You are almost certain to hear two standard lines if you attend a ‘live’ Clear and Simple Media presentation. The first is in our introduction. 

(Tom) Good morning. It is great to be with you. Let us introduce ourselves. We are Tom and Lee Castor. Our ministry is called Clear and Simple Media. She (Tom pointing to Lee) is Clear. And I am – Simple.”

Works every time. 

The second comes when we describe how the ministry grew from a simple project that came out of work we were doing in Vietnam to now involving 52 languages. Although our initial ambitions were relatively modest (the second line), “the little book escaped.” We go on to tell the story of how, again and again, we were asked to help translate, publish, and distribute books in multiple countries (40 countries now that we know of) by people that we had not met and knew only a little about. 

Recently, as the result of a request from friends near our home, our books have continued to insist on finding new audiences. This family of six has used our books to supplement their homeschool Bible curriculum. Because their children benefited from them (and enjoy reading them), they asked if they might post a Facebook ad targeting homeschool families to see if others might be interested in using the books too. It offered a free download of the book Travel Guide to the Bible to anyone who responded. The ad had a tiny budget. It would only be visible for seven days. 

I have to confess that my expectations were VERY modest.

Today, in an afternoon coffee meeting, over a piece of warm apple pie, my friend told me that, in the first 4 days of the ad’s going live, 230 people downloaded the book.

That is what I would call (Oh, me of little faith) – unexpected.

After all of the wonderful things we have seen, after all of these years, God still surprises us with His kindness. 

To all of you who have been so faithful in praying for Clear and Simple Media and supporting this work, these surprises could never have happened without you.