December 19
Bible Reading: Psalm 139:7-12; Jeremiah 23:24
Corrie and Betsie ten Boom risked their lives to hide Jews during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands. When the Nazis discovered their efforts, the two sisters, in their middle years, were sent to a concentration camp. There, they endured unimaginable suffering, yet in the midst of such horrors, they ministered hope to countless fellow prisoners. Their barracks became a place of Bible study, and the message of God’s love flourished even in the most dire of circumstances.
Betsie, however, grew gravely ill and was transferred to a prison hospital. As she lay on the floor of the facility, she whispers to Corrie, “Tell people what we’ve learned here… there is no pit so deep that God’s love is not deeper still.” Betsie died the next day. Then, through an inexplicable clerical error, Corrie was miraculously released. Following her release, she forgave the guards who had held her captive. Through her books and speaking tours, Corrie touched millions of lives. She once said, “I’ve experienced His presence in the deepest, darkest hell that men can create… I have tested the promises of the Bible, and believe me, you can count on them.”
Corrie and Betsie’s story is a profound testimony to the truth that God is always present, no matter the circumstances. There is no place in God’s creation where He is not. As King David wrote in Psalm 139:7-10, there is no place one can go to escape God’s presence. Whether in the highest heavens or the depths of the earth, God is always with us.
It is important to note that God is not in everything, as some forms of pantheism suggest. Pantheism posits that everything is part of an all-encompassing god. Instead, the Bible teaches that God, in His person, is Spirit (John 4:24) and is present everywhere in His creation. As Paul tells the people of Athens on Mars Hill, “In Him we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28).
For those who have accepted Christ, God’s presence is not only universal but also personal. Through the Holy Spirit, believers are never truly alone. Whether we are at home, at work, or enduring hardship, the Spirit of God is with us, offering comfort and strength (John 14:17; 1 Corinthians 3:16).
While God’s presence is a great comfort to those who have chosen to follow Him, it also carries a sobering truth for those who reject Him. The Bible warns that, when God’s judgment comes, no one will be able to hide from His sight (Amos 9:2-4). But for those who trust in Jesus Christ, there is refuge in His love. Jesus, the One who left His heavenly home to dwell among us, died for our sins and rose again, offering salvation and bringing us to God (1 Corinthians 15:3-4; 1 Peter 3:18).
“I’ve experienced His presence in the deepest, darkest hell that men can create… I have tested the promises of the Bible, and believe me, you can count on them.”—Corrie ten Boom
OMNIPRESENCE OF GOD
Father of spirits, natures’s God,
Our inmost thoughts are known to thee;
Thou, Lord, canst hear each idle word,
And every private action see.
Could we, on morning’s swiftest wings,
Pursue our flight through trackless air,
Or dive beneath deep ocean’s springs,
Thy presence still would meet us there.
In vain may guilt attempt to fly,
Concealed beneath the pall of night;
One glance from thy all-piercing eye
Can kindle darkness into light.
Search thou our hearts, and there destroy
Each evil thought, each secret sin,
And fit us for those realms of joy,
Where nought impure shall enter in.
Author: looking2jesus13
Jerry L. Conklin was born and raised in Hillsboro, Oregon. After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the United States Navy and served for six years in the Navy’s Nuclear Power Program. He was assigned to the USS *Omaha* (SSN-692), a nuclear-powered fast-attack submarine, where he served as a reactor-plant electrical operator. His military service took him to ports and locations throughout the world and provided extensive technical training, leadership experience, and an enduring appreciation for those who serve in the Armed Forces.
Following his Navy service, Jerry earned a bachelor’s degree in Nuclear Technology from Thomas Edison State University. He worked at the Trojan Nuclear Plant near Rainier, Oregon, first as a reactor operator and later as a training specialist. After sensing God’s call to pastoral ministry, he left the nuclear-power industry and earned a master’s degree in theology from Western Conservative Baptist Seminary in Portland, Oregon.
Jerry served for twenty-seven and a half years as senior pastor of Lewis and Clark Bible Church in Astoria, Oregon. During those years, he preached and taught the Scriptures, provided pastoral counseling, performed weddings and memorial services, trained church leaders, and served individuals and families throughout the community. He also served as a fire department chaplain and participated in a variety of community ministries.
After retiring from full-time pastoral ministry, Jerry and his wife, Laura, moved to Heppner, Oregon. There he served for approximately four years as a chaplain with Pioneer Memorial Home Health and Hospice, providing spiritual and emotional support to more than 150 patients and their families. In 2023, the Oregon Association for Home Care honored him as its Chaplain of the Year.
Jerry also helped establish South Morrow County Seniors Matter, a nonprofit organization created to address the needs of older adults following the COVID-19 pandemic. As chairman, he worked with community leaders and volunteers to develop a weekly senior meal program, a monthly veterans’ lunch, and other activities and services. The organization served hundreds of seniors, mobilized more than 200 volunteers, and received statewide and national recognition. In 2025, Jerry was named Heppner’s Man of the Year, and his community service was later recognized by United States Senator Jeff Merkley.
International missions have also been an important part of Jerry’s ministry. He has made ten trips to Uganda, where he has taught at pastors’ conferences, preached in churches, participated in Bible-school graduations, distributed Bibles and Christian materials, and encouraged local pastors and ministry leaders. He developed the discipleship booklet *First Steps with Jesus* to help new believers understand and grow in their faith.
Jerry is the author of numerous books, Bible studies, devotionals, and teaching resources, including works centered on prayer, Christian hope, spiritual growth, and the person of Jesus Christ. His decades of preaching and teaching reflect his commitment to presenting biblical truth clearly, practically, and faithfully.
Jerry and Laura were married for nearly forty-two years and raised four children. They were also blessed with three grandchildren. Laura passed away in August 2025 following an eight-and-a-half-year battle with cancer. Jerry currently lives in Hillsboro, where he helps care for his elderly father. He continues to preach, teach, write, and serve others through pastoral and community ministry.
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