To our Lighthouse Trails friends:
Joy and I wish to convey our overwhelming gratitude for all the letters and gifts that came pouring in after our July 3rd house fire. And for the many caring people who have asked for an update, we are still awaiting the restoration of our home after the fire that erupted from a seemingly innocent electrical outlet in the basement. Due to many unanticipated factors, it looks like it will be at least another six months before it will be ready for safe occupancy. For a couple of people who routinely ran homeless programs and homeless shelters in our younger years, it has been quite an experience to be without a home ourselves. Living primarily in various motels, we will soon be moving into our sixth place since the fire. To complicate the whole situation, prior to the fire we were in the process of having 70 pine trees felled and removed from our yard. Because of the four-year California drought, bark beetles had killed most of the beautiful pine trees that had graced our yard—many of them 80-100 feet tall. Tree specialists will be working around the construction people in what had been our very quiet home and yard. Throw in a few personal health concerns and the sad passing of our two dear friends and co-laborers Ray Yungen and Caryl Matrisciana, and it has, needless to say, been quite a year. Nevertheless, we are standing fast, hanging tight, and continuing to press on!
In terms of ministry, earlier in the year, I spoke at several conferences and churches in California and Canada and wrote several booklets. After the fire, I spoke in California, Oregon, and Wisconsin. After the shock of the fire wore off we were able to get an expanded 2nd edition of Another Jesus Calling: How Sarah Young’s False Christ is Deceiving the Church published along with another booklet for Lighthouse Trails. Ironically, the booklet titled Trusting God Through it All: What Scripture Tells Us was published just prior to the fire. I have found myself reading that particular booklet more than once since the fire.
Again, we are very thankful for those who have called, written, and helped support us through this process. We look forward to a new year of addressing necessary issues and doing whatever we can to update and encourage the body of Christ through our books, booklets, articles, and presentations at conferences. It should be a very interesting and challenging time for us all.
We wish everyone a blessed and joyful New Year. May we all press on toward the higher calling of our Lord.
Lighthouse Trails Editors’ Note: Please remember Warren and Joy Smith in your prayers this coming year. For as much as they have been through, Warren continues in his determination to reach out to the body of Christ with his warnings, exhortations, and encouragements. We hope you will also prayerfully consider supporting Warren’s ministry financially. Warren gave up a successful career as a social worker and hospice care worker over fifteen years ago to write False Christ Coming: Does Anybody Care? Since then, God has brought Warren into a full-time writing and speaking ministry. While the Lord has sustained the ministry, it is not without its ongoing challenges, especially considering Warren is not part of an organization that covers him financially. If you would like to send a year-end donation to Warren, you may do so by using his PayPal account or by mailing a check in his name in care of Lighthouse Trails (P.O. Box 908, Eureka, MT 59917). Another option is to support him through regular monthly donations which can be set up also through his PayPal account.
