Christ's Church of the Valley (CCV) likes to run short, 250-word stories in each weekend's bulletin to tie in with the sermon or events happening within the church. The approximate bulletin count was 13,000 for Easter weekend.
The Strong & Victorious: A Warrior’s Profile
“Men will not follow or be associated with weak men,” says Lieutenant Colonel Bob “Cutch” McCutchen, a man who has recently flown two combat tours in Iraq and has a family military background going back as far as World War I. The act of protecting and serving is in his blood and allows “Cutch” to live out his career as a modern-day warrior.
Bob McCutchen grew up attending church, but his technical, scientific education led him to question religion as he often struggled with the concept of faith alone. Thanks in part to a rock-solid college professor who mentored McCutchen while he was a graduate student studying Aerospace Engineering, McCutchen finally researched the accuracy of the Bible and Christ became real to him for the first time.
After graduate school, McCutchen entered pilot training where his newfound faith was tested. “Core values of the squadron did not align with those of Christ, and those who did not conform were ridiculed, chastised and pretty much pounded on a weekly basis,” he explains. “What got me through all the intimidation and the negative influence was knowing a handful of other Christian pilots who kept me accountable.”
Ken Ashley, another F-16 pilot who knows McCutchen well, says, “I have personally witnessed his Christian courage in military as well as social settings. He is someone I respect as an individual, as a fellow F-16 pilot, and as a fellow Christian who is truly walking the walk.”
Fast forward thirty years…McCutchen is now in the process of being promoted to full colonel with the Air Force. There is little doubt that God strategically, specifically placed “Cutch” where he would be challenged and used the most. “Cutch” is a great example of a strong man, a warrior who is living a victorious life for Christ day in and day out.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Short Story: Overcoming Tragedy
Christ's Church of the Valley (CCV) likes to run short, 250-word stories in each weekend's bulletin to tie in with the sermon or events happening within the church. The approximate bulletin count is 7,200 every weekend.
Overcoming Tragedy: A Warrior’s Profile
It was the long-awaited family vacation to Hawaii. Peter Nearman, CCV member and volunteer usher, and his family awoke early to get in as much beach time as possible. Yet, little did they know that their day would be cut short due to a freak accident that left Peter fighting for his life and the family clinging to their faith.
As Peter was enjoying an early morning swim, a wave crashed into him, knocking him facedown into the sandy ocean floor. As Peter struggled to stand up, he found his body helpless and not cooperating. His wife Heather ran to assist him only to find her strength not strong enough to save her husband. If Peter didn’t find help instantly, he would have drowned.
God intervened. Sure enough, a high-school football team was training on the beach and jumped in to save Peter. The diagnosis once Peter reached the hospital was a broken neck with no hope of ever walking again. The Nearmans understand that most people aren’t equipped to handle the kind of tragedy they have experienced. But they also know that life without faith is not worth fighting for. “I don’t know how people go through tragedy without God,” Peter said.
Peter, the ultimate example of a real-life warrior who has risen from the battle, believes his resiliency is based on his faith. “We want to be used to glorify God with our lives,” Peter says of him and his family. “Only God knows what influence we will ultimately have on others for His sake. This is not my life to live, but His to live through me.”
Neighborhood groups are teeing off on 4/8 to participate in “Drive For A Ride” at Trilogy Golf Club in Vistancia. This benefit golf tournament will help equip a handicap-accessible van for the Nearman family. If you are interested in participating, please visit DriveForaRide.com.
Overcoming Tragedy: A Warrior’s Profile
It was the long-awaited family vacation to Hawaii. Peter Nearman, CCV member and volunteer usher, and his family awoke early to get in as much beach time as possible. Yet, little did they know that their day would be cut short due to a freak accident that left Peter fighting for his life and the family clinging to their faith.
As Peter was enjoying an early morning swim, a wave crashed into him, knocking him facedown into the sandy ocean floor. As Peter struggled to stand up, he found his body helpless and not cooperating. His wife Heather ran to assist him only to find her strength not strong enough to save her husband. If Peter didn’t find help instantly, he would have drowned.
God intervened. Sure enough, a high-school football team was training on the beach and jumped in to save Peter. The diagnosis once Peter reached the hospital was a broken neck with no hope of ever walking again. The Nearmans understand that most people aren’t equipped to handle the kind of tragedy they have experienced. But they also know that life without faith is not worth fighting for. “I don’t know how people go through tragedy without God,” Peter said.
Peter, the ultimate example of a real-life warrior who has risen from the battle, believes his resiliency is based on his faith. “We want to be used to glorify God with our lives,” Peter says of him and his family. “Only God knows what influence we will ultimately have on others for His sake. This is not my life to live, but His to live through me.”
Neighborhood groups are teeing off on 4/8 to participate in “Drive For A Ride” at Trilogy Golf Club in Vistancia. This benefit golf tournament will help equip a handicap-accessible van for the Nearman family. If you are interested in participating, please visit DriveForaRide.com.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Press Release: Local Teens Spend Their Vacation Time Building Homes
LOCAL TEENS SPEND THEIR VACATION TIME BUILDING HOMES FOR THOSE IN NEED IN ROCKY POINT, MEXICO
Peoria, AZ – Over sixty high-school students and adult volunteers recently spent President’s Day weekend in Rocky Point, Mexico building homes for deserving families who had been living for years without basic housing needs.
It’s estimated that half the population in Mexico is living in poverty, with one fifth living in extreme poverty. Some families live on less than one dollar a day, a level comparable to the world's poorest countries. The cost of providing a dependable shelter with adequate space for a family is relatively cheap by American standards – the biggest hurdle is labor.
The goal of the trip was to build three homes within three days. The high-school students from Christ's Church of the Valley (CCV) worked closely with One Mission, an organization focused on building community in the most poverty-stricken neighborhoods in Rocky Point, built brand new homes for families in need and also made lasting relationships with the families receiving the new homes. Despite the cold nights and the demanding days, the group accomplished their goal, and the lives of three families have been changed for the better.
“This is my second time working with One Mission. While building the homes is significant, the most important part of the trip is the families we are serving. When I come back next time, I am excited to see these families again. They are like friends now,” says Blake Sabiston, associate youth pastor at CCV.
For most students, this was their first experience in serving others living in desperate circumstances. “I was shocked of the simplicity of those living in Rocky Point compared to how most Americans have a 5-star resort lifestyle.” said Bryce Jablonski, a junior at Deer Valley High School. CCV’s high school ministry is hoping to go down one more time in 2009 and plans to double the amount of students involved.
CCV is located at 7007 W Happy Valley Rd in Peoria, AZ. Contact us if you have any questions at 623.376.2444 or www.ccvonline.com. Regular weekend worship times are 4:30 and 6:15 pm every Saturday and 9:30 and 11:15 am every Sunday.
Short Story: Fighting the Flame
Christ's Church of the Valley (CCV) likes to run short, 250-word stories in each weekend's bulletin to tie in with the sermon or events happening within the church. The approximate bulletin count is 7,200 every weekend.
Fighting the Flame
Steady, consistent and full of integrity…these are words that accurately describe Glendale firefighter and CCV member Gil Mantzey, a real-life warrior who daily battles the flames and hurdles that life throws at him.
It’s not easy to be a warrior for Christ where all eyes are looking to you for strength, support and leadership. Yet Gil Mantzey plays this role well. Former fire engineer Mike McClain, now a CCV neighborhood pastor, knows Gil well and believes that real-life warriors still exist today. They just don’t wear the typical body that they used to wear. Modern-day warriors are often dressed in service uniforms, business attire, or even shorts and flip flops.
Gil Mantzey is a modern-day warrior. He recognizes what battles are worth fighting for and which victories are worth claiming. “I always look for opportunities to talk about Christ with others. I work 24 hours on and 48 hours off so this gives me time to get to know the crew really well. This can sometimes bring good conversations about life. I guess the best way I try to show God at work is by living the way I say we should. In this type of environment, people really study you to see if you’re the real deal. I just hope that I can make a positive impact for Christ on my co-workers,” Gil said.
The warrior code that was prevalent centuries ago, still exists today. Warriors—whether modern-day or ancient—are known for their faith, loyalty and courage. And living a victorious life for Christ takes just that!
Fighting the Flame
Steady, consistent and full of integrity…these are words that accurately describe Glendale firefighter and CCV member Gil Mantzey, a real-life warrior who daily battles the flames and hurdles that life throws at him.
It’s not easy to be a warrior for Christ where all eyes are looking to you for strength, support and leadership. Yet Gil Mantzey plays this role well. Former fire engineer Mike McClain, now a CCV neighborhood pastor, knows Gil well and believes that real-life warriors still exist today. They just don’t wear the typical body that they used to wear. Modern-day warriors are often dressed in service uniforms, business attire, or even shorts and flip flops.
Gil Mantzey is a modern-day warrior. He recognizes what battles are worth fighting for and which victories are worth claiming. “I always look for opportunities to talk about Christ with others. I work 24 hours on and 48 hours off so this gives me time to get to know the crew really well. This can sometimes bring good conversations about life. I guess the best way I try to show God at work is by living the way I say we should. In this type of environment, people really study you to see if you’re the real deal. I just hope that I can make a positive impact for Christ on my co-workers,” Gil said.
The warrior code that was prevalent centuries ago, still exists today. Warriors—whether modern-day or ancient—are known for their faith, loyalty and courage. And living a victorious life for Christ takes just that!
Short Story: The Battle of Unemployment
Christ's Church of the Valley (CCV) likes to run short, 250-word stories in each weekend's bulletin to tie in with the sermon or events happening within the church. The approximate bulletin count is 7,200 every weekend.
The Battle of Unemployment
One day he had a job; the next day he didn’t. Ian Long, a longtime CCV member and volunteer, recently experienced the harsh reality of an ever-changing world where nothing is secure and every day can be a battle.
During one of the toughest times of his life, Ian and his family took strategic action to face the opposition at hand. Ian could have easily found a short-term cure to stop the discomfort of living without financial security, but he didn’t. Instead, Ian and his wife Erin set immediate, attainable goals and trusted God for literally everything. “God needed to rebalance my understanding of time, money and priorities,” Ian said after facing four months of unemployment.
A wise warrior will closely study and calculate his opposition’s strengths and tactics. In Ian’s case, he assessed the areas of his life where he wanted to grow and used his time of unemployment to enjoy his family, serve outside his normal capacity, and draw close to Christ.
“God helped me understand where my confidence needed to be rooted. It took several months to find a job for a lot of reasons, but most of all because it was not my success that the search was dependent upon but God’s timing instead. Through this experience, I was able to renew my perspective on the fact that if we listen to God and take heed to his leading, He will place us where we can succeed. It’s predicated on him, but even better it’s dependant on Him. It’s a freeing release to know my success is a God thing. The funny thing is that the world just has trouble translating this,” Ian explained.
The Battle of Unemployment
One day he had a job; the next day he didn’t. Ian Long, a longtime CCV member and volunteer, recently experienced the harsh reality of an ever-changing world where nothing is secure and every day can be a battle.
During one of the toughest times of his life, Ian and his family took strategic action to face the opposition at hand. Ian could have easily found a short-term cure to stop the discomfort of living without financial security, but he didn’t. Instead, Ian and his wife Erin set immediate, attainable goals and trusted God for literally everything. “God needed to rebalance my understanding of time, money and priorities,” Ian said after facing four months of unemployment.
A wise warrior will closely study and calculate his opposition’s strengths and tactics. In Ian’s case, he assessed the areas of his life where he wanted to grow and used his time of unemployment to enjoy his family, serve outside his normal capacity, and draw close to Christ.
“God helped me understand where my confidence needed to be rooted. It took several months to find a job for a lot of reasons, but most of all because it was not my success that the search was dependent upon but God’s timing instead. Through this experience, I was able to renew my perspective on the fact that if we listen to God and take heed to his leading, He will place us where we can succeed. It’s predicated on him, but even better it’s dependant on Him. It’s a freeing release to know my success is a God thing. The funny thing is that the world just has trouble translating this,” Ian explained.
Short Story: Building a Legacy
Christ's Church of the Valley (CCV) likes to run short, 250-word stories in each weekend's bulletin to tie in with the sermon or events happening within the church. The approximate bulletin count is 7,200 every weekend.
Building a Legacy
Curtis Aylward, a CCV member and committed volunteer, has taught mathematics at Peoria High School for the past 17 years. As a public school teacher, Curtis has mastered the use of unconventional methods of reaching out to the teenagers he encounters daily to gain their trust and respect. This real-life warrior helps those in need even when the cost is great.
“My wife works at the same school as a Career Specialist, and so we have a tag-team approach to helping kids think about their futures in a meaningful way. I think the students know they can count on us to do whatever it takes to help them be successful. The kids know that my expectations are high and at the same time my willingness to walk beside them every step of the way helps them to strive for success,” Curtis said.
More often than not, Curtis and his wife help students and their families who are facing tough times. “We step in when some of my students don't have a functioning family in-tact. We are often able to help by providing some of the basic necessities that help them feel the love of Christ. Some of those students end up adopting us after they graduate, and we wind up mentoring them for years to come. A couple of my former students have even gone on to become teachers and currently teach with me at Peoria High School,” Curtis humbly explained.
The students realize that their teacher’s faith is the backbone to his compassion and generosity. Curtis is not shy about sharing with his students about recent mission trips that he and his family take every year. Whether it be building houses in Mexico or working with youth in Eastern Europe, Curtis has a story to share and a God to glorify. “I believe they see that serving is important to me and it has an impact on their own perspectives on service. It is important that they have consistent role models who show them that serving others is important,” Curtis concludes.
Building a Legacy
Curtis Aylward, a CCV member and committed volunteer, has taught mathematics at Peoria High School for the past 17 years. As a public school teacher, Curtis has mastered the use of unconventional methods of reaching out to the teenagers he encounters daily to gain their trust and respect. This real-life warrior helps those in need even when the cost is great.
“My wife works at the same school as a Career Specialist, and so we have a tag-team approach to helping kids think about their futures in a meaningful way. I think the students know they can count on us to do whatever it takes to help them be successful. The kids know that my expectations are high and at the same time my willingness to walk beside them every step of the way helps them to strive for success,” Curtis said.
More often than not, Curtis and his wife help students and their families who are facing tough times. “We step in when some of my students don't have a functioning family in-tact. We are often able to help by providing some of the basic necessities that help them feel the love of Christ. Some of those students end up adopting us after they graduate, and we wind up mentoring them for years to come. A couple of my former students have even gone on to become teachers and currently teach with me at Peoria High School,” Curtis humbly explained.
The students realize that their teacher’s faith is the backbone to his compassion and generosity. Curtis is not shy about sharing with his students about recent mission trips that he and his family take every year. Whether it be building houses in Mexico or working with youth in Eastern Europe, Curtis has a story to share and a God to glorify. “I believe they see that serving is important to me and it has an impact on their own perspectives on service. It is important that they have consistent role models who show them that serving others is important,” Curtis concludes.
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