STORIES
FROM THE PRESIDENT
Make Every Effort
“Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” Ephesians 4:3
As I reflect on the calling we share in this gospel work, Paul’s words in Ephesians 4:3 stir something deep in my spirit: “Make every effort . . . ” What a charge! This is not a passive suggestion—it’s a rallying cry to intentional action.
From the Field
Stories of God’s work in and through the military.
The Power of Community
Janelle Mebust is one of Cadence’s newer Headquarters staff, serving first with our Donor Services and now on the Human Resources team. Every month we sign an electronic birthday card for our HQ celebrants. The following is Janelle’s response to the words written in her card. She wants you to know that some of her words are selected from one of her pastor’s recent sermons.
Cadence Staff Spotlight
I’d like to introduce you to Jeremy and Shawna Quattlebaum who have been serving with Cadence Intentional since 2013. For seven of those years they ministered at The Lighthouse, Cadence’s hospitality house ministry to the Sailors and their families stationed at the U.S. Navy Base—Fleet Activities in Yokosuka, Japan. It is the largest overseas U.S. Navy installation, strategically important in the region, and Cadence has experienced thriving, fruitful ministry there since 1969!
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.
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.
The Power of Community
Janelle Mebust is one of Cadence’s newer Headquarters staff, serving first with our Donor Services and now on the Human Resources team. Every month we sign an electronic birthday card for our HQ celebrants. The following is Janelle’s response to the words written in her card. She wants you to know that some of her words are selected from one of her pastor’s recent sermons.
Cadence Staff Spotlight
I’d like to introduce you to Jeremy and Shawna Quattlebaum who have been serving with Cadence Intentional since 2013. For seven of those years they ministered at The Lighthouse, Cadence’s hospitality house ministry to the Sailors and their families stationed at the U.S. Navy Base—Fleet Activities in Yokosuka, Japan. It is the largest overseas U.S. Navy installation, strategically important in the region, and Cadence has experienced thriving, fruitful ministry there since 1969!
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.
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.
We Share
We share the gospel and our lives with the military community.
For 70 years, the mission of Cadence International has aligned and galvanized our staff in their fruitful ministry to military people and their families. When I think back on the 40 years Joyce and I have served in Cadence, the unrelenting focus of our hearts has been on this mission of loving military people.
As the Deer Pants
Have you ever been so thirsty that nothing mattered more than finding something to quench your thirst?
Earlier this year, I found myself in a situation where I was thirstier than I had ever been. I was in the hospital due to lung-related issues and needed a procedure performed under anesthesia. They gave me the typical “no food or drink after midnight” instructions ahead of time—no big deal. However, after the procedure, when I awoke and needed the help of a BiPAP machine to keep my oxygen levels up, I started to experience extreme thirst. Each minute the BiPAP mask was on my face, forcing pressurized air into my nose and mouth, I became more and more desperate for even just an ice cube. It would end up being five hours before I was allowed to drink some water.
Setting Our Minds on Things Above
It’s time for a New Year’s resolution check-in. Did you make one, and if so, how is that going?
A few years ago, I heard someone being interviewed on a podcast about New Year’s resolutions. They gave some statistics stating that 43% of people quit their resolutions by the end of January, and only about 9% keep their resolutions for the entire year. Wow! That’s not very encouraging, and it begs the question of why bother making a resolution to begin with.
Kingdom Connections
American military personnel are accustomed to packing up and going wherever the military sends them, whether it is a six-month unaccompanied deployment or a three-year duty assignment in the U.S. or overseas. Accordingly, Cadence staff may have only a few months to invest in those who attend their ministry and usually no more than three years.
This Present Moment
“Really, God?”
Am I the only one who asks that question from time to time? Over and over, I have found myself in new environments. Military moves, different ministry locations, and changing seasons of life bring new relationships and variables, and it can be so easy in those moments to feel the weight of change.
Love Freely Given
“I remember going to the Vilseck Hospitality House for the first time. Initially, I was scared that my past would mean that I was too broken of a person to fit in amongst everyone there. I assumed that everyone around me was perfect Christians who had their lives together and that I was a disaster. I was so wrong.”
Happy Birthday Cadence!
I wonder what birthdays were like in Bible times. Did the Apostle Paul’s mother throw a celebration for him each year as he grew up? I also wonder what birthdays were like for the OCSC/Cadence missionary families who served overseas in the 1950’s. My Burundian friend Isaiah was in Colorado last year on his birthday, and we had a celebration for him. He had never been given a birthday cake and treating him to this American tradition was fun.
Steps of Faith
A few evenings ago, I attended a concert at Red Rocks Amphitheater here in Morrison, Colorado. This iconic venue is a favorite of fans and artists everywhere, and experiencing a concert there is a bucket-list event for many people. The amphitheater is nestled within these gigantic red stone formations jutting out of the earth giving the venue its unique beauty and top-notch sound.
During the daytime, exercise enthusiasts flock to this amphitheater to be challenged by the steep incline, the 145 steps from stage to top, and the satisfaction of surviving a workout at around 6,450 feet above sea level. Personally, I prefer the music experience!
Grace for Today
One of our long-term (over 40 years) Cadence missionaries, Doyle Spader, went home to be with Jesus last month.
His wife Chris recounted to Joyce and me a conversation she and Doyle often had in the weeks before his death. They would say to each other: “We have grace for the day—it is always enough. It’s only not enough if I’m trying to get it for the next day.”