Looking Into the Future

Well that pretty much sums up the year of ministry.   The desire continues to be to help the ministry reach the children in Wisconsin with the gospel.  As one of the JYC started this fall, I was reminded again of the need.  After the first week of club, the volunteer wrote to say that the children didn’t understand the material.  In considering the group, we found that they were not believers and that we needed to become more basic in our teaching.  What a mission field!   A group of 6^th to 8^th graders that haven’t really considered their spiritual condition.   This is not unique.  Your prayers for these clubs is greatly appreciated.

What does the next year hold?  As far as support, some of the pledged support was only for 2017, so there will be an additional need for others to give.  As far as projects, the ones developed in 2017 are operating and there are no big projects on the horizon.  Pray that God would give clear direction as to what He wants me to focus on next.  Pray that I might continue to be sensitive to God’s leading and that the ministry I do might be productive. 

Again, thank you for your prayers and support.   In this day and age, financial support is becoming more of a challenge, so I appreciate so much you choosing to help finance the ministry to which God has called me.

If you'd like to donate, it can be done by click the donate button for staff and general fund at www.cefsewi.com 

Growth In Ministry

 

A new chapter is trying to get established in the northeast Wisconsin, which is exciting to me, because it includes the area where I grew up.   At the beginning of the year, there were three chapters without local directors.  God has seen fit to provide directors for two of those chapters.   There have been several new part time workers that have joined as staff in chapters as well as several full time who are currently working on raising support funds.  I have had opportunities to mentor some of these new workers, acclimating them to their new positions. This is a part that I have especially enjoyed.    I have also been working with people doing Good News Clubs that are not assigned to a chapter as well as helping to establish more clubs for the middle school – JYC Clubs in Southeast WI.   

It was a special privilege to see the results of having Good News Across America come to Milwaukee in the summer, reaching over 1800 in Milwaukee, Racine, and the surrounding areas. The chapter is now working on helping those churches start Good News Clubs and it looks like clubs will start in five new locations in early January.   I help with training in the local chapter, as well as some computer related projects.

All in all I’ve been kept busy – dividing my time between the state office and the local chapter.   

A New Role

Another question I’ve often heard is what is your new job?   My part is now more of a support role.   With internet the wave of the future, I have spent part of my time in developing online forms and processing information.  

Another part of CEF that has become essential is documentation -- required documents need to be kept current for staff and volunteers so that CEF of WI is fulfilling the requirements for the Federal Government as well as the ministry as a whole.   During the year, I have worked on putting together ways to track and inform chapters whether their documentation is complete.  In the last three months I have processed close to 500 volunteers.  Praise the Lord for a good number of Christians accepting the call to reach children with the gospel. 

Although neither of those projects are real exciting, they needed to be put in place and God has helped me to put them together.

Two Questions

Since changing positions, I have found God’s faithfulness to ring true.  In making the change there were two big questions --  Was there going to be enough financial support following me to the new position?   And who did God have in mind for the director of the Southeast Chapter?

God has answered both of those questions.  As far as support, because of one-time special gifts along with a few new people who have pledged recurring gifts,  God has provided enough to be paid in full.    THANK YOU so much for your encouragement and prayers, as well as giving in order that I could work in this new position.   

In July Buzz Taves accepted the director position in Southeast WI.  Buzz was a part of the local committee, so is acquainted with what CEF is all about. Buzz has a particular burden for Milwaukee.  The next year will be a challenge as he will be attending training along with doing the decision making required to keep the ministry growing.

Carolyn