Our Books

This is the first of my stories to be published.  My sweet Mom sent “A Pair for Life” to Home Life magazine in 1991. (See above). Their decision to publish it was the first step in my realization that maybe someone in addition to family and friends might enjoy my stories. I thought, publishing seems easy.  I have a thick …

I’m sure every road-weary man around that wilderness campfire never forgot the moment. That sacred moment. A gift of love delivered at great risk and cost. Homesick Water   It’s strange the things you miss on an extended sojourn. That’s especially true in Africa. The big question when a teammate is making trip to the U.S is, “Where’s the first …

Matt Farmer smiled. “It shows what people can get done when they work together.” One of my lifelong heroes and friends, Matt Farmer, will be buried tomorrow in Dry Creek, Louisiana. I have many stories about him. This is my favorite.   Matt Farmer’s Barn   Fall 2005 Hurricane Rita + two weeks   In the middle of our worship …

You may not have any desire to come to South Sudan and its borderlands. But that doesn’t mean you cannot pray. You can pray for these churches and pastors from your prayer closet in America. But be warned:  these strategic leaders and churches may capture your heart and you’ll find yourself on an airplane bound for Africa. You were warned. …

  Yesterday we shared Chapter 15 from our novel, A Good Place. This part of the novel continues with Chapter 16. Enjoy!   Chapter 16 I THOUGHT about picking Bo up to tote home, but any attempt to move him brought a terrible whimpering, and anyway, he weighed too much for me to carry that far. Leaving him was out …

Lent Lourens, a South African living in Uganda, is a dear friend of ours. Yesterday she had to put down her twelve year old dog. I was reminded of the pain of losing a dog. I thought about this story from our novel,  A Good Place. Male readers often say,  “Curt, I cried when I read that chapter about Bo the …

 We call it “Holding the rope.” This saying goes back to the first Baptist missionary, William Carey. Before leaving for Asia, he told his fellow believers, “If you’ll hold the rope, I’ll go down in the well.” We are dependent on our friends in America for prayer and encouragement.   Sunday Prayer Points 1. Please pray for Daniella Jeremiadoss who …

A note from Uganda:  I’m spending Whippoorwill Day 2015 in Uganda. Lord willing, I’ll be on Crooked Bayou Louisiana for 2016’s Whippoorwill Day. No whippoorwills here but several cousins, including the song of a dusky nightjar each morning and evening. Since today is Whippoorwill Day in Louisiana, I believe you’ll enjoy this story. If you’d enjoy my story,  “Whippoorwill Day” …

A sower went out to sow . . . A Word from Curt See Dirt?  Throw Seeds! It’s all of our job W.I.T. Whatever it takes. That’s our job on sowing gospel seed in Africa. When you see dirt, throw seed.   These are the men and their wives who are sowing Gospel seeds across South Sudan and its borderland …

Current meeting of South Sudanese leaders, wives, fellow workers and team from Southeastern Seminary. A word from Curt Today, 9000 miles from our part of Africa,  DeDe’s father, Herbert Terry, will be buried in his beloved Harrisonburg, Louisiana. When we returned to Uganda two months ago,  Mr. Herbert told us, “You go on over there and finish the work God …

  A word from Curt Today is a travel day.  DeDe, JD Hull and I heading Up Country.  We’ll be at a strategic meeting with dozens of South Sudanese pastors and their wives. Our speakers are three leaders from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in North Carolina. The meeting begins on Friday and we’ll keep you informed on how you can …

  A Prophet has no Honor in Dry Creek   From The Old House by Curt Iles Copyright 2002            This story is nearly too good to be true, but it actually is.The funniest things in life are not fictitious, but real events that take place all around us.  My next-door neighbors in Dry Creek are Mark …

Epilogue: Why I Write:   “If you’re able to quit writing, you probably should.” -Cec Murphey   “A writer is someone who wrote today.” I write for the simple joy of expression. I have fifty-one journals that I’ve filled with stories, dreams, ideas, and the journey of my life since age seventeen. If I never published another single word, I’d …

Enjoy an audio podcast of this story. One of the Best Nights of My Life                                                                                                             I pull into Dry Creek Camp at 10:00 P.M.    Normally I would be going home at this time, but tonight my night is just beginning.   Sitting in his white GMC truck, John Bohacek waits for me.   John, or “Mr. Bo” as he is …