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The January 2012 Christian Contender Newsletter is Now Online

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Dora and I pray you had a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful beginning to the New Year. The Father certainly blessed us with a wonderful holiday season; the best in years.  We are now in a position to give you an update on our ministry since we have finalized a major transition which began the end of September.  It was determined the project at The Glades Resort, near Moore Haven, Florida, was not developing as hoped so the resort and all its assets are being donated to Cincinnati Christian University.  October through mid-November, we assisted with the transition as the University secured a property management company to develop and operate the resort. Their intent is to sell the property with the revenues going to the University.

Although we are disappointed this project did not develop as planned, we are glad the work we did to improve the park will still benefit the Kingdom through Christian Education. We originally committed to giving our best effort to this project for at least two years to see what could be accomplished.  During that time the resort saw many improvements including a new Library built in the Clubhouse,  a new Pole Barn in the maintenence area, a new Activities Building,  improvements on the Golf Course including rebuilding the sprinkler system, and expanding the activities calendar and ministry opportinities.  There were three weekly Bible Studies, a Resort Choir, and a Worship Service that grew to 130 in attendance.  Additionally, the project saw black ink for the first time during our time there.  All of this should contribute to the value when the property is sold, increasing the contribution for the University.

After finalizing our association with The Glades we spent the next six weeks locating a home and office for the ministry, getting moved, and enjoying the holidays with family.  All is well and the Lord is blessing us more than we deserve. As always, our greatest interest is to do the will of God and follow His leading in every way.  Sometimes it is difficult to determine the direction He is leading and other times it is more than obvious.  We are very excited about the doors of opportunity the Lord has opened to Christian Contender Ministries.  He has never left us without great opportunities to serve Him and build the Kingdom of God.  At this time, the decision has been made to stay in Florida for the following reasons:

• 1. There are around 40 winter residents and 15 full-time residents who are motivated to start a New Testament, undenominational church here in the Hendry County seat of LaBelle.  Several organizations have had a desire to see a New Testament Church planted there but until now no clear opportunity has been given.  Jackie Miller, Minister of the First Christian Church of Clewiston, Florida as well as others are assisting with the planting of this new congregation.  We are cooperating with FCC in Clewiston in special events until the church in LaBelle is able to provide these programs on their own.  This  opportunity is exciting and beneficial to both congregations. This past Sunday there were 55 in attendance for Port LaBelle Community Church.
• 2. All the local programs in Indiana are in the hands of qualified people who are carrying them forward with the exception of the Summer Food Service Program.  This program operates during the summer and we are still able to lead it with the summer staff already in place.
• 3.  Three of our children have permanently relocated in Florida. Our oldest daughter, Anna, is expecting her second child, Patricia Rose in March.  Our daughter Anthea is a full-time student at Edison State College completing a physical therapy degree.  Her daughter Jacquelyn is enrolled in a good Christian school in LaBelle.  Our son Arthur is experiencing a great deal of success in the music industry of southwest Florida.
• 4. Since we must work to support ourselves, employment opportunities here are more promising.  Dora is getting her elementary teaching certificate and has opportunities with both public schools and a private Christian school.  She is currently volunteering with International Christian Academy developing their music program.  There are also several business opportunities available through the network we have built in this area.
• 5. The Lord provided an ideal rental house to use as a home and office.  A Christian man is providing the house at a very reasonable rate. It is more than adequate as a home and office for the ministry headquarters.
• 6.  Plans for the future are very exciting.      a. Spend time this summer in Indiana working with the Summer Food Service Program.b. Continue the travel schedule to speak and train on the subjects of Weekday Religious Education, the Summer Food Service Program, and Bible Day Camp.c.  Develop the Summer Food Service Program in our area.  One local church is already interested in assisting.d.  Lay the groundwork to develop the Weekday Religious Education Program in the local schools.   e.  Continue the process of organizing an Annual Bible Conference similar to the Men’s Round-up for south central Florida.f.  Expand the outreach of Christian Contender Ministries through missions. We have been asked to assist withCrusades in Liberia and India in the next12 months.  Bro. Artie has also been asked to be a featured speaker for a ChristianCruise in October.  Watch for updates.The Lord is always faithful to provide more opportunity than we have time and resources.  We believe He does this so that we will be compelled to recruit other committed Christians for the work of the ministry.  Your continued support through this transition and the beginning of these new opportunities is much appreciated.  Without your support the opportunities to accomplish good work for Christ and the Kingdom becomes very limited.  If you would like more details of this transition or the current and future projects, please feel free to call me at (812) 821-3037 or (863) 674-0224.  You may also communicate by email to artie@christiancontender.org.

This Christmas season we have been especially blessed by the letters, cards, and facebook notes of many from our past service for Christ.  A recent country song makes reference to “the tracks that we leave” as we travel through this life.  For the servant of Christ those tracks should reflect lives that have been changed.  One couple with whom we worked in New Mexico are recently retired and sent us a Christmas letter.  The highlight of their year was seeing three of their grandchildren baptized into Christ.  This is third-generation result from ministry performed almost 40 years ago.  We also heard from a young mother who has three small children, all faithful in the Lord’s Church because, as she stated,  “We were willing to share the Gospel with her parents while living in Brazil, Indiana.”I believe the “stars in your crown” are the souls that will be in heaven as a result of the lives changed by your time on the planet.  “Will there be any stars in your crown?”the great hymn asks.  Those of you who have shared in our ministry over the years have many stars of which you are not even aware.  You are in our thoughts and prayers.

Who Are We?

Christian Contender Ministries was established in 1990 for the purpose of promoting New Testament Christianity. We are independent, undenominational and committed to “walking through open doors” into whatever opportunities the Lord may lead us. The ministry is registered with the federal government as a 501(c)(3), tax-deductible religious charity, and also incorporated by the State of Indiana. We are involved in many areas of ministry including preaching, evangelism, Christian service training, publishing, and ministries to children.

This ministry operates by three basic philosophies: First, we believe we must be committed to restoring “New Testament Christianity.” We hold Christ as our only creed, and the Bible as our only rule of faith and practice.  Second, we think our ministry should have the local community at its very foundation and build upon it.  Therefore we are involved with local churches and the community in various ways. Starting at this point the ministry has expanded into the state, the country, and other parts of the world.  Third, we are convinced that our focus must be on reaching, recruiting, and rescuing children because they are the future of the Kingdom.

Why Reach, Recruit and Rescue?

We are convinced that our focus must be on reaching, recruiting, and rescuing children because they are the future of the Kingdom. Children are the “Natural Resource” for the Kingdom of God. We see children in two groups. First, the children of Christian parents. These children need opportunities to serve in the Kingdom while recruiting them as leaders for the future. The second group contains the children of non-Christian parents. This is by far the larger of the two groups. These children are truly ”Fellow-citizens” of God’s Kingdom but most never have the opportunity to become aware of that glorious fact. We need to rescue them for the sake of Christ and His Church.

Much of our ministry is focused on rescuing helpless children. These children are as much a part of God’s Kingdom as you and I, but they live in homes where God and Jesus are only swear words and the opportunity to attend church is never given. In our area that group makes up around 70% of all children. Many of these children live below the poverty level, but some are from homes that have plenty of what the world has to offer yet are still without Christ. All of these children need to be rescued.

As Christian parents, we have cut no corners to make sure our own children are raised with every opportunity to know Christ and His Church. We know this is our responsibility, but we must consider the fact that we are also responsible for those children who “live as captives” in homes without Christ. Just as there are two groups of children in the world there are also two groups of adults; Christian, and non-Christian.