DeLonn and Valerie Rance

LaDawn, Jorel and Shayla

Mobilizing the Church to the Mandate

and Equipping the Called

The Race

“I don’t mean to say I am perfect. I haven’t learned all I should even yet, but I keep working toward the day when I will finally be all that Christ saved me for and wants me to be. No, dear brothers, I am still not all I should be but I am bringing all my energies to bear on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God is calling us up to heaven because of what Christ Jesus did for us.” Philippians 3:12-13 Living Bible

I remember running races in elementary school. We would have track meets once a year and everyone had to participate. I really hated the long distance runs, my lungs would feel like fire, my sides would ach and my legs would feel wobbly. I never seemed to find that second wind that everyone always talked about. (I still believe it’s a myth!) I liked the sprints better; at least they were over with quickly.            The Rance family will be running hard this next year. DeLonn will be working on his Ph. D. in Missions at Fuller. He is planning to graduate in June 2004. He will also be traveling around Latin America and the Middle East, training Latin American Missionaries. He is also in the process of building the Missionary Training Center (CAMAD) building. The foundation is in and the walls are going up. Continue to pray for finances so that the building can be finished this year.            LaDawn is running her race at Bethany. She will be finishing her sophomore year in June. She is enjoying her classes but really misses El Salvador. She will be going to India as an intern from Bethany this summer. Jorel has the end of his high school run in sight. He will be graduating in June and has been accepted to Bethany. He can’t wait to start playing basketball in a real gym, on a real wood floor. He will be going to two Central American tournaments in March and April. They are hoping to win the small school championship as well as defend their large school title.            Shayla is doing very well in her race through her junior year. She will be going with a small group of students from her school to Monterey Mexico this month to participate in a student UN. She is representing Saudi Arabia so she has been studying about their country and their ideals. Soon she will have Mom and Dad all to herself. She is looking at that with mixed emotions.            I have found over the years that the Christian life is not a sprint but a definite marathon. There have been many times this past year when I just wanted to stop and try and get my wind back. However, the Lord challenged me this New Year with the words of Paul. “Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I strain to reach the end of the race”. Straining doesn’t sound too easy but I know that I won’t face the challenges ahead without my Lord by my side. Maybe with him I will finally find that “mythical” second wind and finish the race. Your fellow runner. Valerie and DeLonn Rance Missionaries to El Salvador February 2003

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