The Queen visits Jamestown and Williamsburg

As a Brit living in the States, I'm excited about the Queen of England being on a visit to Virginia to help celebrate the 400 year anniversary of the founding of Jamestown.

"My visits to Jamestown and Williamsburg, separated by 50 years, symbolize for me the warmth and welcome Prince Philip and I have always received during our many visits to the United States over the years," the queen said during a private luncheon Friday in Colonial Williamsburg, the restored 18th-century capital of Virginia.

If you've not been to the Jamestown/Williamsburg/Yorktown area in awhile, it's definitely the year to visit! We'll be hosting a clergy retreat there in August called "Reclaiming the Joy of Ministry" and would love to welcome you there. If you'd like to do a family or group tour, just let us know and we'll be happy to arrange it.

We mourn with those who mourn

Our hearts go out to those who are affected by the sad recent events in Virginia. We join with those praying for the bereaved families and the students who had to go through that ordeal.

Our hearts are also heavy today with the news that three wonderful men of God ministering in Malatya, Turkey have been brutally murdered. Brothers Necati Aydin ('nedjati', father of 2), Ugur Yuksel and Tilman Geske (father of 3, and a German citizen) were working in a publishing house in a city that has seen way more than its share of martyrs. Ten young men have been arrested for this brutal attack.

Aydin was the pastor of the 30-strong Protestant community of Malatya. Tilman is pictured left with his wife and his 3 children. Ugur was due to be married very soon and was a new believer.

Let's pray for their families and the church in Malatya and that Christians in Turkey would not be fearful, but would seek the Lord in this difficult time.