As I write this it is the Lord’s Day and we are enjoying sunshine here in Flint, Michigan. The older I get the easier it is to understand why older people like to head for sunny places whenever they can. I love Michigan though, and I’m glad to be here in Flint. It is my mission field and when I know I am doing what God called me to do there is sunshine in my heart.

I attended South Baptist Church in Flint today. Jim Vogel is the Senior Pastor. I heard a good message this morning about Peter walking on the water during a storm. A good message can be summarized in one, clear, powerful statement. Here it is in a sentence. “When you are in the storm do not be so distracted by the size of the waves and the sound of the wind that you don’t see the power of God and hear his voice.” I have been praying for two dear friends all day today that they will be able to focus on the power of God and hear His voice in the storm.

Saturday night Chuck, our seventeen year old son, spoke in the Verity Symposium. His speech was critiqued by the Verity students. His subject was Peter Marshall, former pastor of the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church and Chaplain of the United States Senate. It was a good speech, especially since it was his first attempt. He ended by reading the last paragraph of the biography of his life written by his widow Catherine Marshall. The title of the book is “A Man Called Peter.” It is a very well-written, warm and interesting book.

Last Sunday our oldest son Kyle preached at the Pacific Garden Mission in Chicago. When I was a boy my favorite Christian radio program was Unshakled, the radio broadcast from the Pacific Garden Mission. The program was always a drama about how someone’s life had been changed by Christ. I have always loved to hear the testimonies of people’s conversion. He said it went well. I think he is starting to get his feet as a public speaker. I have always wanted him to be able to do that.

I can’t tell you how happy I am about the number of registrations coming in for the Family Enrichment Weekend March 7-9th. I would love to talk with you about it or answer any questions you have. Feel free to give me a call. If I am tied up leave a message on my voice mail and I promise I will give you a call back as soon as I can. You can call me at (810) 239-1234 or send me an e-mail at ken@kenpierpont.com. Details and cost for the weekend are on the website of course. www.kenpierpont.com.

Related Reading

• A Man Called Peter; A Romance Worth Reading
• This Week (September 9-15, 2003)
• Marlon Sias
• The Week at the Character Inn (September 29-October 4)

This week at the Character Inn we hooked up the television for the evening and gathered the Inn staff and Verity students and staff in the Parkview Restaurant to watch the State of the Union address. We made popcorn and served soft drinks. Nearly everyone in the building assembled. After the address we closed the evening in patriotic singing and prayer for our country.

Friday evening a nice wet snow had fallen and most of the students and staff emptied out into the park for a huge snowball fight. The park was completely filled with joyful laughter and wholesome good fun. It did my heart good to see it. Here in Flint these young people are light in the darkness. In a meeting last week the Mayor told me personally that the Character Inn is the Crown Jewell of the Downtown. These young people have made it so.

Yesterday we sang and spoke at Grosse Pointe Baptist Church. We were warmly received and invited to return. We especially enjoyed singing “All Hail the Power of Jesus Name” to the accompaniment of their beautiful pipe organ. The church was warm and friendly and people were open to the teaching.

Related Reading

• First Week at the Character Inn
• Helen Barth
• This Week (September 9-15, 2003)
• Ark of Salvation