01 Mar

Posted at 22:00h in Uncategorized

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33 (NIV) A Faithful Dad is excited to announce our newest guide, A Family Guide to Pursuits! What am I chasing to find fulfillment? A promotion? Wealth? The perfect family? Every pursuit shares a common goal: fulfillment. But most pursuits we’re chasing leave us wanting more, not fulfilling us. Much of what we pursue is like drinking salt water to quench our thirst. So, what can I chase that will fulfill me? This guide reveals the answer by looking at: the lessons King Solomon learned, Jesus’ teachings, and the author’s own experiences. The answer is a life-changing truth: Pursue Jesus in all your pursuits to find lasting fulfillment. Available now on Amazon.com! Pursing Jesus with you, Travis L. Zimmerman Pastor, Co-Founder ...

01 Feb

Posted at 22:00h in Uncategorized

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 (NIV) Artist. Scholar. Christ-follower. Our son, Trey, is all of these. For years, our quietest kid has been using his “voice” – his art – to help people in our community. The above image well-represents his work: Trey’s Eagle Scout project for Cocoa Packs led by Christine Drexler. “What a wonderful gift God has blessed you with!” she exclaimed. Christine not only placed Trey’s artwork in her office but also employed his work to raise funds for hungry kids during their annual fundraiser at The Hotel Hershey. We are so proud of him! So you can imagine how devastated we were when a thief posing as a client took advantage of Trey. A week before Christmas 2020, this thief commissioned Trey to produce four of his paintings....

01 Jan

Posted at 10:00h in Uncategorized

Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. Isaiah 43:18-19 (NIV) It’s one of the most highly anticipated dates ever: January 1, 2021. Do we even need to ask why? Yet, if we’re completely honest with ourselves, so far 2021 feels a bit like 2020. But a bit of biblical perspective can encourage us. After abiding hundreds of years of Israel disobeying God’s commands, God finally cast the nation of Israel into a 70-year Babylonian exile. Yet, even as He was punishing them, God provided hope spoken through the prophet Isaiah. “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the...

01 Dec

Posted at 10:00h in Uncategorized

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12 (NIV) In reflection, 2020 wasn’t what we expected. Many say 2020 has been a disappointment. Others say these times are “unprecedented.” And some of us feel that the darkness is winning. But nothing could be farther from the Truth! There’s reason for joy: consider three examples comparing COVID-19 to biblical times. Reason #1 for joy: COVID-19 and the Assyrian empire As the COVID-19 global pandemic expanded in early-2020, people worldwide huddled in terror, and darkness seemed to have the upper hand. Unprecedented? No. As the brutal Assyrian empire expanded around 700 B.C., a declining Israel huddled in terror, and darkness seemed to have the upper hand. Yet the prophet Isaiah foretold, “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of...

04 Nov

Posted at 10:00h in Uncategorized

He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. Daniel 2:21 (NIV) *** SPOILER ALERT *** Per IRS 501(c)3 nonprofit rules and my personal ethics, this update mentions no specific political candidate nor does it endorse any candidate/party. Lastly, the 2020 US Presidential election wasn’t yet decided when I posted this update. Years ago, when I was trying to sell network equipment to Gannett, the publisher of USA Today, a purchasing agent taught me an important lesson. Media companies boasted surplus operating budgets in election years due to political advertising: that’s when many people rediscover the news again. The year I pitched them was an off-election year. I didn’t make the sale and walked away empty-handed. Yesterday, millions of us voted and woke up to find we feel a bit empty-handed as well: no winner nor loser declared in the US presidential...

01 Oct

Posted at 10:00h in Uncategorized

How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! Psalm 133:1 (NIV) Has 2020 got you down? Nothing like spending time with fellow believers to kickstart your walk with Christ! Frontline Ministries recently held their annual men’s retreat at Whitehall Camp & Conference Center, about 90 miles northeast of Pittsburgh, PA. To many, this region is affectionally referred to as “God’s Country”: bountiful forests, beautiful wildlife, and bad cell phone signals! As usual, the Frontline Ministries team did a phenomenal job pulling together dozens of men from area churches to spend time with God and each other. Praise God for these men, brothers in arms (see image above)! As I reflected on this event, God helped me summarize what I learned, the 4 F’s on men’s ministry: Faith: This weekend was all about growing and renewing our faith in God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Really, it’s simply an expression of...

01 Sep

Posted at 10:00h in Uncategorized

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”  John 14:1-4 (NIV84) Earlier this year, we launched our new video series, A Faithful Dad Speaks, and we are thrilled how God is using our ministry messages! So how can you catch our broadcasts? Each Sunday at 3pm EDT on Facebook Live and YouTube, we share a short, compelling message on a relevant topic covered in three points and tied to God’s Word. And you can even comment and ask questions live! If you’re...

01 Jul

Posted at 10:00h in Uncategorized

We rejoice and delight in you; we will praise your love more than wine. ~ Song of Songs 1:4 (NIV) The biggest, Prince Charles and Lady Diana accomplished at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London for $100M+ in view of 750M people. For us, Suzanne and I took care of it at Falling Spring Presbyterian Church for a few thousand dollars with 120 people looking on. Due to COVID-19, Kyle and Brittany completed it at minimal cost before 9 people in her backyard. Three different ways and places to proclaim, “I do.” But the result is the same: God brought a man and a woman together in holy matrimony before adoring witnesses. On the occasion of Kyle and Brittany’s wedding, God gifted me the distinct pleasure of bringing them together in marriage. I could scarcely believe my eyes! Once a little girl with a big smile whom I taught in Sunday school over a decade ago,...

01 Jun

Posted at 10:10h in Uncategorized

I the Lord do not change. ~ Malachi 3:3 (NIV) In ministry, like life, change is constant. “Travis, speak My word, and I will take care of the rest.…” God’s call on my life began quietly, simply, and undeniably. The year was 2006. And while God’s call hasn’t changed, the way our A Faithful Dad ministry team carries out His call has changed. Live speaking events like family camps, youth retreats, men’s retreats, singles events, and weddings have always been a primary means of carrying out our mission of encouraging dads and families. However, as a bivocational pastor and in light of COVID-19, in-person speaking events have become more challenging. In fact, two of our big events were rescheduled for 2021. So, for most of our 11 years, we’ve relied on various video formats to spread God’s Word: our first iteration produced 2,000+ short videos over six years and resulted in 1M total views. One video, Will I...

01 May

Posted at 10:00h in Uncategorized

And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. ~ Hebrews 12:1b-2 (NIV) We never thought my bride Suzanne would ever run again. Thank God we were wrong! Six years after her horrific slip-and-fall accident and torturous recovery, Suzanne set a goal for herself: to run 1000 miles in one calendar year. That’s over 2.7 miles a day, every day for a year. Wow! Climactically, Suzanne successfully completed her goal in December 2018 (see image): praise God! But there’s even more to this running story. Runaway daughter In the summer of 2018, Suzanne and our son Trey were out running errands when they encountered a young girl “Maggie” (not her real name) who flagged them down alongside a local roadway. Neither Suzanne nor Maggie knew each other previously. Turns out Maggie was hitchhiking, trying to run away from home. Maggie asked if Suzanne could drive her to the nearest park....