Jordon Graduates from Evangel University!

Evangel University Chapel, Springfield, Missouri

Brent & Jordon @ Baccalaureate Service

Receiving the Outstanding Student Award

Trenton, Jordon & Devon (The 3 Amigo's)

Jordon, Neena & Mom

Outstanding Computer Science Graduate

Papa, Mom, Mr. Mitcham (Jordon's advisor) & Jordon

Graduation @ James River Assembly

President Spence awarding the diploma

The place was packed!

Grandparents and Family

Mom, Neena & Grandma

Jordon's favorite cake - Chocolate!

Recently we made a road trip down to Springfield, Missouri for our oldest son's college graduation. Jordon graduated from Evangel University on May 5th with Magna Cum Laude Honors. Plus, he was awarded the Outstanding Computer Science Graduate from the Science and Technology Department. The whole family was together to celebrate this very special moment...even the grandparents were there to witness it!

We are very proud of our son and the dedication that he demonstrated with his studies over these past four years (where in the world did those four years go?). He sure has set the bar high for his brothers and sister to follow in his footsteps.

Tammy and I have been blessed with four great kids...smart, gifted, talented, good looking, and in love with the Lord. God has been so good to us!

May God help us all as parents to "train up our children in the way they should go" so when they are older and on their own they will stay on the straight and narrow path. It is God's charge to all Christian parents...let us take heed and follow it.

Love to all!

CFA's 2011 Easter Egg Hunt this Saturday!

Love Your Neighbor

Tom Richardson

Since my last blog entry we have participated in our Winter Revival Services with Evangelist Jimmy Russell. God met with us in those four services in a powerful way. Several lives were transformed because of an encounter with Jesus Christ...awesome! There was such liberty and freedom in the worship services and a hunger for the preaching of God's Word.

Following the Winter Revival it was a joy to witness five believers obeying the Lord and getting baptized in water. The vision of spiritual propulsion among our fellowship is definitely taking hold. Each vision step is moving followers of Christ into a closer and and more consistent walk with Jesus.

This past weekend we sponsored a relational evangelism teaching event with Rev. Tom Richardson from People Reaching People Ministries. Tom taught and ministered in three separate sessions on leading Christians into soul-winning opportunities in everyday life. The evening session focused on "Neighborhood Evangelism." This was especially meaningful as our church, Columbus First Assembly, will be launching out soon on prayer walks throughout our community. The power of prayer combined with the personal invitation will be a tremendous force for God in our city. One of the verses and also statements used in that evening session centered on:

• "For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement "you shall love your neighbor as yourself." (Galatians 5:14)
• Intention (100%) + Mechanism (method) = Results!
• What are you doing that is more important than obeying God's command, "Love your neighbor as yourself"?
  

Several key opportunities have been presented to our fellowship to put this verse and this strategy into motion. Together we will be looking for fresh opportunities to love our neighbors and demonstrate the awesome love of Jesus!

Our 9th Annual Easter Egg Hunt with over 10,000 eggs is scheduled for Saturday, April 23rd @ Noon. Registration has started @ columbusfirstassembly.org!

We are committed to MAKING IT COUNT IN 2011!

P.S. We caught coon #3 up in the attic!

Coons in the Attic!

Attic above church office

Caught you little fella...

Rocky the Raccoon

Rocky's daughter Rachel...or so we think!

Cage turned over into ceiling insulation...

Leaving CFA...no more home for you coons!

Devon with his sax before a concert

Devon and the CEHS Jazz Band

Have you ever heard of Bats in the Belfry? Bats are those erratically flying mammals and belfries are the bell towers, sometimes found at the top of a bell tower on a church, where the bell is placed.

We experienced here @ CFA something of a different nature...raccoons!!! And these coons weren't in our belfry either...they were in our church attic. In fact, these little critters had made quite a mansion of a home in our spacious and sprawling attic. We believe they had been residing up there for the better part of a year.

Well, when Rocky clawed and chopped his way through the ceiling in the hallway (literally!)...we knew it was time to act...and act fast! We called the Animal Control in our city and they brought over one of their cage traps and some bait food (cat food no less!). Guess what? Rocky and his family (or his friends) were extremely smart. Somehow they were able to get inside the trap, grab the food and get out of Dodge! They did this for about 4 or 5 times...simply wearing out the Animal Control officer. Would you believe they came to expect our call every morning?

First we caught Rocky and a week later we caught Rachel (I'll give her this name because I assumed she was female...small and petite!). I think they were just glad to finally be caught and then released out into the country. You don't think they are built with a GPS device in their brains, do you? I'm not looking for them to return any time soon!!

The opening was closed up on the soffit underneath the roof...thanks to Ted, our handyman. Plus the hole in the ceiling was repaired by Kevin, our janitor. Thanks guys for your help!

My son in High School recently played in a special event at his school to raise funds for their band program. We attended this function and was very proud of his accomplishments. Devon has grown tremendously with his saxophone since starting before the sixth grade.

This coming Sunday begins our WINTER REVIVAL with Evangelist Jimmy Russell. Looking forward to these special services. In fact, why not come and join us!

Service schedule is Sunday @ 10 am and 6 pm. Monday and Tuesday nights @ 7 pm!

Come on, let's "Make it Count!"

New book - "Soulprint"

There never has been and never will be anyone like you. But that isn’t a testament to you. It’s a testament to the God who created you. The problem? Few people discover the God-given identity that makes them unlike anyone else. Mark Batterson calls this divine distinction our soulprint.

God would like to introduce you to yourself.

In Soulprint, Mark pours the contagious energy he’s known for into helping you experience the joy of discovering who you are...and the freedom of discovering who you’re not. The wonderful fact is that your uniqueness is God’s gift to you, and it’s also your gift to God.

A self-discovery book that puts God at the center rather than self, Soulprint encourages you to recognize and explore the five defining moments in your life that will determine your destiny. Along the way, you’ll find that you’re not just turning the pages of a book. You’re turning the pages of your remarkable, God-shaped, world-changing life.

About the Author: Mark Batterson serves as the lead pastor of National Community Church (www.theaterchurch.com) in Washington, D.C.

Disclaimer. I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

Download Chapter One.

Purchase "Soulprint."

December Drama...

Christmas Family Photo

Ashlyn's 13th Birthday

Pastor's Staff & Board Christmas Party

Annual Christmas Quiz

Lori was the Christmas Quiz Champ for another year!

My wife...amazing cook, amazing woman!!

Team 1 Competition

Team 2 Competition

Ping Pong Tourney...Brad and me

Pastor Clint & Mike

Kevin & Roger

"The Plane Truth" Kidz Christmas Program

Caitlyn...missionary kid

Kidz Christmas Choir

Joseph & Mary

C3 Service - Tammy reading a story

C3 Candlelight Service

What a busy month so far...every December usually is, right!

My daughter Ashlyn celebrated her 13th birthday at the beginning of the month. My baby has grown from a little girl into a beautiful teenager. She brought tears to Tammy's eyes...as our last child has entered middle school...there are no Andreasen children left in elementary school any longer!

Then we hosted the annual Staff & Board Christmas Party at our home. Every year this is one of the highlight's for our leadership team. They enjoy this special night that we prepare for them...in their honor for all they have helped to provide in servant leadership throughout the year.

Then there was adult caroling one Wednesday night to the shut-ins of our church. We receive such a blessing when we share the Christmas carols with them...and give them a warm hug with lots of love before we leave.

Our church's children's ministry presented "The Plane Truth" Kid's Christmas Program! Wow...they knocked it out of the park...literally! They did a fantastic job ministering to a packed auditorium the message of the Christmas story...told from their perspective....very cute and funny too! It was amazing!!

Next we celebrated our annual church family gathering called C3....Carols, Communion and Candlelight. This was another powerful service sharing songs, videos, special music, stories, scripture readings, communion and also the candlelight service too. Anointed night with some very special people gifted in ministry. We have a wonderful church family here at Columbus First Assembly.

Love having my two older sons home for Christmas. We gathered around the tree for our annual family picture.

We send love from our family to yours, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Love,

Pastor, Tammy, Jordon, Trenton, Devon & Ashlyn