At the end of Acts, Luke gives us a glimpse into the last few years of Paul’s life, telling us that he welcomed all who came to him, “proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching concerning the Lord Jesus Christ.” That phrase, “kingdom of God,” is used around 75 times in the New Testament, and the “kingdom of heaven” is mentioned 34 times.

The kingdom of God is vast, deep, and complex, and Jesus used many metaphors to help His followers understand it. It’s like a farmer sowing seed in his field, a mustard seed, yeast mixed into dough, treasure hidden in a field, a merchant looking for fine pearls, and more.

There’s one particular metaphor that stands out to me. In Mark 4:26–29, Jesus says, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself, the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it because the harvest has come.”

In this parable Jesus emphasized that so much of the kingdom’s growth is beyond our control—the work of God accomplishes it. We do our part by watering, sowing, loving, and teaching, but God causes the growth.

Another truth we see in Scripture is that the kingdom of God is the opposite of the kingdoms of this world which often emphasize acquisition, power, and control. In her book The Gospel on the Ground, Kristi McLelland says, “In contrast, we find the kingdom of God to be anchored in relinquishment. The way of Jesus says the last will be first. Jesus says we are to lose our lives to gain them. The way of the kingdom of God is entirely upside-down to the way of the world and empire. Caesar would do anything to stay on top. Jesus says the way to flourish is to go low.”

Friends, each one of us plays a vital role in God’s kingdom coming to earth. We sow, water, and harvest in our locations and in our relationships. Thank you for your work in your corner of God’s kingdom and for your faithful financial partnership which enables Cadence staff to participate in His kingdom work in military communities worldwide.

And let’s never forget that we are inheriting a kingdom that cannot be shaken (Hebrews 12:28)!

David Schroeder
President

Joyce and I recently participated in the 50th celebration of the Travis Hospitality House ministry near Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, California. Fifty years! Not only has this hospitality house been a beacon of hope for this military community for 50 years, but the ministry has been located on the same five-acre property and facility the entire time. This property was purchased by Cadence in 1973 under the direction of one of the mission’s founding couples, Tom and Dotty Hash.

Around 80 people attended this celebration, and we heard stirring stories from our Travis Hospitality House alumni of how God transformed their lives during their time in that place.

Cindy Zulli, former Cadence board member said, “I was saved right here in this living room in 1975!” She pointed to a specific spot in the room as she shared this praise. Wow!

Current Cadence staff Char Hauser, who ministers to women in the military community of Kaneohe Bay Marine Corps Base Hawaii, wrote, “It was at Travis that Tom and Dotty modeled the ministry for me and my husband, Ray. They prayed that I would see God leading us to commit our lives to sharing the gospel and our lives with the military. Tom and Dotty were amazing, patient mentors, and here I am 45 years later, still going. It all began at the Travis Hospitality House.”

The stories kept coming of life-transforming moments over five decades. We also met Airmen who were enjoying the hospitality house right now in these days under the care of Cadence staff, Zach and Cassandra Brown. In addition, four different chaplains approached me to express gratefulness for Cadence and the privilege of partnering with our staff there and in many other locations around the world. What a blessing!

Tom and Dotty’s son, Dan Hash, said this at the celebration: “Facilities matter. They ground us and connect us. They open the doors and give us context for ministry through God’s number one delivery system, which is people who are not all put together.”

Homes, facilities, properties—they matter. They may be temporary dwellings on this earth, but God uses these places to reach souls and touch lives as military people connect with Him and others in lifechanging community.

One of the other fifteen Cadence-owned properties God is using for His work is on the other side of the world in Rota, Spain. In 2025, we will celebrate 50 years of the Rota ministry, all on the same property which Cadence has owned for 40 of those years. And yet this property needs significant renovations. To that end, in the coming months you will be hearing about our Joshua Project campaign to raise funds to stop erosion on a perimeter hill, repair the perimeter fence, restore a deteriorating apartment, and more.

As we celebrate God’s faithfulness at the Travis Hospitality House this year and look forward to celebrating in Rota, we are grateful for how you partner with our missionaries and ministries around the world.

David Schroeder
President

Psalm 84:10a says, “Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere.”

This Psalm was written by the Sons of Korah who were responsible for the worship at the temple of God for the people of Israel in Old Testament times. The psalmists focus on the beauty of dwelling in the presence of God and the reality of pilgrimage for God’s people.

Recently I was reflecting on this portion of Scripture and verse 10 stirred my heart. Here the psalmists are comparing the importance of time and how it is spent—one day better than a thousand. Why? It is spent in “your courts,” in the presence of God.

Time is a treasure and how, where, why, and with whom we “spend” it is very significant.

Here are a few of the many truths about time in Scripture:

1. Time is a gift (Psalm 139:13–16)
2. Time is limited (Psalm 90:10)
3. Time is fleeting (James 4:14)
4. Time is important (Psalm 90:12)

Of all the things that could be said about time and its expenditure, I want to emphasize the importance of a life spent walking in the presence of God. We are now God’s temple. His Spirit resides in us. As we walk with Him we experience His presence, His power, and His purposes. What a beautiful and sacred privilege to live this way.

I recently googled, “How many times does a person’s heart beat in a day?” The answer was approximately 100,000 times in 24 hours. That is almost 4,200 times an hour!

Do I make this happen? No. Every beat of my heart is from God! It is a gift to be treasured and spent in wisdom and love. And not just in the big and visible significant moments, but faithfully walking in the Lord’s presence in the small, unseen, and quiet moments as well.

One of our mentors, the late Dr. Pam Reeve, in her book Faith Is, said it this way: “Faith is realizing that God is the God of now, carrying on His purposes in every tedious, dull, stupid, boring, empty minute of my life.”

I’ve got plenty of those moments—how about you?

I pray you know God’s precious presence in all the heartbeats of your life. And may I remind you that your financial investment in Cadence allows our staff to spend their cherished time in loving military people and their families all around the world.

Your contributions create the gift of time, and it is being well spent!

Gratefully,

David Schroeder
President

America just celebrated its 247th birthday on the Fourth of July. Joyce and I hosted over sixty Cadence-connected people at our house for dinner and fireworks. Our home affords a wonderful view of our city’s firework show, and this gathering has been an annual tradition for most of the past twenty years.

The celebration in our home mirrored those hosted by many Cadence hospitality houses around the globe, where they offered food, connection, and fellowship to service members and their families—an extension of what they provide weekly throughout the year.

One of Cadence’s nine summer interns, who is working with Darrow and Vicki Frazier and the Marines at Hansen Christian Center in Okinawa, Japan, described his experience of their ministry in this way:

“The ministry that the Fraziers have created here is the most fruitful and well-run young adult ministry I have ever seen. HCC provides a way for the Christians on base to connect with each other and offers recreational opportunities every weekend as an alternative to the rampant drinking and partying that the base offers. As a result, many Marines choose to stay the entire weekend. The community they have created, where authentic affection and service are at the center, is nothing short of awe-inspiring.”

The Fourth of July reminds us that the United States is our home, and that despite its flaws and difficulties it remains a home worth securing and defending. This is a holiday where Americans are appreciative of the U.S. military personnel and their families who sacrifice and serve in defense of our country and Constitution.

Cadence is honored to provide places of belonging and love for these patriots in homes and ministries across the U.S. and around the world, where “authentic affection and service are at the center.” For many military people and their families, Cadence ministries are a home away from home. And for some, it is their first experience of a loving home.

Your partnership with Cadence is so significant and appreciated. Because of you, we can faithfully and fruitfully “share the gospel and our lives with the military community” throughout the year.

Thank you, and may God bless you for your investment in His kingdom work through Cadence.

David Schroeder
President

“I’m here to feel the scars of Jesus.”

I spoke those words as a young man in 1987 during a devotional on “doubting Thomas” from John 20:24–29. Joyce and I had joined the K-Town and Baumholder hospitality houses on an amazing trip to the Holy Land of Israel.

In those days, we were on our first full-time Cadence ministry assignment as newlyweds leading the Youth of the Chapel in the military community of Baumholder, Germany. We loved those years of ministry together, yet in my heart I was wrestling with a fresh wave of questions and doubts about my faith. Something was stirring, and I felt unsettled and challenged in trusting God.

The leaders of the trip asked me to share from the Word the first morning in Israel.

I took them right to Thomas and his doubts. He didn’t believe until the resurrected Jesus appeared to Him and said, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” Thomas did as told, and he immediately believed.

I shared with those military people that I was in the Holy Land to walk where Jesus walked and to “feel the scars” in a yearning to believe and love Him deeper. And that’s exactly what happened. A few weeks after the trip I told Joyce with tears, “I believe!” Those unexpected, unsettling doubts had dissipated right into the grace-filled hands of my Jesus.

Friends, I don’t know what reason you might have to join Joyce and me on a trip to the Holy Land, but I want to invite you! Cadence Alumni Director Angie Sprague and her husband Duncan, Alumni Pastor, are hosting an Alumni and Friends journey with Jesus in Israel, January 4–13, 2024. Joyce and I will be teaching, along with our guide Omer Eshel, at many of the significant biblical landmarks in the Holy Land such as the Mount of Olives, Sea of Galilee, Capernaum, Temple Mount, Pool of Siloam, and more.

We will be learning and growing together during this special journey. Find out more or register today at Cadence.org/Israel2024. We would love to have you join us!

No matter how each person attending might begin this upcoming trip, our prayer will be that by the end the Bible will be alive in fresh ways and we will all proclaim anew as Thomas did, “My Lord and my God!”

Whether you are able to join us or not, may the nail-scarred hands of our Savior remind you today of God’s extravagant and powerful love for you.

David Schroeder
President