Thanks to your prayer and financial support, I get to disciple men as well as minister in various venues. Recently, I had the privilege of teaching in chapel at Des Moines Christian School. Though I believe the one-on-one or one-to-few teaching model is best, I do feel privileged when asked to speak to a church or a group. I did not expect to be called upon to speak at a chapel for elementary age kids!

I have to say, it was indeed an honor and I was humbled to do so… actually, it was a blast! It just so happened to be the Christian school my twin grandsons Chase and Gavin attend, as well as where our granddaughter Kennedy and grandson Dax attend preschool. I think they were the main reason for my invitation.

I decided to speak on faith, a mainstream concept in Scripture. Acts 16 came to mind where Paul and Silas were imprisoned for preaching the Gospel. I decided to entitle it, “Ya gotta believe!”

Painfully uncomfortable, would not begin to describe the situation in a Roman prison, this one in Philippi was no exception. Despite it all, while bound in stocks and chains, Paul and Silas were singing praises to God. One could rightly say that their praise and worship “rocked the house,” as God sent an earthquake to open the prison doors and remove their chains. Instead of running for their lives they stayed put. Even the prison guard, convinced all his prisoners had escaped, was about to commit suicide when Paul and Silas interceded. What happens next always takes me back to childhood. Upon entering the sanctuary of Saylorville Baptist Church, straight ahead in the back were these words, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31).

Throwing the ball to our kids when they were young, if they would miss, I would say, “Ya gotta believe!” Then just to stretch them a bit, I might throw the ball a little further and while the ball was mid air yell out, “Ya gotta believe!” So, experiencing some deja vu in chapel that day I asked my grandsons, Chase and Gavin, to join me up front. Then I sent each of them out for a pass while having their schoolmates cry out, “Ya gotta believe!” Even under peer pressure, both boys believed and caught a pass!

Faith is very big deal in Scripture and it is impossible to know God or please Him without it. Our God loves to see us express our faith and He in fact uses life to stretch it. Nothing has stretched our faith like this ministry! Our God tests and stretches our faith especially through hard times, all the while, reminding us from Scripture and by His Spirit, “Ya gotta believe!”

When difficult situations loom in our lives may we remember to somehow by faith praise God through them. In humble amazement at Paul and Silas’ faith the jailer cried out, “What must I do to be saved?” Their reply, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved!” Simply stated, “Ya gotta believe!”

Please pray for us - this is so important!

— For Penny and I, our kids and our grandkids

— Safety and wisdom for travel, ministry to pastors

— Wisdom for me personally as I minister to people

— For donors to give to help us help others spiritually

— For me to raise up disciples who will make disciples!

Love from above, Keith and Penny