September 5, 2012
Letter From the Executive Director
Dear friends and future friends of The Wilderness,
It’s easy to look back and see where you’ve been or come from and then talk about it, but quite a different story to look ahead, know what‘s in store, where you’ll be in the next year or ten… and talk about that! There are so many times I wish I had a “red phone” and could just dial up God and get the plan for the day, week, month, or year, etc. But, Scripture makes it clear that this walk is a walk of faith. It is like holding out your hand and letting God take it and lead you to a land or in a direction that you know not! The alternative is to just stop and stand still, but like the old adage says, “you can’t steer a parked car.” It is important to keep putting one foot in front of the other like the words to the song…”and step by step He leads me and I will follow Him all of my days.” I love that song.
So what do I see in the next 40 years at The Wilderness if the Lord should give us that long? Well, God has impressed upon my heart more than ever before, the ever-increasing need for TWFM to be a place of refuge, peace, restoration and hope in this day of such unprecedented attacks on families and marriages, the absolute foundation stones of our nation and society. Yes, this is a place for individuals as well, but it is God’s design that marriages (as described in the Bible between one man and one woman) and the families these marriages create, be strongly in place and firmly established on God’s Holy Word to provide the nurturing place of protection and safety of those individuals that will one day make up the marriages, families, individuals and leaders of tomorrow.
This is what is on my heart the most as I look ahead. Do you see the growing need for a place of Refuge? Peace? Restoration? Hope? If you do, then I invite you to come along side of us with your family, or marriage, or individuals looking for a safe place to grow in intimacy with Jesus and the truth of His Word.
I see more prayer cabins and other facilities that can support more ministry opportunities. Facilities that will accommodate life-changing and challenging seminars designed to build the principles of God’s word into marriages, families as well as individuals. The possibilities are limitless as the Lord provides the vision and finances for it.
I’ve been praying for years for large gifts to provide for the really expensive needs of expanding our staff, staff housing, and ministry. Additional facilities are needed to meet the even greater needs I feel are coming upon this nation. I believe we are only seeing the tip of the massive mountainous iceberg of need that will become even more evident as God shakes this nation to reveal our national need for a return to Him. We are about to reap what we have sown as a nation—BIG TIME! We want to be ready and prepared to help meet the needs of the shattered, fractured families, marriages and individuals who will be knocking at our doors asking for help. But this will take great wisdom, significant finances and a team of prepared people.
May God grant us His Wisdom to know how to prepare… and step by step He leads me, and (we) will follow Him all of our days.—The best is yet to come.
Looking to Him,
Randy
