This generation is in danger of getting stuck in a version of Christianity that is never challenging, dangerous, adventurous.

Reggie Joiner, Move

A Slice of Fresh Bread

Every day I receive an assortment of mail; personal letters, magazines, announcements, invitations, bills, and of course credit card offers. I love getting real letters from friends, invitations are nice, bills will always be there, and some reports still come in paper form. 

During the Spring, Summer and Fall I accumulate all of the unrequested and unappreciated credit card offers and store them in a box in my garage.  Once the air turns cold, I protect my identity by using them to start the fires in my fireplace.  No sense using shredder time unnecessarily.

How odd that some letters I eagerly await, but other mail is an unwanted pain!  Paul reminds us that we too are letters. You are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts (2 Corinthians 3:3).

I want to be the kind of mail people look forward to receiving.  I hope to embody the good news of Jesus Christ.  Camp is a relational ministry – life letters are written and read every day.  Don’t be junk mail; the more personal, informative, inviting and loving we are, the greater the impact of our message.

Prayer Requests

CCI-Russia is concluding its Christian Camping Leaders Conference (January 29-February 2). Please pray that the instruction, encouragement, networking and planning of this conference would translate into effective camps and conferences throughout the Former Soviet Union during 2012.

CCI-Philippines will hold its National Forum (February 28-29) at Bayside Bible Camp.  Their theme will be STAY ALIVE! In Faith.  Pray for good attendance and for the training, encouragement, sharing, planning and worship during this national conference. 

Less than three months remain until participants from around the world gather at Pinos Reales near Madrid, Spain for CCI’s Worldwide Summit April 19-24, 2012.   Please pray for the planning and preparation for this conference.  Especially pray that all of the invited guests would be able to obtain the required visas to enter Spain for this event.

El Monte, a camp in Mexico, continues to struggle with the takeover of its site by squatters.  Please continue to pray for the safety of all involved and for a quick and positive resolution to this conflict.  (For more details please go to El Monte Mexico on Facebook.) 

CCI-Ukraine will hold its Instructors’ Forum February 3-5 in Kiev. Please pray that the leaders assembled will be encouraged and prepared to teach others later this Spring in training conferences throughout the Former Soviet Union.