“The Lord is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble.  Therefore we will not fear though the earth give way, and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, and the mountains quake with their surging.”  Psalm 46:1-3

I hope this finds you well.  I am writing to commend to you an event in our congregation next Sunday afternoon, April 3 at 3:00 PM.   Called “The Rescue Tour”, this will be a concert of Christian hymns featuring Dave Anderson and Roger Walck of Shepherd’s Canyon retreat ministries.  They are a mission partner of Calvary – we feature them in October every year along with another ministry to pastors and their spouses – Broom Tree.  Shepherd’s Canyon - www.shepherdscanyonretreat.org is located in Wickenberg, AZ, and provides spiritual and emotional support and counseling to pastors going through difficult times from congregational conflict or professional fatigue – sometimes called “burn-out”.  You’ll hear about the work they do to restore these pastors and couples and the miracle stories SC hears so often.  We’ll present you the opportunity to make a special gift to the ministry in addition to what you might give in October. For that I thank you on Dave and Roger’s behalf.

But the tour is called “rescue” for another reason – not just the refuge SC gives to ministry families when their lives feel like they are descending “into the heart of the sea”, but also you’ll hear Dave’s powerful testimony of the time he and a ministry team went to Siberia to witness and evangelize. On the return flight to Alaska, the small aircraft they were flying in “fell into the heart of the sea” when the plane ran out of gas. The Bering Sea is one of the most tumultuous on earth. Its waters roar and foam all the time – and are extremely cold!  But all survived, even after floating on suitcases and empty gas cans in the frigid waters far longer than anyone believed possible.

It is a gripping story of God’s provision and protection, as well as the courage and skill of the Alaska Coast Guard personnel who did in fact rescue all on board and bring them safely home.  God is good!   Our afternoon will begin, as I say, at 3:00 with refreshments and a chance to meet and visit with Dave and Roger.  The concert in the sanctuary will begin around 3:45, (give or take a few minutes) so please plan to come early.  This concert and presentation is free and open to the public – materials to support SC and to tell about the ministry will be available for you to take home.  

Marcella and I attended a Shepherd's Canyon retreat in 2012, and can personally testify to the quality of spiritual and professional counseling support they provide.  No pastor is turned away because of the cost. Shepherd's Canyon will provide all or partial funding if a family or their congregation cannot provide it.   It is a ministry I am thankful for. Shepherd's Canyon and Broom Tree, our dear friends and mission partners, provide what I call “proactive” spiritual care to pastors and spouses, without cost to them in their retreats. It’s a good and needed combination, so please come and hear about what is happening at Shepherd's Canyon, and also, I promise, enjoy wonderful Christian music that is sure to inspire.

All we do in the church, we do…