Mexico Pics!

Praise God the house is complete!

Please continue for the team in dealing with the heat and also they will be putting up the Centro De Vida sign on the building today.  This is 35 feet off of the ground and not an easy task.

God has been blessing the team with a beautiful unity.  Please continue to pray for the team as the heat is taking it’s toll and everyone is beat.

It is truly amazing how God can use our little gathering in a borrowed gymnasium in Indiana to touch people’s lives in another country and to proclaim the Love of God to people who do not even know our language!

To God be the glory! God is good!

Morrison’s In Ukraine

Check out Ben’s blog and let’s keep them in our prayers.

For Ben’s Blog Click Here

Sunday

HOLA!
It was AWESOME to see everyone this morning!  How amazing technology can be!  It was such a blessing.  We pray we can see everyone again on Wednesday.

Church at Centro de Vida was AWESOME!  The worship was in Spanish, but two of the songs were songs that we all know well, so it was amazing to be able to sing along and worship our God.  Toby taught and Javier translated for him.  It was an amazing experience to watch the two of them share their passion for Jesus in both languages!

After church and lunch we went back to Javier’s church to fix some electrical problems and give it a good deep cleaning.  Some of the  guys also went to Javier’s surf shop and hung a huge sign for him.   We were back at the base for dinner then had some free time to go to a local Juice Shop for some yummy Jugo (juice smoothies) and see a beautiful sunset!

Tomorrow is our first day at the work sight.  Please pray for our safety and that we all are able to handle the heat.  It was really hot today and we were working inside, tomorrow we will be out in the direct sun light.

Thank you for praying for the few illnesses, everyone is feeling much better and no one is having any stomach issues any longer!

THANK YOU for your prayers!  Love and miss you all!

CCF Mission Team Prepares To Serve Mexico

Only two weeks away until the mission team boards a plane for Mexico!

This year we will once again be following their experiences right here on the CCF Web site through a blog that they will be updating daily from Mexico. This is a great chance to follow in real time what God is doing through our church Body thousands of miles away as well as allowing us to support them in prayer with specific and timely prayer requests.  And if you have not signed up yet to comment on posts here at the CCF website make sure to so you can participate in encouraging the team by commenting on their blog while while they are down there.  For a step by step tutorial of this process complete with pictures just click here.

If you have lost your password from before, no problem.  Just scroll down the bottom right hand side of any page and click on “Sign In”.  When the login screen comes up click the link for forgot password and it will be emailed to you.

This year we will have yet another way for us here in Indiana to be the home base element of the mission team for this week of service and witness in Mexico.

On July 25th during our worship together at the Family Fun and Fitness facility, we will be joining our mission team live via a Skype video call.  We will get the latest news and prayer requests and also be able to encourage them face to face while they are in Mexico!

Then on Wednesday evening July 28th at 7:00 pm we will have a worship and prayer time together in the conference room of the new office and we will also, at that time, have a live Skype session as well.

This will be a great opportunity for us to rejoice in the ways God has worked as we minister to each other in  testimonies and encouragements!

It is getting closer and the team is busy in preparations, prayer and probably some anxieties as well.  Each one of the mission team will be challenged in ways they have never been challenged before.  They will be dedicating every minute of every day for a week to be looking  for God’s opportunities in every conversation, in every situation, in every chance encounter with team members or total strangers.  They may find themselves standing in  front of an anxious crowd of people on the street with a chance to talk about what God has done for them or maybe they will be carefully watched as they are completely exhausted in the hot summer sun and struggling with some stubborn rebar as they build a home for someone in need.  And it is also at this time that the devil typically is coming at the team’s personal lives with everything that he has got because he knows that God has big things for his Kingdom planned for the week of July 24th - 31st.  Schedule problems, work issues, travel problems, nervousness, etc.  So it is also now the time for us, as the CCF body to begin to come along side of the team with focused prayers and personal encouragements.

Tomorrow during church we will have an opportunity to partner with those on the mission team to support them with encouragement and prayer during the coming three weeks.

There will be prayer cards for every person involved in the mission trip available during our meeting time and everyone will be given the opportunity to come forward and pick one up committing to be an individual’s personal prayer warrior for the next three weeks.

This is a very important responsibility and we ask that everyone prayerfully consider this opportunity to serve God and others in our Body in this way.  We also ask that everyone that makes this commitment also be responsible to keep it.  If you feel called to make this commitment as a family, that is great!  You can pray together daily and each one personally encourage your person according to their own gifting.

And no, this does not mean you have to spend two hours a day in prayer.  It is simple, anyone can do this.  All you need is a heart to serve and the willingness to make this commitment. 

By picking up a prayer card tomorrow as a prayer supporter you are committing to just 3 simple things:

1. Send at least one email or give a call of encouragement before the trip.  Introduce yourself if necessary.  Ask for prayer concerns/praises, and let them know that you will be praying for them on a daily basis.  We are doing this two weeks ahead so you will have plenty of time to make contact in this way at least once if not more.  Doing it as a family?  Have the kids make a batch of cookies to give to them with a card.
2. Make a point to pray with them personally one-on-one in person or at least via telephone before the trip.  This will be a tremendous encouragement to not only know someone is praying for them but to also HEAR it.  If you are doing this as a family, make sure all of you pray together with them.
3. During the week they are in Mexico July 24th-31st pray daily for them and the team.  Check the blog on the website daily as a reminder and to get up-to-date prayer requests and praises.

Also, if you have not already signed up for the email feed for the CCF website do so now!

It is simple, at the right hand top of any page you will see “enews and updates”.  Below that just type in your email address and click the subscribe button.  You will recieve a confirmation email to respond to and that is it!  Then whenever there is an update to the website, you will recieve that night in your email box an email letting you know.  You don’t have to remember to to check the site, it will come right to you!  That  way you will recieve the team’s blog in your email box every night.  (it is delivered around 11:30 pm so if you want a quicker view then visit the the website.)

So just because you are not physically going to Mexico does not mean that you are not also an important part of the mission trip.  There are plenty of ways to be involved.  So get ready!  The Lord is about to move!

Prayer request for Ball State ministry.

From Brandon Shrock at ball State:

Dear co-laborers,

Today is the first day of classes.  So far, things are going better than I could have imagined.  At the Activity Fair we and our tables last week we collected 189 names of students.  The fabulous messy part comes tonight.  All of those students and more have been invited to our kick off event tonight at 7 in Pruis Lobby on campus.  We will be having free pizza and meeting those we have invited and those they invite.  Please pray God would give our students the energy and the desire to connect with those who are new.  As I present the Gospel pray that the Holy Spirit would move and open student’s hearts and minds to hear and respond.  Finally pray for spiritual protection.  We have two students who will be sharing their testimonies about how God has met them through IV.  One is already being bombarded by doubt.  Pray that she will stand strong.

Thank you for praying!

Yours in Jesus,

Brandon

Pratt’s Blog from Ukraine

This is our blog for the work God has called us to in Ukraine.

Click to see our blog.

Update from Dori and Ikaika in Mazatlan

Ministry News The latest news from YWAM Mazatlan

New friends in Chametla. Us, pastor Leobardo and his family and Brenda Not just another summer month in Mazatlan Well, another month goes by at YWAM Mazatlan and there is yet again much to be thankful for and lot to talk about. From building homes to our summer internship, there have been many things to celebrate. In July we hosted a few different visiting teams who were involved in things like building homes, street evangelism, working at feeding centers and so forth.  We also ran our summer internship program called Verano de Fuego or Summer of Fire. We had 17 students from Mazatlan, Tepic, Guadalajara & Monterrey, Mexico. This year for the first time ever, Verano de Fuego spent two weeks in Mexico City working with the local churches and ministering in a wide variety of ways. From running kids programs to hitting the streets right in the heart of the down town district of Mexico City, the team was on fire for God, sharing His love in incredible ways. It was an amazing month for the students and hearing their testimonies sure did reveal all that God did in them and through them during this time. The summer season at YWAM Mazatlan can be one of the hardest of the year.  It’s already a tough schedule, but add to that a limited amount of staff and 100+ degree weather we’re talking missions at it’s finest.  When the dust settles and we can look back at the amazing things God did during the time, the lives that were changed and the relationships that were made, it’s definitely worth it. Callie and a little girl at one of the evening evangelism times Calvary Christian Indy in Mazatlan Another exciting thing this past month was being able to share an incredible 9 days with the youth group from our home church Calvary Christian Indy. This year the team joined forces with a youth group from Tennessee, together making the team 30 people in total. We had the privilege of working with them throughout the week in a number of different ministries. We also were able to head to a nearby village called Chametla, which is about 2 hours from Mazatlan. There we worked with a local church ministering to the local community through street evangelism, work projects and serving in the church. It was a stretching time, but full of God’s many blessings. It is always such a blessing to have family from home here working together in this city and nation. It truly brings into perspective the joy and power of coming together for one purpose. Thank you to the Calvary & Tennessee team! We sure do miss you guys and thank you for allowing God to use you here in this city and country!!!

Our ohana On a more personal note…

Dori and Ikaika. After dinner at Pancho's. Dori is 30 weeks pregnant this week and Mazatlan is the hottest it’s been all summer… praise God for A/C! It certainly is a journey each new day here Mazatlan. From sweating & swollen feet to people constantly rubbing Dori’s stomach, it sure is an adventure being pregnant in a foreign country. There has been so much support from our family here at the base as well as our friends in the community. We are looking forward to the weeks to come and all that God is doing in our lives.

Youth 2009 Mexico Mission Trip Schedule

Below is a list of names of those going on the mission trip on Tuesday July 21st and an agenda for the time there.

As you can see…it is kinda loose because in Mexico things happen when they happen and on their own time.  The days listing “Jail, dump, service projects, hospital, orphanage etc.”  they will probably be doing just one of those things depending on how the Spirit leads and what works out best logistically on that day.  But basically, they will be leaving the hotel by 8:00 in the morning to head to Javier’s house for breakfast and will be on the go most times until ten or eleven at night.

For example when they go to the dump they will make up bags and bags of  lunches before they go and they will take the time when they get to the dump walking around to all the shanties and shacks surrounding the dump itself letting people know they are there and inviting them to come over to where we are parked and just talking and praying with people as we go along.  Then when they are gathered they may distribute clothing, lunches, play with the kids and do evangelism.  Later in the day they walk up into the dump and walk around handing out lunches to those “working” going through the garbage scrounging together anything they can to survive on.  Talk to people, help them work and maybe do evangelism as well.  It is not just something they go and do and leave but more or less an all day affair and then they will usually be doing evangelism in the evenings as well.

Please let us devote ourselves in prayer over these brothers and sisters and sons and daughters or our Body throughout thier time there. For those who are unfamiliar with a CCF mission trip, the main focus on this trip from the moment they hit the airport in Indy until the time they get in the car at the end to head home, is to be approach every moment and every person you have contact with as a way to serve God.  There are no mp3 players, cell phones etc allowed not because there is any thing wrong with these things but simply because everyone’s focus will be on God , what He is speaking to you and who He has brought across your path.  It is truly amazing just how clearly God speaks and moves and works when we dedicate ourselves so completely and focus so consistantly on His will !  But the culture shock, spiritual warfare, anxiety (it is tough to stand up as a teenager and give your testimony in front of a crowd of people), physical stress, heat and putting up with Blake will wear anyone out.  Let our prayer be as Paul urges those in Colossae to pray for him…(emphasis in bold added)

²Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. ³And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. ⁴Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.  ^{–Collossians 4:2-4}

Kayla Annarino

Autumn Farmer

Chris Gehrich

Jessica Henry

Drew Malloy

Dannielle Redden

Megan Risner

Shelby Risner

Brittany Short

Stratton Smith

Varee Vetters

Shane Weiler

Adult leaders:

Blake Behr

Lindsey Behr

Grant Short

Angela Hurd

Callie Morales

Toby Risner

Brentwood Calvary Christian youth group (who we are teaming with on this mission)

Mazatlan Coordinators: Javier Diaz  and Dori and Ikaika Hobbs

Agenda:

July 21 - Team leaves airport 6:00 am arrives Phoenix 6:41 am.  Departs Phoenix 10:05 am, arrives Mazatlan 1:17pm

Tues July 21pm - CCF and Brentwood Calvary teams arrive. Orientation.

Wed 22 - To village outside of Mazatlan for evangelism and work project

Thurs 23 - At To village outside of Mazatlan for evangelism and work project

Friday 24 - Home from village am; free time pm

Sat 25 Jail, dump, service projects, hospital, orphanage, etc. am; Street evangelism pm

Sun 26 - Church service Centro De Vida am; Lighthouse and Pedro’s pm

Mon 27 - Jail, dump, service projects, hospital, orphanage, etc. am; Street evangelism pm

Tues 28 - Free day am; Island trip and baptism; Free time for shopping etc.

Wed 29 - Jail, dump, service projects, hospital, orphanage, etc. am; Church pm

Thurs 30 Leave for home

2009 Youth Mission Trip Blog

Click here

for the latest on the youth group 2009 mission trip blog!

CCF Missons

Calvary Christian Missions team asks:

Did You Know…

That 10% of all of your tithes and gifts to the church are set aside for missions work?

That with your tithes and gifts you support monthly the following ministries?

• Mike and Michelle Pratt, missionaries to the Ukraine
• Javier Diaz, Pastor of Centro De Vida church in Mazatlan, Mexico
• Jim and Karen, Bible translators with  in South Asia
• Brandon and Shelly Shrock, with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship at Ball State in Muncie, IN
• Ikaika and Dori Hobbs, missionaries with YWAM (Youth With A Mission) in Mazatlan, Mexico
• Two Children  through Gospel For Asia
• Life Centers Of Indianapolis, formally Crisis Pregnancy Center

That you have reguarly supported various members of our body that go on mission trips in the US, Central America, Mexico, Africa, the Phillippines, Europe and elsewhere?

That your giving has allowed for CCF to touch many lives locally and all around the world?

That we are blessed as a team to have the resources and blessing of our body as we engage in this important work?

That the team consist of Greg Mauer, Bob and Joyce Bolander, Scott Booher and Brent Hopping?

If you have any questions about missions you can check out each of the above mentioned here on this website under “Serve” and then under “Missions”.  Or please feel free to talk to any of us about missions or if you have any ideas or know of need, please talk to your team members.  We covet your thoughs and prayers!

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