The 412 Commission--Back From Israel

The 412 Commission in Israel

The 412 Commission has returned from their tour of Israel. The team was baptized in the Jordan River, and many got to float in the Dead Sea. But students gained the most from Dr. Randy Smith's extensive introduction to places where Jesus ministered and other significant sites of biblical and modern times. See Pictures... (More pictures and reports to come).

Registration Is Now Open For Momentum!!

Registration for Momentum youth conferences is now open. Go to www.buildmomentum.org and register for either Momentum East or Momentum West.

Momentum West: Monday, June 23-Saturday, June 28 at Biola University in La Mirada, California.

Momentum East: Monday, July 21-Sunday, July 27 at Cedarville University in southwestern Ohio.

New Website For Youth Workers Features Easter Resource

Take your students deep into the Easter story, linking the suffering and criticism that they might go through with Jesus' suffering. This study deals with the doctrine of Christ's suffering in relation to the events preceding Easter. Get the study...

The Easter study is just one of 42 weeks worth of youth group lessons on the new website www.EyeOnYouth.com.

Honoring Our Faithful Church Volunteers and Staff Members

National Church Awards are designed to encourage and honor faithful servants in ministry. This is your opportunity to nominate those within your church family deserving of honor. What names come to your mind? The faithful staff member? The long-serving teacher who has volunteered for many years?

What events have you as a church undertaken that would be helpful to other churches in reaching, teaching, and releasing people for God’s glory? Be sure to pass along the forms to other individuals who can submit nominations within their specific area of ministry. Read more and get the forms...

Cathy's Corner--Biographies at the CE National Lending Library

Here are just a few of the great biographies available at the CE National Lending Library.

Quiet Strength: By Tony Dungy (The principles, practices, and priorities of a winning life. Book
The Heavenly Man: By Brother Yun (The remarkable true story of Chinese Christian brother Yun. Book
Zvi, the Return: By Zvi Kalisher. (Revisiting the Holocaust). Video

The Lending Library contains many categories, including Sexual Abuse, Social Action, Camping, Creation Science, Drama, End Times, Evangelism, Games and Crafts, Women's Issues, Senior Adults, and many more.

Contact Cathy at library@cenational.org or call 574.267.6622 to find out what else is available at the CE National Lending Library.

Reach Out--To Parents

How can you help enable parents to partner with you to fuel the spiritual flame in the hearts of their teens? Ken Matteson, Youth Pastor at Grace Brethren Church in Waterloo, Iowa, writes this article for EyeOnYouth.com telling you how.

2007 Operation Barnabas Teams Spring Reunion

Reunions can be a sweet time of fellowship and reconnecting with friends and family. Last fall, a number of the 2007 Operation Barnabas team members enjoyed participating in the first OB Ministry Reunion at Urban Hope Training Center in Philadelphia.

Next week, Grace College is sponsoring the first ever spring OB reunion on March 14–16, for those students and leaders who were on the Atlantic, Chesapeake, or Potomac Operation Barnabas teams last summer.

OBers will stay on campus in the dorms with Grace College students. The 2007 OB alumni will not only have the opportunity to reconnect with each other, but will also enjoy working together on "opportunities" on Saturday and ministering with the Community Grace Worship Team on Sunday morning.

NexGen Comes to Warsaw, Ind.

NexGen is coming to Warsaw, Ind., March 15. Last spring, Grace Community Church in Goshen hosted this one-day conference. This year, Jon Rauch, Children's Pastor at Grace Community Church, will bring the conference to Warsaw Community Church.

NexGen is a one-day conference that aims to equip Christians to effectively engage the next generation with the Gospel. Two mini-conferences are held, with one track designed specifically for children in 2nd-6th grades and another track for parents and children's ministry volunteers. Read more...

Urban Hope Leadership Retreat

Last month the leaders of Urban Hope Training Center met at Telford, Pa., for their annual retreat. Team members discussed how they can be most effective in reaching people for Christ in the Kensington area of Philadelphia. CE National is happy that God is continuing to work through this inner-city ministry aimed at reaching the urban family through focusing on children and youth.

The Urban Hope team is made up of two, full-time paid staff members. Jason Holt is the Director of Church Development and Brent Saba is the Director of Training. Bethany Harvey serves as a part-time staff member working in the office.

A majority of the staff members are bi-vocational, with jobs in social work, local industry, public schools, and computers. Some work as nannies or at Starbucks, while others are taking classes. These people use their weekends and evenings to help with house churches, visit the people on "their block," and assist with programs for children or youth. Praise God for the group of people who are committed to living in the inner city and reaching and discipling the thousands of people who live there.

CE National is praising the Lord for the development of the Sunday morning services. A group of 60-80 people are in the formation stages of the Urban Hope Community Church.

During the year there are many opportunities for people not familiar with the city to learn how to build relationships cross-culturally in an attempt to win people for Christ. Sleeping accommodations handling 50 people are available in Philadelphia at UHTC, and teams can come throughout the year.

This summer an opportunity called "Urban Training Experience" is available to orient people to the inner city. Participants will receive a personal evaluation letting them know how they can be most effective in metropolitan ministries. Internships are also available. For more information about Urban Hope, go to www.urbanhope.net.