Chic Boutique, located in Manhattan, Kansas, is a new retail company centrally located in a college town. The assignment was to create a two-paged, full-page flyer. One side of the flyer would market the second-hand retail store; the second side would encourage readers to recycle their new or slightly-used clothing.
A new retail company in Manhattan, Kansas needed a 2-sided postcard to mail out to potential customers letting them know that Chic Boutique offers private, special themed birthday parties for little girls on the weekends. The copy was creative, fresh and fun. I love how the postcard turned out.
I was asked to create four edgy and sort of sarcstic trailers to promote the Revolutionary sermons. In the end due to lack of production time, the four scripts were condensed and only one video was created. This was a fun project!
REVOLUTIONARY CHRIST It’s a fact that the little baby born in a manger is the same boy who grew up to revolutionize (impact or shake up) the world.
If your perception of Jesus is the gentle and meek man always holding a fuzzy little lamb, you’re wrong (you’ve got the wrong dude).
According to the Bible, Jesus was anything but meek and mild, he was created to change hearts, refocus minds, and restore a fallen society no matter the cost.
He’s the head honcho who does what he says. You can’t find another man in history with a better track record.
Jesus is calling you to be a revolutionary. Are you ready?
REVOLUTIONARY CHRISTIAN So your idea of a typical churchgoer looks like this: dressed to the hilt with a suit and tie, clean shaven, no tattoos and definitely no body piercings. Joe “the churchgoer” is irrelevant, boring, and a modern-day goody two-shoes. It appears that Joe has it all together…that he’s almost perfect.
But Jesus isn’t about seeking out perfect people. He wants the rough and tumble AND the clean and sophisticated. He wants them all!
Jesus hung out with the outcasts, healed diseases, and cast out demons…all in a day’s work. This guy knew how to be bold and thought-provoking, he knew when to be quiet or when to speak up, and he led by example all the time. And guess what, he wants you to do the same!
Jesus is calling you to be a revolutionary. Are you ready?
REVOLUTIONARY CHURCH So odds are you are part of the 15% who faithfully attend church every weekend in America. It’s just a part of life. No ifs, ands or buts about it.
Lately, the church as a whole has been given a bad rap. Maybe we deserve it, maybe we don’t. One thing for sure is that the time has come to break away from the traditional ways of doing things in order to attract the missing 85%.
The un-churched are eager to let their voices be heard, so why don’t you?
You can no longer be a bench warmer. Now is the time to speak up and lead with a vengeance.
Jesus is calling you to be a revolutionary. Are you ready?
REVOLUTIONARY COMMUNITY So your neighbor down the street with the annoying dog just lost his job. You feel for him and even offer up a prayer or two on his behalf.
Suddenly you remember a verse about bearing one another’s burdens. You decide to not just pray, but to bring over a warm meal for your neighbor and his family. In fact, you even go out on a limb and invite him to church. Now that’s community!
Next thing you know, your neighbor with the annoying dog is helping out the old lady across the street with her yardwork. See how the momentum keeps going?
It takes one man to step up and make an impact…A few men to band together to impact a neighborhood…And one neighborhood to impact a community.
Are you ready to man up?
Jesus is calling you to be a revolutionary. Get ready!
I was asked to write a 200+ sidebar for an upcoming issue of Church Solutions magazine. The article was to feature how CCV's design elements focused on the male audience, rather than the female. Here is the sidebar text:
Reaching the Men While many men feel uncomfortable attending a traditional church in America, Christ's Church of the Valley (CCV), located in Peoria, Arizona, recognized this trend and decided to shake things up a bit when designing their new campus. During the design stage, architects deliberately created an environment where men would feel comfortable attending church on any given weekend.
“Most men are intimidated by stained glass. We try to make our campus look friendly so they don’t feel out of place,” stated CCV’s Pastor Don Wilson. The elimination of traditional stained glass, uncomfortable wooden bench pews, and feminine color schemes are just a few examples of design elements that were taken into consideration when planning the Auditorium that was completed in 2004. Since then, a new Children’s and Youth building have been built to reflect a modern style while incorporating state-of-the art technology.
The CCV campus, including the main Auditorium, closely resembles a business center or resort. “We try to make our campus look friendly and familiar,” Wilson explains. “We always strive to provide an environment where a man can feel at home and be himself.” In addition, the hiking-style prayer hill, sports dome, and athletic fields add to the male-oriented ambiance all located on the church campus. CCV wants to show men that they can be challenged and changed through an adventure with Christ and that they can feel comfortable while doing it.
Since making these deliberate design changes, the church has grown with considerable measure. More than 13,000 people attend CCV every weekend and call this church home. And while the gender balance is off scale in most churches today, it is almost even at CCV.
AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR VISITS LOCAL CHURCH TO REVEAL THE REASONS WHY MEN HATE GOING TO CHURCH
Peoria, AZ –Women comprise more than 60% of the adults in the typical worship service. Volunteer ranks are heavily female. It's often impossible to get church-going men to do anything other than attend services. No other religion suffers the enormous gender gaps that plague Christianity.
In his book, Why Men Hate Going to Church, David Murrow focuses on this very topic. Using 100 sources from the Bible to Gallup polls, Murrow challenges the thinking of today’s church. Why Men Hate Going to Church does not call men back to church…it calls the church back to men.
Murrow is encouraging the church to change and will discuss how American churches can revolutionize the world. Pastors, members and church skeptics alike will learn something new when Murrow speaks live at Christ's Church of the Valley on the weekend of August 29-30.
David Murrow is the author of two books, Why Men Hate Going to Church, published in 2004, and How Women Help Men Find God, published last year. Murrow has produced and written award-winning television documentaries, commercials and specials, including material for the Discovery Channel, Food Network, NBC, ABC, Dr. Phil, and the Travel Channel. Most recently, Murrow became Sarah Palin’s Director of Communications. As an elder in the Presbyterian Church (USA), he lives in Anchorage, Alaska, with his wife and three children.
CCV holds four identical services every weekend at 7007 W. Happy Valley Road: Saturdays at 4:30 and 6:15 pm and Sunday mornings at 9:30 and 11:15 am. Members of the media wishing to cover this event should contact Crystal Van Dyke at CCV at 623.298.2991.
Peoria, AZ – Summer isn’t over yet! Hundreds of high schoolers will kick off the new school year with an unforgettable glow-in-the-dark, techno party just for teens.
CCV will host AfterParty Underground on Sunday, August 16 from 5:00-8:00 pm in Bldg 4000. It all starts with live music, followed by an engaging, relevant talk about living a life of adventure and purpose.
The event is free. However drinks, food and glow-in-the-dark accessories will be available for purchase.
This event will take place at 7007 W. Happy Valley Road in the Youth Building located in the middle of the campus. More information is available at ccvgarage.com. Members of the media wishing to cover the AfterParty Underground event should contact CCV, Crystal Van Dyke, at 623.298.2991.
I was asked to create text for a video voiceover that would inform church attendees about the basic history, religious movements, and specific crisis facing the continents of North, Middle and South America as well as Europe, Asia and Africa. The total length of the entire video was approximately ten minutes and included the most important information affecting these specific locations. I also included the ways in which CCV is making an impact in these targeted areas. The video is included below.
CCV needed a video bumper to promote Missions Weekend. I was asked to create a script that would be used to tell a story and encourage attendees to come back the following weekend for a special weekend highlighting missions. Here is the text that I created to go along with the dynamic video footage.
Do you realize what you’ve been doing? Do you realize the many lives you have been impacting? Do you know the places you’ve gone by giving? 10% can go a long way....
10% of each and every dollar you’ve given to CCV goes here. (video footage) Here (video footage) And here (video footage) 10% can go a long way....
It’s not just about writing a check. It’s about taking action and making a difference. Impacting one life at a time is what we can do. It’s what you are doing. This is just the beginning. Come back next week for the rest of the story.
The Mission's Department at CCV wanted to print a brochure that would have a shelf-life of three to six months and could highlight all of the areas where CCV has mission partners. The focus was on Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, South America and Middle America. For the first brochure, they chose to highlight Africa and the need for missions.
CCV has it's very own Starbuck's coffee shop where hundreds of church attendees stop by to get their caffeine kick. In a collaboration to promote Mission's Week, CCV created various coffee cup sleeves to raise awareness and create curiosity in missions. Here is what we came up with. (Click on the image to enlarge graphic and read text.)
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 9,500 every weekend.
Angels Among Us
There is no way to deny the facts. Did you know that every year in the U.S. there are over 3,000,000 reports of child abuse/neglect? In Arizona alone, last year there were 35,000 reports of child abuse/neglect. And currently in Arizona, there are over 10,000 children in the foster care system. These statistics should not only alarm you, but move you. There are little angels among us who need daily love and support.
CCV Members Jason and Shawna Seeger recognized this reality when they ventured out to Bulembu, Swaziland for a short-term mission trip last year. On their journey, they fell in love with the many orphans and wanted to adopt, but weren’t allowed to due to strict laws on foreign adoption. Instead, this couple came home with a new vision: To foster and/or adopt local children immediately.
“Each and every case is different, and there are many uncertainties. But one thing we know for sure: God continues to stretch us, bless us, and allow us to know how to love in a whole new way,” explains Shawna.
The Seeger family is currently caring for a baby girl. “We love her because we love God. It’s an amazing experience to be the physical arms that God needs us to be to hug her each and every day we have her. We will continue to provide foster care and/or adopt children as God continues to use us in this way,” the Seegers said in agreement.
If you are interested in foster care or adoption, CCV will host an orientation on Tuesday, May 26 at 6:30 pm in the Children’s Bldg. Christian Family Care will facilitate this meeting and can get you started on a new journey much like the Seegers. Also, the West Valley Foster & Adopt Support Group has a BBQ scheduled for May 31 from 2:30-6:30 pm and will be held on the CCV campus. Please visit WestValleyFosterAdoptSupportGroup.blogspot.com for more information or to register.
Christ's Church of the Valley (CCV) needed copy for 60-second radio spots showcasing different events and services for an 8-week weekend radio program . I wrote copy to promote the current weekend series titled "The Warrior", the Easter services, a new marriage series titled "Fireproof", a men's extreme adventure event titled "QUEST", and a general announcement promoting neighborhood groups within the church. Here is a sample of the text used to promote "Fireproof".
FIREPROOF SERIES There no longer seems to be much of a stigma attached to divorce; it is now seen as an unavoidable rite of passage. In fact, 2008 statistics claim roughly 60% of marriages end in divorce. Second or third marriages have only about 20% of couples remaining happily married. A full eighty percent of repeat marriages end in divorce. Over one million children watch their parents divorce each year, and half of the babies born this year will suffer through the divorce of their parents before they turn 18.
“Fireproof”, the 2008 inspirational movie featuring Kirk Cameron who is a successful firefighter struggling to keep his marriage intact, made a lasting impact and showed us all that marriage takes work…hard work. Christ’s Church of the Valley will be kicking off a new 4-week series titled “Fireproof” starting the weekend of April 25-26. The Fireproof series will cover topics like the basic differences between men and women, unconditional love, resisting temptation, and the covenant of marriage.
Ignite your marriage. Join us for one of our four identical services provided every weekend in the Worship Center. Check us out on Saturdays at 4:30 or 6:30 pm or on Sunday mornings at 9:30 or 11:15 am. After service, be sure to stop by CCV’s food and beverage court or their onsite Starbucks coffee shop to keep you energized for the weekend. 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
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 9,500 every weekend.
Through the Years
When divorce is rampant and hanging through the hard times isn’t appealing, how do couples survive? And not just survive, but how do they thrive? CCV Members David and Lori Andresen can affirm that loving Christ first and foremost and then loving each other has helped keep their marriage intact through the years.
“We met and dated our senior year in high school. We committed our relationship to God immediately. It was very important to both of us to remain pure until our wedding night. And we believe God has honored that commitment time and time again,” Lori explains. “Through the trials over the years, raising three children, and welcoming two sons-in-law, my love and respect for David is as fresh as it was the day we fell in love, only because God is the center of our life.”
Getting married at a young age, when they were only 18 and 19 years old, created many extra struggles in itself. “But through the good and the bad, we wanted to grow up together and it worked. We believe God honors and blesses our marriage and family if we keep Him first.”
David testifies, “When I got married, my prayer was to be the man of God and best husband that I could be. I have failed many times, but I will never stop ceasing and praying to be that Godly spiritual leader and husband that Christ requires me to be!”
On May 12, David and Lori will be celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary in Italy. They believe this accomplishment is only possible by the grace of God and their unconditional love and complete commitment to each other.
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 9,500 every weekend.
For Better or For Worse
CCV Members Tom and Gayle Beckley were married on April 22, 1972. Since their wedding day, their relationship has experienced several drastic dips and turns. Their marriage story shows how two people can be healed if they just let go and let God lead.
Shortly after their wedding day, Gayle began to notice Tom’s growing addiction to alcohol. It was this very addiction that broke up the family and revealed layers and layers of hurt for both Tom and Gayle.
“I began to pray for God to change Tom so that he would be a good husband. That prayer didn’t work! My prayer changed to asking God to help Tom stop drinking so he could be a good father. That prayer didn’t work either,” explains Gayle. It was at this time while praying for God to heal both Tom and herself that Gayle opted for divorce, something she never wanted and thought she would never consider.
When Gayle asked for the divorce, she caught Tom off guard, and the binge drinking escalated even more. It took intervention from a caring friend to lead Tom to a rehabilitation program where he renewed his relationship with Christ. “I finally got on my hands and knees asking God to take away my burdens. That same day, my desire to drink left completely and has never returned,” Tom shares.
Upon successful completion of the program, Tom recognized his responsibility to his family. Ready to start a new life, Tom asked Gayle to discuss his changed life and, possibly, a reconciliation. She said “no” to remarriage, but allowed him time with the kids. Tom learned that he need not to worry about things he couldn’t control, so he left it in God’s hands and went on with his new life. As Tom visited with the kids, Gayle noticed his sincere change of hearts and habits, as well as her own.
God had performed a miraculous healing in both Tom and Gayle’s heart. On April 22, 1983, they were remarried with their children in attendance. The Beckleys believe that any marriage can be healed if the two parties involved want it. We have to be willing to work on ourselves and just leave the other person to God.
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 9,500 every weekend.
Making Tough Choices
“My life was a mess; it was a total disaster. I was trying to get through each day on my own, fighting it tooth and nail. I never once stopped to think about turning it all over and surrendering it to God…. I struggled for over 20 years in work, in relationships, with finances, and every other aspect of my life,” explains new CCV member Kevin Wells.
“A sense of peace has come over me and my life since giving my life over to Jesus. I am able to think, process and make decisions with a sound mind which gives me direction and purpose in life knowing that everything will be okay. As a result, everything has been going good—one day at a time, one step at a time—things are falling into place and that didn’t happen before,” explains Jan Pinet.
In their new relationship together, Kevin and Jan have had to make some tough choices. Choices that the world doesn’t encourage, but choices that glorify Christ…. Kevin and Jan, who had been living together, made a commitment to move out and abstain from sex until their wedding date. They have also committed to keeping Christ the center of their relationship—a link that was missing in their past relationships.
Kevin and Jan’s story reminds us that tough choices are never easy, but always worth it in the end. “We are both starting our lives over, except this time with God’s guidance. We were very fortunate to have taken different paths in life that have led us to the same place. We believe that Jesus brought us together so we could take this spiritual journey together, and it has been a very rewarding journey. We’re very committed and motivated to growing in our lives with Jesus. We know that life will continue to be filled with challenges, but we have faith that Jesus will lead us through them,” Kevin and Jan explain.
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 9,500 every weekend.
Making Marriage Work
Tony and Nancy Smith had to travel the road marked full of pain and brokenness before their marriage was restored. The breakdown in their marriage was partially caused by ignoring each other’s needs instead of nurturing them.
“Throughout our marriage, I did not understand my needs and Nancy’s needs were so different. I just assumed that we both needed the same things. This lack of understanding resulted in us growing apart from each other,” Tony explained. Their story sounds familiar and reminds us to not take the commitment of marriage lightly…doing so could have major consequences.
After four years of being married, Tony began having an affair. Nancy had every right to seek out a divorce, but an inner voice continued to speak to her every time she moved forward with it. In fact, the very day she was to pay the lawyer to set things into motion, she ended up walking out of the lawyer’s office with her check in hand. She just couldn’t do it because she knew God had other plans for her marriage.
During this time of brokenness, Nancy had visited CCV and felt God holding her for the very first time. “I knew that God wanted me to follow Him from that day forward, and I told Him that I would,” Nancy recalls.
Shortly after, Tony started attending church with Nancy. With the support of a Christian marriage counselor and their church, Tony and Nancy committed their marriage to Christ and have followed Him closely since then. “We are truly in love and make sure that we meet each other’s needs every day. We put God first in everything we do!”
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
One Mission, a non-profit mission outreach organization, recently had their first fundraising event. The above brochure was placed at each table setting and provided general information about the organization and the impact it is having in communities in Rocky Point, Mexico.
One Mission offers short-term mission trips (3-5 days) for families, businesses and churches all across the U.S. They provide a safe, affordable way to make a positive impact on people living in a third world environment.
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.
Wrong Number, Right Connection Dave and Sybil Eberhart, longtime CCV members and volunteer ushers, were faithfully volunteering at the recent calling campaign to get people connected into neighborhood groups. Each volunteer was asked to call 32 different families. Sybil happened to call 33 families because of a simple mistake of misdialing.
That simple mistake was actually a divine phone call. “I must have misdialed a number because once I took off explaining over the phone about our wonderful neighborhood groups available in Surprise, the lady started to chuckle. She then asked me what number I was trying to dial and politely informed me that I was way off, but that she wanted to hear more about CCV and the neighborhood groups in her area,” explains Sybil.
“So I gave her the full pitch. She then said, ‘Do you believe in a God-appointed call?’ I said ‘yes' and then she shared that she and her husband had been praying about finding a vibrant church with a small group ministry and a great youth program for their son who is in high school.”
Just a couple of weeks ago, Dave and Sybil met up with the new couple for a cup of coffee and sat with them in the weekend service. “We have been so blessed by the connection that happened with this precious family who was so hungry for a church home,” said Sybil.
This story reminds us all to make the most out of every opportunity that comes our way. Sybil’s willingness to go out of her way to get someone connected to God is priceless.
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.
Neighborhood Group Caught in the Act Joe Clayton, Westwing’s send leader for the neighborhood group ministry, has always been there to serve others. In fact, he’s dedicated the last seven years of his life to serving CCV and the local community. Joe is acutely familiar with giving to the needs of others before helping himself.
Recently, Joe was rushed to the hospital for a life-threatening illness that could have taken his life. Fortunately for Joe and his family, his infection was caught early and he has since fully recovered. Joe’s recovery is nothing short of a miracle, and the outpouring of support he and his family received from others in his neighborhood groups is also considered a lifelong blessing.
“Shortly after arriving in the hospital, I had fellow CCV members in my ICU room praying for me. This was the first of many gifts and experiences I had during this process. I can not express the heartfelt gratitude I had for a church making me feel so cared for,” Joe explains.
While Joe was in the hospital, his wife also received support through phone calls and prayers. After Joe’s short stay in the hospital, other small group members arranged to have meals delivered to their house for a week. “I can not tell you the feeling I had knowing that we have such a great church and community that takes care of the people in need. This also speaks to the importance of belonging to a neighborhood group. This experience has changed my life,” Joe said.
DEATH-DEFYING STUNTS ALLURE LOCAL TEENS AT CRASH, AN EVENT CREATED FOR JUNIOR HIGH STUDENTS
Peoria, AZ – Next weekend, hundreds of junior high students will gather for a brand new event sure to capture their attention at Christ’s Church of the Valley (CCV). The event known as CRASH will wildly amaze and entertain the teens all within a safe, friendly environment.
“This new event is one that we are really excited about! We have lots in store for the night including smashing fruit, watching a stunt guy attempt death-defying tricks, and amazing prizes. This will be a great night for junior high students where they will never forget what they saw,“ explains Dustin Tappan, Junior High Pastor.
CCV will host CRASH on Saturday, February 28, from 6:15-9:00 pm. The evening starts with live music at The Garage, followed by an engaging, relevant talk about living a life of adventure and purpose.
“We want students to connect with each other and with God in a personal way, so we try to create dynamic environments that make them comfortable. This experience is memorable because it is so unique,” Tappan remarks.
This event takes place at 7007 W. Happy Valley Road in building 4000 in the middle of the campus. More information is available at ccvgarage.com. Members of the media wishing to cover the CRASH party must contact CCV, Jon Edmiston, at 623.298.2911.
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.
REACHING OUT IN ROCKY POINT 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. Yet it’s often the poorest people who find the greatest joy out of simple acts of kindness.
ONE Mission, a CCV-supported mission outreach organization, recently spent the day reaching out to the most poverty stricken neighborhoods in Rocky Point, Mexico. During this outreach event, ONE Mission along with a coalition of local Rocky Point churches, handed out over eight thousand hotdogs and five thousand pairs of adult and children’s shoes within a few hours. The shoes given out are the very shoes that most of you donated on one single weekend to show a tangible act of service.
“Hundreds of children put shoes on for the very first time in their lives. Families were lined up over two city blocks in order to receive their blessing,” said Jason Law, CCV member and ONE Mission’s founder. “The amazing part of this whole event was that many of the local residents saw what we were doing and wanted to help out. They wanted to help give back to their community. ONE Mission simply equipped the local residents to make an impact themselves. This is the heart and passion of ONE Mission—to enable rather than to do for,” Jason stated.
The most important part of the day wasn’t necessarily filling hungry bellies or handing out shoes to the needy; it was that 5,000 people where able to see the church in action—serving, loving, and showing Christ in a real way.
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.
MORE THAN A GAME The CCV soccer fields provide more than an instructional setting for young children learning the game of soccer. They provide a training ground where moral character is developed and Christ-like values are encouraged.
Just a couple of weeks ago, CCV hosted one of the largest competitive soccer tournaments in the Valley. Over 2,100 kids, boys and girls between the ages of 7 to 14, travelled from all over Arizona and Nevada to participate in the tournament. Roughly only 300 of those players were from CCV, the rest were visitors.
Harry Demos, CCV director of youth sports, estimated that over 2,500 people stepped onto the CCV campus for the first time. It’s Harry’s desire, along with all of the volunteer coaches, to make visitors feel welcome and comfortable. “Ultimately we want to invite people from the community to participate in youth sports, come to the campus, and feel the love of Christ the minute they step on our fields,” explains Harry.
Harry also encourages all of his soccer coaches and players to live a Christ-like life by showing great sportsmanship during competitions and utilizes playing cards that teach Godly principles to the young players throughout the soccer season.
The mission of CCV’s youth sports league is to continually build relationships with new people and introduce them to Jesus Christ. CCV is transforming youth sports in the Valley by encouraging kids, teaching basic sports skills, and encouraging life skills necessary to be successful on and off the field.
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. Here is the short story I wrote about the effectiveness of the Neighborhood Ministry and how neighbors reached out to care for each other in times of need. The approximate bulletin count is 6,000 every weekend.
Answering a Call for Help Matt Cortes was diagnosed with a life-threatening disease at age 17 and was given only 3 years to live. Surprisingly, he lived a much longer life and died at age 44. The extra years he had with his family and friends were a blessing. But at the time of his recent death, Matt left behind a hurting family that would now have to pick up the pieces and move on.
Nancy Cortes, Matt’s mother, is a CCV member and knew the church would be there to help her and her family walk the road of recovery. But they were blown away by the outpouring of support from the Paseo Highlands neighborhood groups. Neighborhood leader Joe Cavaretta quickly mobilized fellow neighbors connected through the CCV neighborhood groups to take action.
Not only did the neighborhood groups send flowers and cards, they fulfilled tangible acts of kindness by providing daily meals to the family and took care of all the details regarding the memorial service, including greeting and ushering, as well as taking care of the memorial reception.
Nancy and her family don’t know what they would have done without the help from the neighborhood groups who collectively provided for their every need. “We knew Matt’s death was imminent and our son would be leaving us.... The day Matt died we lost our son, but we also gained a new extended family.”
PLANS TO MOBILIZE LOCAL CHURCHES SETS FORTH INITIATIVE TO END THE RAPING OF CHILDREN FOR PROFIT IN PHOENIX
Peoria, AZ – Stop Child Rape for Profit, Inc., today announced the formation of a non-profit corporation, the “StreetLight” project, to stop the prostitution of children in the Phoenix valley This new organization was formed with strong support from Christ’s Church of the Valley (CCV).
On January 27, 2009 the group will launch StreetLight, a program to rescue children who have been forced into prostitution. The group will acquire 40 acres in Maricopa County to build transition housing for children being rescued from exploitation. The homes will provide a secure environment for the children to heal.
By working as partners with national and local authorities, the group plans to disrupt the cycle of victimization of children involved in prostitution. When removed from the streets, these kids will have a chance to rebuild their future through physical, social, emotional, and spiritual healing.
Teenagers and children are being recruited from shopping malls, the Internet, and other social and public gatherings. The Phoenix valley is a hotbed for child prostitution while the demand for underage sex for hire is growing. A common trend in the prostitution of children involves taking the child far from home to avoid immediate detection and decreases the chance of the child returning home.
Child prostitution is the most overlooked form of child exploitation in the United States. Warm-weather states like Arizona are experiencing an alarming rate of child prostitutes. Arizona’s mild climate attracts pimps, madams, and others seeking to exploit children for their own gain. The average age of entry into child prostitution is 14 years old while some victims are as young as 9 years old.
Larrie Fraley, associate pastor at CCV and supporter of Stop Child Rape for Profit, said, “Acting together, churches have the resources to end one of the darkest social and moral issues in our society. It is time for our churches to lead the fight against this plague!”
“We are confident that many churches, temples and synagogues will join the fight to end sex trafficking of children –one of the most violent and unconscionable crimes committed in this country,” Fraley said.
Child Rape For Profit Inc. is headquartered at 7007 W. Happy Valley Road in Peoria, AZ. Contact us if you have any questions at 623.298.2894 or visit us online at www.JoinStreetLight.com.
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. Here is the short story I wrote about the effectiveness of utilizing the Sports Ministry to attract men to church. The approximate bulletin count is 6,000 every weekend.
Playing to Win What’s better than beating the opposing team in a good old-fashion game of flag football? Getting the player off the field and into church where the real game of life takes place. The CCV Sports Ministry is all about reaching out to men, women and children. But more importantly, it’s all about winning souls.
CCV member Kirk Borg, a volunteer flag football coordinator, continually sees the fruit of un-churched men playing their hearts out on the field and realizing there is more to life than the beloved game. Kirk said that almost 75% of the men on the flag football teams are players who feel comfortable on the field, but not necessarily on the pews. On Kirk’s last team, 6 of the men were Christians, and 6 were not.
One player in particular tugged at Kirk’s heart. The player was Ryan, a man who was in the middle of a messy divorce and hitting rock bottom. Ryan had come to church several times when he was in high school since Kevin, Kirk’s little brother, and Ryan were best friends. Yet through the years, Ryan had fallen away from the church.
“The seed Kevin planted years ago started to grow, and I was there to water it. The football ministry definitely helped groom his life,” Kirk said. Now Ryan brings his young children with him to church almost every weekend. The ripple effect that started years ago is a great reminder that we all have a significant part to play in the game of life.
