January
Over 625 Attended Kalahari Youth Retreat in Ohio
The theme of the event, YouTube, reflected on what it means to be powered by God and what happens when He is our source of strength. During the weekend, students enjoyed worship led by Darkroom, a film festival, a game show, four main worship sessions, meetings by youth groups, and, of course, the fun of the water park.
TK reports that he is proud to be associated with such a great group of youth workers who can cooperate together to reach young people for the cause of Christ. The following churches were represented.
Grace Church of Powell
Delaware Grace Brethren
GBC of Columbus
Grace Community, Fremont
GBC of Lexington
Southern Hills, Strongsville
Smithville United Methodist
Wooster Grace
Woodville GBC
Grace Baptist, Westerville
412 Commission, South East Asia Update
"Don't have much time. But things are going great here in South East Asia. We are meeting all kinds of people and the students are doing extremely well. We have also seen a lot of the culture. Today we had lunch with a couple of the teachers from the school at their home. Very neat to see and experience the culture. Two days ago we were taken out to dinner on a boat that went up and then down one of the rivers here in South East Asia.
The only problem is just a little jet lag, everything else seems to be going great. Please continue to pray for us and just how we can be a light here."
Mike Pumphrey for 412
CE National Staff On the Road
Brent Saba, Director of Training at the Urban Hope Training Center, will be speaking at the winter youth retreat this weekend at Grace Church at Willow Valley in Lancaster, Pa. Brent will be speaking on four topics:
- Defending Creation
- The God of the Christian Faith is the True God
- The Bible, God's Inspired Word
- Effectively Sharing Your Faith
Please pray for Brent and the impact of the retreat.
Ed Lewis will speak this Sunday (January 20) at the New Beginnings Grace Brethren Church, Meyerstown, Pa., in the morning service. Ed will then travel to the Grace Brethren Church in Elizabethtown, Pa., to talk with their Christian educators/workers and speak in their evening service.
On Monday Ed will spend the day in meetings at the Urban Hope Training Center in Philadelphia.
'I Expect to Live Forever With the People I am Reading About'
Have you read the Bible through five times or more? We would like to use you as a catalyst to get more people to read through the Scriptures. Tell us your story about reading the entire Bible and the benefit it has been to your life. We'll post it on our 'iRead 66' page to encourage others to read through the Bible.
CE National Hosts National Youth Ministries Conference
A group of over 100 youth pastors came to the CE National campus on Monday, January 14, and left on Thursday having been challenged by tremendous speakers and seminar leaders.
The National Youth Ministries Conference has been held in different locations over the past 23 years, and this year it made its debut in Indiana. The conference is planned by veteran youth workers, including friends of CE National from Vision For Youth who attended last year's Momentum conference. Mel Walker, from Clark Summit, Pennsylvania, is the president of Vision For Youth, Tim Ahlgrim, from Lafayette, Indiana, serves as the director, and Dr. Cheryl Fawcett, from El Cajon, California, is on the executive staff as well.
Vision For Youth and CE National have enjoyed partnering together for a number of initiatives. Ed Lewis says, "They are our kind of people. They think like we do and have the same heartbeat. It is a privilege to work side-by-side whenever we can."
Some of the key speakers at the conference were Ken Rudolph, Mike Calhoun, and Dr. Charles Ware. Seminars were led by several people including Timothy Kurtaneck and Ed Lewis of CE National.
Ron Shank, Youth Pastor of Maranatha Brethren Church, Hagerstown, Maryland, came to the event. "The challenges here are wonderful," said Ron. "The main speakers are speaking to our hearts." Hear more of what Ron has to say in this short video clip.
Cheryl Fawcett talks with students
Ron Shank, Youth Pastor, talks with Lois Maxson, CE National staff, after a session
Brent Saba talked and prayed with people all week long
Dr. Charles Ware tells how he came to Christ as a teenager and how Christ has transformed his life
Ed Lewis, Executive Director of CE National, talks with conference attendees
Timothy Kurtaneck, CE National's Director of Church Relations & Youth Leadership Training, enjoys talking with others
Leading worship
Checking out the program
Cheryl Fawcett talks with Brent Saba
Mel Walker, President of Vision For Youth, talks to the group
Mel Walker, President of Vision For Youth, talks to the group
Cheryl Fawcett talks with some of the Grace Brethren attending the conference
Some National Institute students who attended
Ken Rudolph makes a point
Tim Ahlgrim leads a breakout session
Talking with exhibitors
Great fellowship
Youth staff enjoy talking with Cheryl Fawcett
Dr. Charles Ware tells how he came to Christ as a teenager and how Christ has transformed his life
Serving dinner
Enjoying the steak cookout
412 Commission Leaves For South East Asis
On Wednesday, Jay and Jan Bell visited to go over last minute details for the upcoming trip to South East Asia. The Bells spent the whole day teaching the team new techniques they will be using in South East Asia. Jay Bell, a veteran missiologist on staff at Grace Brethren International Missions, will serve as the guide/coordinator for the ministry aspect of the South East Asia trip. The team will spend a majority of their time teaching English at a school. Two of their ten days will be spent at the beach, sightseeing and learning more about the culture.
On Thursday, the team had a half day to finish some last minute school work, worship, and pack their bags. This morning (Friday) they left Goshen at 2:30 a.m. for a 10:45 a.m. flight out of Chicago.
Please pray for the 412 Commission students, that they will have patience, flexibility, and wisdom in an unfamiliar atmosphere.
412 Commission Gets Ready For South East Asia
Monday morning the team shared their Christmas break experiences, reconnecting through worship and a challenge from Mike Pumphrey, site coordinator, for the next semester.
The students are excited about the new pace set for the next semester; with new classes, two overseas trips, in-depth study of the book of Hebrews, connecting on new levels with discipleship groups, and focusing on their future internships.
New classes were started on Tuesday. On Wednesday Jay and Jan Bell visited to go over last minute details for the upcoming trip to South East Asia. Jay and Jan spent the whole day teaching the team new techniques they will be using in South East Asia.
The team will spend a majority of their time teaching English at a school. Two of their ten days will be spent at the beach, sightseeing and learning more about the culture in South East Asia.
Thursday the team had a half day to finish some last minute school work, worship, and time to pack their bags. The team will leave Goshen at 2:30 a.m. Friday morning for a 10:45 a.m. flight out of Chicago.
Please pray for the 412 Commission students. Pray for patience, flexibility, and wisdom in an unfamiliar atmosphere.
Join a Map Team to Pearlington, MS, This Spring
The team is open to students and adults who would like to join a group from Meyersdale to go back to the area where many churches worked during the Momentum 2007 youth conference building 11 homes. Johnson announced that the team will be leaving from Meyersdale on Thursday, April 10, and returning on the 16th.
For more information on how you and/or members from your church or youth ministry might join in on this special opportunity, contact Adam at 814.242.7220.
CE National Welcomes National Youth Ministries Conference
The conference continues today with workshops, discussion groups, exhibits, and two general sessions with Mike Calhoun. About 150 youth workers are attending the conference which ends Thursday.
CE National is pleased to host this annual conference in its 23rd year.
Exhibits from organizations line the Russell Center
Exhibits from organizations line the Russell Center
The stage are is ready for the general sessions
Priming the Pump--Finishing Well
The Days Away in both Florida locations focused on scriptures that relate to finishing well. In many evangelical churches, older adults are becoming detached from the local church. They feel like their life is behind them, and they do not realize that their best days may yet be ahead. God intends for us to not just start well, but to finish well.
A part of the Day Away involved having the attendees list things in their lives that influenced their walk with Christ, for example, a sickness, a hurtful child, a difficult marriage, or the death of a close relative. Participants were asked, "How did God use that in your life? And how are you sharing that experience so that others can benefit from what you have learned?" This helps to "prime the pump" of ministry.
Day Away--North of 55 programs are available to churches in various regions of the country. Each Day Away includes a time of fellowship, fun, going to lunch together, and encouragement.
Pictures of some of the people that attended Sebring Day Away
Newlyweds Dave and Chris Ogden
CE National Employee, Ralph Wiley, Home With Jesus
Ralph began his ministry in the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches in Galion, Ohio, in the early 60s. He served as Protestant Chaplain at a prison in Marion, Ohio, for nearly 30 years. Retiring early, Ralph served in many Grace Brethren Churches as interim pastor.
CE National was blessed to have Ralph coordinate the CE National Senior Adult ministries a few years ago.
Ralph had his own memorial service in Sebring and challenged the congregation to finish well. He also had an opportunity to share with the local newspaper. One week before he passed away, Ralph shared his faith, again, with a group of four people who came to see him. They wanted to talk with someone who wasn't afraid to die. As a result of Ralph's testimony, one accepted Jesus as her Savior.
The video of Ralph's memorial service was shown to everyone who lived in his trailer park in Florida last Sunday. As a result, his legacy continues to live on.
Tribute to Ralph Wiley:
I would just add that my brief but rich encounters with this man of God left me longing for more of Jesus and to be more like Him. He is a true hero in a day where there aren't many to be found!
Pressing on,
Mike Jentes
Tribute to Ralph Wiley by David Davis
Ralph Wiley was the man I called "Dad." He was not really my Dad, but for a short time of my life he became my Dad.
I met Ralph and Dorothy Wiley when I was twelve years old. Dorothy, who I called Mom, was holding Bible Club meetings across the street from Martel School. My friend, Mike Barr, invited me to go. He said I really should meet these people. Well being sort of a bad boy in those days I thought there was no way I was going to go to a Bible Club meeting. Then Mike said the magic words. "They have two really cute daughters and there would be free cookies and Kool-Aid after the meeting." Being from a very poor family whose mother was on drugs and a father who had deserted us, there was one thing I liked almost better than anything and that was free food. The two cute daughters was a plus.
Soon Dad and Mom Wiley were picking my little brother Rick and me up for church every week. They would pick up so many kids some of us would have to ride in the trunk. They would also pick us up for the Ambassadors Club meetings and other functions, always paying for everything.
I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior on top of a mountain in Virginia at one of their summer camps that they paid for and took me to. They became the stabilizing factor in our dysfunctional lives.
During that short time their love and understanding impacted my life like no other people I have ever met in my fifty-two years on this earth. If I was to try to write about all the things they have done for me and so many other people it would fill a book the size of War and Peace.
Dad was a good man, a kind man who loved and lived his life for God. He was an example for all Christians to follow. When I think of what a Christian should be, I think of Dad Wiley. If it was up to me his picture would be in the dictionary next to the word "Christian" with a caption that says, "See the life of Ralph Wiley".
With his passing, Heaven as gain a wonderful soul but the world has lost an incredible "Dad".
You may be gone from this world, Dad, but your love and teaching will live on through those you have touched with your truly magnificent love for others. Knowing you has made me a better person. I thank God for bringing you into my life for without you I may have been lost forever.
David Davis a friend of Ralph Wiley.
Other tributes to Ralph.
Read a tribute to Ralph from his son Galen.
Read a tribute to Ralph from his grandson Jonathan.
Watch Ralph's message at his memorial service.
Read a tribute to Ralph from his daughter, Mary.
Southern California District Celebration January 27
Come to the Grace Brethren Church in Norwalk, California, to enjoy celebrating what God has done, is doing, and will do through CE National. Ed Lewis and TK (Timothy Kurtaneck) will be your hosts for a fun-filled evening.
Refreshments will follow the celebration time.
Hosted by:
Grace Brethren Church
11005 Foster Rd.
Norwalk, CA 90650
TNI Module a Success
Students enjoyed nationally known speakers, local church staff sharing their hearts, model ministries, class time and fellowship.
The week was more than just academic as many students went away spiritually challenged. Students were asked what impacted them the most about the module.
Jason
For me, the most impactful part of the module was seeing real ministry lived out. Everywhere that we went, people were on fire. It was awesome to see how God was working in the lives of so many people in the middle of Ohio.
Trent
The most impactful/life-changing part of the module for me was hearing the testimonies of people who had their broken lives mended by Christ, and submitted themselves into obedience to God through baptism.
Kim
The most impactful/life-changing part of the module for me was going to 707 and hearing our last speaker. I learned so much over the week but especially with learning how to use time management and planning for youth events. For me, 707 was huge to see how God can totally rearrange people's lives and start a much needed healing process. It amazed me even more about how loving and merciful our God really is!!!!
Micah
The most impactful/life-changing part of the module for me was being in an environment where many experienced, knowledgeable, and wise leaders all converged on the same place to impart their wisdom.
Ironically enough, the wisdom imparted itself was not the most impactful part of the module for me. Instead it was simply seeing so many people coming from so many areas of faith and life who all shared at least one common denominator, a passion for being out among the Church and the World and DOING something!
The passion in my heart that had in many ways burrowed deep into the far-away places of my heart erupted to the surface in the presence of so much excitement and desire for bringing glory to the Name of God and lost people into His family. It felt like watching a war movie when the reinforcements finally arrived, and together with them the tired soldiers shout from deep in their souls and rush the fields with renewed vigor."
Todd
The most impactful/life-changing part of the module for me was the chance to see the 5 young adults being baptized and hearing their stories at 707
Ministries! Also having the chance to witness to people out in the Norton
area.
Jenny
The most important thing I learned was the importance of having a goal and vision in which to bring your students to at the end of your immediate impact with them. If you don't have a goal/end in mind, you may not be successful in bringing them closer to Christ.
Kory
The most impactful/life-changing part of the module for me was... I
realized that no matter what strategy I use in my personal ministry, the
ministry itself must be driven by God and people must come to know Christ.
Without that, it really isn't a ministry at all.
Marcella
The most impactful/life-changing part of the module for me was Pastor Bob's talk about relationships. He took a few moments to explain to us how relationships are more important than any conflict that may arise. This statement is so true and I felt challenged to apply this principle to the relationships in my life.
Some of the speakers for the week were:
- Valerie Huber, Executive Director of the National Abstinence Education Association
- Kurt Johnston, Junior High Youth Pastor at Saddleback Church in Southern California
- Ron Gerstenmaier, Principal of Norton High School, Norton, Ohio
- Christy Kear, Children's Director at Grace Church, North Campus, Akron, Ohio
- Tony Lavigni, Grace Church's collegiate pastor
- Ezra Wimberly, Worship Pastor at Grace Church
- Dave Lawson, sports ministries leader from Grace Church
- Ben Dyke from Campus Crusade for Christ
- Josh Kuck, Youth Pastor of Grace Community Church in Fremont, Ohio
Students praying together
Interacting with other students during class
Students praying together
Prayer is a major part of the week
Kurt Johnston, from Saddleback Church in California, talking with a student
Brad Deetscreek, Youth Pastor of Grace Church, Akron, Ohio, talks with a student after class
Students discussing in small groups
Ben Dyke from Campus Crusade
Ready to slide into the kid's area of Grace Church
Kids enjoy video games before their program starts
Dave Lawson, Pastor at Wooster Grace Brethren Church
Ezra Wimberly, Worship Pastor at Grace Church
Josh Kuck, Youth Pastor of Grace Community Church in Fremont, Ohio
Read the Bible Through in a Year
If you have read the Bible through at least five times, would you let us know? CE National would like to create an honor roll to encourage you and others to make the Scriptures vital in our lives. Send your name, the number of times you've read the Bible through, and the plan you use to cenewsonline@cenational.org.
412 To Teach English in South East Asia
February 20-March 5, 2008, the group will be in Israel, where Randy Smith will lead the trip.
2nd Annual Bible Quiz Invitational Date Set
More details will follow in the new year.
Florida Day Aways Start This Monday and Tuesday
Join Ed Lewis, from CE National, who will emcee the two events, which will include times of informal sharing, singing, challenges, and testimonies. Ed will share how to build relationships with others and serve them. Attendees will have the opportunity to put this into practice by visiting nursing home residents, reading to pre-school children, and sharing a personal testimony on audio tape for family members. This fun and practical "hands-on" Day Away offers new options and opportunities for participants to impact others.
Registration for both events will begin at 9:30 a.m., with the program lasting from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., after lunch at a local restaurant. Your only cost will be your lunch (under $10 per person). It is requested that you pre-register at least one week in advance by contacting Lois at cenational@cenational.org or calling 574.267.6622. Be sure to mention which event you will attend.
TNI Module in Norton, Ohio
Kurt Johnston, Junior High Youth Pastor at Saddleback Church in Southern California, speaks today. Kurt will be sharing about junior high ministry from his vast experience. Tonight the group will visit New Perspectives, the college-age ministry of Grace Church, Norton, Ohio. Then tomorrow the principal of Norton High School, Ron Gerstenmaier, will talk with students about how youth pastors can assist the school system.
On Saturday the group will go to the North Campus of Grace Church to hear Christy Kear, Children's Director at North Campus, and Tony Lavigni, Grace Church's collegiate pastor.
The class will attend the worship service at Grace Church, North Campus on Sunday morning followed by class time with Ezra Wimberly and Dave Lawson. Ezra is the Worship Pastor at Grace Church and Dave leads the sports ministries there. Christy Kear will also speak again on Bible Quizzing and Nurturing Abilities for Christ. On Sunday night the group will attend 707 in Northeast Ohio. This new Sunday night church service targets 20-30 somethings in an engaging and relevant way. On Monday, Josh Kuck from Fremont GBC will speak on planning retreats and camps.
Throughout the week, the students will be taking classes and doing coursework and will return to Winona Lake, Indiana on Monday.
Ralph Wiley's Daugther Talks About Her Dad
Dear Family & Friends,
Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body. But rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out and loudly proclaiming, “Wow, what a ride!”
That ride ended on January 3, 2008 at 5:18 pm. It is with joy that we want to let you know that “Dad” Wiley went home to be with his Lord and Savior and his “Mama Girl”. He died in Hallandale Beach, Florida, at his daughter Ruth’s home.
For the last 60 years he has lived, shared and preached about the difference God can make in our lives if we let Him. He is now reaping those benefits. This summer he was in great health. He was biking, building, sharing and laughing. The last week of October he noticed a lump on his arm while he was visiting Ruth’s. He also started getting short of breath, lost his voice (paralyzed vocal chords), and his back hurt him. In the next week he was prodded, poked, stuck, and x-rayed. The doctors told him that he had metastasized melanoma. He had had a spot on his back removed about 9 years ago and then about 3 years ago he had part of his lung removed that had melanoma. When the doctor explained the diagnosis and told him he had less than 2 months to live he broke out in a huge grin and exclaimed, “On January 8 at 10:48 (he looked at the clock) I’m out of here!” The doctor asked Ruth if he understood what that meant and Ruth told him he sure did. He was just so excited to finally be going Home. He realized what many of us need to realize and that is this home on earth is temporary. “You ain’t seen nothin’ yet!” in the words of Bachman Turner Overdrive. He has treated this “death sentence” with great humor. He ate all his “last meals”. He didn’t have to worry about gaining weight (the cancer ate all the calories), didn’t have to worry about cholesterol (who cares if it kills him), all he had to do was look pathetic and people ran and got him drinks, food, rubbed his back, etc… Thankfully until the last few days he didn’t suffer much. He kept his sense of humor the whole time. The day before he died we were all sitting around him when he opened his eyes. All he said was, “Vultures!”
We are sorry that we did not let everyone know about his illness. We tried to let family and friends know through the churches he served in and word of mouth. It was such a busy time for us all as family members got to come and tell him, “See you up there!” Thank you, those of you who knew, for sending cards, letters and pictures. He had mail almost every day until he died and he enjoyed them so much.
“Dad” being “Dad” decided to go out in a big way. He held his own memorial service. He explained that he could go in 3 ways. He had a tumor that is pressing against his windpipe and it will “strangle” him. His lungs and sac around the heart are filling with fluids so he could “drown”. The third way was if the cancer spread through his lungs it would “smother” him. Then he said he thought of a fourth way that week and he thought it was the best way to go. He said everyone at the “Memorial Service” could say such nice things about him that his head would just keep getting bigger and bigger until it exploded and that was the way he liked the most. He would already be at church and they could just bury him there! They would have the viewing, the funeral service and he even had flowers from his grandkids and great-grandkids. Then he got to thinking that maybe they could use him as a speed bump and that way every parent could tell their kids about what a great man he was, etc… This is how he faced his last days. A lot of humor and a lot of laughter.
He did get down to being serious however. He said that he had been such a blessed man. He and mother decided to give up everything they owned and move to Chicago and then Minneapolis to go to school. In those very lean years they learned to trust God and give Him their all. Even though their diet was mostly beans and cornmeal mush they saw miracles of God’s provisions. It was his birthday and he didn’t even have money for a cake or meat to make it special. He felt prompted to make a visit that day and at the end the lady asked him if he would like a cake mix. Those of you who knew Daddy knew he would never turn down “free” food. When he got home all excited about having a cake, the odor of a roast hit him. A couple who had visited their church months before had kept saying they needed to take groceries to that young preacher but put it off. That morning she made her husband stop and deliver them. He saw God work when he had colon cancer at 39. They did not get all the cancer and there was no radiation or chemotherapy. No one expected him to live but God healed him. About 20 years ago he was in a boat alone that capsized. He was a great swimmer as long as he could touch the bottom, but panicked when it was deep. The last breath he had he knew that was it. When he went down his feet touched bottom and he was able to walk out. Through all this he learned to rely on God as not only his Savior but also his friend and everything he needed. Less than a week before his death he had the privilege of leading a Spanish lady to the Lord. She is in the process of dying and heard he wasn’t afraid and wanted to know why. What a way to go, leading another one with you!
This is why he and mother invested so much of their time into your lives. They were interim pastors 12 different times. That is why they invested so much into his “Ambassadors kids” lives. Why he challenged every Protestant prisoner that came through prison while he was a chaplain there. Why they invited you for meals. Daddy developed a pancake ministry the last few years (gave him a good excuse to fix them!). Why they prayed for people the Lord put in their paths, like Lisa the prostitute, and Suzy Riley who was in the wheelchair when he met her at the airport, plus those of you they had a relationship with. Why he supported so many missionaries. Why knowing them changed each person’s life. Each one of you had a special spot in their hearts. As he challenged you time and again, you too can have this kind of “blessed and happy” life. His dying prayer is that you not forsake the teaching and salvation of your youth, but rather you become men and women of God and when you take your last breath you will meet him up in Heaven where he and “mom” will be waiting and rejoicing. He read the book “Heaven” by Randy Alcorn that really impacted him.
His favorite quote in the last 2 months was “No one can go back and make a brand new start, but anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending.” His challenge to all of us is that.
Again, thank you so much for playing such a great part in his life. Some of you have asked about where you can send a contribution instead of flowers. Daddy’s heart was with the native pastors in the Philippines. These pastors have to have another job and live in impoverished conditions just so they can spread the Word. One pastor was living in the slums and just $25 helped him get a better apartment. Others got milk for a change or a fan for their place. If you feel led to donate memorial contributions can be marked: Love gift for Filipino church planters and may be sent to GBIM, P.O. Box 80065, City of Industry, CA 91716.
Love to all, Donna (Harold) Clark, David Wiley, Galen (Elsie) Wiley, Mary (Jim) Sprague, Ruth (Mark) Chibis
Ralph Wiley--Home With Jesus
Watch Ralph's message at his memorial service.
Pastor Randy Smith of the Sebring Grace Brethren Church in Sebring, Florida, reported last night of the home-going of Ralph. "Our loss is Heaven’s gain.", wrote Randy, "Ralph ran the race as an example to all of us. Now it is our turn, the baton has been passed. May we be found as faithful!"
Ralph was quoted as saying, "Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely and in a pretty and well-preserved body. But rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming, 'Wow, what a ride!'".
Ralph's grandson, Jonathan, has been an Operation Barnabas leader. He is currently serving in the Columbus Grace Brethren Church in Worthington, Ohio. Jonathan wrote this tribute to his Grandpa.
I’m sure that at some point in your life you have lost a loved one. Some of us have been there many times. Well, it is my time again. Never fun. Yet in the midst of the grief, I sit here knowing how blessed I am to have had grandpa in my life. You may have known him as Ralph Wiley, but to me it was just “grandpa.” If you knew him, you knew him. If you didn’t know him, I wish you could have known him. He was an extraordinary man. He had a wonderful sense of humor and an enormous capacity to love people. Everyone loved grandpa. Probably what I’ll remember most is how much he loved Jesus and how much he loved grandma. As the recent years have come and gone, grandpa’s anticipation for heaven and seeing grandma again burned with searing fervency. I wish I could have seen that sweet reunion: the first time face to face with his Savior … and that long anticipated embrace with grandma. Well done, grandpa! Well done! I know you have rich reward!
Since I learned that the doctor told grandpa that he had about 2 months to live, I have reflected a lot on I Corinthians 9:24-27. Go read it. We all are running in the race of all races. An imperishable crown awaits only those who run worthy of it. As I think of grandpa’s life, I am deeply impressed with how well he ran! Additionally, my heart’s passion is stirred even more to live my days with determined purpose to deeply and intimately know Christ … and to win the victor’s crown. As grandpa settles into his place among that great cloud of witnesses cheering us on as we continue to run our races, let’s not fail to keep our eyes fixed on the Author and Perfector of our faith – Jesus! For He has conquered the grave! Jesus has conquered the grave!
Well, as I wrap this up I have a question for you. Actually it is grandpa’s question that he would ask to strangers anywhere. “How are you doing spiritually?” Really, how are you doing? Jesus conquered the grave and is coming again! Do you know Him? Do you really love Him? Be honest with yourself. Are you more like Christ today than you were 2 months ago? Don’t take your eyes off the prize! Don’t waste your life! Run with purpose! Run in such a way as to get the prize!
Jonathan Wiley
If Ralph touched your life in any way, send a note to CENewsOnline@cenational.org and we'll add your tribute to Jonathan's.
Cathy's Corner: Study the Bible In New and Exciting Ways
The Moody Atlas of Bible Lands: by Barry J. Beitzel
Rose Book of Bible Charts, Maps and Time Lines: by Rose Publishing
Bible Explorer’s Guide: by John Phillips
Should Pearlington, Mississippi,
Become 'Our Town'?
Last summer, Momentum students worked on 11 homes in Pearlington. As a follow-up, the Meyersdale Grace Brethren Church sent housewarming gifts to a few Pearlington residents. The residents graciously expressed their thanks in a letter back to the church. (See "Pearlington Residents Thank Meyersdale Grace Brethren Church")
In addition to the Canton, Ohio, Grace Brethren Church, and the coming MAP Team trip, Doug Courter, from Calvary Grace Brethren Church in Hagerstown, Maryland, and 13 others will be working in Pearlington January 17-22.
Join us in praying for the people of Pearlington, that perhaps they will come to know Christ through these teams of people. We love the people there and thank God for what He is doing. Thanks to so many for reaching out to them.
Pastors and Leaders, Ideas for Your Church
Momentum Discounts
Register Early For Both and Save
Students or Youth Workers who choose to attend BOTH Momentum West and Momentum East, will receive the following discount:
Student price: $649 total
Youth Worker price: $499 total
Deadlines are the same as Momentum West.
New Church Discount
A new church will receive one free Youth Worker registration with every five Students who register and attend Momentum 2008. Also, each Student who registers and attends Momentum from a new church will receive a $25 discount. A New Church is defined as one that has not had a student attend youth conference in the past 3 years (2007, 2006, or 2005). To receive this discount, the head youth worker from the new church must contact the Momentum registrar with church information prior to the start of Momentum.
See www.buildmomentum.org for more details.
Spring Conference for Children's Workers
For additional information and to see the schedule, speakers, workshops and registration details, go to www.willowcreek.com/conspireconference. The Children's Cabinet members will be attending the conference and urge others to be part of the wide variety of workshops, be challenged by diverse speakers, and enjoy the interaction with those with like passion for children's ministry.
Columbus and Dayton, Ohio,
We Need Your Help!
The community-wide outreach events are designed to meet both human and spiritual needs of impoverished families. The event mobilizes up to 1000 local church volunteers to serve about 5000 community guests by providing free groceries, health and dental screenings, free haircuts, games, and activities for children and all ages. Every guest is prayed for/with before they leave the event. It is a tremendous opportunity to share Christ and make a difference in the community. Because Convoy of Hope trains local church volunteers, a strong emphasis is placed on giving the local church names of contacts and helping the guests assimilate into local churches.
While it is CE National's desire to host these two events, we plan to use Momentum students as volunteers to help set up the events, distribute flyers, run activities, and share with the community guests. Because CE National and Convoy of Hope believe whole-heartedly in the local church and their importance of the follow-up of local churches long after the event is over, we need about ten churches in each city to grasp the vision for impacting the community and partner with us in planning, promoting, and executing the Community Wide Outreach Events. You can view a video about events like this one on Convoy of Hope's website at www.convoyofhope.org/go/video/us_outreach_promo.
412 Commission Semester Wrap-Up:
What have we as a team learned this semester? Well, that’s a big question to answer in just one article!
We came to 412 a bunch of misfits with lots of baggage (hidden and exposed), wanting to grow. We have left as a bunch of misfits, but God has most of the baggage. That's growth! We have been torn down, built up, refined, blind sided; felt lonely and felt together; we have had goofy moments and depressing moments. That's growth too! Orientation was enlightening and exhausting with the realization that God was going to require a lot out of us in order to grow. We had our own Communion where I realized the 412 experience will be precious to me. Sitting down at the Communion, my brothers and sisters surrounding me, I realized this was my family.
At the jail we learned that sharing our faith isn’t some planned script you can memorize. Jesus has to be shared in transparent honesty.
Heading to Goshen was exciting. we would finally have a stable home and church for a year!
School started and with it we realized how exciting and stretching ministry can be. Along with Liberty classes, we had in-depth studies on books of the Bible, leadership, and a book of various topics that we read together as a team. Through Mike’s teaching our view of God was blown out of the box we had it in. We realized how selfish we are in our faith. God saved us. God predestined us, and we answered when He chose to call us to be one of His own.
We went to Akron, and there God completely opened our eyes as a team. Through being a part of Judgment House and dealing with an event that was hard to understand in the 412 family, we realized how precious our 412 experience was and how blessed we were that God allowed us to be apart of 412 this year.
In Columbus we finally came together as a team. What I mean is that we had been so emptied that only God could fill us. We allowed God to pour out of us and we finally meshed as a group and loved the people in Columbus sacrificially. We also learned that growth is a battle. If we want to grow, we have to call out to God daily and fight for it with everything we have.
I believe that we as a team, with God's help, decided to take on this battle and fight for our growth, our spiritual lives! How exciting! The East coast trip opened our eyes to ministry and the need everywhere for Jesus. It’s a lonely world out there; people need hope and changed lives. Every day on that trip was different. I met a homeless guy who was near my age and he literally thought the government was after him.
We have met people who don’t know if they are going to survive the next day, people with addictions, child abusers, and drunkards, people who belong in a mental hospital, people who are going through pain (even pain that would seem small); and yet we realized we are no different than them except for the fact that God rescued us and they need to be rescued as well.
Then we headed back to Goshen and tried to finish the last few weeks well before heading home. We are running a race. Part of the running have been downhill and easy, but other parts feel like we are running through water. I sum up this article with this one statement: through all the hardship and happiness, the fact that we have kept pursuing God is the only thing that has kept us steady as a team. Pursue God. That is it. God is always reaching out to us, pursuing us, and now we are finally responding.
We students have learned to pursue our Creator with our service (seen and unseen), motives, focus, words, worship, prayer, and pure love. We have been through much pain and heartache as the past is being brought up to the present surface and old wounds and mistakes are being exposed to us. But Jesus Christ is Lord and He will never let His sheep stray, even if He has to break our legs to carry us. We now understand that going through the pain and the heartache is worth it. That is what the battle for growth is all about -- giving God our messiness so that He can give us beauty for our ashes! That is GROWTH! God has worked many miracles already and God has something for us next semester.
It’s been messy, but I’m excited to see what God has in store! Please pray for us over Christmas break. We are dealing with past pain, and/or we are scared to fall into routine and forget what we have learned and seen. From the moment we as a team stepped into the Russell Center at CE National, until Christmas break we have been “stripped.” Satan doesn’t want us to remember that refining. He wants us to forget the new creation we are in Christ, so pray. God is still refining us, maybe more then ever. He wants to continue to give us beauty for our ashes!
'Dad's Answered Prayer'
By Marilyn Orlando
If you can identify with someone like that, then perhaps this poem will reflect what God can do in changing people's lives. Marilyn's godly parents always had a challenge with their one son, but after their dad passed away, Dick turned his life over to the Lord. At 70 years of age, his life changed. Marilyn writes this poem to her dad, as he and Dick are both in heaven.
Dad's Answered Prayer
Dad, we know you're happy
To see your son at home.
Your prayers have now been answered,
And he'll no longer roam.
Since there are no tears in Heaven,
Did Jesus let you know
that Dick would soon accept Him
And leave this world below?
You set a good example
From the day that he was born.
You took the lad to Sunday School
And church each Sunday morn.
We didn't have a lot of things.
You had to work so hard.
But you always seemed to find the time
To play in our back yard.
You really cared about us.
You loved us every day.
And those are treasures given us
No one can take away.
But Dick was always wanting more.
He was never satisfied.
He thought he was a tough guy
And he was filled with pride.
There were some times throughout Dick's life
He gave some indication,
That he was ready to give in
And accept the Lord's salvation
But we could never see a change.
he was the same old man,
Determined to ignore the Lord
And follow Dick's own plan.
Sometimes he let his good side show.
He could be very kind.
But then he'd be so nasty,
His heart we couldn't find.
But oh our Lord was gracious
When He put Dick in a place
Where there was nothing he could do
But look up and see God's face.
Then his heart was opened
As he looked and saw the light.
"It took me 70 years," he said
"But I finally got it right."
Then with Jesus in his heart,
We saw a change in him.
he showed concern for others,
though life for him was grim.
And then it wasn't very long
'Till Dick's life on earth was done.
He entered into glory
And was welcomed by God's Son.
Dad, we're sure you waited
There by Jesus' side
to welcome Dick to Heaven
Where forever he'll abide.
Marilyn Orlando
2007
Merry Christmas!
The staff at CE National wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
Jesus is born! What a thought that God would become man.
With all the talk about keeping Christ in Christmas, make sure that Christ is kept in your heart as well. Because unless we trust in what Jesus did for us on the cross, celebrating His birth at Christmas time does us no good.
National Youth Ministries Conference Comes to CE National
Both Timothy Kurtaneck and Ed Lewis will be part of the Vision For Youth conference. Also, students from The National Institute (Grace College), 412 Commission, and others will be involved.
The CE National staff is happy to welcome those planning to attend the conference. If you would like to receive more information about attending this excellent opportunity for training, go to www.vfyouth.org.
Kurt Johnston Seminar in Norton, Ohio
Kurt is a long time Junior High Youth Pastor and currently serves at Saddleback Church in Southern California.
If you are interested in attending this important one-day event, please contact Courtney Cherest at theinstitute@cenational.org or 574.267.6622
Cost for this exciting event is just $49 and includes lunch. A 20% group discount applies if three or more attend from your church or ministry (volunteer or staff).
