Congrats Freshmen Ladies!

Today I sit in awe of God is doing in the lives of so many young people at CGC…  if someone would have told me six months ago that I would be serving on the Support Staff of the CGC teenXtreme Ministries I would have simply shrugged my shoulders and said “Huh? ok then.” 

The Spring of this year I was in fact approached about teaching the Sunday morning FUEL class for our Junior High young ladies at Calvary Gospel Church.  Our beloved Sister Bilinda Serra relocated to Arkansas leaving this wonderful group of ladies without a teacher.  I shadowed the class for a couple weeks and agreed to take on the class for a trial period.  I knew I had a lot on a really full plate and I didn’t want to just take the class and teach just to teach but I  wasn’t prepared for the burden that would explode within just a few short weeks!  It is amazing to me that as a “teacher” you are taught just as much if not more that the student.  We dug in to Bible study basics and spent the summer studying with Jane Rossing what God’s word has to teach us about Holiness and modesty.  We read out of the Book ”The Girl in the Dress”  ( http://www.pentecostalpublishinghouse.com/productDetails.asp?guid=8EBE7058A8A8388BE044080020B266CA&c=BOOK&pid=22690&sid=507&ptc=PPH123  ) and gleaned so much from God’s word about His plan for our lives through true holiness.  It has been my goal to be transparent and as real as I can with these ladies because the reality is that living for God is a personal choice – we can’t live off of mom and dad or grandma and grandpa’s relationship’s  with God.  We must seek Him to know Him for ourselves.   

It is fall and we already close the first chapter of our class, we have several ladies moving up into the Senior High FUEL class (taught by my mother, Sis Linda Brown and Bro Dan Powell).  I know they are moving into a great class lead by passionate prayerful teachers but it is with a mix of sadness and great hope that I watch these ladies take the next step.  This group has an anointing on them that I believe will take them to places few have traveled or seen in God if they will follow His calling.  We spent our last class together discussing the possibilities brought on by belief.  We don’t always know - just as I didn’t know that I would end up teaching this class – where God is taking us… 

We must believe in Him to trust Him.  To believe in Him, we must know him.  We know him by studying his word and as Monica shared with us in her 5 Spot Wednesday evening at XD10-be we must pray daily to talk with him.  Remember ladies… A mind released by God’s revelation is positioned for great things, so by faith ask Him to show you His grand plan for the next season of your service for God. Do not allow unbelief to hold you back. Instead embrace the possibilities of God’s portfolio of opportunities. Be open to career transition (first jobs are coming!), mission work (who knows what you will be!), aggressive giving (start now with your money and time!), writing (keep those prayer journals!), Bible study in your neighborhood and school. Yes, do it- but all for the glory of God. Wherever He leads you, know that He has gone before you!

I love you ladies!  Thank you for letting me teach you.  Go with God and be all He has called you to be.
Much love,
Jessica Rivest

Defective faith dies for dread of what might happen, but effective faith thrives over the hope of what can happen. 
“He replied, “Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”  Matthew 17:20

Rachel and Kaylyn with their Campers!

I was a dorm mom for Junior Camp in Shawano, WI.  The ages for Junior Camp are 8.5 – 12.

Camp kicked off with some bad weather.  Half the kids were stuck in their dorms while it was storming.  But we all were able to get into the main Tabernacle after 7PM to get things rolling.  This years theme was “From A Shepard To a King.”  The worship was incredible right from the start.  Children were walking to the alter and getting the Holy Ghost right in the first evening!

Every morning the kids were woke up at 7:30.  The first order of business is always breakfast at the cafeteria.  After eating there is a fun hands on Sunday School type of class.  There are all sorts of activites like crafts, memory verse learning, etc. with the children being broken up into age appropriate groups.  Those activities usually last until lunch time.

After lunch time is sports!  Lots of fun times were had playing football, volleyball, soccer, basketball, etc.  And yes, after sports is cleanup time…  begrudgingly the boys never seemed to want to get clean after investing so much time getting muddy.

Junior Camp 2010 Drama

Evenings were kicked off with dinner and followed with service.  The evening format was full of worship, drama led by Brother and Sister Bath, and ended with an altar call.

After the evening worship and drama, the kids stampeded over to the canteen for snacks, drinks and of course candy!  Once the evening wound down, the dorm parents gathered up the kids to get ready for lights out.

It was very exciting and I was able to get close to each of my girls.  It seemed like I blinked my eyes and the week was done.  I look forward to hearing the stories of how each of the campers will have grown when I see them again.  I’m excited about the possibilities that God has given each of them and can’t wait to be at camp again next summer!

Rachel Brown
Calvary Gospel Church

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7/29/2010:  Regretfully, Sister Grant will not be coming home today as planned.  Her fever spiked again through the night and the Dr. would like to run some additional tests.  This may include more detailed images of her lung and a Cat scan.  Please continue to pray for her complete recovery.

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7/28/2010:  Please continue to pray for Sister Grant. Her fever is down, but she does have pneumonia in the left lung and a kidney infection. She is scheduled to be sent home Thursday, but with your prayers and God’s touch, she will go home healed!

In the near future, we are looking to add a “prayer wall” to the CGC website.  You would be able to submit and view prayer requests right online.  You would even be able to indicate that you prayed for a specific request and send a faith building notification right back to the person requesting prayer!

We are excited about the new site.  If you have any comments or would like to leave some feedback, please do so below.

Rev. Morton Bustard

Pastor John Grant is pleased to welcome world traveling and renowned Evangelist, Reverend Morton Bustard to Calvary Gospel Church.  Reverend Bustard will be speaking Saturday, July 17th at 6PM and Sunday July 18th and 10AM and 6PM.

Reverend Bustard is a deeply devoted preacher that has dedicated his life to bringing others to a closer walk with Jesus.  He is used mightily by God in the operation of the gifts of the Spirit, which include healing, miracles, knowledge and discernment of spiritual matters.

Come expecting to see great things and to be touched personally by Jesus.

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