Someone asked me recently what Church at the Crossing has done for Camp Challenge Alaska this summer. Maybe the question should be what hasn’t CATC done for Camp Challenge this summer?

I truly believe that CATC has restored hope that God works in spite of all our messed up circumstances. As directors of a para-church camping ministry, Selena and I have been overwhelmed by the love we have felt from your church family. We have truly treasured many opportunities to fellowship with your leadership, speak at your fall youth retreat, and make friends that now feel like family.

CATC has not only restored the buildings and grounds, but has also been the spear head for accomplishing some of our dreams here. The men that traveled in May worked with relentless energy and accomplished a major project. They left an even bigger impact with the people here. Camp Challenge will never be the same. When 60 people showed up one night in July, I thought to my self, wow, what a motley crew. What those 60 people were able to accomplish in a week, would have taken me years to do on our own.

CATC has been and I believe, will continue to be, an answer to many of our prayers. Thank you so much from the Leadership Team at Camp Challenge Alaska and from the Helvey family. God Bless.

And to read about the trip of the youth, they kept a blog during their time at this site:
http://catcmissions.blogspot.com/

And thanks to those who made these trips possible in so many ways!

Andrew Gale

Some of our accomplishments included:

• Installing insulation in the ceilings of 6 cabins.
• Installing air conditioners on timers in 5 cabins.
• Replacing the steps on 5 cabins.
• Repairs to several cabins such as replacing fascia.
• Installing OSB on the ceilings of 4 cabins.
• Wiring for new lighting in 4 cabins.
• Thoroughly cleaning the inside of several cabins.
• Painting the exterior of 9 ½ cabins.
• Painting the roofs of 3 cabins plus finishing the roof of the bathhouse.
• Clearing the paths of debris.
• Cleaning and organizing the kitchen.
• Cooking for our crew.

In addition, we made many connections with each other and with the camp.

And after the two weekend push, the Camp Challenge team went up for another work weekend the beginning of June.  Look for more information about next year!

Starting Wednesday, March 25th, volunteers will construct the home on site just one mile from our PTW partner, the Bells Chapel Church of God.  The home will be completed by volunteers by the first of May.  The home will allow H4H applicant, Sue Long, to have her first home, along with her 13-yr old son.  It will also allow her to enter into foster care of 3 extended family members who need a home. 

CATC chose this project because of the partnership with BCCOG and desire to bless the neighborhood. The costs of materials for the project were donated by Enterprise Housing, Inc., of which CATC’s Donna Thomas is a member.  The timing of the build coincided our March Missions focus which includes 4 themed weekends – 1) Homelessness, 2) Hunger, 3) Haven (featuring Children of Promise), and 4) HIV/AIDS.  The 4 weekends focus on real and practical needs in our local and global community.  CATC Mission Director, Andrew Gale envisioned these 4 weeks for the congregation based upon Isaiah 52:7 “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, ‘Your God reigns”.

–Submitted by Tim Broyles, CATC Pastor of Outreach and Missions

http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=5fa91ccf8713fc287b1a

A colleague and friend, Sonja, was telling me about her need to clean out the basement. With two rapidly growing toddlers, the basement (and the bedrooms, and the bonus room, etc… you know the story) were becoming overcrowded with toys and gear that weren’t being used any longer. She wondered aloud who could use these items. She knew she could donate them to Goodwill, but she was hoping to make a donation that had a bit more direct impact.

Well, I couldn’t just sit there! I told her about Bell’s Chapel and their needs. I explained that the books, toys and some gear could be used in the daycare. And other items may even be sent home to parents who could use these high-quality items like baby monitors, bathtub toys and feeding supplies. Even a Lands End diaper bag!

To help her better understand the impact her items could have, I shared with her the link to the Prepare the Way video about Bell’s Chapel.

She was hooked.

Thanks to Sonja’s generosity, I dropped off five large garbage bags, two boxes and several larger toys in the lobby at church yesterday. It took me four different trips to haul it all in, and I was sure glad I had cleaned out the minivan before going over to her house!

Everyone wins. Bell’s Chapel and the members of their community clearly benefit. Sonja now has more room and is happy to know that her donation may help so many others. It warms my heart to see God at work, helping make meaningful connections.

Who do you know that’s cleaning house in this New Year? Maybe you can drop a similar suggestion?

My mind is sorting through the faces I’ve seen – from the faces of people who’s lives and hearts have been changed through the God’s work at Bell’s Chapel (as we pastors visited Pastor Adrienne and Miss Vicki recently) to the faces I saw yesterday and Friday at our own Christmas Celebration…

At Christmas Celebration, we got to experience the incredible story of Jesus, with people from all walks of life; people in every situation… from the homeless to the wealthy, from the lonely widower to the large family, from the happy to the heartbroken, from the content to the desperate, from the saved to the cynic. A bus was donated and 45 men and women from local missions enjoyed lunch and experienced the performance. A cast member brought a homeless man he had befriended and was quietly introducing him around before the show. Crossing attenders promoted this show like crazy and brought with them people with whom they wanted to share this awesome presentation of God’s love for us.

There was just not enough room for the people we all brought.

Some stood the whole show, others ‘experienced’ it on video packed into the mother’s room, and we may have lost some who desperately need God’s touch… because they couldn’t find a seat.

How will we Prepare The Way for them? How can we reach out when we have no place for them when they respond?

Ten Club 56ers went on a shopping spree at Marsh supermarket last night to gather food for a family affected by the Bell’s Chapel fire. Splitting up into three teams, each team bought three healthy meals for the family. Thanks to these kids, this family has three days of full, healthy meals!

The kids not only know how to shop smart and healthy, but they know what it means to buy meals for family in need. Jesus wants us to think of others, and these kids fully understand that. Last night was an amazing opportunity for them to show their servant hearts. It’s an honor to serve with them!

On Friday, December 5, from 5:00 PM until about 9:45 PM a good group of people came to prepare the soup at CATC. Karen Orr, Anne Moore, Joan McCoy, Ren Mink, Andrew Kutschera and his son, Margie Courtney all participated in preparation for the next day’s activities.

On Saturday, Joan McCoy prepared the hot chocolate, coffee and washed numerous pot and pans during our time passing out these items. Merry Juerling and her children were on the front porch passing out the coffee and hot chocolate. Harold Garnes was inside the house playing his flute and his music was enjoyed by all.

We were trying to provide an uplifting environment. We all know that those we served were in need and didn’t need the “handout” mentality and stigma to be the dominate thought of the day. I hope the day was a little more light-hearted. I saw Pastor Adrianne doing some of her best work that day, affirming why we have the commitment to Bell’s Chapel that we do.