NOTE OUR NEW ADDRESS: PO Box 12045, Parkville, MO 64152 USA. Write us at info@ccwtoday.org. New Telephone Number: 816-379-6840
Dear CCW family,
Well, we've now moved out of our offices and turned in the keys after 13 years in Parkville, Missouri. Our stock of books has been taken by another trusted ministry who will distribute them. We'll pursue putting most of our works online. I've packed up several hundred books from my own library for the Africa Christian University, having reduced it by about 1000 more (2500 total so far). Most of these books were picked up this morning to be put in the container taking them to Zambia.
I've cleaned out 16 file drawers of sermons and miscellaneous files no longer needed, reducing it down to about one file cabinet. Loads of audio from previous conferences have been dumped in the trash, keeping only what is best. We have redesigned our procedure for taking care of finances and other business matters. And . . .we are feeling very positively about all these changes.
Why All This Change?
The changes are not for financial reasons, nor because we think we are making strategic moves for CCW's optimum benefit related to book distribution, nor is it because we do not like Parkville or are having any problems with our lease or location, nor is it because we are weakening as a ministry in any way. So why do this?
We are doing all this changing because of a new love for the Bible. This is a an appreciation that has been growing over the last few years. That's the simple answer. We want to focus much more attention on getting believers into the Bible than we ever have before. Oh, we've always been about the Bible, but now we are streamlined to do much more. We appreciate the books God has allowed us to publish over the years and are thankful that capable people will be continuing that work. We may publish more in the future as God wishes. But we believe God has shown us that we have a job to do in getting leaders and believers into God's word first of all and we want all eyes on the goal.
God Answers Prayer
We have seen God do so much over 26 years of trusting Him alone for all our needs. These last few weeks, we saw three remarkable answers to prayer. First, the provision of GrantedMinistries.org to take our stock for distribution with the right heart; second, their ability to mail a huge 22 box shipment for us to Africa for the Africa Pastor's Conferences (34 in all), a daunting task in the middle of moving; and third, the perfect timing of the Africa Christian University Executive Director, our friend Ken Turnbull, to receive the donation of so many of my personal books for a great cause. This "sorting out things" work of God was so welcome and helpful to us.
What's Happening Now?
I just returned from a "plantOzark" meeting for pastors and church planters close to Bolivar, MO. What a wonderful, attentive and interested group of leaders. I'm hopeful of more interaction with them in the future.
We will have 13 to 14 of our Bible Intensive retreats behind us when the year is over, with more being planned next year. These two or three day retreats for leaders are so beneficial. One of these will even be done in Finland, and another one in Ethiopia, if all goes well. Steve and I will speak several other times as well, in various conferences and local churches. We pay our way to do these retreats so that pastors who do not have available church money can still have one.
Our summer Muller Center plan is on "The Sermon on the Mount." We are excited to fill our home with exactly 39 people to do this study beginning at the end of June. On August 29, we begin our new Muller Center year, which is the "year one" study of the Torah and Matthew, along with the trip to Israel in the spring. We are getting lots of interest this year in this two semester study.
Susan Verstraete's New Assignment
Susan is the person most of you have communicated with for many years. What a help she has been to CCW....faithful, creative and willing. Susan is now working with CCW on a contract basis, helping us with our finances and perhaps some other things. Thanks Susan, for all your years of eager service through CCW as a team member!
Kole Farney, Our Newest Communicator
After graduation from Midwestern Seminary, Kole Farney will join us as a CCW communicator. Kole and Rachel have one child, Karter, who will tag along also! We're excited about having Kole participate with us in reaching our goals. He'll begin helping us with retreats and speaking engagements very soon. We'll share more about that in the days ahead.
Please pray for us all you can. We need it. The future is exciting, but we don't pretend to be able to do it without God's constant help.
With joy,
Jim
