God's Chisel

Welcoming the Walkers!

Pastor Clint & Kelly Walker

We recently welcomed our newest staff pastor, Pastor Clint Walker. Pastor Clint and Kelly Walker have accepted the position of Associate/Youth Pastor here @ CFA.

The Walkers moved from Michigan and have served in youth ministry for the last 6 to 7 years. They have three children ages 4, 6 and 8. We helped them move into their new home recently and they are slowing getting settled both at home, church and with the kids at school.

We invite you to meet Pastor Clint and Kelly soon at a Sunday Morning service or at one of the youth services where he will be ministering God's Word to students. You will love the passion and heart of Pastor Clint...that is sure!!


We all have been blessed through the series on Sunday mornings entitled, "Making Room for the Spirit." God has been stirring our hearts and the hunger for Him is growing each week. The altars have been life transforming where believers have opened up to the Holy Spirit in fresh and dynamic ways.

This past week we conducted the Memorial Service for Mary Ellen Cook here at CFA. She suddenly and quickly was promoted to glory. Mary Ellen was 92. We remember her passionate devotion in worship and the love she demonstrated in serving and teaching. May the Lord give strength to each of her family members!

Looking forward to seeing what God will do this Sunday, as we continue to make room for the Holy Spirit's powerful ministry among us!

Love to all!

Traded in the Old for the New!

Saying "good-bye" is so hard to do...

..new and old...together for the last time...

Say hello to the new CFA van!

On the road again...

CBC, Springfield, Missouri

CBC Chapel

Standing in front of Horton Hall

Zimmerman Hall

Dining Hall

Breakfast with Jordon & Brent before leaving!

The old CFA church van has been replaced with a much newer model!

Recently, we traded in our old 1993 Ford Van for a newer 2007 Ford Van. Everyone who has ever driven in the old model would be thrilled about this news! The old van rattled and roared...plus groaned when driving on the highway. It had simply seen its better days!

Now we are happy to have the new van when taking trips and picking up guests for church. I had the task of breaking in our new van when we took a road trip recently to Springfield, Missouri for College Days. What a huge difference 14 years will make between the two vans!

Our students spent time visiting Central Bible College, my alma mater where I graduated from in 1983. Once again, what a difference time will make on the grounds and facilities of the place I spent four years preparing for full-time ministry....26 years ago.

It was great to visit Jordon my son who is a Junior @ Evangel University and his roommate Brent. Plus, my mom is only 25 minutes away too. Great to be with you Mom...although it was too short a time together.

Preparing for our Hallelujah Night Outreach on Oct.31st. If you live in the area, come and join us @ CFA from 4 until 7:30 pm. Loads of fun and lots of candy!

Love to all!

'09 CFA Missions Convention

Brenda Smith (far left)

Brenda's display table

Learning more about Togo...

Registering for the banquet...

Kevin Beery's display table

Jeff Alexander's display table

Jason Morrison's display table

Banquet dinner...delicious!!

Chef Mike!

Morrison's with Helen and Malorie

Sara & Jeff Alexander (far right)

Jason & Andrea Morrison (middle right)

Kevin & Eric Beery (right side)

I love Missions Conventions!!

We have embraced the call of God to reach out to the ends of the earth and share the gospel with every creature. It is a high calling. It is a holy calling. And it is a honored calling!

We were happy to have several missionary guests with us this year:

• Brenda Smith - Togo, West Africa
• Jason & Andrea Morrison - Czech Republic
• Jeff & Sara Alexander - Indiana Chi Alpha Ministries
• Kevin Beery - Southeastern Europe

Each one warmed our hearts with their reports of ministry and testimonies of God's power and faithfulness. It is amazing to hear what He is doing in various parts of the world...today...not 10 years ago, but right now in our world!

We had three simple goals for this convention:

1. Raise the awareness of great missions needs today.
2. Raise a cash offering for the Asia's Little Ones project.
   
3. Raise our new missions budget for 2010.

One new feature to the schedule this year was our International Dessert bar on Wednesday night. All of the ministry groups were gathered into the fellowship hall @ 8 pm where we fellowshipped and enjoyed delicious recipes from around the world! Which one was your favorite?

Yesterday in the Morning Worship Service my son Devon played a sax duet with Missionary Kevin Beery. It was really amazing. Together they played "Amazing Grace" fueled on by the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Devon, I am so very proud of you for the way you used your instrument to glory the Lord. You have grown tremendously since starting in the 6th grade. Keep learning and keep progressing...the Lord is pleased with you!

Thanks to everyone who participated and helped us this year.

Love to all!

Extraordinary

Check out the new book by John Bevere: "EXTRAORDINARY - The Life You're Meant to Live."

About John's new book: Isn’t it true that we long to see the extraordinary, experience the extraordinary, do the extraordinary? Yet, so often we settle for mediocrity when greatness is within our grasp.

Why are we drawn to stories of heroic triumph over seemingly impossible circumstances? In our fascination with adventure movies, superheroes, and tales of incredible human feats, do we reveal an inherent desire for something larger and greater in life? Maybe what we think is a need to escape or be entertained is actually a God inspired longing…for the extraordinary.

Best-selling author John Bevere reveals how all of us were “meant for more,” extraordinarily created and intended for a life that is anything but ordinary. Here is the roadmap for your journey of transformation. You are marked for a life that far surpasses the usual definitions of success or fulfillment.

Isn’t it time to pursue your extraordinary life?

“In Extraordinary, John Bevere does a wonderful job of showing what God created us for and how that applies to all areas of our lives. As a professional athlete, I am constantly dealing with the balance of being extraordinary for God, as well as in my career. This book has shown me that there is no separation between our spiritual lives and our everyday lives. God has called us to live extraordinarily, every minute of every day. This book is a must read for those who are looking to live fully immersed in the greatness of Jesus!”
–Kurt Warner, NFL quarterback and two-time league MVP

“Extraordinary points us to that spot on the horizon–the place that could be ours to live. In his book, John gives us a glimpse of what God has for us in that place so that we will chase after it and allow God’s Spirit to take us there.”
–Chris Tomlin, lead worshiper, Passion City Church, Atlanta, and sixstepsrecords’ recording artist

“John Bevere shows from the Word that everyone who wants it can live a life with impact. This book hits hard with truth. No more boring, watered-down, weak spiritual life for the body of Christ. Let’s do it! We can all release God’s power and do the extraordinary!”
–Shaun Alexander, former NFL MVP

“In Extraordinary, John Bevere examines and inspires the heart to realize God has called us all to abundant life. Each of us knows we are meant for more. This book will help you leave mediocrity behind and enjoy the great adventures God has for you.”
–Tommy Barnett, pastor, Phoenix First Assembly and Dream Centers: Phoenix, Los Angeles, New York

Get a copy of your new book today! www.randomhouse.com

New Study Bible: The Transformation Study Bible

Acclaimed Pastor Brings Experience, Wisdom to Transformation Study Bible

Dallas/Fort Worth, TX—As pastors seek to make the Word of God more understandable in an age that is unfamiliar with the Bible, and as growing disciples seek to discover the truth of Scripture in a skeptical culture, there is a great need for guidance in both the preaching and study of God’s Word. Whether you’re a pastor, a seminary student, or a truth-seeking disciple, an understanding of the Bible can be made clear to you with the help of one of the most influential, in-depth, and practical Bible scholars in modern history.

For over thirty years, millions have come to rely on the timeless wisdom of Dr. Warren W. Wiersbe’s “Be” Commentary series. Dr. Wiersbe’s commentary and insights on Scripture have helped readers understand and apply God’s Word with the goal of life transformation. According to Dr. Wiersbe, “It isn’t enough for us simply to read assigned portions of the Bible each day, as helpful as that is. A truly transforming experience involves meditating on what we read (Ps. 1:2), studying it carefully in the light of other verses, and then obeying what God tells us to do (Josh. 1:8).” Now available for the first time, The Transformation Study Bible offers the full text of the highly readable New Living Translation with accompanying notes and commentary from the 50 books in Dr. Wiersbe’s “Be” series.

“The Transformation Study Bible will better enable readers to appreciate, appropriate, and apply the Word of God, which will result in ‘purity, joy, right values, hope, comfort, freedom, new life, peace, guidance, wisdom, integrity, encouragement, and effective prayer,’” states Wiersbe. In other words, if you want to be a new person, knowing and obeying the will of God and becoming more like Jesus Christ, there is perhaps no finer tool to encourage that process than The Transformation Study Bible.

One of the most anticipated and comprehensive study Bibles of the year, The Transformation Study Bible has been a lifetime in the making by a man who is widely known as a prolific and trusted writer and theologian. The former pastor of The Moody Church in Chicago, an internationally known Bible teacher, and someone who has given his life to a deep examination of the Word of God, Dr. Wiersbe lends his vast experience and scholarly insight to the most beloved and revered book of all time. This effort is to encourage believers of all levels to know and love the Bible and to experience the same transformation that has radically changed his life. The result is a Bible that is clear, understandable, and applicable to the lives of its readers.

Dr. Wiersbe writes, “The remedy for discouragement is the Word of God. When you feed your heart and mind with its truth, you regain your perspective and find renewed strength.” By providing a new set of tools for Bible students of all levels, David C Cook and Warren Wiersbe have partnered to provide an essential tool to help bring the “perspective” and “renewed strength” that comes from a life transforming study of God’s Word. This fantastic and long awaited resource will bring more clarity than ever before to the study of God’s Word.

The Transformation Study Bible with General Editor Warren Wiersbe

David C Cook September 1, 2009

ISBN-13: 978-1434765307/2100 pages/$24.99

www.davidccook.com

Cry Out America Prayer Rally

People gathered together at our City Hall in Columbus at Noon today to participate in the National Cry Out America Prayer Rally on 9.11.09.

It was an honor to coordinate such a united event on the steps and lawn of City Hall. A special word of appreciation goes out to Mayor Fred Armstrong for allowing us to assemble there.

Representatives from the following churches took part in the Cry Out America program:

• Crossroads Community Church
• Westside Community Church
• East Columbus Christian Church
• East Columbus United Methodist Church
• Columbus Free Methodist Church
• St. Peters Lutheran Church
  
• Petersville United Methodist Church
• First Lutheran Church
• Northview Assembly of God
• Columbus First Assembly
• Memorial Baptist Church
• Seventh Street Church of God

People from all over strolled into the area to hear what was going on. Workers took their lunch breaks to come and pray with us. City Hall workers watched us from their offices inside. Cars and trucks traveling into Columbus honked their horns as if to communicate to us...whether positively or negatively. This event of prayer and praise was having a powerful stamp upon our community and nation.

The name of Jesus was broadcast powerfully from humble hearts and broken vessels.

The pictures with our hands raised outwards was prayers of blessing to the community of Columbus and surrounding areas.

Thanks Lord for hearing us as we cried out to you according to your Word. We look to you to have mercy upon our nation and look with grace upon our people! Forgive us for we have sinned. Forgive us for our misplaced priorities. Forgive us for failing to seek you with all of our hearts. Change us O God and transform our lives and our communities!

May the Lord hear us all as we CRY OUT TO HIM in desperation!

Love to all.

A special thank you goes out to David Tayes for his help with transporting the equipment from CFA to City Hall. Also, appreciation goes out to Martha and Josh Kennedy for their help with set up and tear down. Special thanks goes to Allison, my administrative assistant, for taking these pictures today!