I’m Back in Ecuador! I have been getting resettled into a new apartment here in Machala and reconnecting with friends in the church here. Of course, I am also readjusting to the language, food and culture again. Central Park in Machala, Ecuador My new apartment in Machala Part ofRead More →
Update from David Batcheller – June 2026 Return to Ecuador! Dear family and friends, Read More →
My Crazy Country: A Nation Divided by David Batcheller After spending 5 years serving as a missionary in Ecuador, I returned to the United States last summer to face the reality of the massive changes that had taken place here. Fortunately for me, I landed once again in Texas, whichRead More →
“It is hard to escape the conclusion that today, one of the greatest roadblocks to the gospel of Jesus Christ is the institutional church. The student protester who held up a placard “Jesus Yes! Christianity No!” was expressing a sentiment widely felt: The institutional church too often represents something radicallyRead More →
Reentry Into Familiar Territory As I was preparing to move to Ecuador to serve as a missionary more than five years ago, I wrote blogs like “Leap of Faith”, “Preparing to Launch” and “Taking Flight”. In early July, I moved back to the U.S., so this blog post will reflectRead More →
Introduction: As I neared the end of my five-year missionary service in Ecuador, my new friend Trace Pirtle asked if I would answer these interview questions that follow for his website. Structured Interview Questions: (by Trace Pirtle) · Can you share the moment when you first felt called to mission work?Read More →
How I ended up here, I’ll never quite know for sure. While growing up and through most of my adult life, I never really thought about becoming an author. As a young student, reading and literature in general were way down the list of fun things to do. Yet somehowRead More →
Today I would like to tell you a story. It’s a true story about a young man whose life was completely and radically transformed exactly fifty years ago. It is a heart-warming story of hope for anyone who may be struggling to find true meaning and purpose in life, orRead More →