…Continued from Part 1.

The truth is that you were fearfully and wonderfully made in the image of a God that loves you more than you could ever imagine. And once you truly understand that fact, it shakes your entire world to the core.

The truth is that everyone knows, in their heart, that there is a God. The bible tells us that all of creation points to His existence. We know it. And it’s in those moments of quiet, when no one else is around, when we don’t have any distractions to cover up our blemishes, that we realize there must be more. We feel alone, separated from something.

The good news is that there is a solution to that feeling of inadequacy and loneliness. Jesus Christ, the son of God came to Earth, lived as a man, was tempted by the same sins you and I struggle with each day, lived a perfect and blameless life. Then He was nailed to a cross, and died to pay the price for your transgressions. This isn’t some moving story, or a good fairytale. That really happened, just outside Jerusalem, and once and for all the God who created all things passed judgment on the only person who could take the punishment we all fairly deserve. And he did that because he loves you, and God wants to have a relationship with you.

This is happening right now, not hundreds of years ago, right here, wherever you are. God wants you; he wants you to fall in love with him. It is the greatest love story in history. And you are part of the story.

Craig asked me to write about my vision for the R:12 Project, the ministry he and I have been called to. But before I can get into what we’ve been called to do, you need to understand who I am, and where I stand.

It was October 5th, 2009. A few weeks prior I was in East Baghdad, on a routine night mission when I found myself alone. It was dark, and I was scared. Something just didn’t feel right about the entire thing, and attacks in the area had been escalating. As I tried to rejoin my squad, I felt an overwhelming sense of peace, and I knew that I would be just fine. That night, on the 5th of October, I stood in the worship service at Biltmore Baptist Church. As the lights dimmed and the first song began I read the lyrics on the projector screen:

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death.

Your perfect love is casting out fear,

And even when I’m caught in the middle

Of the storms of this life.

I will fear no evil, for my God is with me.

And if my God is with me, whom then shall I fear?

Whom then shall I fear?”



Those words cut me to the quick, and I began to cry openly. I knew beyond any reasonable, logical explanation that God was speaking to me. His message was clear;

“I was with you that night, and every other day and night, as you walked in harms way. It was not your weapons, your training, or your armor that kept you safe, but My hand and My hand alone.”

The God of the universe loves you, and wants a relationship with you. My name is James Vance, and on October 5th, 2009 my life was forever transformed by the awesome power of the sacrifice that Christ Jesus made for me. I invite you to take a moment wherever you are and cry out to Him, accepting Him as your personal savior, and asking for forgiveness from your sins.

I look forward to writing again to share with you the vision that God has set my hand to, and the ministry opportunities Craig and I look forward to sharing together and with all our friends and family.

May God bless you and keep you.