Gordon "Gus" Gustafson standing near the sign to the Panama center.

Happy 60th Birthday!

B irthdays are important markers on this journey of life. They provide an opportunity to reflect on one’s priorities and values. At our celebrations for

Schroeder family members, we always ask the birthday person to share highlights from the past year and what he or she looks forward to in the next one.

Sometimes we land on birthdays that pivot us into an entire new decade of life. I turned fifty a couple years ago, and this milestone in particular stirred thoughtful reflection on my life—“What really matters most?” “What makes a difference in others?” “What lasts, remains, and has eternal value?”

I’m glad the Apostle Paul answered these questions for us clearly and succinctly in 1 Corinthians 13:13, “And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.”

As Cadence International celebrates 60 years of life and ministry in 2014, this birthday also causes us to reflect on

CADENCE CONNECTIONFall/Winter 2014

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Cadence International®PO Box 1268 • Englewood, CO 80150p: 303.762.1400 • f: 303.788.0661info@cadence.org • www.cadence.org

Sid Hendry, C.P. Tarkington, Jesse Miller, Dick Patty, and Tom Hash at an OCSC Leadership meeting.

Happy 60th Birthday!

what God has done in these six decades of ministry to and through the military. When I think about the four couples who founded this work all those years ago, no verse more aptly describes who they were and what they lived for than 1 Corinthians 13:13.

Jesse and Nettie Miller, Dick and Margaret Patty, Tom and Dotty Hash, and Tark and Alma Tarkington were people of faith—they trusted God wholeheartedly; they were people of hope—they lived for eternal purposes and promises; they were people of love—they opened their homes and hearts to servicemen and their families.

Because they lived for these things that remain, not only was a mission agency dedicated to reaching the military born, but a legacy of faith, hope, and love lives on through Cadence International…a heritage touching literally thousands of lives for Christ all around the world.

Each of the founders has remarkable stories—stories that show how God led them to serve the military; stories that share God’s faithfulness and provisions; and stories that reveal how God used them to communicate to the lost. The following is just a glimpse into these stories, and I trust they bless you today and encourage you in your ongoing prayer for Cadence as we enter into another decade of sharing the gospel and our lives with the military community.

David Schroeder, President

David and Joyce Schroeder

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A Prayer Honored: Jesse and

Nettie Miller

Jesse and Nettie on the far right sharing home

cooking with Tom Hash and C.P. Tarkington

and others.

As a young soldier in the Philippines, Jesse grew in his faith under the ministry of missionaries Dad (Cyril) and Mom (Anna) Brooks. During this time he prayed, “Lord, if I ever have a home of my own, You can have it for servicemen.” (Prisoner of Hope, p. 24). God honored this prayer—beyond what Jesse could then imagine. But before that, there was great suffering.

War broke out and Jesse was taken as a POW. He clung to the promises in Scripture he had memorized around the Brooks’ dinner table as he survived the Bataan Death March and shared Christ with fellow prisoners.

Dotty’s hands flew up and down the piano keyboard as Tom’s tenor led the packed crowd of servicemen, all on their feet, heartily singing, “Oh, victory in Jesus! My Savior forever!” Later in their living room and kitchen, Tom and Dotty fed soldiers who were far from home, filling stomachs with home cooking and hearts with Jesus’s love.

While single, Tom followed the Lord as his Savior because of Jesse’s ministry to him; then, as newlyweds, Tom and Dotty followed God’s leading to minister to the military, first at the headquarters, then to Panama and beyond.

The lean times deepened their trust in God’s faithful provision. Tom once wrote: “Today as I thought through the need for equipment, for passage, and for sup-port, my heart was completely filled with the thought that Dotty’s and my only real need is to be filled with the Lord. We are trusting the Lord to do this—that only He might be seen in these weak lives” (Dotty Hash, Fill These Rooms, Ca-dence Press, Colorado, 1998, p. 79).

In harmony with Jesus, Tom and Dotty actively practiced trust, always claiming victory in Jesus.

Victory in Jesus: Tom and Dotty Hash

Seven years after Jesse’s release, servicemen gathered in Jesse and Nettie’s home in the Philippines. God greatly used the Miller’s strength of spirit, hospitality and Bible teaching.

In 1954, Jesse gathered Dick Patty, Tark Tarkington, and Tom Hash to form Overseas Christian Servicemen Centers. In his book Jesse wrote, “With many avenues of service open for a ministry among military, we joined in prayer that God would call and lead many who would obey His call and follow His leading, eager to serve in this ministry. We requested of God that a chain of centers would be established around the world” (171).

Dotty’s hands flew up and down the piano keyboard as Tom’s tenor led the packed crowd of servicemen, all on their feet, heartily singing, “Oh, victory in Jesus! My Savior forever!” Later in their living room and kitchen, Tom and Dotty fed soldiers who were far from home, filling stomachs with home cooking and hearts with Jesus’s love.

While single, Tom followed the Lord as his Savior because of Jesse’s ministry to him; then, as newlyweds, Tom and Dotty followed God’s leading to minister to the military, first at the headquarters, then to Panama and beyond.

The lean times deepened their trust in God’s faithful provision. Tom once wrote: “Today as I thought through the need for equipment, for passage, and for sup-port, my heart was completely filled with the thought that Dotty’s and my only real need is to be filled with the Lord. We are trusting the Lord to do this—that only He might be seen in these weak lives” (Dotty Hash, Fill These Rooms, Ca-dence Press, Colorado, 1998, p. 79).

In harmony with Jesus, Tom and Dotty actively practiced trust, always claiming victory in Jesus.

Victory in Jesus: Tom and Dotty Hash

Anyone privileged to be part of the ministry of Tark and Alma Tarkington would not soon forget their broad smiles and vi-brant faith. Servicemen were welcomed by Tark’s big hand-shake and booming drawl and Alma’s sweet strength.

Like the other founders and the missionaries who have fol-lowed, Tark and Alma relied on God and His people to provide their income. Once, after securing a house to use for the min-istry, Tark and Alma realized that the rent would take all their funds. Trusting in God’s direction and provision, they paid it.

A week later, Offi-cer Marshall walked into Tark’s office. Tark had led him to the Lord earlier, and now this young, growing Christian felt the Lord was telling him to tithe. He said, “I’ve never given anything to anybody!” as he handed Tark a check for $200.

Though never fully financially support-ed, the Tarkingtons never had a bill un-paid. The Lord fully, faithfully provided. This year, the work Tark and Alma established in Okinawa at Kadena AFB is celebrating fifty years of ministry.

Forward Together: David Schroeder

Thank you for your interest, prayers, and support of Cadence. Sixty years of faithful and fruitful ministry to the military commu-nity is a powerful heritage. Our founders began this work in faith, hope, and love, and it continues to move in force throughout the world. Cadence’s 250 staff members carry this wonderful legacy forward in

faithfully “sharing the gospel and our lives” with the Ameri-can military community and those serving in foreign Armed Services.

We labor so that the vision of “exalting Christ in the nations through the lives of transformed military people” might be a reality. Thank you for your partnership in this vital endeavor.

“Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.” Romans 12:13, NIV

For more stories and photos, go to: cadence.org/anniversary

A Vibrant Faith: C.P. (Tark) and Alma Tarkington

Taking the man out of the farm but not the farm out of the man, God used Dick Patty to plant and pioneer many ministries to the military. While es-tablishing the Subic Bay Servicemen’s Center, he proposed to Margaret on a tape. Margaret worked her way to the Philippines on a freighter, and they were married. Immediately after returning from their honeymoon, they welcomed sailors into their home.

Dad Brooks advised them to take a night off: “It may be better to burn out than to rust out, but it’s best to last out.” Thus, after a couple years, they advised sailors that Monday night would be the Pattys’ night off. The next Monday, more sailors showed up to the Center than usual. They were there to spend the eve-ning off with Dick and Margaret.

Dick recently reflected, “We’ve outlasted some of the ministries we started.” He was referring to the Subic Center and Switzer-land Bible conferences. However, the youth ministry of OCSC/Cadence, grown from their home in Germany, continues to reach military dependents to this day.

The legacy of faithful obedience and loving service continues in countless lives touched by the wisdom, courage, and kind-ness of the Pattys.

faithfully “sharing the gospel and our lives” with the Ameri-can military community and those serving in foreign Armed Services.

We labor so that the vision of “exalting Christ in the nations through the lives of transformed military people” might be a reality. Thank you for your partnership in this vital endeavor.

“Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.” Romans 12:13, NIV

For more stories and photos, go to: cadence.org/anniversary

A Lasting Legacy:

Dick and Margaret

Patty