Creation2Christ: July 2012

Sunday, July 1, 2012

We thank our great Creator Savior for showing Himself strong this past week.

He turned the course of the tropical storm that threatened to cancel camp and gave us beautiful weather to enjoy! Jesus worked in hearts and lives and called five campers to put their faith in Him for salvation. Part way through the week, it became necessary for our family to go in two directions. Stan and Jessica continued to teach at camp and Susan and Bryan traveled to another town for medical reasons. The Lord Jesus enabled Bryan to have surgery when it became apparent that his condition was worsening and could not wait until we returned home to his doctor. Bryan is resting and recovering well. Our family has been reunited and we are teaching VBS in Ozark, Alabama this week. We trust the Lord for the strength to serve and the outcome as He works in and through us, the children, and the church here.

Stan

Thirty-five years ago, after graduating from Prairie Bible Institute where he met his wife Susan, Stan would go on to complete a pastoral degree at Calvary Bible College.

For many years, Stan was a very active church member: visitation pastor, song leader, Sunday school superintendent, teacher, VBS director, etc. God was working on Stan's shy personality to prepare him for further ministry.

Years later, he would pastor a small rural church, begin a house church, lead many Bible studies, teach a year of high school at a Christian school, and manage a creation theme park, before God led him into the ministry he has today.

Stan enjoys reading, studying, and sharing the Bible's creation and gospel truths. He is currently excited to be working on a new message about Redeeming the Time our Creator has given us. Like his father before him, he loves to use his powerful, rich voice to sing praises to God!

SUSAN JO

Besides being Stan's wife for 36 years, Susan Jo homeschooled and raised three children. Years later she put her talent for teaching to good use by teaching 6th grade in a Christian school.

She currently enjoys being a volunteer prison ministry head for a fellow creation ministry. She is always full of great ideas for the ministry, especially when it comes to VBS curriculum! Writing her own alto part for many of the family's original songs makes her invaluable to the singing part of the ministry!

Proofreading a pain? Not for Susan. She has enjoyed editing books and curricula for other ministries as well for Creation2Christ--as long as there is enough time to look at it before the family airs a new presentation!

Jessica

After graduating from Pensacola Christian College in December of 2008 where she studied teaching and sacred voice, Jessica felt led to join her family as they prepared to embark on a new area of ministry.

Jessica had already taught in two Christian schools where one of her favorite parts of the job was preparing and directing school programs. Having been taught a love for writing and drama at an early age by her mother, she had written many musical programs for church groups and her own family to share through the years.

As a part of Creation2Christ, she enjoys writing skits for various presentations as well as a large part of the VBS curriculum development. She enjoys making the PowerPoint for the ministry's presentations and writing original songs that teach truth for both children and adults.

Teaching children during VBS's all summer is a joy she looks forward to each year. She inherited her family's love for singing and her grandmother's soprano voice and desires use these for God's glory.

Bryan

After being diagnosed with Crohn's at the age of nineteen, Bryan began to truly learn what it meant to trust God with his life. In the years to follow, he would face a gradual decline that would at times plummet him to months of bed rest where he could not move or be touched without extreme pain. Many times he came close to death, but God's grace and strength preserved him. At times he would feel better and be able to return to his work. One such occasion allowed him to be the bookstore manager at another creation ministry for a time.

As the family began the traveling creation ministry, he faced the obstacles of pain, restricted diet on the road, and exhaustion to venture out with them unless doctor's or parent's orders kept him at home. Now, almost 10 years later, still struggling with fatigue and susceptibility to viruses, but greatly improved in health and strength, Bryan continues to share the life God has given him with others. Within the past year, God enabled him to leave his wheelchair and cane behind to take a more active (literally) part in the ministry. Praise God!

As a teen, along with his siblings and parents before him, Bryan was trained in teaching Bible clubs and leading a child to Christ. He has always enjoyed teaching and spending time with children. He helped his family teach numerous backyard Bible clubs as he was growing up. Counseling children one-on-one for salvation is something he loves. Putting Gospel truths into Bible lessons seems almost second nature to him.

It has only been in the past two years that Bryan has begun speaking to adults. His love for God's Word and his willingness to share what God is teaching him is very evident.

Singing is one of Bryan's greatest joys! No matter how ill, Bryan is always ready to sing to the Lord. God has gifted him with a wide range and while he usually sings bass, he sometimes sings tenor.

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Sunday, July 1, 2012