“From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” Ephesians 4:16 NIV

The Apostle Paul knew well that the Gospel of God would not move forward without a team of people all pulling the same direction for the cause of Christ.

I experienced this truth in a number of ways on a recent trip to visit our staff in Washington and California.

• The military community of Bremerton, Washington has long been on the heart of Cadence leadership to restart a hospitality house ministry. Cadence missionaries, Greg and Heidi Carlson now live there and are raising support toward opening this new work by fall. They recently hosted a wonderful gathering of pastors, supporters, military Vets, and a chaplain. (Greg and Heidi are still raising their financial support so they can officially open this new ministry. If you would like to be a part of their support team, go to Cadence.org/Carlson for more information.)
• It was a joy to experience this amazing group of people—all sharing a heart to reach and disciple Navy, Marine, and Army personnel at Naval Base Kitsap—Partnership!
• What a privilege to visit with the Command Chaplain of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (a floating city of up to 5,000 sailors). He spoke of the incredible challenges he and his other chaplains faced on their extended 10-month deployment while underway. Crew members had no face-to-face contact with the outside world due to the pandemic, and the chaplains met with and counseled sailors for up to 10–12 hours a day. What a powerful ministry!
• I then traveled to Lakewood, Washington to visit with our Cadence team who minister to the military at JBLM (Joint Base Lewis-McChord). We met with another chaplain there who is on assignment from the Army Chief of Chaplains to forge partnerships between parachurch ministries and the chaplaincy—Teamwork!
• Finally, my wife, Joyce, joined me in San Diego, California for the fulfillment of a God-sized dream to open a hospitality house ministry in the largest U.S. military community in the world with over 100,000 active-duty military personnel.
• Cadence staff, Ed and Joy Bissonnette, have worked toward this vision for the past two years. What a blessing to experience the Grand Opening of this new ministry celebrating with 80 military people, dependents, local pastors, and residents of Coronado—Community!
• Thank you to those of you who have prayed for this moment and others who have given financially to help fund this effort. God has miraculously provided a large and beautiful home just four doors down from the main gate of Naval Air Station, North Island Coronado.

Friends, these three ministries, and many more around the world, to our military people and their families would not happen without your faithful investment in Cadence.

Having just recently met some of the precious military people who are being impacted for Christ through these ministries, I just want to say again from the bottom of heart—thank you for your partnership in the advancement of the gospel!

David Schroeder
President

Cadence just finished a four-day mission-wide pause from ministry to “Selah” together.

Selah is a Hebrew word used 74 times in the Old Testament—71 times in the book of Psalms and three in Habakkuk. Its exact meaning is somewhat of a mystery, but biblical scholars and Jewish etymologists believe its roots contain the idea of pause, silence, or interlude.

The Septuagint (earliest Greek translation of the Old Testament) translated Selah as “intermission.”

It is most likely a musical notation. Thirty-one of the 39 Psalms that include this word also add the notation “to the choirmaster,” tying Selah to the singing of the psalm and to moments of pause, quiet, and reflection within the psalm.

It’s as if David and the other psalmists are inviting us as readers to pause, be silent, and reflect on the words just written, spoken, or sung in the preceding sentences.

This word, Selah, syncs up beautifully with our mission’s name. Dictionary definitions list cadence as a rhythm, flow, or beat used in dancing, singing, or marching.

One of my favorite experiences of military community life was hearing the early morning sound of military people marching or jogging to a called-out cadence during physical training.

When I speak to others of the meaning of our name, I suggest that we in Cadence call military people to walk in step with Jesus and to live out the music of praise to His Name.

Our Cadence Selah was an intentional pause and intermission from this wonderful ministry to the military to seek God together, to ask that He renew our hearts, and to listen for the whisper of the Spirit’s voice.

Missionaries are not known as people who like to slow down, pause, and reflect—which is exactly why we asked them to do just that! And we did it together, in each of our locations, as all of us were guided by four extensive and interactive reflections created by one of our staff, Sandra Bradley with graphics by designer, Kimberly Lamb.

It was a powerful time.

Consider the impact these four days will have on the fruitfulness of our ministry to the military as we have trusted the Spirit to raise and strengthen the spiritual vitality and health of the entire organization and its people!

I hope and pray that in your life you have times of Selah as well—intentional moments set aside to pause, reflect, and seek the Lord.

We love and appreciate you, our dear supporters and friends. God bless you.

David Schroeder
President

The Apostle Paul’s practical summary and conclusion to the glorious chapter on the resurrection of Jesus Christ in 1 Corinthians 15 calls us to work hard and endure.

“Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain” 1 Corinthians 15:58.

A gritty, down-to-earth, and real-world conclusion, this “therefore” gets to the heart of our pilgrimage in this broken and fallen world. The proven resurrection of Jesus—glorious! The one-day return of Jesus—amazing! The long-term result of walking with Jesus—weariness!

Now weariness is certainly not the only, or most important, outcome of this journey. We anticipate, pray, and join God in work towards our transformation into Jesus’ likeness, the producing of the fruit of the Spirit, and in the advancement of His kingdom.

Yet, this endurance of the weariness which can result from our giving ourselves fully to the work of the Lord certainly seems a part of the equation.

The word “labor” in the last part of this verse is used 19 times in the New Testament, not so much to highlight the actual work and exertion one does while here on earth, but rather the weariness which one experiences from that work and exertion.

It is this labor, toil, and fatigue which Paul says “is not in vain.” Why not? Because of the resurrection of Jesus and the hope of His return, we can “stand firm,” “let nothing move [us],” and “always give [ourselves] fully to the work of the Lord.”

Your work for Jesus matters, friends. Your weariness in this journey and battle is not only normal and to be expected, it is a holy endurance because it will be worth it in the end.

I’m clinging to this promise today. As we slowly emerge from the challenge and struggle of this pandemic year, and as we again live the “therefore” of our recent Easter celebrations, may we all continue to fully give ourselves to Jesus and His work.

This is my prayer for you, for our Cadence staff, and for military believers around the world.

David Schroeder
President

Cadence has a program called Cadence Associates Field Staff (CAFS) where active-duty military serve as part-time staff and create a Cadence-style ministry at their current duty station. Eric and Rachel Vaught serve in this capacity with Cadence. Eric is a Navy doctor, and Rachel homeschools their sons. They are providing wonderful ministry to Navy personnel and their families, I am excited for you to read their story.

“When we arrived in Italy three years ago, we joined Cadence International as Cadence Associates with the intended goal of starting a Cadence Hospitality Ministry in Naples, Italy. It had been many years since Cadence last had a presence in this Navy community. We partnered with the base chaplains in support of the services on Sunday mornings and their outreach to the community throughout the week. 

Rachel led the Protestant Women of the Chapel (PWOC) for two years, we hosted a weekly Bible study in our home, and we supported other ministries on the base for singles and men’s groups. To the glory of God, we have been able to make small steps toward that goal as we left a thriving base chapel community with strong relationships across the various ministries. 

We have now moved just north of Naval Station Newport, Rhode Island. Eric is transitioning to the Navy Reserves and starting a new job leading a community health center in Fall River, Massachusetts. Cadence does not currently have a presence on or near the Newport base, so we will be seeking opportunities to start new ministries over the next couple of years in partnership with the base chaplains and our local church. 

The Newport base is a very transient population, with most staying less than one year at the Naval War College, officer indoctrination training, and multiple senior-level courses. Despite the challenges of a transient population, all Navy chaplains start their careers in Newport! This will provide us with great opportunities to introduce them to Cadence and the various ministries around the world. Please join us in prayer as we seek direction for the next steps in ministry and how we can best support military families in our area.” 

Thank you for partnering with Eric and Rachel and Cadence staff around the world as they minister to our military people and their families!

David Schroeder
President

Ministry is often about conversations . . . a person needing to talk  . . . someone who cares starting a conversation which begins as a simple question and moves to an encounter which leads to discussions. Consider these two testimonies:

“I am thankful that Nate and Louise were willing to take a chance and take in a stray, not just to share their home, but to share their lives. They were always there when I needed to talk about something personal, spiritual, or even just trivial. This place and these people have made all the difference to me.”

—David Weber, from the Johnsons’ ministry at Travis AFB

“Many of these encounters lead to discussions about personal history, relationships, ministry, theology, and the deep waters that accompany life. What often begins as a simple question, moves into a discussion of heart issues, gospel reminders, and opportunities to speak into different aspects of life. It is the kind of thing that makes me declare to Louise, ‘This is why I love what we do!’”

—Nate Johnson

It’s these discussions about life, relationships, choices, emotions, history, future, and so much more which often lead to change, hope, and life-transformation. The quotes above beautifully illustrate this process and are an example of what Cadence staff seek to offer in each of their ministries.

Whether it’s God speaking to us through His Word and His Spirit, us speaking to Him in prayer, or whether it’s the meaningful conversations we have with each other—so much significant growth springs from these connections.

This is why listening well and asking good questions was one of the mission-wide training topics covered at our last round of Cadence field staff conferences. It’s why being restricted to Zoom, FaceTime, phone calls, and other virtual connections cannot stop the power and impact of meaningful conversations!

Ministry continues because conversations endure. Sure, we look forward to our future maskless face-to-face encounters with others, but in the meantime, we thank God for every connection He gives us with others. And, we make the most of them, as Nate and Louise did with David at our Travis Hospitality House ministry.

Friends, keep connecting, caring, and conversing well with others. These are the pathways for the Spirit to create transformation in others. Your gifts and prayers allow Cadence staff to do this very thing with military people and their families, and we thank you! 

David Schroeder
President