Greetings from our home here in the beautiful mountains of North Carolina. 

Some exciting growth, changes, and projects are in the making, and while I can’t share everything now, the next few months will reveal them. We will be staying home most of this summer, so we have settled in and have dug into these developing projects. They will be foundational tools to both our online and “in person” ministry focus. 

Part of the growth aspect of these months is that we are setting up an office and bringing on a full time secretary to free Brianna to work more administratively. Kristen will begin in about three weeks, and we are so grateful for someone’s full time assistance! For the time being, we are renovating our home office to work from, but we are hoping to find a longer term location in a few months.

We have also been working feverishly on a new family recording project. We’ll be recording next Thursday – Saturday (June 6-8). Brianna and Alisha are doing a great job in arranging the songs and figuring out the best harmony parts. I love the chord structures they hear and how they are taking this project to a new level. 

As I hear the messages in these songs, I’m excited about connecting them with people in churches and prisons. I believe the messages will resinate with those who are searching to embrace God’s truths. My heart rejoices when I think of people who are facing major challenges, yet choose to cling to a God who is sovereign and good. Below is one of the songs we’re doing. You may be familiar with it…but think about the lyrics: 

Verse 1

I come, God, I come

I return to the Lord

The one who’s broken

The one who’s torn me apart

You struck down to bind me up

You say You do it all in love

That I might know You in Your suffering 

Chorus

Though You slay me

Yet I will praise You

Though You take from me

I will bless Your name

Though You ruin me

Still I will worship

Sing a song to the one who’s all I need

Verse 2

My heart and flesh may fail

The earth below give way

But with my eyes, with my eyes I’ll see the Lord

Lifted high on that day

Behold, the Lamb that was slain

And I’ll know every tear was worth it all

I will share more about this album in our next update. The truths in these songs are eternal and so relevant for our lives.

One way you can pray for our family these next few months…Cindy and Alisha continue to struggle with health issues. Alisha is experiencing side effects of her long-term immunosuppressant medication. Her chronic eczema has been very intense, and she has been miserable for a number of months. We continue to pursue more testing and new options for her. Please pray with us for her healing. Cindy is also needing extended time of rest. We are seeing several specialists and praying for wisdom regarding both of them. But we know that every tear will be worth it all! We are rejoicing in God’s goodness even as we face these health challenges. 

Blessings to you and yours,

Duane