April, 2019
|
God likes letters. How do we know? One-third of the New Testament consists of epistles- or what we call letters. Today with email, text messages, instant messaging, and Twitter even letters can seem like something from the past. Well some traditions are worth keeping alive. Therefore, it is an honor for me to write a letter about the profound and eternal impact that Dr. Russ Cadle has had on my family and me. |
I met Russ 25 years ago when I was a single young man just starting out my career and was invited to the Wilmington men’s bible study. For decades, the Wednesday lunches with Russ and the other men was a highlight of my workweek. Dr. Cadle shared scripture in an inspirational and accessible way. Yet, what I really loved and connected with was his transparency and the humility with which he shared his own faith walk, which helped me navigate my faith walk. There were no airs about him. He was willing to share his shortcomings and the areas where God was working on him. He did not pretend to have it all together like other leaders I had known in church and the business world, but rather made himself vulnerable, so that we could learn, based on his experiences and what God had shown him.
In a letter Paul wrote to the believers in Corinth he spoke of fathers in the faith:
Even if you had ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you only have a few fathers. 1 Corinthians 4:15
I had experienced many instructors in the faith, but it did not take long for me to realize that Russ was much more than that. He was one of my few fathers in the faith. His biblical leadership and mentorship has affected so many areas of my life- beginning with my marriage. Prior to getting married, my fiancé, Stephanie, and I started to attend marriage seminars with Russ and Virginia Cadle. Russ and Virginia modeled a beautiful marriage that we wanted to emulate and we wanted to learn how to avoid some of the pitfalls that were common in marriages.
Another thing that draws me to Russ is that he makes the life of faith accessible and practical. He has taught me with his exhortations to:
- Pray prior to driving off to work in the morning
- Decompress in prayer prior to walking in and greeting my family at the end of the day
- Running through the things that I am thankful for prior to going to sleep each night
- Holding hands with my wife in prayer
There is a clear pattern in my life- the more I am with Russ the stronger my faith walk grows. Russ often shares the Apostle Paul’s words in his letter to the church at Galatia:
I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20
Russ has changed my life and he continues to impact dozens and dozens of men and their families throughout the region. His ministry is a critical to both our community and God’s kingdom.
Would you please consider sowing a financial seed to help ensure that Russ and Friendship Ministries continue to affect countless lives and families with the life-changing message of Jesus Christ.
God promised to give seed to the sower and in Luke 6:38 Jesus said,
Give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured to you.
To close this letter- I love Russ and I bet you do too. Our prayer is that you would continue to be blessed by Russ and Friendship Ministries and to simply be faithful to do whatever the Lord puts on your heart to do.
In Christ,
In a letter Paul wrote to the believers in Corinth he spoke of fathers in the faith:
Even if you had ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you only have a few fathers. 1 Corinthians 4:15
I had experienced many instructors in the faith, but it did not take long for me to realize that Russ was much more than that. He was one of my few fathers in the faith. His biblical leadership and mentorship has affected so many areas of my life- beginning with my marriage. Prior to getting married, my fiancé, Stephanie, and I started to attend marriage seminars with Russ and Virginia Cadle. Russ and Virginia modeled a beautiful marriage that we wanted to emulate and we wanted to learn how to avoid some of the pitfalls that were common in marriages.
Another thing that draws me to Russ is that he makes the life of faith accessible and practical. He has taught me with his exhortations to:
- Pray prior to driving off to work in the morning
- Decompress in prayer prior to walking in and greeting my family at the end of the day
- Running through the things that I am thankful for prior to going to sleep each night
- Holding hands with my wife in prayer
There is a clear pattern in my life- the more I am with Russ the stronger my faith walk grows. Russ often shares the Apostle Paul’s words in his letter to the church at Galatia:
I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20
Russ has changed my life and he continues to impact dozens and dozens of men and their families throughout the region. His ministry is a critical to both our community and God’s kingdom.
Would you please consider sowing a financial seed to help ensure that Russ and Friendship Ministries continue to affect countless lives and families with the life-changing message of Jesus Christ.
God promised to give seed to the sower and in Luke 6:38 Jesus said,
Give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured to you.
To close this letter- I love Russ and I bet you do too. Our prayer is that you would continue to be blessed by Russ and Friendship Ministries and to simply be faithful to do whatever the Lord puts on your heart to do.
In Christ,
SVP of Client Services
Cash Connect by WSFS Bank
P.S. Thank you for your financial support. We really need it as we come to the year’s end with a $30,000 deficit.