Craig Rees

I’ve loved this girl since Berlin, 1992. Thirty-three years later, the call hasn’t changed. Before Central, before Water’s Edge, before all the plans and visions, there was Wibke—and there was love.

Valentine’s Day gets wrapped in cards and roses, but the truest love has always had sacrifice in the background: choosing, yielding, forgiving, staying, serving. The kind of love that costs something because it’s covenant, not convenience. Wibke is all that and more.

In so many ways, she’s the first garden God trusted me to tend—the first place He taught me that faithfulness grows slowly, quietly, and beautifully. Thirty plus years later, I’ve watched her kindness outlast time and deepen through every season. Still grateful she said yes.

We often pray for favor. We want influence in the halls of power. But the Bible warns us: ‘People are tested by their praise’ (Prov. 27:21). 
In the 4th Century, when the Roman Empire stopped persecuting the church and started promoting it, Christians faced a new problem. Discipleship became diluted. The line between the church and the state got blurry. 
When we gain a seat at the table, we risk losing our prophetic voice because we become beholden to those in power. Real favor isn’t just winning elections or cultural battles; it’s cultivating a character that can carry weight without crushing our integrity. In Saints Without Scrutiny, I look at how we can handle influence without losing our soul. I hope you read it.

There is a significant difference between patriotism and nationalism, and understanding it is key to navigating our current moment.
 
Patriotism is affection. It’s gratitude. It’s seeking the good of the city where God has sent you. But nationalism? That goes beyond affection. It demands dominance and refuses critique.
 
Think of it this way: ‘Constructive patriotism’ loves a country enough to want to fix what is broken. ‘Blind patriotism’ says, ‘If you question anything, you’re a traitor.’
 
As Christians, we are called to a patriotic faith—one that prays for our leaders and seeks justice—without ever confusing the Kingdom of God with the kingdom of man. In my book, I talk about the difference. I hope you read it.

People often ask me where I land on the political spectrum. My story makes it hard to sit comfortably in the boxes people want to tick. My experience taught me that a label tells you where to stand, but a ‘lens’ helps you see. My story is a lens. It keeps me at the foot of the cross where grace is given and truth is spoken.

I wrote Saints Without Scrutiny not to tell people how to think, but to ask how we can remain faithful to Jesus when the pressure to pick a side feels overwhelming. It’s about ensuring our witness remains free and our conscience remains clean. This book isn’t a political manifesto; it’s a prayer on paper. I hope you read it.

I’ve noticed something interesting about how we handle leadership today. We tend to act like restaurant critics with the people we don't like—picking apart every ingredient. But with the leaders we do like, we just say, “It’s delicious, don’t ask questions.”
I call this “Informal Canonization.” We don’t wear robes or hold tribunals, but we treat certain leaders as if they are untouchable. If anyone raises a question, it feels like a betrayal.
Here is the dilemma: The Bible never hides the flaws of its heroes. It tells us about David’s sin and Peter’s denial to show us that the power belongs to God, not men.
In my new book, Saints Without Scrutiny, available on Amazon, I explore how we can move from blind loyalty to a love that is honest enough to hold leaders accountable.
I hope you’ll read it.

Thrilled to have and in the house this weekend. Brad is teaching at all three services and screening the Lord’s Prayer movie at Central from 6-8pm. It’s going to be a great weekend! Do join us…

Merry Christmas from Wibke and me to all of you! Thankful for the light of life that entered our darkness. God’s richest blessings on you all…

A wonderful evening with at the premiere of The Lord’s Prayer. The movie is available on November 25. Thankful that Pastor Mike and I could join other West Michiganders and see the start of an epic journey years in the making.

What an extraordinary day yesterday. Worshipped and preached in Ethiopia with my team and joined online for worship to end the day. Great worship, inspired preaching, and commissioned as they launch next weekend.

No matter how far we go from , we always find a little something to remind us of home!

Today marks 32 years with my wife. Our celebrations stretched two days. One celebrated our legal marriage (yesterday) and today our church wedding, as is the custom in Germany. This morning I left for Africa with a team from I left before she woke, but my heart is still at home with her. Every mile away reminds me of how blessed I am to walk through life with her: faithful, strong, gracious. Two ceremonies, one covenant, and a lifetime of love that keeps deepening. Happy anniversary Wibke!