Tyson's Creek Workshop

by Micah Ray


James and I were not quite sure what to expect from today's workshop. We had discussed with Pastor Randy and Sam (the Sunday School director) what they believed their teachers and leaders needed. What we designed was a 4-hour workshop that was a mixture of teacher training and growth strategies.

Over the past couple of days, I had taken a bad cold, it was a really busy week for both of us, and we knew we wanted to do our best to help this church with training and motivation for its leaders. We both were wanting to make a good impression and we were feeling the pressure.

However, when we arrived, the church members were so warm and hospitable. And they were truly excited to be there and were ready to learn. They made it so easy for us to do what we do!

Before the workshop began, a gentleman introduced himself and said that he knew someone we knew -- Donna Elmore. In fact, he said he had gotten a copy of our marketing material from her and had given it to his pastor. We had wondered all along how Pastor Randy had received our information because we had never sent him anything. It turns out that God used a good friend of ours to spread the word about our ministry. (Thanks, Donna!)

James kicked things off by talking about the calling of a teacher and the prepared teacher. After each segment of the workshop, we asked everyone to make notes on their Action Plan worksheet and discuss something they had learned that they could put into action. At the end of the workshop, we asked for volunteers to share about a teacher that made a difference in their life. It was a great time of encouragement for us as well as the people of the church. When we had finished all of our prepared workshop material, James and I went to each table and prayed a blessing on each person who had attended. It was a great blessing to do that for them.

When we were finished, the people of Tyson's Creek Baptist Church were so encouraging. In fact, they were already talking about having us to come back again in the near future! We're ready!

Needless to say, it was a great day. God blessed in so many ways. It is just incredible to see how He is working all around us -- in churches and people we've never met before -- in places we didn't even know existed. And He's using us to bless them and to teach them. I feel honored just to be a part of this ministry and to have the ability to invest in people in this way.

All In God's Plan

By Micah Ray

This morning, I started my day with my mind and heart still full from the night before. I still didn't know what to make of all of it, and I still wasn't sure I understood all that God was telling me. But I was looking forward to this additional day at Clarity Publishers.

The training session lasted about 3 hours and there were about 10 people in the class. This was the first round of training on the Life Bible Study curriculum and web site. Our trainer, Jim, was a great trainer, and several members of the publishing staff were there to observe and contribute as well.

(pictured here from left to right: John Herring, advisory board, me, Paul Kelly, VP, and Ty Gulick, General Editor)

Once again, I heard their heart and passion for teaching the truth of the Word and to educate adults all over the world in foundational Bible knowledge and doctrine. They have a plan for a three-year series that will give the student an overview of the Old Testament, Christ and the Church.

During lunch and after the session was over, I was able to talk to several staff members. I felt such a bond with them -- not because I have known them or met them before -- but because I believe I share their passion and their mission. It is always amazing to me how close a bond we can have with fellow believers through Christ.

(pictured here from left to right: James, Emily - our "agent"!, me and Kasey)

Now that James and I have received the training, we will be certified to train churches on how to use the curriculum. We hope this opens even more doors for us to train up teachers and leaders in the Church. (At one point in the training, one of the attendees mentioned that it would be nice to have some sort of teacher training bundled with the curriculum training. I had already thought of that, and James and I talked about it after the session. Makes perfect sense for what we are doing.)

Who knows where this will lead Center Cross Creative now? Oh, yeah, God knows. We must continue to rely on Him and He will direct our paths.

"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" Jeremiah 29:11

Unexpected Blessings

by Micah Ray

Coming off a great first night of a workshop series, we didn't think it could get much better. But it did.

Earlier this year, Phil Stone, Dir of Sunday School for the State Convention, asked me to accompany him to Student Life in Birmingham, AL, to help him review their new adult curriculum that they are about to launch, Life Bible Study. I thought it would be an opportunity to see another publisher and to help Phil, so I agreed. I really had no idea what to expect.

Little did I know the blessing that was waiting for me.

Just last week, Phil let me know that he would not be able to go. I asked if James could go in his place, and Phil and Kasey from Clarity Publishers said yes. The first part of the event would be an introduction of the new curriculum, and the second day would be training that would qualify us to train churches who adopt the new curriculum. That was all the info that I had.


Just minutes into the presentations, I knew there was something special going on here. Something special about this organization and its people -- and something special about this moment in time that God had orchestrated for me. As I learned more about Student Life and Clarity Publishers, I saw all of my vision for what Center Cross Creative could be. It was uncanny.

Since the beginning in July 2005, James and I had brainstormed what CCC might be and do in the future. In more recent months, we had talked about adding other facets to the ministry like drama and video productions. Right here in front of us, we saw an organization doing what we've always envisioned doing (except for youth camps -- we had always talked about retreats for adult leaders). I wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry.

I heard the heart of their president, Randy Hall, and it sounded just like the conversations James and I have had. I watched their drama team perform, and I imagined writing and directing those sorts of productions of our own. I saw a video production based on the Woman at the Well from John 4, and I cried. I was moved by their central philosophy which has always been my own: that the Word of God is central to what we teach and write. We are passionate about it and now we were seeing another organization that shared that same passion. It was overwhelming.

As I met more of the people and toured the facilities, I only saw more evidence that this was my kind of place. From the graphic design work to the relaxed and team-oriented atmosphere to the presence of Mac's everywhere (!), it looked just like I had envisioned CCC might look one day. (Later, I learned from one of their directors, who was watching me journal in my Moleskine sketchbook, that it is the notebook of choice for many of their employees. Excellent.)

Needless to say, God took me to Birmingham, AL, for an assignment I didn't ask for. And it was there that He spoke to me and showed how important this work is -- to teach the Word so that lives might be changed. It was a blessing that I never expected. God is so good!

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." (Ephesians 3:20, 21)

Teachers Can Learn, Too

by Micah Ray

While James and I have as a central focus of our ministry to train teachers, I still realize that we still have a lot to learn. In fact, God was teaching me while we were leading our most recent workshop.

Tonight, we began a four-week series at Westchester Baptist Church. When we talked to the associate pastor who had invited us to speak, he informed us that he had about 4 people who had confirmed that they would be there for the first class. So, I ran 10 copies of the handouts -- more than double the number we were expecting to be in the workshop.

Around 6:30 pm, about 3 people drifted into class, and we figured that these were the ones that the pastor had referred to. Then a couple of more drifted in. "Wow," I thought. "This is going to be good -- a couple of more people than we thought."

Then 3 more came in.

Then 2 more came in.

Then 2 more came in.

That's right -- when we started class, there were 12 students!

Now for the good part. We were excited that God had blessed us with 3 times the number of students we expected, but then I realized the irony of one of our main themes for the night -- "The Prepared Teacher." Here we were standing in front of this group who didn't know us, expecting us to be some sort of experts, and we start talking about being prepared and we don't even have enough handouts for everyone! Does anyone else see the irony here?!?

When the night was over, James and I looked back and laughed about it. God has a great sense of humor -- and a great way of keeping us humble. It was all His work tonight to bring those people to us. He brought them to us to teach us a lesson and to encourage the pastor.

(By the way, we've since talked to the pastor, and he's received great comments from all who attended this first session. God is good!)

Could This Be The Year?

By James Gunter

I have heard the phrase "Happy New Year" ever since I can remember, but I don't know that I have ever really experienced a Happy New Year quite like 2007! Our year has exploded with activity beginning on January 3rd as we kicked off our second workshop series titled Blueprint of a Leader. The interest in this series was overwhelming! Needless to say, we plan to revise the material and bring it back for an extended period later this year.

If I could describe God's blessings as they fit into the first three months of 2007, it would go something like this. For January, He gave us new hope for a New Year. February revealed His tremendous love for us as more and more meetings came about. And now, the March winds appear to be blowing even more of His wonderful blessings our way. He is already showering us with blessings for April, and March hasn't even gotten underway yet. May we always trust Him with the future of this ministry!

We have been blessed to meet with several pastors and ministry leaders during the early part of this year in order to introduce our ministry.

• 1/3/07 – Pastor Patrick Fuller with Southside Baptist Church in Greensboro, NC
• 2/7/07 – Lynn Sasser (Director of Congregational Services) and Phil Stone (Sunday School Director) for BSCNC
• 2/8/07 – Pastor Randy Hand & Sammy King of Tyson's Creek Baptist Church/Bear Creek, NC
• 2/21/07 – Jake Thornhill, Senior Pastor for Life Community Church of Hunter Hills/Jamestown, NC (our home church)
• 2/28/07 – Randy Godwin, Associational Missionary for the Mt. Zion Baptist Association/Burlington, NC
• 3/5/07 – Dr. Larry Doyle, Associational Missionary for the Piedmont Baptist Association/Greensboro, NC

From these meetings, combined with our earlier efforts in the latter part of 2006 to promote our ministry, we now have seven training events scheduled. Could this be our year?

Upcoming Events - Spring '07


The calendar is filling up quickly for the next few weeks. Take a look at where we'll be and the workshops we'll be offering:

• Every Wednesday 6:30-7:30 pm in March -- Teaching a Bible Lesson at Westchester Baptist (High Point, NC)
• March 8-9 -- Curriculum Review and Training with StudentLife in Birmingham, AL
  
• March 17, 8:30am - 12:30pm -- Growth Strategies for Sunday School at Tyson's Creek Baptist (Bear Creek, NC)
  
• March 20 -- Ministry Overview at the Mt. Zion Baptist Assoc Pastors' Luncheon (Burlington, NC)
  
• March 24, 8:30am - 12:30pm -- Teaching a Bible Lesson for Clifton Road Baptist (to be held at Life Community Church, Jamestown, NC)
• Every Sunday 4:30-5:30 pm in April -- Teaching a Bible Lesson -- Groometown Baptist (Greensboro, NC)
  
• April 16, 7-9pm -- REAL Sunday School conference -- Holly Hill Baptist (Burlington, NC)
  
• April 21, 8:30am - 12:30pm -- Five Purposes of Sunday School -- Johnston Baptist Assoc. (Benson, NC)
  
• May 5, 8:30am - 12:30pm -- Teaching a Bible Lesson -- Waughtown Baptist (Winston-Salem, NC)

If you would like to check out a workshop that's coming to an area close to you, give us a call and we'll let you know if one of these is available for you.

We are now booking workshops for the Summer and Fall of 2007. If you would like to learn more about making reservations for a workshop at your church, please email James at james@centercrosscreative.com or give him a call at 336.689.1864.