Building Update
June 28, 2010
On Friday June 25th the Finance team met with the Owner of the White Oak hotel. To sum it up the meeting went better than expected.
From the onset the attitude of the owner was radically different than in our last dealing with him over two years ago. There was tone in his voice that I had never heard. He mentioned that us leaving the hotel was handled wrong and that they should have worked harder at keeping us. From there it was made very clear that they were open to working with us and that several options were available for to choose from. We talked about assuming the loan they have with a Central Coast bank or even a lease to own option. It became very clear that there was a possibility of getting this done. The owner made it known how much he wants to sell it for but we are very aware of how much it is worth. We are going to look into some of the options we have and go from there.
So where do we go from here? Well, we ask that you continue to pray! Your prayers were felt so strongly while we were in the meeting on Friday. I can’t emphasize that enough. Specifically pray that we will find favor with the bank holding the loan and that a solution can be worked out. Also pray that God will bring all the finances necessary for us to go ahead once the door opens. There is so much to be done besides just getting into the property. Finally pray for wisdom for the Elders and Finance team as we move forward with this. I am very confident with our team and really feel that God has positioned us for this moment.
The second thing you can do it give. We are guessing that we are going to need to come to the bank with $350,000 to make this happen. We have a good start on this but we need the people of our church and those outside who support us to step up big time to make this happen. I am not afraid to ask: “Will you consider giving sacrificially over the next 12 months to make this happen?“If we can show the bank that we have a majority of our church committed to giving to this they will take that as money in the bank. If each family in our church gave $125 a month toward this we would meet our goal in one year. This Sunday we will putting response forms in our bulletin for you to get on board. You can also go online right now and give (Click Here). It will automatically take it out of your bank account each week.
We are excited for the plans God has for our church on this property. We truly believe God is going to use it to have an international impact for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Please pray about partnering with us in this endeavor.
Pastor Chuck
Missionary Update: Neglia’s
June 22, 2010
Greetings from Ireland!
I hope you all enjoyed Midsummer’s Eve yesterday. Here in Cork, it was absolutely glorious! The sun shone brilliantly all day long, and well into the night as well. In fact, the sun doesn’t set till 10 pm, so I was hanging laundry out on the line after ten last night! Our garden in enjoying the extra sunshine as well; I picked our first strawberries of the season just over the weekend, the sweet peas I planted are going crazy, and everything everywhere is bursting into life (we had a nest of blackbirds in the hedge, and the babies just left the nest yesterday!). I have eight vases of sweet peas and roses from my garden all over the house- I love summer!
Speaking of summer, our annual Church Retreat is just a week and a half away. This year, we’re renting a hostel on Cape Clear Island, an Irish speaking island (meaning: the people speak Irish, not the island) just off the west coast of Ireland. Over the past month, there were sightings of dolphins, sunfish, seals, KILLER WHALES (!!), and basking sharks off the coast of the island. So yes, I’m definitely looking forward not only to the retreat, but to the ferry journey as well! The passage we’ll be studying is Psalm 23, with both Mike and Pastor Pat from Calvary Fallbrook teaching. Will you please join me in praying for:
1) the planning to go well! I’m organizing the schedule as well as shopping for and preparing (with help) the meals (for 35 people!), and I need grace and wisdom to get it all right! And I can’t forget anything, because once we’re on the island, we’re stuck there with no proper shops or anything.
2) the weather- sunshine please!!
3) the teaching- that it will bless everyone and draw our church closer together as a body (I love Psalm 23!)
4) the fellowship- again, the goal is to bless the congregation as a body. Pray that friendships will form and deepen, and that the Lord will cause us to lie down in green pastures as He restores our souls (Psalm 23).
5) no one to miss the ferry! We’re taking the last one on Friday, so if anyone misses it, they’re gonna have to lie down in green pastures and camp out on the beach till morning!
6) the children- that we are able to bless them as well, and that they don’t get bored (I don’t really see how they could… unless it’s raining).
Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mike is actually away in England until the day before the retreat. I dropped him to the airport this morning, and he’s going to a conference in London, then teaching at the Calvary there, then teaching at the Calvary Chapel UK Pastor’s Conference next week. It’s so cool that he was asked to teach! But obviously, he is very busy over the next 9 days, so will you please pray that the Lord will strengthen him and speak through him. Pray that he will be encouraged and refreshed by both conferences, that he will have a blessed study time, and that the Holy Spirit will make clear the message he is meant to share. (I included the poster from the conference ’cause it has Mike on it! Cute!)
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Glorious as it may be, summer can be a bit discouraging as well when you have a church full of students- they all go home until September! And Duke and Dawn, the wonderful couple who have been serving in Cork for the past 3 years, have been asked to pastor a Calvary affiliated church in the next town over. We are SO excited for them, but they were awesome at what they did and will be very missed. And of course, there are those that are graduating and moving counties or even countries. Our piano player, our treasurer, and our drummer will be gone in just a few months. We know that God is using us in a special way to minister to young people, in a sense of raising them up and sending them out. And of course with Ireland having one of the highest rates of unemployment in Europe, you have to go where the jobs are. So can you please pray that we won’t be discouraged as people we dearly love have to move away. Also, pray for our core group of those committed to Cork- that they won’t be discouraged, and that God will raise them up to fill the ministry gaps left by those who are gone (praise God, we are already seeing this happen!).
Do continue praying for our children’s ministry as well. We now have a few babies, a 4 year old (Eoin), 8 year old boy, and 12 year old boy. Kind of random ages! There’s the possibility of another family with kids joining us in a month or so as well. So we’re thinking up new and energetic boy-friendly ideas for the Sunday School. It’s all new to us- and I’m open to suggestions!! But we are so blessed that Calvary Cork is attracting families now- it’s great! And we want to serve them the best we can.
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A few more prayer points…………….
*Outreach last Friday went really well- Mike and everyone stayed out on the streets till after midnight! Pray that those who heard the gospel will surrender their lives to Christ.
*Eoin is finishing up playschool in a week, then he’ll be joining a new playschool in September that’s just for autistic children. It is extremely difficult making decisions regarding school for him, and we are so thankful for your prayers regarding this. We know God is in control, and that He’ll guide us in His timing. Praise God that Eoin is now receiving physiotherapy, and for the daily work that Aan-Sofie does with him (she’s amazing). Pray he’ll get speech and occupational therapy as well. Thanks!!
*Tomorrow is Bonfire Night (St. John’s Eve) in Ireland. It’s a celebration before the Feast Day of St. John the Baptist, when people gather up old branches and rubbish and burn them in huge bonfires- whilst singing and drinking and all that. Mostly people are just happy to burn things, rather than think about John the Baptist! But our street can be a bit crazy sometimes (someone recently went around lighting all the bins on fire), so do pray for our safety and that of the city!
Wow!! If you read this all, then you must truly love us 
Thank you for your prayers and support. God has sustained our family here for 6 1/2 years, and we continue to rely on Him and His faithfulness as we carry out His work in Cork City. What an honour it is to serve our God!!
Volunteer of the Week: Jaime Lopez
June 3, 2010
Jaime is one of those guys who does almost everything except you rarely see him. Much of what he does is behind the scenes or in areas where many adults fear to go. He is often at the church early helping with chairs or coffee but you will see him helping with the youth program as well. Jaime has a heart to serve and is willing to be used almost everywhere. One of our many military retirees, Jamie hails from Michigan, but has chosen to settle in Lompoc and make it his home.
Next time you see Jaime around the church go up and give him an “atta boy!” We are so thankful for all that he does.
Missionary Update: Tonye Holyde
June 1, 2010
The humbling truth is that I came to Jesus a dead (Eph 2:5), sinning (Ro 5:8) enemy (Romans 5:10). I came to Him with nothing. The great news is that God works well with nothing. The Universe incessantly testifies of this fact.
Praise God He saw through my nothingness, my void, my darkness and saw the new universe my life would become the instant I encountered the Life He is.
The Bible is woven with the fabric of individuals who would be appraised as “nothings” in the world’s eyes; weak, cowardly, frail, seemingly insignificant with nothing of girth to bring to the table. Then, in an instant, God rises up through these foolish, weak, base, and despised, and transforms the world. After all, doesn’t that just sum up Jesus’ lot?
What a motley gaggle of rural riffraff that ultimately saw the world touched through such profane vehicles.
This thought challenges my lenses. Who will be the next world changer? Who’s nothingness will become the next glorious alterer of the universe?
There was a man, homeless, drug riddled, literally believing he had only half a face that met Jesus and now oversees first response for Red Cross as a pastor.
There was a street fighter of a man, sitting in his house with a loaded shotgun waiting to kill both his family and himself that is now one of the most gifted and prolific evangelists today.
Can I see in the eyes of the most needy before me the next masterpiece of God that will be used to altar the world as I know it?
This week we met a young homeless 20 year old gal beside the Besize tube station. All she asked for was a travel card to get to a hostel on the east side. Then, God spoke, His Spirit moved and although, the universe may not have appeared to change yet, Hannah’s did, just like that.
People to Pray for:
This is Daniel. David and I had the privilege of sharing Jesus with
him one night while street preaching in Camden. He started by saying he had no interest in religion nor Jesus because science had clearly proven Jesus was just a magician. After speaking for a few moments we both decided “magic” is just something science can’t explain. By the time we were done we were praying for him. He hasn’t received Jesus yet, but was willing to contact me with any and all questions he may have about the subject of Jesus. He said we were the first people he had ever encountered that brought Jesus in a way he could understand. He left with a clear knowledge that he has a choice to make, and it’s Jesus.
-Fevzi: works right across the street at the little convenience store. God has given us favor with him. He is a kind Muslim man, from Turkey. He has been listening intently about Jesus as we celebrate Him openly in front of Fevzi.
Steven: We are still coming to him each day as he works at the fruit stand. He hasn’t given time to sit and talk over dinner but we are confident that day will come.
Troll: much pierced tattoo flyer guy. Totally freaked out by our Jesus-loving life.
Shlomi: from “funky falafel”. Works the late shift. He listens out of one ear right now, but watches us intently as we celebrate Jesus in front of him.
Mecca: steeet-bar philosopher, hasn’t ever really considered there is a God who could actually love people, and prove it on the cross.
Anna: works at the Brazilian Acai hut. Has a bit of cultural religion to get past to get to the embracing arms of Jesus. She knos God as judge, but apparently not as Savior.
Hannah: her new life in Jesus as Tobi seeks to reach out to her in discipleship.
Vita and Nok: Met these gals on the bus. They are from China and Thailand and are here studying English. We offered to help them with English by going through the Bible together.
Craig: From Ireland, Catholic. Now lives on the outskirts of London. Sat and listened intently as we shared about a loving Saving God. He was just about to pray with us when his buddy showed up. Still allowed us to pray for him and left knowing he still has a choice to make with taking Jesus.
Olga: from Poland. Truly intrigued about our coming to share Jesus on a Saturday night in front of the bars. Steered her away from a local pickpocket and was thankful enough to listen patiently as I shared the truth of Jesus with her.
Julianna and Collin: bartenders at the corner pub. Collin even dropped by our house today. He is truly warming up to us and the message of Jesus. Julianna was open as we joyed over Jesus to her.
Ilian: Death Metal Techno Clothing store clerk. Had no idea how to handle Landon and me.
Hey you guys, I am so blessed to know you are joining with me in prayer as we watch God about to roll up His sleeves and start emptying hell in front of us. Thank you for being part of this ministry. I cherish your partnership.
