Hi First name / friend,

 

“You're really making me think…"

 

This is what an older man said after I gave a presentation at a local retirement community here in Hilton Head. 

 

Then he paused and said, “I’m sitting here thinking about my life and...what am I about?”

 

Sometimes I forget that not everyone spends an inordinate amount of time pondering the meaning of life.

 

Yet in that moment, I was reminded that deep down, every heart wrestles with the same questions: Why am I here? What will my life amount to? What legacy will I leave behind?

 

We're planning to meet again soon after he's had a little more time to wrestle with these big questions. Would you please join me in prayer for him?

 

The Director of Lifestyle Services at TidePointe, a local retirement community, told me to arrive at 5:00 p.m. because that's when happy hour begins. And let me tell you—these older folks sure do love their happy hour!

 

I presented the mission and vision behind Eternal Echoes to a group of about 10 men and women, and they were quite intrigued. In fact, there were several others lingering just outside the room, listening from the periphery. I'm choosing to believe the Lord strategically placed them there for a reason.

 

We wrapped up with a Q&A session, filled with thoughtful questions and meaningful conversation. By the end, 5 residents had signed up to be interviewed (including a 92-year-old woman from Holland!). That's 5 more stories, 5 more legacies, and 5 more opportunities to preserve the faithfulness of God across generations.

 

I'd call that a successful happy hour!

“Marriage is hard.” We hear this all the time. But what if a better way to say it is: marriage requires hard work.

 

I had the honor of sitting down with marriage coaches and authors Valerie and Marcellus Bonner, who have spent more than 40 years cultivating a Christ-centered marriage while helping countless couples strengthen their own relationships.

 

Together, they share:

👉🏻 God’s blueprint and design for marriage

👉🏻 The key principles behind a lasting marriage

👉🏻 How couples can grow together spiritually, not just individually

👉🏻 Practical steps for couples who feel disconnected

👉🏻 The role of unity, respect, submission, and mutual affirmation in marriage

 

Welcome back to our “Meet a Board Member” section! This month we're featuring Skip O'Kelly, who was a business owner and sales executive in the promotional products industry for over 30 years (in the top 1%!).

 

Skip is actively involved in his church, serving as a mentor, small group leader, a new believers instructor, and so much more (he's the busiest retired person I know!).

 

I recently met a dear friend and mentor for coffee. As we talked about the assignment the Lord has placed before me in this season, she said something that stayed with me:

 

 

This idea comes from John Bevere's book, The Awe of God (highly recommend!). It speaks to the difference between partial obedience and complete obedience—not merely starting what God asks of us, but faithfully carrying it through to the very end.

 

Jesus modeled this perfectly. Scripture tells us that He “humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:8).

 

This week, I invite you to sit with the same question I've been pondering:

Welcome back to the “Articles of Interest” section, otherwise known as “Texts from Mom” (see: above screenshot), where I share cultural commentaries and articles that connect with the mission of Eternal Echoes:

 

“Intergenerational mentorship may be the key to restoring faith and belonging among young women…the women who flourish are those who are rooted in genuine religious community, mentored by wise older women, and protected by faithful men."

 

"My experience has been that today’s young adults are some of the brightest, most prayerful, and deepest souls I’ve ever met.”

 

“The tools that were once the norm, but now seem old and antiquated, were brought back as if they had never gone out of style, and things steadily started improving…"

 

“The mind unfettered by stimulation is mysteriously restorative. In one way or another, many of history’s greatest minds have stumbled into this wisdom.”

Blessings,

Thank you to our donors who make this ministry possible. If you'd like to partner with Eternal Echoes, you can do so by hitting the button below. Thank you and God bless you!