Transition Time
We’re out of business! (Well, almost.) On May 1st we signed the papers for Tim Dunlop (Bright Ideas Lighting) to buy Rick Deighton Lighting. Tim has agreed to sub-contract for us on finishing the retrofit bids we already had in process. Below is a large portion of the letter we are sending to our clients.
“To our Clients/Customers/Friends,
I have appreciated getting to know you and serve your lighting needs – some of you for the past 18 years, since Della and I started Rick Deighton Lighting, Inc. We appreciate your business and treasure your friendship – but it is time for a change.
This is my announcement of retirement from the lighting business, in order to devote even more time to sharing the light of our Lord Jesus Christ through our Overseas Outreach and through Northwest Science Museum.
I am an ordained minister of the gospel of Christ – and I’m serious about the vow I took at my ordination. It will be no surprise to most (if not all of you) that I’ve been a bi-vocational lighting consultant all along. I’m now 74 years old and noticing that I cannot as easily keep up the pace with multiple responsibilities as I could when I was younger. Also, the stress for Della to keep up with all the paperwork she handles as bookkeeper for both our business and ministry projects has become a burden, especially since she has several health issues.
You are not just customers to me – you have become friends, so I don’t want to leave you in the lurch as far as caring for your lighting needs and fulfilling the existing guarantees on products you have purchased from us. Therefore, I have searched for someone who will treat you like he likes to be treated. I believe Tim Dunlop, owner of Bright Ideas, is the man who fits the picture. I offered him our business at a very reasonable price on these conditions:
- That he will fulfill the warranties and replace products that do not last the designated time – at no charge to you.
- That he will serve your lighting needs at a fair price and treat you right.
I’m convinced that Tim is a man of integrity, who will abide by these conditions. He has also agreed to abide by the price schedule we have been using. Of course, there may come some changes, because there are always fluctuating prices in every business – and Tim needs to make a profit (just like every businessman) – or he will not be there to serve you later….. Respectfully yours & His, Rick Deighton”
Clarification
In case the idea may occur to you that we must now be flush with money since the sale of our business, think again! I haven’t taken a salary from our business since 2012 because I began investing more time in ministry projects, rather than pursuing new business accounts to grow the lighting business.
From Our Mailbox (Responses to our “Retirement Letter”)
“I truly hope you have a blessed retirement! We appreciate your help and counsel in addressing our lighting needs through our store system. With retirement, you will now have more time to do what you feel called to. What a blessing!
Ralph May”, Executive Director, St. Vincent dePaul Thrift Stores”
“Congratulations, Rick, very happy for you. It has been a pleasure doing business with you.”
Corey Miner”, Les Schwab Tire Center, S. Nampa
“Congratulations on a well deserved retirement and I wish you both the best. I pray that Della’s health issues improve and that you two enjoy many years to come together. Thank you for everything you have done for us and it was a pleasure to get to know you…”
Lon Hollomon, Les Schwab Tire Center, N. Nampa
“Congrats Rick!! Enjoy your retirement. God bless you.
Brad Carpenter”, Western Bus Sales
“Happy Retirement to you and Della! I have loved working with you and appreciate you taking care of my properties. I wish you the VERY BEST! I will keep you in my prayers as you continue your ministry.
Best wishes!
Robin Zickefoose”, Orchard Place
“I am very sorry to hear that we won’t be seeing your smiling face any more. Having said that, congratulations on your much deserved retirement. We will certainly transfer the small amount of business that we represent to Bright Ideas and I will reach out to Tim to let him know.
May God continue to richly bless you and Della and may the warmth of his abundant love carry you forward in your journey to do his good work in the world.
Sincerely, Rick R Stoolman, Midtowne Insurance”
“Thanks, Rick, and good luck with your new adventures.”
Russell Anderson, Western Woodwright
“Good for you, Rick. I hope you have a wonderful retirement!! I appreciate everything you have done for us in the past and look forward to working with Tim.”
Tom Mosgrove, Franklin Building Supply
“Rick, thank you for your help. God bless you and help you in your service to Him.”
Viktor Ludan, All Foreign Parts
“Rick, Thanks for everything. Best of luck to you and your family going forward. I have started a blog to organize my thoughts on ‘the bigger picture’. I know they don’t necessarily line up with your views, but I want you to know that I always enjoyed our discussions on the matter.”
Take care,
Rick Parrot, Rocky Mountain Wood Designs
From Our Mailbox (Responses to Prayer Letters)
“Dear Brother Rick,
Last evening I read your April newsletter. It was inspiring and informative. Your writing was clear and very expressive. God is using you to take the Gospel message into the Ukraine and other areas where very few will be able to minister. Thank you for your dedication and persistence. May God bless you beyond your hopes and expectations!
In the bond of Christ,
Lee Turner”
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“This is so sweet of you both. It really is. Thanks for remembering us and sharing this need throughout your network. Such a beautiful and powerful thing the body of Christ is.”
Much love and thanks,
Rob Browne, Youth Reach International
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“Your gifts in Simferopol have been distributed. Everyone is sending their gratitude. Thank you.
Anastasia Skovorodnikova
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“I eagerly await receiving your newsletter each month. As usual – this one was great.
I’m glad in this Easter season, you pointed out the real April fools. Our Lord and Savior is Risen – He is Risen Indeed. The questions you raised for skeptics were convincing. The most meaningful proof to me of the Lordship of Jesus Christ is the lives of the Apostles. These men were with Jesus for 3 years. Day in and day out. Listening to Him, and seeing the miracles He performed. When He was crucified – their Hope was buried in the tomb. When they saw Him, and spent time with Him after the Resurrection, their Hope was restored. And on the day of Pentecost, they were changed men. Their lives were changed until the day they died. And they all died martyrs’ deaths – except John. They turned the world upside down. Their lives – going from hopeless – to living and giving their all, even their lives, all for Jesus is absolute proof for me. Praise God for the work they did. I also am glad for the writings of C.S. Lewis, Lee Strobel, and Josh McDowell. And – Rick Deighton!
The picture of the children in the orphanage was heart-warming. All smiles with their books and bananas. I’m so thankful for people that run the orphanages. And for their supporters. I’m glad you’re planning another trip to Ukraine, Rick. I know you’re such an encouragement to the lives of people you see.
The words you wrote about Trinity, and raising children, really hit home. Having raised our 6 children in the turbulent 1960‘s and 70’s, I can relate. I give God all the praise, honor, and credit that they all turned out so well. Trinity is so fortunate to be in your loving and godly family. And you’re so fortunate to have such a sweetie to love on.
The story about bees was amazing. I just can’t believe that people can truly believe that the amazing things God created, can come about by Evolution. I would like to have a copy of the book, Have You Considered. Thank you.
I hope you’re doing well, Della. I pray for your health…..I know all the things Rick does, he couldn’t do without you backing him 100% and walking side by side with him. I thank God for the ministry of you both.
I’m enclosing a piece that a friend gave me. It just shows what it is to be truly rich!
Your friend in Christ,
Gwen (Eichel)
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“I appreciate the folders on Creation/Evolution. I gave them to my friend. I’m enjoying the daily readings in
“Have You Considered Evidence Beyond a Reasonable Doubt?” – Good book! Thanks!
You are both in my prayers – for you and the ministry.
In Him,
Eileen” (Smith)
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Inga Chystyakova translated and sent us this message from Lena Schalbyetski:
“Dear Rick and Della,
Greetings! How are you doing? Della, how are you feeling? How are your feet? Our children continually pray for you.
Thank you that you continue to pray for our mom. She has finished all 6 courses of chemotherapy recommended by the doctor and in a month mom needs to have the check-up computer tomography. Please pray that she would fear not and that her faith will continue to grow with every day, and that she would have the full 100% reliance on God.
Thank you for your financial support. We would like you to know that we used part of your gift for mom’s medical treatment, and spent the rest for children dental needs (brackets) and vehicle repair. Thank you very much!
Respectfully,
The Schalbyetskis”
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“Thank you so much, brother, for the sacrificial donation Georges has delivered from you to me! It came right in time of a great need – the air conditioner compressor on my vehicle got broken right before the upcoming summer season. The car became my main ministry tool after moving to Kiev. Olga and I travel across the country with books and seminars every other week, and it would be a nightmare to spend summer in it without the conditioner. The cost of replacement was about $1,000 – exact amount the Lord has put on your heart to provide! Thank you very much and blessed be His name! I would like to ask, brother, for your prayers and help to spread the word about another need. I am helpless as an auto mechanic, and have no skills in fixing cars.My gifts are teaching and writing. That is why our ministry had a policy – after using a vehicle for 5 years and 100,000 km of Ukrainian roads, when it starts to require additional maintenance, but still could be sold not too cheap, I trade it for the new one. Sounds like the time is coming to update the vehicle I have since time at Crimea (you may remember that my Nissan X-trail). The dealer offers $16,000 for it to trade in. But it is still pretty good vehicle in the hands of somebody skillful in car maintenance, and for that sum I would prefer to give it to somebody who could use it for the ministry. The reserve however we have collected during the “seven years of great plenty” according to the ministry board decision shrinks, and I am afraid I am not able to just give it out without compensation to use for purchasing the new one. On the other hand, you may probably remember Andrey and Anya Goryainov, who used to run children home in Evpatoria and have a family of 9 kids (mostly – adopted ones). They have moved as IDPs to the city of Lutsk and continue the work of ministry there. Andrey is a person of many gifts, including car maintenance. But their many years and 500,000+ kilometers old van cannot be fixed anymore. Getting my current vehicle would be the great blessing for him and his ministry. Therefore I ask: please join our prayers for the Lord’s help in this situation, as well as please do not hesitate to share this need with others. I have ordered the new Nissan X-trail to be delivered by September 1. If by that time I could collect the money, I will be happy to give my current car to Andrey. So, any help will have double effect – providing both my car desirable upgrade and Andrey’s desperate need for the car. I highly appreciate your constant care and prayers!
May the Lord bless you abundantly in all your ways like you are blessing for many!
Yours by the grace of Jesus
Sergei G.”
Trust in Transition
A Challenge, Exhortation and Encouragement
Below is a portion of a letter already sent to our co-workers with Northwest Science Museum, because it is also a crucial transition time for NWSM.
To our Board of Directors and their wives, our Advisory Council, and to our wonderful volunteers for Northwest Science Museum,
We are right now at an extremely crucial point of transition from our Vision Center rented room to a building near one of the busiest intersections in Idaho. Satan will use the uncertainty of our situation to tempt us to doubt, worry, and waver in our own commitment. Almighty God will use this waiting time as a test (a trial) to strengthen our faith, our resolve, our commitment for heavier trials, tests, temptations that are sure to come our way. Therefore, I am writing this letter to all of us (myself included) as a challenge, an exhortation, and an encouragement. Our Master is a wise coach – and He will not send us into the big game without some rigorous training! Right? Right! I’m expressing my thoughts in the form of an acrostic that spells trust.
Testing Time of Training
Remember! Remember! Remember!
Unite! Unite! Unite!
Steadfast! Steadfast! Steadfast!
Triumph! Triumph! Triumph!
And it all begins with Trust! Trust! Trust!
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and depart from evil.” Prov. 3:5-7
“For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” 1 John 5:4-5.
Important Truths to Remember
- Tests and trials are an essential part of training!
- Satan will use these tests as temptations to wonder, worry and waver. He will even, perhaps especially, use them to get us to nitpick and blame each other (or ourselves) for each blunder (or perceived mistake). His method is always divide and conquer!
- Remember that a divided mind is Satan’s victory. Why? Because as James candidly pointed out (by inspiration of the Holy Spirit: “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” James 1:5-8.
(To be continued)
Prayer Requests
1. Boise Bible College Conference was tremendous! Praise God! Please pray that the inspiration and instruction we received will be applied, rather than forgotten – to the glory of God and the building of His Kingdom.
2. Please pray for total healing for Larisa Schalbyetski and for continued rescue and redemption successes of orphan ministries in Ukraine. Pray for Larisa to grow even stronger in faith.
3. Please praise God for the timely delivery of funds to the Schalbyetski family for their ministry, and to the Golovin family for their ministry (Christian Center for Science & Apologetics) – and praise Him for thedonations to Overseas Outreach that made this possible. Thank you so much to all of you who support Overseas Outreach financially and in your prayers!
4. Please pray for the funds for Sergei to replace his car and be able to donate his current car to Andrey and Anya Goryainov for their ministry.
5. Praise God for an amazing answer to a specific prayer. We have been praying for a business manager for Northwest Science Museum to relieve Stan from the paperwork load and allow him to function with building displays, teaching, leading tours, etc. Dennis Petersen, creation science evangelist with over 40 years experience, has his master’s degree in museum administration – and he has volunteered to become our business manager. He is now in the process of raising funds. Please pray!
6. Please pray for Mulberry International as they reach out to hurting families, both inside and outside the war zone of Ukraine. Below, we are sharing portions of the letter we received from them after we sent some funds from Overseas Outreach to help with their urgent needs.
“Thank you so much for answering our plea and for your generous contribution… Adding a new church and a new community means that our volunteers can impact lives of many more displaced by the war and at-risk families that otherwise would have almost no means for survival. Any additional financial support we can provide for this community will mean more lives won for Christ. Please consider sharing our need with your friends and families to raise additional funds for this new ministry….. Most of the children are in need of Christian counseling for anxiety, trauma and abuse that we provide at the MDO along with Bible, preschool and English lessons. We have some exciting news! We are sending our very first mission teams to Mariupol this summer! A team from Current Christian Church (Katy, TX) will be helping at summer children’s camps, and a construction team from Louisville, KY will be doing repairs and renovations at a Christian children’s home. Please pray for peace in the region, funding for our teams, and the impact that will be making on children and families in the war-torn area.
Thank you for being a crucial part of our ministry to bring Hope and Healing to children and families in need!”
Natasha, Executive Director (The “Thank you” belongs to those of you who support Overseas Outreach with your financial gifts and prayers.)
God’s Spirit Fills
Cross the valley and over the hills.
So much adventure God’s Spirit fills.
See the trees large and small. Hear the breezes, as they call.
Notice the flowers everywhere you go.
Covering the fields in all their glory – giving His Story
As they whisper, “I made them for you!”
Look at the canyons with limestone walls.
So much beauty; it’s God’s way to say:
I love you through and through!
See the streams as in torrents they flow.
For miles and miles, onward they go.
Watch the water as it falls over the cliffs, throwing its spray.
See the green fields as they sway.
Grasses so plentiful, growing so free.
See the canyons, so wide and deep,
Like castles in the sand with slopes so steep.
So many lakes edged with pines.
So much beauty, God’s Spirit refines.
Watch the oceans with beaches so white,
And the waves crashing on the rocks, sparkling in the light.
Look at the mountains with peaks so white.
Covered with forests that have no end, like Heaven so bright!
Cross the valley and over the hills.
So much adventure, the Spirit of Christ fills.
– Ed Saunders with editing by Rick Deighton
Great Missionary Quotes “Only one life – it will soon be past. Only what’s done for Christ will last.” “I have found that there are three stages in every great work of God: first, it is impossible, then it is difficult, then it is done.” – Hudson Taylor “Love is the root of missions; sacrifice is the fruit of missions.” – Roderick Davis