Unseen Heroes

Unseen Heroes

While our U.S. military personnel deserve our gratitude and respect for their service and sacrifice, another group of people is equally deserving: military spouses. They work hard behind the scenes to take care of their families amid the stress and chaos of frequent moves and deployments, organize packing up their belongings, and hold down the fort while their husbands or wives are deployed. They provide strength and stability in a life filled with change.

The wife of a Navy chaplain, Christa, shared with Cadence staff Joe and Caitlin Fletcher what their ministry, The Anchor, near NAS Oceana (in Virginia) meant to her as she transitioned to yet another duty station.

Our family of three made the long trek across the U.S. in the Summer of 2021. I had a lot of anxiety building, knowing a lot of responsibilities were getting ready to fall solely on me because we were preparing for my husband’s deployment. The need to find a community quickly and the dread of finding a new church are always at the forefront of my mind when approaching a PCS (Permanent Change of Station). 

We had no church connections, I knew no one, and my husband was in full deployment mode. We knew he had about head days after arriving in Virginia before heading to his ship. I was now faced with a new home (which I was grateful for), a new neighborhood, a new state (where I didn’t know where anything was), and my husband was about to leave me and our ten-year-old son. This reality and how I would manage really began to weigh on me. 

This was our eighth military move, and it was by far the most stressful one. Then, a ray of hope: my husband ran into a chaplain friend, and he immediately invited us to The Anchor, a Cadence hospitality house, where we met Joe and Caitlin Fletcher. When we arrived, I felt unsure about walking into a stranger’s house, but with all the cars I saw lined up outside the home, I also felt that there must be something being offered here that people are drawn to.

Being introverted, I gathered up my courage . . . strange place, strange faces, but the warmest “welcome home, you belong here” feeling I have ever felt upon entering a home. The people there felt like family. I knew in that instant that I would be coming back while my husband was away. After eating a delicious homecooked meal that ministered to this weary traveler both in body and mind, there was worship and a Bible study that ministered to my spirit. I felt in that moment a connection for my soul. 

The Anchor is not just a group that meets once a week, it’s a community of people who really care. It’s family. I’m incredibly thankful for everything they do to reach military families, including this chaplain’s spouse.

This story is an excerpt from Joe and Caitlin’s June 2023 newsletter.

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Ministry Spotlight—Victory Villa, Rota, Spain

Ministry Spotlight—Victory Villa, Rota, Spain

For almost 50 years, Cadence International has been sharing the gospel and our lives at Victory Villa, a hospitality house in Rota, Spain. The property, strategically located just a short walk from the main gate, occupies four acres of land overlooking the Bay of Cadiz. The easy access from base, beautiful setting, and warm welcome from Cadence staff make the Villa a haven of peace and spiritual refreshment for military personnel and their families.

Currently, Cadence staff Ben and Melody Bloker, Tori Randall, and Anna Tamblyn are experiencing significant ministry to the young adults in this strategic Navy military community. This photo is of Tanner, a Surface Warfare Officer (SWO) rendering a salute during retreat aboard the USS Paul Ignatius.

Tanner is one of six SWOs who are part of Victory Villa’s young adults ministry. Being a single officer on a destroyer has many challenges, especially with Navy regulations limiting officers’ ability to mingle with enlisted Sailors. As the chapel’s official young adults program, our Cadence staff have the opportunity to be a ministry where all ranks can gather to play games, enjoy a meal together, and study the Bible.

Cadence is also making plans for the Victory Villa 50th Anniversary Celebration in Rota, Spain, on October 23–25, 2025. We look forward to celebrating what God has done through this ministry for many years. We invite all Cadence Alumni who have been part of the Victory Villa community over the years to attend. For more details, email Angie.Sprague@Cadence.org or visit Cadence.org/Rota50Celebration.

This is one of 50 ministries Cadence offers near military installations across the United States and around the world. Thank you for partnering with us in such a strategic and fruitful outreach to military people and their families.

David Schroeder
President

Pieces of Glory

Pieces of Glory

I trust your gathering of friends and family over Christmas was meaningful and joyful, as was the experience for Joyce and me.

If you are wondering why there is a Christmas tree on my January receipt letter, it’s because this tree represents the fruit of your financial investment in the ministry of Cadence. If you look closely at the picture, you will see that it is made up of dozens of small, individually cut out pieces.

One of the activities on Christmas day in our home with both adults and grandkids was the creation of collages using chosen pieces from various magazines. This beautiful tree was our daughter Kyrie’s creation.

1 Corinthians 3:18 states, “And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”

Let us ponder this: the Spirit is always working to transform us into God’s image “with ever-increasing glory.” You, me, and every single one of God’s children are being lovingly crafted day-by-day, step-by-step, glory-to-glory into his very image. Wow!

And like Kyrie’s tree, he is taking one piece of our life at a time and adding it to the tapestry of his likeness as he forms us. We may mostly see the individual small and ragged parts, often experiences of suffering, grief, brokenness, and difficulty, but God sees the “ever-increasing glory” of his loving work in us.

Our Christmas trees every Advent season remind us that baby Jesus was destined to hang on a tree—sacrificing himself that we might one day receive the gift of life and forgiveness of our sins.

Friends, thank you for your investment in the ministry of Cadence. Your prayers and gifts are making the eternal gift of life available to military people and their families around the world. And those precious people are being transformed piece-by-piece into the image of Jesus.

May you be encouraged in your journey with the Lord today, even as you read this letter. If the pieces of your life seem fragmented, frayed, or fragile, trust our Savior anew as he slowly but surely creates a handiwork of his glory in you.

David Schroeder
President

Legacy of Love

Legacy of Love

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:16–17

It’s Advent, the season that invites us to not only celebrate God’s love but to reflect on it and share it with others. It is the time when we remember how far Jesus came to save us. As these song lyrics put it, “from a throne of endless glory to a cradle in the dirt.”[1]

For 70 years Cadence staff have gone from their homes and loved ones to military communities to share the gospel and their lives. Margaret Patty, one of the founders of OCSC/Cadence International, was one of these. In 1955 she worked her way across the ocean on a Norwegian freighter to marry Dick Patty who was already in the Philippines, along with Jesse and Nettie Miller, ministering to Sailors at Subic Bay. Margaret and Dick’s service took them from fruitful years at Subic to the Headquarters in Denver, then to Germany and the Europe Field, then as Ambassadors in Colorado.

In September, Margaret took her final earthly journey up to heaven as cancer that was undiscovered until August hastened her travel. We and other family members were in the room with her—Margaret was our beloved mom and mother-in-law. We testify to her walk of faith and her love for people to the very end. We invite you to watch her beautiful memorial service at Cadence.org/MargaretPattyMemorial.

This Advent, Cadence staff will continue the legacy of our founders as they open their homes and hearts to military people in the U.S. and overseas—those who’ve answered a different call to serve—a responsibility that often takes them far from their homes and loved ones. Our prayer is that in this season many will experience and accept the love of Jesus. His love never stops going to the greatest lengths to save us.

May you know His love in these days. May the ways you love others in this season be blessed. And may each of us be testaments of this love and grace all the days of our lives.

David and Joyce Schroeder

[1] King of Kings, Brooke Ligertwood

A Soldier’s Child

A Soldier’s Child

The following story was shared after Cadence assisted WayFM and A Soldier’s Child Foundation with an event on December 7, 2024. Thanks to the generosity of Greenwood Community Church, the event took place at AirCity 360 in Colorado Springs, CO.

A Mother’s Story

After hearing about A Soldier’s Child SOS Christmas on WayFM a few times on our way to school, my nine-year-old daughter, Kenna, asked if we could participate. The following week, she sold items at our church’s holiday market and felt she could sponsor a child with the earnings. An easy click on the site led us to the purchasing of gifts for a girl the same age as my daughter. We had so much fun shopping from the wish list and selecting presents we thought she might enjoy.   

I dropped off the gifts at Cadence International Headquarters and instantly felt a connection with staff member Angie Sprague as she shared about the party she was coordinating for the SOS families. In return, I shared our family story, how we were led to participate, and how my daughter wanted to lead the charge. Little did I know Angie would extend an invitation to attend the SOS party that Saturday as volunteers. We spent the evening meeting families, joining in on the fun, and connecting with people from WayFM, Cadence International, and A Soldier’s Child.  My daughter met the nine-year-old girl she had sponsored, and again, another instant connection was made.   

The many lessons our family learned and the chance to offer the presence of God by being the hands and feet of Jesus exceed the small effort it took to purchase gifts. We look forward to supporting this cause again next year and will spread the word about this opportunity, so more children feel loved during the holiday season.

Story Photos
Top image: From left to right: Ken, Kenna’s father; Angie Sprague, Cadence Director of Alumni; Deanna, Kenna’s mother; Rachel who works with A Soldier’s Child; and Kenna.

Side images: Kenna and her new friend.

A Soldier’s Child Foundation
“A Soldier’s Child (ASC) Foundation serves children of fallen servicemen and women from all U.S. military branches. ASC acknowledges all deaths during active duty and any deaths post-military service due to service-related injuries or illnesses.” Learn more about their incredible work here.

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Faithful and Available

Faithful and Available

God doesn’t need superheroes or extraordinary people to accomplish His purposes. He uses ordinary people who are faithful and available. Cadence staff Jeff Walton shared a story that illustrates this point. He and his wife Candace run the Humphreys Hospitality House in Korea.   

One thing that continues to amaze Candace and me is how God works through those who attend our house ministry, not just us. One man, in particular, is relatively new to Korea and still processing through a hard breakup that occurred right before he came.   

On Christmas, he told us he didn’t really want to be around a large group of people but knew he needed to be with others. He ended up retreating to our third floor to nap for a while, then ate a lot of food and poured out his heart to one guy for hours. He also connected with another guy and talked with him for a long time. It was great to see this man relax, be encouraged by other Christian men, see others pray for him with their arms around him, and then see him leave with closer friendships than when he arrived.   

Candace and I did nothing but provide a safe place for people to come and fellowship together. God used others to show love to this hurting man in our own home. Praise the Lord! This story is the reason we love hospitality ministry so much. As we disciple, build up, feed, encourage, and present the gospel to our group each week, our members, in turn, do the same for others. They have been shown a godly example and are now going out and serving others because of the community built on Jesus.   

We know we don’t need to be a part of every conversation, help solve every problem, or speak the right word of encouragement to others at the right time. God uses more people than just Candace and me. He raises up His Church here in our ministry, and they take care of each other. We create a space where people are brought together so that the Holy Spirit can work through the Body. It is God’s ministry, not ours. We just feel privileged to be on the front lines to see what God is doing. 

—Jeff and Candace Walton are House Directors at Humphreys Hospitality House in Korea. Excerpt from January 2024 newsletter.  

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