Another Successful Workshop

Last night, we finished the second offering of our Teaching Workshop at our church. We had 6 people go through it this time and each one seemed to learn a lot.

Here were some of the comments after the class:

Thanks for the encouragement and the time taken out of your schedules to encourage me and push me in the right direction.

This class helped me in the call to be a teacher ... really reassured me.

It helped me to take serious the Scripture so that I can pass it on effectively.

Each of our teachers-in-training gave their 5-minute lesson last night -- our practical way to have them put in practice the things they had learned in the previous three weeks. Everyone did great. Most everyone was nervous (except me and James!), but they did well.

James and I were just talking about it today over lunch. It is such a rewarding feeling to see people learn and to be willing to take a big step toward service for God. For some, it was a small step in a direction they know they need to go. For others, it was a giant leap into a brand new area of service that may still scare them a bit. James and I are just happy to be a part of what God is doing in their lives. And we look forward to many more opportunities to experience the same kind of thing in churches all across the world.

by Micah Ray

News From CCC

By Micah Ray

Over the past month, we have begun the hard work of getting the word out about Center Cross Creative. That means designing and printing an information packet, mailing those to local churches, networking with pastors and ministry directors, networking with a Lifeway representative... You get the picture. We've been busy.

And while we haven't sold a ton of books or facilitated any workshops yet for churches (other than our own), we know it's coming. James and I both get the sense that if we just keep persevering and talking to everyone we know, good things will happen. And it won't be because of us but because of the One we serve.

Here are a few of the highlights of what is in development:

• We have met with several pastors to discuss our ideas about teacher training workshops. Every one of them have been receptive -- and several have even been excited! So far, we've gotten at least 2 commitments to have us facilitate our workshop in the spring of 2007.
• Early in November, we met with Phil Stone, the director of Sunday School and church administration for NC. He was very supportive of what we're doing and is looking for ways to use us to supplement his ministry efforts.
• A dear friend of ours at Life Community Church has really gone to bat for us. Donna is on the board of the NC SB convention and she knows a TON of pastors. She's making personal recommendations for us to several of them during a conference next week. Thanks, Donna!
• Our pastor agreed to write a letter of recommendation for our ministry to our local association. As a result, they have agreed to let us be the guest speakers at the end of this month for the pastors' meeting. Thanks, Pastor Jake!
• James is furiously working on a new Bible study series to be published by CCC in the Spring. (We don't have a title for it yet, but it will be a study of the life of Ezra.)
• I've been busy with designing our marketing materials, web site design and editing James' numerous writing projects.

At times, it seems like we're doing a lot of stuff with little to show for it. But then again, we have just enough things to come our way to encourage us to keep on doing what we're doing. We take comfort in the fact that we are "certain that God, who began the good work within [us], will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns." (Phil. 1:6)

Thanks for your prayers. Keep praying!

Never Give Up!

By James Gunter

James 5:16 – Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. (NKJV)


If you are a believer, you understand that God the Father has such a tremendous love for people that He sent His one and only Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for our sins. I just wonder how many earthly fathers have some wonderful attributes and we miss out on them because we don't take the time to get to know them. To know and understand God better, we have to spend time with Him. It is the same for our earthly relationships. Why don't we take the time to get to know our earthly fathers? Could it be that we take them for granted?

I can't spend time with my father because he died when I was only five years old. The only two memories I have of him are when I was about five years old. I'll never forget either of these memories. Every time I see a stick of Juicy Fruit gum, I am reminded of the first moment etched into my memory. I was playing in the living room that was just off our foyer when I heard my dad come in the front door. As he walked by the room, I heard him ask, “Son, would you care for a stick of gum?”

In my mind, I can still see the scene just as vividly as the day it occurred. My father’s right hand was extended from the sleeve of his dark jacket, holding a bright yellow wrapper between his forefinger and his thumb. Reaching up from my half-kneeling position, I took the gum and thanked him. What a sweet memory that is.

Unfortunately, the next memory I can picture of my dad is when I saw his casket in the corner of that very same room in 1958 when he passed away. It wasn't uncommon for the viewing of the deceased to be in the person's home during that era. I remember the flowers (as a matter of fact, I can almost smell their pleasant aroma as I write this article) displayed all around, and I remember feeling a sense of emptiness.

Later in life, my mom would share things about my dad that I never knew. She would share how he cursed her for her faith in God throughout their marriage, how he refused to acknowledge there was a God, and his eventual surrender to the Lord due to her perseverance in praying for him. She shared with me that he eventually came to her and asked that she baptize him in the bathtub. In the end, he realized that he needed this same Jesus that he had cursed for so long and that he didn't want to go to hell. This would turn out to be his last night on earth.

What an incredible Father we serve! He understood the heartache my mom would endure if my dad had died without Christ in his life, and God honored her prayers.

Don’t ever give up praying for your loved ones. Just keep praying.