Keeping Kids Cozy Update

We are now at 315 winter sets with the school’s count included.

We’re at 300 Sets!

Just wanted to let you all know we are at 300 three piece sets right now.  I am trying to get an update from the school to see where they are in there count, but I wanted to let you all know where we are this week.  Please keep this in prayer.  We really want to get to our goal of 500 sets.  Let’s see what God does as we wrap this up in the next two weeks.  Thank you!

Monthly Giving Update for October

Monthly giving amounts since October

• Pledged Average $50,287.57
• May $79,132.93
• June $32,144.33
• July $29,805.82
• August $24,678.61
• September $87,006.20
• October $30,138.56
• Average $47,151.08

Total Pledged to Given Date

• Total Pledged $1,810,352.49
• Given to Date $282,906.45

Status of Winter Sets and Kohl’s Donations

Many of you have asked where we are on our goal of 500 three piece sets (hat, scarf, and gloves). As of today we have 204 three piece sets and 48 two piece sets. (What this means is we need 48 scarves to complete those sets.) The School started their campaign last week and I have not got and update from them yet. It is so awesome to see how God is using our church/ school to minister to the needs of our community.

By the way, Kohl’s was not able to get the volunteers we needed for Breakfast with Santa to get us the donation that would have gone for this. However, I am considering seeing if Hope Thrift could use the volunteers in January and this would work better for Kohl’s with the Holiday season. We would still get the donation at that time.

Thanks for your prayers. It is fun to be on the same ministry team with each of you.

Journey and Property update

Jefferson Campus

Our HUD progress

We are presently working with a HUD Consultant to determine the lot size and configuration required for a second retirement center similar to our current Capitol Retirement Village at 500 Bruns Lane, just next door to the west of this facility. This facility will most likely be placed on the southeast corner of this property as shown on the multi-media display.
A Retail Center

Our Master Planner has been in discussions with an Anchor Store: In this store chain, a new CEO put all development on hold temporarily while he evaluated the company’s growth strategies. It appears the hold has been lifted and we are setting up a meeting to re-introduce the Church property, specifically the Eastern end of the proposed Retail Center. This parcel could be developed prior to the demolition of any Church facilities.
The balance of above mentioned Retail Center is temporarily on hold until the Church decides on timing.
The Day Care

A feasibility and market study is completed.
The business plan is in process.

Our South Campus

A comprehensive Market Study has been completed: Overall positive results of this study will help us in several ways.
A sports park

We are currently evaluating market study and incorporating it into a strategic development plan for Investment Partners
Residential Area

Westside

The Church is finalizing negotiations on a Purchase Agreement with a residential developer.
Eastside

We are incorporating Market Study results into a sales package for select residential retirement related developers
Retail/Commercial

The Church has entered into a LOI with a highly experienced Retail Partnership to develop the Retail/Commercial component of the Master Plan.
New Church Building. All of these points will help us move to our new location on South Second Street.

The Journey

The Journey 3-year campaign giving.

1. We have received $1,810,352.49 in pledges to be paid over a 3-year period.
2. As of the end of the end of October we should have received $301,725.42
3. We are slightly behind where we should be. At the end of October we have received $282,906.45
4. What this means is our monthly pledge offering should be $50,287.57
5. What is coming in on average is $47,151.08
6. If you visit calvaryspringfield.org and go to the property page, you will find this information plus monthly actual giving for the Journey.

What Does The Middle-East Say?

End Times?

What Does the Middle East Say?

Pastor Mark Johnson
Message notes for November 18, 2007
Download  the audio and notes from our online message area.

Matthew 24:32-45

This passage tells us several important truths.
1. Jesus is coming again.
2. We cannot know the hour.
3. We can see signs that tell us it could be soon.
4. We should be ready.

I have never known of a time more ripe in the Middle East than today for the events of scripture to take place.

We have to be careful when we assign specific events to end time prophecy.

After World War II, the British decided to leave Palestine, and on May 14, 1948, for the first time in 1800 years, Israel was a nation once again.

Here we see one of the most dramatic prophecies of the last days.

Jeremiah 16:14-15, Ezekiel 37:11-14

So God has kept His word in a way that was deemed impossible by the world and explained away by many in the church. Israel is a nation.

The church should be on watch. What other things are going to be happening in the last days?

Ezekiel 38:1-7

Israel – 8,000 square miles
Illinois – 56,345 square miles

Many believe Russia will lead this charge.

Iran was called Persia until 1935.

Cush is associated with Egypt.
Put is associated with Libya and other countries in that region.
Togarmah is associated with Turkey.

With the exception of Russia, these are all predominately Islamic states.

Our call is to pray.

End Times?

On November 18th we’re starting a new series on End Times. We’ll be asking 3 major questions:

• What does the Middle East say?
• What does the World say?
• What does the Bible say?

We’d like to know what is on your mind when you think of these questions and share those thoughts with others. What have you learned about the End Times in your life so far? How can we tell we are in the End Times? What are some obvious signs? What are some signs that we might be missing? Let’s talk about it.

The Journey Blog Area

We’re adding a new area to the CTCC blog just for the Journey.   This area of the blog is aimed at keeping you informed of all updates related to the ongoing progress of Calvary’s new property.

Some of the things we’ll be sharing on this blog are:

• Plans and progress of new property site concerning the selling of land and status of new buildings
• Plans and progress of Calvary’s current property location
• Plans and actions for all facets under Calvary Temple Christian Center such as Calvary Daycare, Calvary Academy etc…
• Other miscellaneous news updates

View all posts related to the Journey in the Journey area of our blog.  For downloads, visit The Journey area of Calvary’s main web site and click “downloads”.  We encourage you to ask questions and comment on any news posted in this blog.

Update from South Africa

Hello everyone!

I have survived my first month in South Africa! We had a sponsored camp and a conference in October. The camp was sponsored by a church and was a group of kids the went out and found in their community. The kids had an absolute blast. Many made new commitments to Christ and others recommitted their lives. We also had 2 healing testimonies from one of the male leaders at the camp. One girl he had prayed for was suffering from being sick all weekend, and once she had surrendered her life to Jesus she was healed. She was believed to have been demon possessed and was delivered from it. We also had a boy who was deaf in one ear and when the leader prayed for him he was healed. It was truly an amazing weekend.

The conference we held was actually a conference for kids to come to and learn how to minister and be a leader in their children’s programs. We had a wonderful response to this conference and many have already written us letting us know that they have implemented what they learned over the weekend.

Right now it is the slow season for us here, so I am able to get a hand on the office and the way things work here. And let me tell you, things work different. However, it is exciting to have a new change of pace.

I know that a lot of you have been asking for updates and photos, so please go to my website, www.amandabarber.com <http://www.amandabarber.com>  to read my blogs and look at photos. Due to the lack of internet availability I will only be updating the website once a month, but I will be blogging all month long for you to read once the site is updated.

I cannot thank you all enough for believing in me and supporting me through prayer and through your finances. I pray for you all daily that God would continue to bless you through your support. Please know that these stories are your stories and these testimonies are your testimonies. None of this is possible without your support.

In Him,
Amanda

Project Walkway – The Challenge Remains

2 Peter 1:3

This is a call to escape the nature we were born with and to participate in the divine nature.

I MUST CHANGE!

Will you accept the goals of God and the divine nature?

I am responsible for my change.

This task never ends until we reach Heaven. This is a lifetime journey, but it can become more enjoyable as we go.

Don’t forget the lesson of the first week.
2 Peter 1:4

To help us along on this project, God has given us a promised outcome for the effort.

If we are continually growing, we will

• Be effective.
  • Effectiveness is deeper than success.

• Be productive.

• Never fall.