diminish as women's rights and freedoms have been curtailed. This loss of rights for women includes: prohibited education past sixth grade, very minimal ability to work, and limited freedom of movement outside the home. The situation brings the darkness of hopelessness."
Pray for people who need hope while living under stressful political and oppressive regimes as God's ambassadors living nearby help them while sharing the saving love of God through the life and sacrifice of His one and only son, Jesus.
And pray for us as we encourage the national leaders we support.
One current report includes; "Today millions of (restricted country) face enormous challenges including severe food insecurity, lack of basic health services, employment access to education, gender apartheid, and consequences of natural disaster, (loss of loved ones, homes and livelihood). Mental health of women inside the country has continued to diminish as women's rights and freedoms have been curtailed. This loss of rights for women includes: prohibited education past sixth grade, very minimal ability to work, and limited freedom of movement outside the home. The situation brings the darkness of hopelessness."
Pray for people who need hope while living under stressful political and oppressive regimes as God's ambassadors living nearby help them while sharing the saving love of God through the life and sacrifice of His one and only son, Jesus.
And pray for us as we encourage the national leaders we support.
- Published on
“If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me.” John 14:3
In our daily devotional reading Bill Crowder shares AT HOME WITH JESUS in April 2024.“There’s no place like home,” says Dorothy clicking the heels of her ruby slippers. In The Wizard of Oz, that was all it took to magically transport Dorothy and Toto from Oz back to their home in Kansas.
Unfortunately, there aren’t enough ruby slippers for everyone. Although many share Dorothy’s longing for home, finding that home - a place to belong - is sometimes easier said than done.
The night before the cross, Jesus assured His friends of that home, saying, “My Fathers house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?” (John 14:2) A home where we are welcomed and loved.
Yet we can be at home now too. We’re part of a family - God’s church, and we live in community with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Until the day Jesus takes us to the home our hearts long for, we can live in His peace and Joy. We’re always home with Him.”
Knowing we will be reunited with family and loved ones for eternity with God who loves us beyond measure is comforting. This love is confirmed by God sending His son Jesus to atone for our sinful nature. That is God’s plan! That plan I embrace.
In our daily devotional reading Bill Crowder shares AT HOME WITH JESUS in April 2024.“There’s no place like home,” says Dorothy clicking the heels of her ruby slippers. In The Wizard of Oz, that was all it took to magically transport Dorothy and Toto from Oz back to their home in Kansas.
Unfortunately, there aren’t enough ruby slippers for everyone. Although many share Dorothy’s longing for home, finding that home - a place to belong - is sometimes easier said than done.
The night before the cross, Jesus assured His friends of that home, saying, “My Fathers house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?” (John 14:2) A home where we are welcomed and loved.
Yet we can be at home now too. We’re part of a family - God’s church, and we live in community with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Until the day Jesus takes us to the home our hearts long for, we can live in His peace and Joy. We’re always home with Him.”
Knowing we will be reunited with family and loved ones for eternity with God who loves us beyond measure is comforting. This love is confirmed by God sending His son Jesus to atone for our sinful nature. That is God’s plan! That plan I embrace.
As you FOLLOW these monthly BLOGS you will realize this April devotional was followed by the graduation of Rev. Paul Edward Kealy to not only know of but to serve in the heavenly choir. As our pastor Tate Crenshaw responded, "Sounds like God will be using him to lead a heavily chorus! What that will sound life we can only imagine!"
- Published on
Good and faithful servant . . . .
Rev. Paul Edward Kealy 1941 - 2024
Minister of Music his entire working career including years of a teaching ministry Media Excellence, he specialized on staging annual performances at Christmas, Easter and Fourth of July at churches where he served in The Inland Empire in Southern California and his teaching years helping hundreds of "younger" music leaders as he called them. He recently mentioned to me he was, "amazed they sought him out and asked questions - even though he was decades older".
Sharon and I had the joy of hosting his 80th birthday at our home in California and traveling to Battle Ground, Washington where he and wife Lorene had moved to be with their daughter and family for his 81st. You will witness his passion for the Los Angeles Dodgers with the VIN microphone on his shirt in the photo on July 8, 2023. For you non LA Dodger fans the VIN is honoring Vin Scully the broadcaster for 67 years starting in 1950.
Music was his life's guiding light. He led a youth choir right out of High School for several years. We sang with brother Charles in the Gospel Tones, a men's quartet starting in High School years. He even led the Messiah with his youth choir in 1963. I still know and sing the baritone sections whenever invited to sing with choirs.
I have noted he graduated. Sister-in-law Linda Kealy responded, "Graduation to be with our Lord is right. Seeing his parents again and my and David's Chuck and Sharons (brother) Chuck and so many friends and singing in God's choir must be wonderful for Paul".
And our pastor Tate Crenshaw responded, " Sounds like God will be using him to lead a heavily chorus! What that will sound life we can only imagine!"
And our pastor Tate Crenshaw responded, " Sounds like God will be using him to lead a heavily chorus! What that will sound life we can only imagine!"
Paul Kealy MEMORIAL music scholarship
You can make a memorial gift in Paul's honor for a scholarship for music students at Liberia VOX Radio in The Kealy's music production studio.
Simply scroll down on the right to the bottom of the Archives listing Where there is a DONATE NOW button and follow the instructions. Select under Fund, Liberia VOX Radio.
OR - Send your gift to RPFFG P.O.Box 113 Banning, California 92220.
- Published on
GOOD news comes in three's sometimes
May 2024 ministry included a wonderful training opportunity in Liberia, West Africa. This was a long overdue visit to the Marshall city where the VOX Radio station was installed about 19 miles East of the capital City of Monrovia on Thanksgiving Day 2017. Changes that week required us to purchase and install the station in a 40 foot shipping container where they have operated the station for six long years.
They have moved into their excellent new building (still under construction) where they enjoy a state of the art on-air studio. This past year with a new 100 foot tower with a four bay antenna their audience expanded exponentially. The next week their signal was sent to the 200 foot tower of the international broadcasting station ELWA (Eternal Love Winning Africa) for a listening of audience of 1.7 million people.
They have moved into their excellent new building (still under construction) where they enjoy a state of the art on-air studio. This past year with a new 100 foot tower with a four bay antenna their audience expanded exponentially. The next week their signal was sent to the 200 foot tower of the international broadcasting station ELWA (Eternal Love Winning Africa) for a listening of audience of 1.7 million people.
ONE Following four lectures, a few of the staff attended the session that used the principles of Developing and Managing Projects to establish a NewService to be hosted by the VOX 97.5 FM station for the benefit of other Christian format radio stations in Africa.
TWO On Sunday afternoon a ceremony was held honoring David & Sharon Kealy by naming the MUSIC PRODUCTION STUDIO at the newly opened station building. It will be used to encourage young people to write and record music enabling them to use their God given talents that can provide a music career. Their music will be played on the radio station and distributed throughout the area. It was an encouragement when five local pastors attended the ceremony and while standing in the sweltering room one of the pastors said, "my church will provide air conditioning for this studio!" What a wonderful gift from a local church.
THREE In November 2023 Joseph N. Boakai, Sr. was elected President of Liberia. His campaign was to encourage international development of Liberian businesses to grow the financial strength of the country. His catch phrase was for businesses to THINKING LIBERIA, LOVING LIBERIA AND BUILDING LIBERIA. This is exactly what VOX Liberia, with their radio station, and Reaching People far from God are accomplishing in the country.
An opportunity presented itself for David and Joseph Kebbie, founder, CEO of VOX Radio to be invited to present an INTERNATIONAL FRIENDSHIP AWARD to the President.
An opportunity presented itself for David and Joseph Kebbie, founder, CEO of VOX Radio to be invited to present an INTERNATIONAL FRIENDSHIP AWARD to the President.
Actually there was a number FOUR on the schedule. During the scheduling of the meeting with the President, the founder of the BBI University, Luther Tarpeh, invited me to lecture to the Media department of the school. Overnight I meshed the four lectures that were being presented to the Vox Radio staff into a one-hour lecture. What a privilege and joy for me to spend this time with future leaders in Liberia. Every one of the lectures are presented with a Christian DNA that encourages them to Think, Love and Build Liberia to a nation that will honor God.
- Published on
"In November 2017 I had a 3 year visa in hand for Liberia. I had all the equipment to put a FM radio station on the air and flight tickets from Palm Spring California, near where we live, to Monrovia, Liberia. The week before the flight I got a call with disturbing news. The station I had designed was in a new three bedroom house and because there was still a small mortgage they were informed they could not make any changes to the building.
My response was, “God is bigger than this!” This has been confirmed from 2 Corinthians 2:14 “But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere.” Consider the aroma of broadcasting Christian programming providing the knowledge of God everywhere. That was the goal and overcoming challenges, we purchased a 40 foot shipping container, placed it on the property they owned, and made "someday / now day" to start the station on the property. Local carpenters followed the on the site design and supervision and the station was on the air in 10 days.
Here is why it works for the Kingdom of God. “It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow”.
- Published on
You have faith, but what is your faith based upon? Reading and studying the Bible is more important to me as I assail the seasons. The last two years has included a study of Ephesians and now the Pauline epistle of Galatians with a group of five other couples. Each week the exposure to the word of God is at the church we attend. Today a long term study of Romans included several important terms supporting our faith in God focusing on His Son, Jesus he sent to atone for our sins.
You will get the progressive idea of the graphic listing we were presented during the sermon today. Start your study of Romans with Romans 3:21 + for a fuller understanding of this study. Take a peek if you want to a YouTube of the Sermon here; Start at minute for the sermon.
Attend a church that shares the word of God and be blessed like I am today knowing my FAITH in God is firm because Jesus paid the human sacrifice for my sins.
- Published on
For the first time in 22 years a visit with Living Hope in Fish Hoek, South Africa took place in late January into February 2024 where their tag line "Bringing Hope, Breaking Despair" is exactly what they do
in the name of Jesus.
It was 1992 when God ordained a meeting with Pastor John Thomas and David Marshall Kealy in a "lift", an elevator in Florida. John needed equipment for a radio station his church had a permit to start. And David just happened to be tasked with starting Christian format radio stations in developing countries. It was the beginning of a lifetime friendship for David with a man of God, John. This report is about a special visit to the CCfm 107.5 radio station where John and David were interviewed by Johnathan about the start of the station.
Here David and John wait for the live on-air interview. It was the first day of full programming since the completion of studio equipment upgrade.
As important as it was to visit the station, being introduced to the vast ministry of Living Hope took the main focus of the trip. Being introduced to the staff that use the financial support of Reaching People far from God along with the people benefiting from their efforts was joyful for David.
Visit the Reaching People far from God website for more information about the exposure to their six ministry integrated divisions covering Health Care, Substance Abuse Recovery, Life Skills, Agricultural Training, Family Strengthening and Community Response. Their staff of some 220 people made an impact on 151,165 people in 2023 alone.
- Published on
Back
When I was oh, about 14 years old I was introduced to the pastor of the church our family attended. His name was Rev Dr Miles Dawson. As a member of the church sponsored Boy Scout Troupe I needed to complete an assignment from him to memorize John chapter 1. Off to a great start but soon I realized there were 51 verses. Fast forward all these years and they have impacted my total world view.
This is the church at 4th and G streets in San Bernardino, California. Found it on the internet in what appears to be from a post card because the building was white. I know it well because my grandmother lived across the street.
The story continues
Now's the time to share the beginning of those 51 verses.
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.
9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. English Standard Version (ESV)
This describes Jesus the son of God sent to provide an eternal life for each one of us. Some time ago I heard from my Pastor Tate Crenshaw, "God dwells in heaven and wants us to join Him, but that is our decision, not His."
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.
9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. English Standard Version (ESV)
This describes Jesus the son of God sent to provide an eternal life for each one of us. Some time ago I heard from my Pastor Tate Crenshaw, "God dwells in heaven and wants us to join Him, but that is our decision, not His."
Forward
I continue a study of leadership as described in the Bible and enjoy further instruction from the MAXWELL leadership Bible where we read, " Leadership Begins with Identity: Jesus Led from Who He Was in John 1,14: The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." New International version.
As I look back I realize my Christian world view certainly has been impacted from that exercise those many years ago when I was required to memorize the Bible. It was not because I wanted to, but was required to. How about you? Might spending time reading and studying the Bible impact how you spend your time? It certainly has mine. I continue to serve, sharing the love of God in meaningful and measurable ways. Take a look at the ministries shared on this site.
- Published on
This year my granddaughter and I are reading one Proverbs chapter a day for the month of January. There are 31 Chapters so it is a perfect way to start the year. We have enjoyed doing this together before but not to start a new year. The link below connects you to January 1.
