Thoughts from the new Cadence President

by

Greetings!

What a privilege it is to write you as the fifth President of Cadence International. Our family has served with Cadence for nearly 20 years, and we have been shaped deeply by this ministry as God has worked in us and around us while we were singles, newly married, and now with a growing family. It has been a sweet and joy-filled ride.

As a family of six, we have quite an array of personalities, temperaments, and preferences. God has brought us together to live and love out of an overflow of His rescuing and redeeming work in our lives. Yet we are a cast of unlikely characters living what I can only describe as holy chaos. Our messiness and differences highlight the beauty of God’s grace in our lives, the depth of our relationships, and the unique traits, passions, and gifts that we bring to this life and each other. What a privilege to live and lead with a family like this.

As I reflect on the gift of this mission, I am deeply reminded that the gospel not only rescues us from sin but also brings us into a family, a people united in Christ. Scripture calls us to “walk in a manner worthy of our calling, bearing with one another in love and eagerly maintaining the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:1–3). This unity is built on the shared reality that we belong to Jesus. In a world marked by division, we as the people of God stand as a witness to a better way. We are people formed by grace and held together by the cross. This is lived out in our homes and communities. It is who we are.

I want to express my sincere gratitude for each of you. Paul wrote to the Philippians, “I thank my God in all my remembrance of you … because of your partnership in the gospel” (Philippians 1:3–5). I thank God for your faith, sacrifice, and participation in this work of the gospel. May we embrace the journey with this unlikely cast of characters as we lay our lives down for the sake of Christ, side by side and with joy, knowing that what God is building among us is only the beginning of what He will do through the lives of military people, as we commit our way to faith-filled obedience. What a privilege to live and lead with a family like this. Here we go!

Dave Hutchings
President