Christmas is right around the corner! In this episode of ENCOURAGING WORDS, Jon sheds light on the Bethlehem story and encourages us to join with Mary, the Angels and the shepherds in magnifying Jesus!

In this episode, Jon encourages us that we’re not left alone to stumble through life, but we have a loving Father who leads us every step of the way.

As we approach Thanksgiving, today’s episode examines the power of giving thanks in ALL things, and developing a life-transforming attitude of gratitude.

C.V. James (second from left) with the Celebrant team at a prayer time in India

During our second outreach to India in 1979, we met an extraordinary, loving, servant-hearted, humble and remarkable man who left an indelible impression on our entire team. He introduced himself to us as C.V. James. Mr. James was stationed in the city of Lucknow, in the north. He was part of the executive team of Union Carbide corporation. Little did we know that C.V. would become not only a deeply-loved, treasured and valued friend, but also a tremendously important part and great influence on the then-fledgling CELEBRANT SINGERS’ ministry.

“Brother James” (back row, far left) with the team at the Taj Mahal

Mr. James wore so many hats, and possessed so many amazing qualities, it’s nearly impossible to enumerate them all. He played a major executive role in an international Fortune 500 company to be sure, but he was also a dedicated, committed and loving husband and father. He was, in all the years we had the privilege of knowing him, deeply involved in all manner of Christian activities and pursuits as well. As a solid member of the Assembly of God Church in Calcutta, a city to which he later moved, he became an extremely valuable “right hand” to the pastor, Dr. Mark Buntain, and served numerous terms as the president of Gideons–India. In all of these roles and a plethora of others, C.V. was highly respected, deeply-loved and appreciated.

C.V. and a small group of us with Mother Teresa at the Mother House in Calcutta.

Within just a few years of knowing him, and working with him very closely in India, we invited C.V. to join the Board of Director’s of STONE MINISTRIES, INC./CELEBRANT SINGERS where he served with great distinction for more than twenty years. During his tenure he never missed a board meeting though virtually all of them were held in the United States. In this capacity he became a “fixture” among us…known to hundreds of CS team members and directors, and loved and appreciated by all. On one occasion he and his wife, Sheila, even lived for an entire year in our headquarters city of Visalia, California in an effort to assist in growing and enhancing the ministry. His contribution to CELEBRANT SINGERS and to all of our lives personally, is deeply profound and legendary. Only eternity will reveal the whole.

The news of his passing in Hyderabad, India earlier this month, was and is inestimably sad to all in the CS family. Love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness and self control…the entire list of the fruit of the Holy Spirit in a person’s life…were all in abundant evidence in the sterling character and well-lived life of our dear brother, C.V. James.

“Well done thou good and faithful servant.” Thanks for showing us all, in such an extraordinary way, how to faithfully and authentically follow the Master. Our lives are inestimably richer for having known you.