Author: Rob Karch

An guy from Oregon who followed Jesus from Paris to Québec to Colorado to cancer to remission to France to Montréal to ... one day at a time.

3-Day, Church Planter Assessment

From 8am to 8pm an evaluation team of 20+ church planting experts, psychologists, coaches, and experienced church planters evaluated six church planting candidate couples. There was joy. There were tears. It is a privilege to walk alongside each of these as they find their place in God’s mission in the French-speaking world. PRAY: https://robertkarch.com/prayercover/GIVE ONE-TIME: https://tinyurl.com/y9e3vvzlGIVE RECURRING: https://tinyurl.com/y9saosbhTWITTER: https://twitter.com/robkarchYOUTUBE:…

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True Friendship is the Least Jealous of Loves

« Community is the key to true spirituality as we grow to know God by learning to know one another in relationships. In a famous passage, C. S. Lewis describes a very close friendship between himself, Charles Williams, and Ronald Tolkien (better known as J. R. R. Tolkien). After Charles Williams died, Lewis made this…

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A Watershed Moment in Québec History

I was in shock the entire evening.  A Baptist leader I know and love, Gilles Lapierre, got up and addressed the 400+ gathering and said, “Throughout our history we have experienced a spirit of competition and mistrust. We have been isolated, each of us doing our own thing. Today we stand together and say ‘No…

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Roots Grow in Darkness

Roots grow in darkness. When my father texted that he had cancer on December 13, 2017, I had no idea that it would culminate in the conclusion of a painful story that began when I was only 4 years old.  We have a fundamental fear of suffering. When we see suffering coming, we run the…

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The Gospel is not about trying hard to be a “Good Christian”

The more we discussed the Gospel, the more it became clear that he did not understand it. He talked about working hard to be a “good christian” and teaching others to be “good christians” by following Christ’s ethical example. “What about Jesus as Savior?” I asked. “Of course Christ is the Savior,” he answered. “What…

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Is There Only One Gospel?

-This comes from my notes on the talk “Dwelling in the Gospel” by Timothy Keller – Is it possible that there are many Gospels? Matthew’s, Marks, Luke’s, John’s, Paul’s, James’? This has been a hot topic within academia for over a century and a half. For instance, the writers of the Synoptic Gospels speak of “entering…

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I am not the Star of this Story. God is.

“You reap what you sow,” the pastor said. You’ve just gotta persevere. If you keep sowing toward your dreams, they will eventually come true.” The pastor’s sermon ended there. No Jesus. No cross. I had been invited to attend this fast-growing church. But was shocked at what I heard. Sure, it sounded inspiring, for a…

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The Gospel is “News”, not “Life Advice”

Many claim that Jesus was a great teacher who gave us incredible life principles to follow. They claim that he may have even been the best teacher ever. Others claim that Jesus was an extraordinary example to follow if we want to be good people, maybe even the best example ever. Yes and yes. But…

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Suffering and Thanksgiving

If there is one thing that characterizes every epoch of human history, and all of life at one point or another, it is testing through suffering. Suffering brings out what is truly inside us, whether bitterness or gratitude, anger or forgiveness, anxiety or peace. Even as an orange reveals the juice hidden inside as pressure…

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Québec – A Critical Mission Field

Here’s how to get involved: Luke 10:2 Prayer at 10:20am every day for Quebec. Prayer Cover for the Karch family. God answers prayer! Vision Tour: Organize a vision tour with key people here. Contact me to find out out how. Short-term Team (10-12 churches are ready to host for the summer of 2019, teams from…

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Love & Alzheimer’s

I get emotional when I see my father and his declining capacity. And when I see the difference between his capacity and mine, it strikes me how God’s capacity is infinitely greater than mine… and yet, God has an intense, burning love for me. Father, give me this same intense, burning love for my father,…

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A Way to Fight Slavery that Costs You Nothing

My friend’s message was revolutionary. And simple. And easy… and based on a free-market economic model. It was the opportunity not only to impact thousands of lives, but even to liberate thousands of children trapped in economic slavery. What would it cost? Nothing. Rien. Zilch. Nada.  He only asked one thing: Change a few of…

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Confronted by Death, but I Don’t Have to Fear It.

What God did for me  in 2016 through the process of cancer, chemo, and remission, is make me cognizant of death. This body may not last another six months, or five years. Or, it may last another 40 years. Death is right in front of my face. But because of the resurrection, I do not…

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For all you survivors out there: “This Year is Gravy”

One of my new friends survived cancer last year, the same time I did. She just sent me this super cool email. It is one of those messages that pushes me toward gratitude, joy, hope, and RISK as I face today: Hi Rob!! I am so excited to see what God is going to do with you…

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Insurmountable Odds

Right now we are in the French-speaking world, among the largest unreached people group in North America: 7.5 million French-speakers. About 0.6% are considered Evangelical. (Compare that to Oregon = 29%, Colorado= 26%, NY = 10%) As far as Gospel-centered mission goes, we are already right in the thick of the need for a Gospel witness…..

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A Prayer for a Team going to the Philippines

From New Jersey to the South Pacific, the Philippines, a service team asked me to pray for them via Skype this morning. Here’s the prayer God gave me: Compassionate Father, You sent us into the world. You commanded us to make disciples. You promised that you would be with us. You sent Your Spirit. Your…

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Wisdom does not come from within

I was reading in Proverbs this morning and there is one verse that strikes me every time I read (well, there are many, but this one struck me from this morning). In 1:5 it says “let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance.” This verse implies that the…

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You Are Loved

As I woke up this morning, thoughts of unconditional love tumbled around my head. The kind of love that remains steady no matter how I act or feel. It is not rooted in me, it is rooted in the one who loves me. I had the image of an angry child in my head, held…

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Words On a Page Aren’t Enough

This is awesome… and not enough. The Bible in 1500 languages…. a good start. Translating the Bible into heart languages is essential. Nothing can replace this arduous, rewarding, precious task. But words on a page are not enough. Though God can and has used His Word independently at times, His plan is clearly through His…

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Trying not to say the wrong thing

Last night I was reflecting on what gives us the confidence to show compassion, to love, to walk into a difficult situation without feeling like our presence is futile. There is always the hesitancy that I might not know what to say or do. This hesitancy is something that I struggle with every time I…

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Most Ironic Independence Day Ever

On July 4, 2016, at the end of chemotherapy, I became a Canadian citizen. This gave me two passports. I was born a U.S. citizen and married into being a Canadian. This was not random: Paul says that “God he determined the times set for us and the exact places where we should live” (Acts 17)….

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Big News from the Karch Family!

In order for us to move to France this summer, things have to move fast. We praise and thank God for the amazing community God has surrounded us with: you! We are together in this. 5 ways to ENGAGE to launch us to France this summer: Prayer Cover: (98 normal people still needed who will…

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Resurrection

נֵ֫צֶר = “branch” “Netsareth” = Nazareth = “Branch-Town”[1] A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him –             the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,             the spirit of counsel and of might,             the Spirit of…

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Jesus obliterates “religion”… and “spirituality”

Jesus obliterates religion… and spirituality. One of my friends recently shared how having a baby transformed his relationship with God. He is one of the most disciplined people I know. Every morning, from 5-5:30am he reads his Bible, prays, and reads a few pages out of a devotional book of some kind. For years he…

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“The answer to Doubt is Worship.” – Doug Hazen

Worship…

Casey Morgan puts his finger on the heart issue I mentioned a few days ago. He says… “People around us would often say, “Wow, you guys have such a clear calling to serve overseas. I don’t think I could ever do that.” My wife and I didn’t know what to say. We felt like we…

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