Family is one of the greatest gifts we may ever receive in this life. The dictionary defines it as: ‘a basic social unit consisting of parents and their children, considered as a group, whether dwelling together or not.’Family is a complex thing and yet it is...
A Societal Woe (Part 4): Biblical Fatherhood
"He will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, so that I will not come and smite the land with a curse" (Malachi 4:6).Here we see a clear indication of the blessing of God upon His nation: Fathers who care...
A Societal Woe (Part 3): Biblical Womanhood
I was another girl born into the middle of a heap of sisters. As I grew older, I worked hard to create an identity that was distinct from the collective name people used to refer to my sisters or me: "the Will girls". That started a lifelong quest for...
A Societal Woe (Part 2): This Thing Called ‘Sin’
I sat with a man in my office that I recently began meeting with to discuss the ‘gospel’, the Bible, and what it means to follow the person of Jesus. To begin our time I asked a simple question – What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus? I didn’t ask...
A Societal Woe (Part 1): The Problem
Amazingly, it’s the beginning of a New Year, 2014. It seems that with each passing day, week, month, and year, the old adage, going to hell in a handbasket, rings with an ever-increasing element of truth. Thinking back to my grandparents, a civil and right...
Coffee Cards & Cupcakes
What is so important about coffee cards and cupcakes? Angie* is. A little background information: Angie was referred to me by my good friends Fred and Joan Nelson over a year ago. She is 22 years old, has a three year old daughter and is a single mom. The father...
The Father’s Love
“I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly” – Jesus, John 10:10 Seven years ago I experienced the joy of becoming a father to our son Elijah and this blessing upon my wife and me only increased as we now have three additional children – Ellie, Kai and...
Why I Live in a “Bad” Neighborhood
*Melissa, wife of John Geiger (CLDI’s Youth Works Director), recently purchased and renovated a row house, making this their new ‘home’ as they seek to love God and love neighbor as they follow the example of Jesus, ministering in the flesh. This blog was written a...
Arms Raised Up
I have recently started manning the front desk of CLDI in the mornings. In the office bathroom hangs a little plaque that quotes 2 Thessalonians 3:13: “As for you brothers, never tire of doing what is right.” Reading this scripture day after day, I have been...
A Letter of Reflection
*A letter written by a fellow sister, Amanda, at the end of her Fellowship House internship with CLDI. Dear Amanda of August 2012, As you drive out to Billings for the first time, I know that you are both confident that the Lord has led to you this city,...