February 2010

Pastor's Perspective

This month we celebrate Valentine's Day.  We will have a banquet on Saturday, February 13th, which is always a lot of fun.  See below for more information about the banquet.

Also this month we are sending Sue Skinner to Haiti!  I am really excited for this opportunity to send one of our own on a trip like this.  For some time I have thought that sending people to help in a disaster is what we should be doing.  We have generously sent money (and there is always a need for money)--to help churches in California help their neighbors after an earthquake there, to Florida after a hurricane, to Haiti a couple years ago when they were hit by a hurricane, as well as other disaster events.  We have dug deep and given generously, but now we are stepping it up a level by sending a person with medical skills to help with Crisis Response International.  Sue has written an article on how she got involved with CRI--see below!

To help Sue go, I am asking everyone to place a prayer covering over Sue and the rest of the CRI team while they're in Haiti. Also, I am asking you to dig deep and give to help financially support Sue as she goes.  She needs money to cover her airfare and money for supplies.  My hope is that she will be able to leave a decent amount of money with CRI when she comes home after her two-week deployment!

The Bible says that God loved us so much He sent His Son.  He did not send a check!  We are demonstrating our love for God and others by sending Sue. 

Pastor Ron

CKCC Annual Valentine's Banqet

CKCC's annual Valentine's Banquet will be held again this year at the Mapletree Restaurant on Highway 51 in McFarland.  Enjoy an evening of fun and fellowship with your CKCC family.  Singles and couples are welcome.  We always have lots of laughs.  Please sign up before Monday, February 8.

The cost per person is $16 and that includes three family style entrees (fried cod, broasted chicken, and swiss steak), salad bar, soup, baked potato, beverage, and cheesecake for dessert.  Gratuity is also included.

Celebrate Recovery

Celebrate Recovery is a Christ-centered addiction recovery ministry that CKCC will be starting soon.  Dave and Karyn Morell will be leading this ministry.  If you know someone who is struggling with drug or alcohol addiction, let them know there is help.  Luke 4:18, 19 says, "The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD."

Coming Up:

Justin Kron from Chosen People Ministries will be presenting a participatory Passover for CKCC on Sunday, March 7th.  Justin is a Jewish believer and an elder at Willow Creek Church outside of Chicago.  If you would be willing to help set up for this presentation, please see Pastor Ron.

To Haiti with Crisis Response International by Sue Skinner

It has been quite a journey since last summer.  I had not heard of CRI (Crisis Response International) until my sister and her family went to Kansas City to train with CRI in response to the Lord leading them to prepare!  I thought what they were doing was great, but really had not thought about it and had no interest myself.  I was too busy with "life."

Then the Lord put me in a place where He could work on me.  He used my recovery time from a broken ankle to strengthen my faith, draw me back to His Word, and fine-tune my listening skills so I would hear His call.  During my recovery, I heard that CRI was planning a training session for the Madison area.  The dates just happened to be the weekend before I would return to work, and my ankle was pretty well healed.  I had a stirring in my heart and I felt the nudge of the Holy Spirit.  Still, I was resistant.  Three intense days of training!  I really didn't want to do it, but I prayed and told the Lord that if He really wanted me to do this, He would need to help with the tuition.  He did!  An offer came to help with half the tuition so I stepped out in faith and went.  As you all know, that weekend changed my life!  I knew this was what the Lord was preparing me for, but He had more work to do in me.

During the fall months, the Lord continued to work on my obedience to His voice.  I had the idea that I would try to find a part-time job to help supplement expenses since I had been off all summer and now Bill was also laid off.  One night I had a dream that I was making wreaths with a group of ladies.  That week, an ad appeared in the Hub  for help at Hann's Christmas Tree Farm making wreaths!  I was amazed!  I quickly applied and was accepted for the job.  The hours fit right in with my night schedule at work.  The physical environment where the wreaths were made was the exact same as in my dream and I had never been in that area before!  The job really didn't do much to help our finances, but I knew my being there was about a lot more than making money.  A still small voice told me that it was about being obedient to God's voice.  Again, more preparation!

Then on Tuesday, Jauary 12th a devastating earthquake struck Haiti.  A call went out to all trained responders to deploy with CRI.  Again, I did not think this was for me.  We had our January CRI meeting on Wednesday, January 13th.  Someone asked if anyone was planning to deploy.  No one responded, including myself, but I had that same stirring in my heart that I had before committing to the CRI training weekend.  I knew now that this stirring was the Lord!  I asked the Lord for confirmation by supplying the financial need to go and granting me time off of work.  On Monday, January 18th, I received a call out of the blue from Pastor Ron offering financial assistance if I were to go.  I couldn't believe it!  I was so excited and the desire to go into this crisis became stronger than anything I've ever known.  I told Ron, yes!  I want to go!  I still needed to get time off of work.  My manager told me that all the vacation time was filled for the dates I had in mind to go, and that I could go if I found replacements for all my shifts.  Impossible?  Not if it's the Lord's will!  My co-workers were wonderful and graciously accepted extra shifts to cover me.  I was on my way!

God had one more surprise in store for me.  An e-mail came from two people I knew from training weekend, and they were accepted for deployment the same dates I was.  I would not be alone!  The Lord is so good!  He was there for me during my doubts and confirmed my steps to strengthen my faith as I let Him lead.  I will go and serve where He wants me.  I will be your hands and feet.  Pray that I will continue to be faithful to go as the Lord leads!

Your fellow servant in Christ,

Sue