“Love ACWHN!”
Betty Ann, Texas (July 2024)
“We enjoyed two nights with Jeff and Susan (70294657). They went above
and beyond to make us comfortable and make our stay enjoyable. We
enjoyed discussing travels with them and especially appreciated Jeff’s
history enthusiasm as we were touring mostly historical and military
highpoints on our East coast trip. We joined them for church in their sweet
little white chapel surrounded by a centuries-old cemetery. Their church
was very friendly and welcoming. Jeff and Sue were very generous with
their house, property, and time. Our 2-night stay with them was a
highpoint of our entire 3-week trip.”
“And after a full day exploring Cape Cod, it was very refreshing to be
welcomed into Schylie (69816720) and her parent’s house for a hearty
dinner and fireside chat. We immediately felt at-ease with them and
appreciated the break from hotel and fast food restaurants on our long
road-trip. It is always encouraging to see that men and women across the
country and world love God and are seeking to love his people, even the
strangers.
We enjoyed our Candle connections so much! Thank you for this service!
Jay and Anna, Washington (June 2024)
“I stayed with Anselmo and Miriam for three nights while visiting London
in April 2024. This was the first time I have been hosted by a Candle in the
Window family having previously hosted two families ourselves.
What a welcome I received as their two beautiful young granddaughters
greeted me at the door! This was just the start of their very welcoming and
generous hospitality. Their hearts were open to me from the outset..
They exemplified the hospitality that Peter refers to in his first epistle:
“Be hospitable to one another without complaint.” 1 Peter 4:9
I recommend them very highly and look forward to bringing the rest of the
family with me next time! Thank you Anselmo and Miriam for a wonderful
blessing. May the Lord return to you a hundredfold in Jesus name.”
Barry, Ireland (April 2024)
“I love the work that you all are doing! Life around the table
with others is what changes the world!”
Andrew, Tunisia (May 2024)
“I have been blessed much throughout my travels across the United States
and Europe by your ministry.
In one of my recent stays in Washington, DC, I heard the hosts refer to
“Candling” as a verb and thought that was a great idea so I wanted to
pass it along to you.
God bless you!”
Steven Policastro, Florida (April 2024)
“It was indeed a great joy to host Luke and Abby here in Ireland. They are
a lovely young couple who blessed us greatly and are now considered
members of our family. We miss them!
And bless you all for this God-given and God-anointed ministry! Such a
blessing to so many throughout the world! Thank you for your commitment,
dedication and faithfulness in carrying out God’s vision. May He reward
you a hundredfold!”
Barry and Aimee, Northern Ireland (February 2024)
“It’s been a few months since we last talked and you last approved me
and we have used a candle for multiple trips and different states. Thank you
dearly for putting this together It’s been a tremendous blessing!!”
Vincent, North Carolina (February 2024)
“My wife and I stayed with the Stevensons while traveling North
Ireland during our honeymoon in January of 2024. This was our
first time utilizing the Candle in the Window program.
The Stevenson family opened their home and their hearts to us.
We felt right at home, and the Stevensons made us feel like a
member of the family!
We enjoyed some absolutely delicious meals (the Ulster Fry is
incredible), and we greatly enjoyed playing games with their
children and late-night conversations with Barry and Aimee.
My wife and I were so very blessed by the Stevenson family –
they exemplified Biblical hospitality, and we gained a lifelong
friend. We highly recommend them, and we look forward to
meeting them again someday!”
Luke, Wisconsin (January 2024)
We had a great time. Mario and Christina opened their home to
us and made us feel so at home. They shared with us breakfast
and some quality conversational time.
We wanted to acknowledge with you our very positive experience.
Thanks for connecting us with Mario and Christine in Miami.
Norberto and Nancy, Paraguay (December 2023)
“We had an absolutely marvelous time with our Sweet Christian
Friends that we reconnected with through A Candle in the Window
after 35 years!!! Thank You for that precious treasure of a time
for two weeks with them!!”
John, Oregon (November 2023)
“I had the pleasure to be invited to the beautiful home of Tim and Wendy
in Goodwater, Alabama. Their hospitality exceeded my expectations. After
initial introductions, we went for a walk on their property which can only
be described as God’s creation. I met their son Noah and his family who
also lived on the same property. This was an experience that will always live
in my memory.
***Note: 9 months later, I was visiting the Ark in Kentucky. As I was
viewing one of the displays, there was a tap on my arm. The lady asked if I
was Canadian. I said “yes”. She said, “ I think that you stayed with us last
year.” I immediately recognized Tim and Wendy. After hugs and a short
conversation, they said, “You are welcome to come back anytime.” I truly
hope that I get the opportunity again.
Mel, Canada (October 2023)
This was my first visit using A Candle in the Window. It was an amazing
experience. Shelby and Matthew (Bowling Green, Kentucky) made me feel
very welcome, including some local snacks and treats on my pillow. The
house was not a castle, but the home was filled with love, good food and
wonderful conversation. What a blessing to be able to experience their
hospitality.
Mel, Canada (October 2023)
I had the pleasure as a guest in the rural part of Maine with a retired
Missionary couple. Discussions were great, the hospitality was amazing,
and the food was delicious. Rosemary and John (Steep Falls, Maine)
made me feel like I was part of their family. This was a visit I will not
forget and I hope that someday, they will give me the chance to have
them as guests.
Mel, Canada (October 2023)
“Thank you for all you do for A Candle in the Window! We have
been very blessed at each stop we have made with a Candle family.
May God bless you for and thru this ministry.”
Beth, Illinois (October 2023)
“Our family has been so blessed to be a part of A Candle in the
Window! This summer we took a 10 week road-trip exhibiting
our business at homeschool conferences across the US. We were
blown away by the amazing hospitality that so many Candle
families showed us. And, we made some amazing friends who
we stayed with. Being a part of this hospitality network
challenged our own faith and willingness to serve the body of
Christ in sacrificial ways and to show true hospitality to others.
We now have opened our home to host others who are traveling.
What a great ministry to be a part of!”
Mark and Amy, Washington (September 2023)
“I just wanted to say again how thankful we were for A Candle
in the Window this summer. We stayed with so many families on
our 10 week homeschool conference road trip. We made some
great friends and had some great fellowship and saved
a lot of money!”
Mark, Washington (September 2023)
“This week I was blessed to spend a couple of days with Chaya,
Thad & family at Lake Waccamaw. Chaya and girls gave me a
tour of the Camp property and some of the surrounding area by
golf cart. We ate dinner at The Anchorage dining hall and
watched a couple of funny skits put on by campers. The Lake
is bigger than I had imagined and besides water sports, there are
a lot of games and activities available at the Camp. It was a most
enjoyable stay so I hope to visit again some day!”
Sharon, Florida (August 2023)
“Just wanted to say we had a wonderful time with Paul and
Kristie Worfel in Ft Wayne, Indiana They had their grandson
staying with them, so we got to interact with him too!!”
Blessings,
Rick and Gayle, Washington (August 2023)
“Wow, what a beautiful family of 5. We got to know them as they
had prepared dinner for us on the evening we arrived. It was a
delicious meal and they were very considerate of our food concerns
… We very much enjoyed the conversation and it was especially
nice to hear what God is doing in this part of the globe. The little
cabin they offered for us to stay in was charming and it had all we
could ask for including food items to prepare for breakfast the
next day with homemade teas and homemade soap. We were very
much refreshed and encouraged by our visit with their sweet family
of 5. The next morning the oldest daughter and mom gave us a
tour of the animals on their farm.”
Jodie, Florida (June 2023)
“Such a generous family; we felt like royalty as they served us
a steak dinner on arrival. There was plenty of food, conversation
and warmth from each of the family members from the youngest,
aged 2/3 to the mom. In our room they placed a bouquet of Lilacs
as they knew I was looking forward to them as they are my
favorite and my now home state cannot grow them. The eldest
daughter sang a beautiful worship song for us before bedtime.
Breakfast again was also plentiful. This family went above &
beyond to serve us.
With both families we had the opportunity to pray with them.
That was such a sweet aroma. My husband who was a little
hesitant about this program was so pleased that he easily
warmed up to both the families in conversation,”
Jodie, Florida (June 2023)
“We treasure our Candle memories and look forward to seeing
our former guests in heaven. Thank you for all you are doing to further
the cause of Christ.”
Judy, Kansas (June 2023)
“Thanks again for your wonderful ministry! I was looking at the
map just today and was amazed at how many members you have
all over the world. It must be a humbling blessing to see what the
Lord has done with such a simple Biblical idea to facilitate the
command to be hospitable to one another.”
Blessed,
Carl, Illinois (June 2023)
“The Candle in the Window network has been such an incredible blessing
to our family on this trip! We’ve stayed with 5 families so far… Each
situation has been a great encouragement to meet like-minded believers.
We have gone to church with 2 of the families when we were staying
overnight on a Saturday night and really enjoyed both services.
We have mentioned the network to many of our friends and others we’ve met along
the way at homeschool conferences. What a great tool you’ve set up.
Thank you again.”
Mark, Washington (May 2023)
“Thank you very much for this wonderful ministry! We love every
connection we’ve made and enjoy more opportunities to travel than we
could have imagined. We have also had the joy of hosting others—another
blessing brought about solely because of this network…”
Karilynn, Wisconsin (Sept 2022)
“In September, 2022, my 5 kids and I had the privilege of staying
with Mark and Amy as we drove over 1,000 miles to drop off my
daughter to Discipleship Training School with Youth With A
Mission. Right from the start, we felt very welcome and at home.
While we have been members of Candle in the Window since its
beginning and have hosted a few people ourselves, this was the
first trip we have taken that we’ve stayed in other people’s homes
through this hospitality network. It was a wonderful experience
and we are so grateful for Mark and Amy’s generosity!
Thank you!”
Becky, Wisconsin (Sept 2022)
“We stayed 2 nights with Steve and Heather (12768996). They were
amazing and went over and above with their hospitality. We so enjoyed
hearing about their missionary journey as well. They made us 2 amazing
dinners and welcomed us as family. They, too, are an asset to
A Candle in the Window.”
“We stayed 2 nights with Karilynn and Jeremy ( ). They were amazing
and their children were so personable. We enjoyed learning about their
hobbies which included gardening and having a beehive. They personally
went with us on a hike and have gone over and above being hospitable.
They, too, are an assett to A Candle in the Window”
Mary Ellen, New Jersey (Sept 2022)
“Last stay for this trip. It has been wonderful, and we have met
wonderful people. We have laughed and cried together and dreamed
together. The fellowship has been rich, and wonderful. I am thankful
for candle!! We have candle guests coming to MA to stay with us in
Oct. We are looking forward to it. Thankful in Christ”
Niki and Steve, Massachusetts (Sept 2022)
“I love this idea that God gave you and appreciate you operating this
ministry. I am fully convinced that fellowship is at the heart of the Gospel.
Not only fellowship with God but with His body and your ministry is
Such a great way to foster fellowship within the body… “
“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with
one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.”
Matt, Maryland (September 2022)
“Roger and Jan (#29186834) are excellent hosts and have a great setup
for large families. We stopped in Gilbert, LA on our way from Dallas to
Orlando and we are glad we did. They were so kind to us and asked us if
we’d be stopping with them on the way back (we did). We all (parent,
teens through 4 year old) felt very loved and accepted while there. “
Alex, Texas (August 2022)
“Just returned today from staying with a wonderful family we met from
the network: Dave and Jenny Downing. I attached a photo of all of
us together. What a blessing.”
Scott, Washington (May 2022)
“We had a great time staying with Travis and Allegra (39463072) in
St Genevieve, Missouri… We had a whole log cabin to ourselves! A very
talented, amazing family! They even gave us a book of stories penned by
Travis and illustrated by his young son.”
“We were able to have tea with Dave and Marlene ( 5354273 ) and then
stayed with Kathleen (56677581). That was a blessing to be able to spend
Mother’s Day with her. She fed us well and her large home
accommodated us all in very comforted beds… Thankful for Candle-in-the
Window Network and new friends that we’ve made.”
Cathy, Nebraska (May 2022)
“I LOVE this idea God gave you. Has been a blessing to us, so much. We
keep in touch with some of the people who have hosted us, even. We aren’t
in a spot that any one ever chooses for vacation, but if you are ever traveling
somewhere and pass through our neck of the woods (neck of the prairie,
actually), please know we would love to host you and anyone you have with
you. We can accommodate a larger group, handicaps, the very young, and
those who have been young a very long time.”
For His glory,
Catherine and Curtis, Kansas ( October 2021)
“We enjoyed staying with this couple (Jonathan 52218143) in
Beaumont, TX. As with other Candle in the Window families, it’s
delightful to stay with fellow believers with zeal in their faith.
The accommodations are comfortable, and more important, listening
to them share what God is doing in their lives is encouraging
and inspiring.
We would be delighted to stay there again if we get the chance.”
Sara Lyn, Texas (July 2021)
“What a comfort to know that my husband was being well taken care of
when he flew to Texas to visit his mom and attend a reunion. Tim and Sara
Lyn (0213055) was incredibly gracious in even picking him up at the airport!
Thank you so much for the kindness!!!!”
“Steven and I were exhausted from ministry and decided to take off for a
couple of days so I sent out messages to fellow candle in the window families
and very spur of the moment, Chris, member 9704388 was willing to have
us for an overnight. We were so blessed to meet them and share the Lord
whom we all love with each other. Their gracious hospitality encouraged
and renewed our hearts.Thank you, Chris and Heather!!”
Steven and Annette, Maine (July 2021)
“We used the Candle in the Window connection to help us drive back to
Alaska. We stayed a second time with a family we met in 2018. We
arranged for two of their girls to come to work at a camp in Alaska for
the summer. They are doing great, and loving Alaska.
We love this ministry you created.”
Eric and Emily, Alaska and Bolivia (July 2021)
“Our time with Violet and Russell’s family was a delight…
It was extra special because it was our first A Candle in the Window stay.
We had trouble finding them, but their oldest daughter, Skye drove to
find us! Even though it was getting late, the warm welcome was sweetly
palpable. The kids all stayed up and Pat enjoyed lively conversations
getting to know these very creative and interesting young people Two of
the girls own cows and sell their milk! The girls played a song on their
violins! Jim really enjoyed chatting with Russell. Violet (mom) came home
to meet us and chat, then had to left to finish an important floor install
for her mother!
The time flew by.
Our spacious room was excellent, the bed was super comfortable and the
bathroom beautiful. The older girls made breakfast complete with
homemade bread. and put it in containers for us to take with us.
So very kind!
This is a precious family and we hope to stay with them again.”
Jim and Pat, Wisconsin (April 2021)
“Our family really loves what this network does, and we have definitely
benefited from traveling and staying with other Christian families. These
experiences have been amazing for our family….God bless you for the
incredible, good service you are providing God’s people.”
Walter, California (December 2020)
--------------Temporary Halt to Travel/COVID-19/March 2020 ---------------During this unprecedented time of COVID lockdowns and restrictions
while our ordinary travel is curtailed, let us not forget that hospitality
starts in our own homes with our own families… Stay safe!
“Let us work on the welcome we extend to those with whom we live—
not just greetings given at the end of a long day—but the hospitality shared
in the moment-by-moment meshing of lives. Let us demonstrate to one another,
‘ Your ideas are welcome. Your interests are welcome. Your presence is
welcome.’ Once we have opened these doors to each other, then we can begin
to think about opening doors to the world outside… Minister first to one
another, then as a team to the world beyond…”
Karen Maines, Open Heart, Open Home
Blessings,
The Bowen Family, Founders of A Candle in the Window Hospitality Network
(March 2020)
This thanks is long overdue. We joined the CITW network in November
of 2014 and it has been such a blessing in our lives. We have had a number
of families come and stay with us, and we have made such special
friendships as a result:
To highlight just a few: David and Susan Friesen
(26644145) and their four children have stayed with us several times, and
at their invitation we were able to take a trip to Manitoba this past summer
to visit them and help for a few days on their berry farm.
Just a few days ago, my husband and I were in Costa Rica on an anniversary
trip and we were privileged to contact and be invited to a conversational
dinner with Ben and Krista Balke (51279734). Four hours have never flown
by so quickly! We were inspired to hear about their journey toward becoming
missionaries and hope to keep in touch in the coming days and years.
I could go on and on about the wonderful experiences we’ve had – kayaking
on a river in Virginia, receiving books in the mail from previous guests,
enjoying a Messianic Jewish concert given in our home by a talented guest
couple, and more. Our lives are richer because of the network you have
provided for us to host fellow believers and be the recipients of their
hospitality in return. May the Lord bless you and continue to grow this
tremendous ministry!
With deep gratitude,
Natalie, Kansas (December 2019)
“My name is Herb Wells and my number is 48866353. I wanted to let you
know I spent the night of December 19th with a wonderful family in
Lancaster, PA. Their number is 51334818. They were most gracious to me
and gave me a nice dinner and breakfast.
I do volunteer work at Christian Camps and for friends. God has blessed
me with many talents and I get to use them for Him. I am happy that I am
able to be associated with A Candle In The Window program. I stayed once
before with a couple in Mississippi.
Herb, New Hampshire (December 2019)
“I want to give feedback pertaining to our stay in Wisconsin at the end of
July, 2019. We stayed with Chuck and Priscilla Metz on very short notice.
My Mom was in the hospital and we wanted to visit her, but due to other
family concerns we chose not to stay with any of my family members.
Chuck and Priscilla became like family to our family of eight in the few
days we were there and even sent us home with hand-me-down clothing for
our older girls which they have been enjoying ever since. We ate healthy
meals and enjoyed great times of fellowship with them. The children loved
their dog.
We “clicked” on many levels and expect to make an effort to
connect with them during future visits north. We encourage anyone who
wants to enjoy good wholesome hospitality to consider staying with them.”
Rejoicing Always,
Todd & Paula Smith, Tennessee (July 2019)
“We have had 6 families from Candle in the Window in the last months.
We been immensely enriched by their presence and conversation.”
Ron and Pauline, Florida (June 2019)
“WOW! Our modern days are full of problems but also encouraging
trends. You guys are part of the up side. We have hosted for a while but
finally stayed with some one else. IT was great. WE have had our own
“candle in the window” going on among an extended network of friends
for years but you guys stepped out in faith and connected us to a so much
bigger network. This is not a network of “regular” believers. I compare
it to “MediShare” and “Samaritan” insurance networks. Believers living
their faith in real ways.
Thanks so much for your sacrifice.
Michael and Kimberly, Texas (June 2019)
“It was our great please to host Tom and Sumiyo Bickel and their precious
children earlier this year. We truly enjoyed having them in our home. They
were very easy to get to know and showed great interest in our little town
and getting to know us. If you have an opportunity to welcome them into
your home you will be blessed by their visit. Their ID number is 5780630.”
Judy, Kansas (May 2019)
“My four grandchildren and I were traveling from Missouri to Florida
and we stayed with the Sanders family for one night. There is a natural
curiosity when approaching the home of strangers but we were only
strangers for a couple of minutes. The accommodations far exceeded our
expectations and their gift for making people feel instantly at home is
exceptional. It was very handy to be able to drive around to the lower
walkout level. We spent a week in Florida but even now, two and a half
months later, each one of the children will tell you one of their favorite
parts of our vacation was staying with the Sanders family.”
Judy, Kansas (May 2019)
” The Bickel family was very flexible in their visit with us as our family
had just been hit with sickness and they were fine with staying with our
relatives next door. Our relatives had a great time visiting with them and
we hope we can visit more the next time they are in the states.”
Brian, Texas (March 2019)
“We have been the recipients of hospitality through A Candle In The
Window in many places now. We are delighted with what God is doing in
this, and happy to be a part of it.”
Jamie, Canada (April 2019)
“We had a masterpiece in host family travel for three weeks. 17 host
families! We owe it all to you!”
Tom, Japan (March 2019)
“I had the pleasure of staying with the family at host location 33464347 in
Huntsville, Arkansas. What a joy it was! The family was such a delight to
talk with about Jesus, pray together, and trade stories from the mission
field!! And the quaint, remote cabin was great, it provided much needed
rest during my extensive travels throughout the region.”
Stephen, Florida (December 2018)
“We had a wonderful visit with this family of great cooks from Singapore!
Candle is the best!”
Tom, Japan (December 2018)
“If you guys ever go to Singapore, we HIGHLY recommend our friend
and Candle member Mr. Tan. (Our son) Roman had a very rewarding
stay in both Singapore and Malaysia thanks to Tan’s organizing.”
Tom, Japan (Dec 2018)
We enjoyed hosting William and his family, along with seven of their
children, for four days at our farmhouse near Shelbyville, Indiana last week.
We also had hosted them three years ago. They are a delightful young family
who love the Lord. They are a very busy family, as you can imagine with a
large family. Though the two youngest had the occasional age-appropriate
temper tantrum, overall the children were very polite, respectful, and well
behaved.
They enjoyed helping with meal preparation, setting the table, and clean
up. The older children are very good with helping the younger children.
We enjoyed hearing William and Larisa‘s stories from the mission field,
of Muslims giving their life to Christ. William also shared at our local
church on Sunday morning. Their stories really reveal the power of prayer
in their lives, and encouraged us in our prayer life. God answers prayer!
I’m sure you would receive a blessing by serving the Lord through hosting
this family.”
Laura and Fred, Indiana (August 2018)
“We had a great time of fellowship staying with Kate on her lovely farm.
The accommodations were lovely and comfortable. The food was yummy.
The farm setting was invigorating. Who would think a state as populous
as New York could have such a secluded oasis of a farm? The best part,
though, was the fellowship with Kate, and her daughter and husband and
grand daughters.
We highly recommend visiting here if you are passing through Niagara
Falls
Ted and Shannon, Canada (July 2018)
“Ted and Shannon from Edmonton Alberta Canada were my guests.
They came with their 6 children and were such a blessing and what a
wonderful experience it was. What a blessing your program is and
I cant wait for my next guests!”
Kate, New York (July 2018)
“We had a wonderful experience with Amy and her son, John. My
daughter was moving to Colorado Springs for an internship and my mom
and I needed a place to stay for two nights. Amy provided a bed, dinners
and breakfasts for us, including our daughter and we had a great time
getting to know each other with conversations and board games. It was
good for my daughter to feel like she knew someone where she’ll be staying
as we head back to the field.”
Beverly, Democratic Republic of Congo (June 2018)
“Thanks again for this wonderful ministry, we have been abundantly
blessed.”
Carl, Illinois (April 2018)
“We are brand new members of Candle in the Window. It was
a delight to stay with Jay and Beth Weaver for a very brief
overnight while visiting Lancaster. They were very gracious and
accommodating hosts. We so appreciate them opening their
home to fellow travelers.”
Michael and Laura, Pennsylvania (April 2018)
“Jason and Deb (41345552) graciously opened their home to us and our
three children. We enjoyed the evening with them and their children
sharing a meal, ping pong and great conversation. Their home is very
inviting and we very much enjoyed our stay with them. You’ll be sure to
enjoy their hospitality as much as we did.
“Sheila, Greg and family (29248433) graciously hosted our family of five
in their cozy cabin. The charm, the conversation and fellowship, the meal,
everything was very enjoyable. The property is off the beaten path, but
well worth a little detour. We wish we would have had more time to spend
with them. A very lovely family that you will enjoy staying with.”
“Jim and Jennifer, and daughter Emily (33562638), were wonderful hosts
to our family of five. We enjoyed a delicious dinner and an evening of great
conversation and fellowship. Our accommodations were very comfortable.
Morning came and we had to be off after sharing another delicious meal for
breakfast together. We very much enjoyed our time with each of them and
greatly appreciated their hospitality.”
“Ray and Kathy (9266194)graciously hosted our family of six on a trip
through New Mexico. We arrived after dinner to enjoy a wonderful evening
of conversation and music played on multiple different instruments. Their
children were equally enjoyable. They offered for us to stay with them
on our return trip as well, but due to unexpected circumstances, our travels
home took us a different route. We’d definitely stay with them again if we
ever travel through there in the future.”
Steve and Lorie, New York (March, 2018)
“Dave and Vicki in Temecula, CA are wonderful and gracious hosts. My
wife and I live in northern Canada, where it is pretty cold in January. I
thought I should look for a week in the warmth for my wife’s birthday. I
decided on southern California, and looked up A Candle In The Window
homes there. I sent messages to a few, letting them know my plans, and
Vicki got back to me with a kind invitation for a week(!) at their house.
We took her up on it, and I am very thankful we did. These folks let us
come and go, keep our own schedule, and gave suggestions on where to
visit. We found that we wanted to spend a lot of time with our hosts. We
really connected well.
If anyone goes there to visit, sing hymns! 🙂
These are wonderful people. When they offer you hospitality, take them
up on it, learn a few things, then go and do likewise. Highly recommended!
Jamie, Canada (March 2018)
” Thanks again for this creative ministry. We had a gathering of some our
missionaries 2 weeks ago and several of them shared how they had stayed
at homes thru A Candle in the Window on their way to our conference and
how this was such a blessing to them!
Jennifer, Colorado (March 2018)
“Thank you for this ministry! We have been blessed.”
Robert and Kerri, Missouri (March 2018)
“We’re SO glad you created this website and network of Christian
hospitality! We have been practicing such for years, yet never knew that
someone had the ingenuity to bottle it and make it available on an
international basis!”
Tim, Ohio (February 2018)
“My husband, two kids (ages 14 and 12 at the time) and I stayed with
Chad’s family during Labor Day weekend last September. My kids had
really wanted to visit family in California last summer, but we couldn’t
swing it financially. We decided instead to do a little camping in the Door
County area and then to spend the weekend in Chicago.
Chad’s family welcomed us in like old friends. He and his wife shared
testimonies with us of how they found their current home, the long process
they went through in making it livable (they have done an amazing job of
renovating it and making it feel so warm and welcoming), and parenting
struggles and victories. They are so gracious and kindhearted!
And their kids (3 daughters and one son) were all so sweet to my kids as
well. My daughter especially loved and looked up to their eldest daughter,
who has such a heart for the Lord and yet is a cool and contemporary
teenager. Their son, though a year or two younger than my son, carries
himself with so much confidence and maturity. My son really enjoyed
hanging out with him. My husband has multiple food sensitivities and
they were so caring and accommodating, as they are familiar with gluten
and dairy sensitivities themselves.
I had a lot of ideas for how I wanted to spend our time in Chicago, as
there were many things going on downtown, but our kids don’t like big
city life much. They were so happy to meet this family and just spend
time with them instead. We were very blessed by their hospitality!”
Carolyn, Wisconsin (February 2018)
“Sharon (#10422194) provided u with wonderful hospitality and
encouraging fellowship. They were very gracious in accepting our last
minute request and worked around our evening schedule. May this family
experience true shalom and God’s greatest blessings as they continue to
bless others in the years to come.”
Brad, Colorado (February 2018)
Stay with #34908858, in Apple Valley, MN
“So blessed by our stay with the Paulsen’s! They said yes even though
our request was last minute due to a change in our plans. And they were
so gracious to provide for all our needs for breakfast even though they
had to leave at 5 am to visit family. Their daughter was available after they
left & though we did not get to say goodbye, we were so blessed that they s
till let us stay.
Thank you again!!!”
The Luekens, Massachusetts (February 2018)
“Sandie was extremely gracious and accommodating even when our flight
into St. Louis was delayed and we arrived late in the night for a missions
event. The house is delightful and located in a very nice part of town. We
wanted to take her dog home with us… but we didn’t.
Best Regards,”
Doug & Margo, Washington (February 2018)
“I think you would be surprised at how God is already using Candle
in the Window to strengthen a broader community of believers…
When we invite someone into our home, we not only get to hear their story,
but we can be encouraged by what God is doing in their life, and perhaps
there’s something from our experience that will benefit those staying with us.
I often think of Rob and Sammi Dean who stayed with us two different
times as they were moving from Oklahoma to Western Colorado. We were
a good halfway point on their trip. They even got snowed in one time which
lengthened their stay another day or two. As a result, once our kids were in
bed at night, we were able to hear about their story of infertility and plant
seeds in their hearts of considering adoption. I don’t think that was
necessarily God’s plan for them, but I think all four of us as adults were
mutually edified and encouraged from our nightly discussions.”
John, Colorado (January 2018)
“We recently spent 2 nights at the home of Harlan and Jeannette and their
daughter while we were in the Minneapolis area visiting 3 of our children
and having our vehicle repaired. We were grateful to have a warm and
comfortable home to come back to in the evenings, and gracious, friendly
people there to welcome us!
Happily, we were at Harlan and Jeannette’s whilst they were engaged to
disperse donated bread (several large bags full!) for about an hour each
evening. We were able to help with the task of bagging and separating out
the bread, muffins, buns, focaccia etc to various charitable sources. It was
really fun, and the best end to both our days. God is so good to have
brought us at a time when we could be useful!”
Harlan and Jeannette really do have a lot of books! I was happy to peruse
the shelves for an evening read, and found Elizabeth Elliott’s “How to
Have a Quiet Heart,” and thoroughly enjoyed reading her work again.
As we were busy with family each evening, Harlan served us breakfast one
morning, and led in a wonderful time of worship and Bible study afterwards.
Our 15yo son really enjoyed that, as did my husband and I. This family is
generous and friendly and interesting and Godly. It is so nice to meet
people that put the Lord first in all that they do, and welcome us
into their home as family.”
Jim and Carole, South Dakota (November 2017)
“Thanks again for providing this great network – we use it a lot and it is
wonderful and we have met many really interesting folks.”
Caroline, Arizona (September 2017)
“We stayed with host family Lainna in West Chicago, since we needed
to attend a memorial service for our dear missionary co-worker.
We had a great room to stay in, breakfast was casual – just what we
wanted and needed. We enjoyed watching Shark Tank with their teenage
daughter, we walked through the neighborhoods and even loved
our conversations.
Thank you.”
Judy, Guatemala (September 2017)
“I got connected well with the members of Candle in the window in
Prague and had wonderful fellowship which was a real divine appointment.
Thanks for creating a platform of divine network.
Blessings,”
David, South Korea (September 2017)
“Thank you for creating a great way for a large family to travel. It can
be very expensive to travel with a family of seven. We would like to show
our home schooled children history in the USA if it is possible financially
for us.”
Thank you again!
Sonia Quinette, Arizona (September 2017)
“My wife and I are excited about A Candle in the Window and all of the
new friends that we’ll meet through this hospitality network! Thank you
for organizing and managing this. It is a great idea to help connect
believers around the world.”
Gratefully in CHRIST,
Lucas and Lois Richard, Louisiana and Liberia (August 2017)
“May God continually bless you and this network of Christian families!”
Karyn Leonard (August 2017)
Special Projects Coordinator
Josh McDowell Ministry
“Our family of five stayed with the Sheila (29248433) for two
nights on a recent visit to TN. What a wonderful family! They welcomed
us, fed us delicious food, and gave us their master bedroom! We enjoyed
getting to know each other, a campfire and s’mores, seeing their farm, and
milking goats, among other things. We are very thankful for their
hospitality!”
“The Weieneth family (11563724) stayed with us for two nights, on their
way to and from a vacation. What a fun, wonderful family! There were
seven total people, all adults, and our entire family enjoyed having them
here and getting to know them. We felt like they were old friends that we
just hadn’t seen in a long time!”
“Johanna (26934273) and her mother-in-law Anna stayed with us for two
nights and we almost didn’t know they were here! They were attending a
local event and were gone from morning to night. The times we did spend
visiting with them were very nice. They are super sweet ladies and Anna
is an amazing artist!”
“Kelly and David welcomed us into their home with amazing
hospitality! They left us a key because they weren’t even home when we
arrived! We had comfortable beds and warm showers, which is just what
we needed. We are thankful for this couple and their peace-filled home.”
Dan and Carrie, Michigan (August 2017)
“Our stay with Peggy (#27830203) in Oklahoma City was our first
Candle in the Window experience, and it was such a good one! CJ and
Peggy welcomed my four young children and myself, as well as the young
lady traveling with us, with such joyful hospitality that we were all blessed!
The children enjoyed playing in their backyard after a long day in the car,
and we all enjoyed chatting with our gracious hosts both in the evening
and over a yummy breakfast in the morning before we left. What a gift!”
“Our stay with Peggy (#27830203) in Oklahoma City was our first
Candle in the Window experience, and it was such a good one! CJ and
Peggy welcomed my four young children and myself, as well as the young
lady traveling with us, with such joyful hospitality that we were all blessed!
The children enjoyed playing in their backyard after a long day in the car,
and we all enjoyed chatting with our gracious hosts both in the evening
and over a yummy breakfast in the morning before we left. What a gift!”
“Our stay with Peggy (#27830203) in Oklahoma City was our first
Candle in the Window experience, and it was such a good one! CJ and
Peggy welcomed my four young children and myself, as well as the young
lady traveling with us, with such joyful hospitality that we were all blessed!
The children enjoyed playing in their backyard after a long day in the car,
and we all enjoyed chatting with our gracious hosts both in the evening
and over a yummy breakfast in the morning before we left. What a gift!”
” Ann (#13113408) in Mesa, AZ, treated 6 of us to a delicious dinner,
accommodating our dietary restrictions, and a wonderful breakfast to
send us on our way. We enjoyed our brief stay!”
“Our family of 6 was blessed by our 2-night stay with Jeremiah (# 3283054)
in Hesperus, CO! The master bedroom suite was perfect for us, and our
children so enjoyed the hosts’ children! With yummy food, lovely
conversation, insider’s scoop on a beautiful local hiking spot, and fun
times exploring their property, our visit really felt as if we had found
long-lost cousins.”
“Our stay in Colorado Springs was made so sweet by member 5797030’s
generous sharing of their home. Dale and Stephanie (and their daughter
and her husband and little son) welcomed us with healthy, delicious food
and three lovely guest rooms in which to spread out our family of six. We
enjoyed both time getting to know our hosts, as well as exploring the
gorgeous area. What a great way to end our long trip!”
“Brian and Susan, members 38428259, along with their adult daughter,
were delightful guests. We all enjoyed their quick visit, which was made
even sweeter by discovering that it was Brian’s birthday. We are hoping
to head their way sometime so we can switch roles. :)”
“Ryan and Dawn and their six children, members 34513083, spent a few
nights with us during a very busy period in our lives and were such easy
guests!”
Ed and Susan, Missouri (July 2017)
“I wanted to leave a review for a family that we stayed with on the way to
Washington. It was our first time and it went so well, better than anything
we ever expected:
“This was our first experience staying with a family through the Candle
in the Window Network. To say that staying with the H family (#27040016)
was a blessing seems to fall short of the experience we had. The time spent
was truly amazing. In the little time we shared together, it seemed that our
families had known each other for years. The H’s went above and beyond
what we expected from a host family. Their older children engaged
my younger children with genuine love and laughter. Our families enjoyed
daily Bible studies, violin and cello lessons, and many engaging
conversations about our lives, and Jesus. The children collected eggs daily
and each meal was prepared with love. I was also able to join Steve with
his weekly men’s Bible study. We felt so welcomed and were sad when we
had to leave. The H’s displayed what true Christian hospitality
looks and feels like, and they have motivated us to do the same with what
God has blessed us with in the future. Thank you so much for the
experience, it is truly one that we will never forget.
As a side note, I am trying to arrange more of these visits on our way
back to Florida. The experience we had was incredible. The thought of
spending time with other Christian families and our families fellowshipping
with each other is addictive! As I was looking at the map of members on
your site, I couldn’t help but experience a feeling of wonder. Just thinking
of how much of a difference your family has made in creating this network,
almost 2,000 members if I saw correctly, is astounding. Thank you so
much for making it possible and I will be sure to spread the word.”
Mike and Yadi, Florida (July 2017)
“Cody and Austin from Winston Salem stayed with Kathy (9266194)
and had the time of their life. Thank you guys so much.”
“We usually have one group each summer contact us through CITW…
lots of folks visit Alaska in the summer. We’ve made some friends that we
stay in touch with via FB or Christmas cards. Thanks for facilitating this
unique ministry!”
Sara, Alaska (July 2017)
“We recently hosted Patrick and Christine (#33060012) in our home
overnight. We enjoyed their company very much. They were interesting
and fun people with which to visit.
Blessings!”
Robert, Missouri (July 2017)
“We live in Montana and had “A Candle in the Window” guests from
Edmonton, Alberta two weeks ago… The past two nights, we hosted a
family from Florida. They said they were from the church you used to
attend. They are Mike and Yadi and their four children. We are grateful
for the ministry of A Candle in the Window.
May the Lord bless you.”
Melanie, Montana (July 2017)
“We had a lovely stay with Murray and Nancy (#11117580 in NY).
They were very hospitable and welcoming. We appreciate that they
welcomed us after having a very busy week. The main thing that we
appreciated was that they kept Christ first.”
Joseph and Cynthia, Ohio (June 2017)
” Hi, I just want to tell you how much I love Candle in the Window.
We have gotten to use it and have received our first request to host a
family!! Yippee! I love it! Blessings upon you for such a great
ministry. We are blessed.”
Suzy, China (May 2017)
“Thanks for putting together A Candle in the Window. It has been
a great blessing to us so far. It was wonderful to be able to go to
Nationals! We also used it when my son came for Spring Break. It
has been a life saver. Thanks so much!”
Mary, Colorado (April 2017)
“On very short notice, Les and Alana (36692554 in Delaplane, VA)
welcomed me into their home after I had spent a whole week at a seminary
in PA for PhD studies. I live in SE VA, and I used to just drive straight home
after finishing my last class. But longer trips have become more difficult for
me. So I was looking to join a family for dinner. But a Friday dinner for me
turned into joining them for a campfire with Smores, a movie, spending the
night (Alana was concerned for my safety driving at night), and devotionals
the next morning with socializing and encouragement in between each event
with both parents and children. It was a joy to discover our common interests
with schooling, fellowship, extracurricular activities, and even some mutual
friends. Truly a blessing and a Godsend. Thank you for making this
possible!”
Joe, Virginia (March 2017)
“Recently the Bickel family of Japan had to make an emergency trip
to Oregon because my mother (native of Italy and 72 years old) was
diagnosed with lymphoma cancer.
Brian and Ginger (10849342 in Amity, Oregon) warmly welcomed us
into their large home and treated us to an excellent dinner. They were
an encouragement to us and an oasis amidst the storms of this fallen
world. Their large family of homeschoolers greeted us with intelligent
questions. It is always such a delight to meet young people with passion
and dreams! Their home sits on the top of a hill surrounded by
vineyards and orchards. What a lovely time we had! We are thankful
they also took us to a Wednesday evening prayer meeting at their
church.”
God bless the Candle Ministry
Tom, Japan (February 2017)
“Praying that this wonderful network will grow, increase & be such
a blessing to everyone involved (this is such an awesome idea! Especially
for those of us with the gift of hospitality – just wish I had a bigger home
- Isaiah 54:2 )
Your Sister in Christ,
Jacqueline, Florida (January 2017)
“Thankful for you and your ministry. I have stayed with Candle in the
Window families all over the US, with my most memorable stays being
in Los Angeles, California and Seattle. The families I stayed with always
went above and beyond — even letting me stay up to three or four nights
and some even providing transportation to and from the airport. Each
was a memorable sweet experience that I will always treasure. If you ever
need any testimonies or reviews, I’d be glad to give my own.
I got married this past year so my spontaneous traveling life has been
on hold, but I look forward to traveling more in the future with my
husband and future family.
I do have a suggestion — you really need to advertise more! I can’t
imagine what I would have done without ACITW during my stays at
conferences out of state where I traveled by myself as a single girl and
did not want to stay alone in an expensive hotel. I JUST HAPPENED
to learn about it through a friend of a friend. I really wish more
people could know about it and take advantage of this wonderful
thing! In all my Christian circles I’d say that may be .01 percent of
anyone I’ve ever met has heard of A Candle in the Window.
Spread the word!
Blessings,
Tiffany, Georgia (January 2017)
“Thank you for creating and maintain this hospitality network. We
have met so many nice people which has enriched and blessed our
lives. “
Blessings to you,
Teresa, California (January 2017)
More reviews for 2011 thru 2017 coming soon…