VAYAHIY...

pronounced Va-Yah-HEE, is the Hebrew word used in the Bible most often translated, "And it was..." as written at the end of Genesis 1:7, "And it was so" (Vayahiy Ken); but most often it is translated in the KJV Bible as, "And it came to pass..."

Although an Old Testastment expression, Vayahiy carries with it some awesome New Testament implications. Though it really means nothing to the Greek mind, the Hebrew mind sees Vayahiy as the expectation of faith, hope, and love because of the fulfillment of God's promises.

In faith, because God says what He means and means what He says, and it WILL come to pass (Hebrews 10:23).

In hope through tribulation because the trial did not come to stay, it came to pass (Romans 5:3-5).

In love, because of the Cross of Jesus Messiah, God's love alone will remain... for on Golgatha it certainly came to pass (Romans 5:8; 1 Corinthians 13:13).

Designed by Jon Cardwell, our logo is a seven-branched candlestick, the Menorah. As there are seven flames that give light, our logo has six flames on either side of the middle flame, which appears as a dove descending upon the lamp.

the menorah... 

The national symbol for Israel is NOT the Magen David (star of David); it is the Menorah that God commanded Moses to make of pure gold to light the inner court of the Tabernacle (Exodus 25:31-37). Likewise, one of the symbols representing the early church was the seven-branched menorah (Revelation 1:20).

About the current Mission...

After fruitful pastoral ministries to the Aleut people of the remote Alaskan fishing village of King Cove and to the Yup'ik Eskimos of the remote Alaskan fishing village of Scammon Bay, Jon and his family left Alaska on January 23, 2008 when symptoms of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (aka ALS or Lou Gehrig's Disease) began to manifest in 2006.

After extensive testing at Loma Linda University Medical Center, it appears that Jon has a rare form of "slow onset" ALS that has a slow rate of degeneration.  With the medication he's been prescribed, Jon will be able to continue to minister with only light affliction, by God's grace.

Because Jon continues to have a God-given heart for the local church, he is open to the possibility of another pastorate; however, until God opens that door, Jon has a yearning desire to preach Christ, and Him crucified, as an itinerant preacher wherever the Lord opens the door of opportunity.

If you are interested in having Jon preach the "old story" at your church or special event, please contact Jon or Lisa via email or phone.  Click Here to open a window with our contact information.

About the Missionaries...

Jon Cardwell surrendered his life to Jesus Christ on June 3, 1985 while working as a deep-sea diver in the U.S. Navy. Since then, he has served the Lord in nearly every ministry imaginable, including missionary work to the Philippines and as pastor for three different congregations.

Most recently, Jon was pastor for the remote Yup'ik fishing village of Scammon Bay, located just a mile from the Bering Sea, about 70 miles south of the Yukon River delta in western Alaska.  Jon and Lisa Cardwell continue to have a heart for Alaska missions, having experienced first hand the need for the gospel to go out to rural Alaska where there are no churches or pastors; therefore, they continue to pray daily for their beloved Yup'ik and Aleut people, as well as all the ministry workers in Alaska.

Gifted in teaching the Word and preaching the Cross, Jon and Lisa saw the fruit of revival in Scammon Bay, as the Lord opened a huge door for preaching that "Jesus is EVERYTHING and not just something we add to our lives."  Grieved to see the effects of easy-beliefism, legalism, and liberalism so prevalent in the Alaskan bush, when the truth of the doctrines of sovereign grace was preached in no uncertain terms, lives began to transform, and the regenerative work of the Holy Spirit was witnessed with manifestations reminiscent of those recorded in America's First and Second Great Awakenings.

The Cardwell's believe that truths of "old paths" (Jeremiah 6:16) should be proclaimed from the housetops.

More details concerning our preaching ministry (sermon content for revivals, teaching, series etc.) and worship ministry are available on the Missions pages.

Vayahiy, Personal Testimony...

Jon was born in San Diego, California to Ronald Joseph Cardwell and Leticia Olaguer on August 25, 1960. His father, a navy man, passed away in 1963 while in military service and his mother married another sailor 3 years later. As a result, the family moved all over the country. By the time he graduated from high school in southern California, Jon wanted to travel again. He dropped out of Riverside Community College in the spring of 1979 and joined the navy with hopes of being a “frogman.”

He climbed the ranks quickly and found favor with his superiors in the navy diving community; yet, he was empty and troubled. Assigned as a 2^nd Class Diver onboard the U.S.S. McKee in 1984, God surrounded him with Christians who loved him, prayed for him, and answered any questions that he had. For the entire month of May 1985 he was under conviction as a hopeless sinner doomed to eternal punishment. On June 3, 1985, after nine months of Christian witness and conviction from the Holy Spirit, Jon searched out one of the Christians, Electrician’s Mate 3^rd Class Vincent Lawrence. Jon asked Vince to pray for him because if Jon didn't repent, he knew he'd be eternally lost; yet, he knew that he couldn't possibly repent until God changed him and made him capable of repenting. Vince invited him to kneel and pray with him. They knelt together in the divers’ berthing compartment and Jon prayed the while Vince was praying, God convicted Jon of his utterly wretched, sinful life, and how God poured out His just and righteous wrath upon His holy Son, Jesus Christ. When Jon surrendered to Christ and repented from his sins, peace flooded him. He believed by faith that Christ forgave him and declared him to be in right standing with God. When Jon stood up, he knew something was different. He knew that Jesus changed him. He was a new creature in Christ, born from above, by the sovereign grace of God.

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL STORY

the Cardwell family

CONFESSION OF FAITH

With many of the unbiblical doctrines that have crept in just about everywhere you turn, we believe that it is very important in these last days to define our statement of faith in no uncertain terms.  The 1689 Baptist Confession is an excellent, Biblical confession of faith and basically expresses many of the truths we believe and hold dear.

Note: Any similarity between the Cardwell’s declaration of faith and the 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith is purely and purposely intentional.

CLICK HERE to read segments (individual chapters) or our Statement of Faith.

CLICK HERE to read our Statement of Faith in its entirety (with Scripture proofs in endnotes).

Pastor Jon was ordained to minister the gospel of Jesus Christ in 1998 through Bible Study & Worship Center, with complete recognition and every blessing from the board of elders and the senior pastor, Wilson Ladringan.  Bible Study & Worship Center (BSWC) is a Calvary Chapel affiliate in Castillejos, Philippines.

Calvary Chapel's Statement of Faith can be viewed by CLICKING HERE.

Questions about the Bible?

Is there a passage of Scripture or a Bible text that you've been having a tough time with?  Perhaps we can answer it...

Send your questions to hiddenmanna@vayahiy.com