When Asking For Help Initiates Spiritual Conversations

This past fall, Jeff Derby felt God’s call to join some of his Christ Community family for a short-term mission trip to El Dorado, the code name for a country south of Florida, and he fully intended to pay for the trip himself. In fact, being short on time with the money to spare, it just seemed easier to do so. Why hassle with fundraising when he could write a check and be done?

He discovered God had other plans—plans that extended far beyond whatever monies he raised. Likely this is why, in part, Eva Brandt, Assistant Director of Missions, encouraged him to ask for help. “She said I might find people who couldn’t go themselves but would find joy in giving to my ministry,” Jeff said. “I left that meeting thinking, ‘Okay, that’s interesting.’” After contemplating her words further, he decided to follow church leadership and see what happened.

He initially sent out 60-65 letters, mostly to people outside of the church. “[My wife and I] have been really good at keeping records for Christmas cards, so we have a full excel sheet [of contacts].” This list included a wide variety of people, and Jeff had no idea where most of those individuals stood spiritually. But whereas others might’ve been reluctant to seek help from those, potentially, indifferent or opposed to Christianity, God used Jeff’s obedience not only to fully fund his trip, but also to pave the way for deep faith conversations.

One individual in particular who maintained an overall self-centered outlook struggled to understand why Jeff wanted to go to El Dorado. “I wouldn’t be receiving my weekly paycheck,” Jeff said. “I would be away from my family in [a developing] country.” Through this, God provided a tangible image of what sacrificial love, the love He calls us to and empowers us to show, looks like. “That opened the door to many spiritual discussions.” Not just with his skeptical friend, but with everyone who funded his trip. “It broke the ice to be able to talk about religion amongst each other in a more open way.”

God used Jeff’s ongoing communication throughout the trip to reveal deep truths and draw readers to Himself. Each day, Jeff sent out emails to donors, sharing not only interesting cultural experiences but also where and how his faith intersected. When an intestinal bug made him ill, he talked about finding joy during hard and tiring circumstances. He referenced specific passages of Scripture and how God spoke to him through them each day. Then, once he returned to the states, he made it a point to send thank you notes to everyone who helped him financially. 

In short, in inviting others to share in his journey, he issued Christ’s invitation to “Come and see” what a personal, growing relationship with Christ looks like. Through the incredible generosity of his donors, he also was able to raise extra funds that assisted others participating on the trip as well as some of the people living in El Dorado. And while it’s true, he could’ve paid for his trip on his own, he likely would’ve missed the amazing God moments that followed and are still continuing.

“Even though I knew I would be stretched,” Jess said, “saying yes to using my gifts God has given me has helped to strengthen my spiritual backbone and bring more joy to my life than I would have expected!”

Asking for help can be hard. It pricks our pride, but it can also create an atmosphere where relationships thrive and deep conversations occur, within and outside the church.

If you would like to learn more about visiting El Dorado or participating on a short-term missions trip, contact Eva Brandt at evab@cccomaha.org.

Mia's Story

Mia Thomas, a college student who grew up at CCC, spent 8 weeks in the summer of 2019 serving with the Christian & Missionary Alliance in a Middle-eastern country on a missions’ internship.

We all long to connect with others; to experience community with those who know us fully and love us deeply. But often, it can be difficult to find those types of relationships, especially in today’s rushed and often superficial, photo-shopped culture. At least, this is what Mia Thomas discovered her first year of college. But God used her loneliness and her longing to draw her closer to Himself and teach her what true, gospel-centered community looks like. 

Mia entered college fully anticipating a wonderful, fulfilling year. “Everyone told me this was where I’d meet my best friends,” she said. But she soon found herself painfully alone. “My roommate left in September, so I was by myself for most of the year,” she said. 

By the time summer came, she convinced herself she didn’t really need community in order to serve and love God, and this motivated her to apply for an internship she knew other college students likely wouldn’t attend. “I assumed I’d be going to Spain,” she said, “where I’d experience the local youth and art culture, the coffee and urban culture. It’d be right on the coast. I was excited.”

When that opportunity fell through, her college asked her, “Where do you want to go now?” She was an international relations major and knew one particular “creative access” country was experiencing a lot of political unrest, so she felt it made sense for her to go there. She wanted to hear stories of the history of the region and conflict between the surrounding areas. 

She knew it’d be an opportunity to show God, but that wasn’t her key motivation, in part because she felt unqualified. “I felt like I had to have my faith life together, especially since I go to a Christian college,” she said. She was doing all the right things, but wasn’t sure how she was doing internally. “I was afraid to dig into that because I felt, having an internship, there were high expectations for me to have an exemplary faith.”

Yet, accepting the opportunity God had placed before her, she used an Internship Grant provided by the CCC Missions department, to spend eight weeks in the Middle East. Working with an organization that offered adult English classes, youth intervention, and leadership training with teens, she and her team co-taught with locals who spoke Arabic. 

While there, she lived with one of three missionary families and interacted with three other college interns. “It was an incredibly strong community in a way I hadn’t experienced before,” she said. “We’d go to one house once a week and make a meal for each other, and we spent an hour having our own worship. That was cool because it had an intergenerational and intercultural aspect. One college intern was from the UK, another from Australia.” 

But perhaps most importantly, that was the time when each of them could talk openly about their faith. She discovered the community she built, not just with the other interns, but with the young adults she taught, was more important than having the right words to say. As a result, she was able to develop incredibly deep relationships in a relatively short period.

She spent a lot of time with the young adults she taught. “We went to the beach at night and just talked. Which was amazing, because though they live on the other side of the world, they had the same questions, hopes, doubts, and dreams as we have. “ 

As they shared their lives with one another, faith naturally entered their conversations. “Faith is a large part of their life, much more than in the US,” Mia said. “People there pray five times a day, so they can hear the calls coming from the mosque. They don’t shy away from those difficult questions; they just want to know what people think and believe.”

Perhaps what struck her most was the intentionality with which they approach their relationships. “They’re not surface level,” Mia said. “They genuinely want to know how you’re doing, how you see God and express that love. It took me back how easy it was to talk about, and how my friends would just bring that up.”

She experienced the joy of being welcomed and drawn close. “Before they even fully knew me, they already loved and accepted me,” she said. 

This experience changed her. She realized a huge part of her loneliness in the United States came from the superficiality of her relationships. “This showed me, at the end of the day, God’s heart is for us to be humble and vulnerable. No fronts. No façade. Just coming as you are and asking deep questions.”

Though she still struggles with loneliness at times, she now approaches her relationships with a different mindset. She’s more intentional to pursue deep and authentic conversations where she and her friends create safe places to ask questions and investigate things related to faith.

That was the type of community she experienced during her summer internship, and that’s the kind of community she longs to create now that she’s home.

Because we all need to feel fully known, fully accepted, and deeply loved. 

To find out more about Missions’ Internship Grants or other mission opportunities, contact Craig Walter at craigw@cccomaha.org.

Alliance Women and the Power of Prayer

Over forty-five years ago, retired Christian & Missionary Alliance (the Alliance) missionary Carolyn Brokopp left Omaha and boarded a ship headed to Africa, carried by her passion for the gospel and the prayers of others. Those prayers, offered continually throughout her service, meant so much to her, she now faithfully prays for missionaries. This is one of her roles as the leader of Christ Communities Alliance Women.

Alliance Women is a ministry within the Alliance that exists to exalt Christ and further His mission for maximum kingdom impact, locally and globally. At Christ Community, they meet regularly, have “Lunch on Mission” meetings where they listen to people talk about various ministries, then stay after to pray for and discuss related concerns. 

After going through language and tropical medicine training, Carolyn boarded a cargo ship set for the country of Gabon. “It was supposed to get us there in three weeks but it took fifty-three days,” she said. “We felt pretty trapped. They only had six cabins, and another couple and their daughter and I were in two.” 

Once in Gabon, she got busy learning the culture and sharing the gospel. Though she encountered numerous challenges, she wasn’t worried or afraid because she knew God was in control and that a lot of people back home were praying for her. That was one of the first preparations she secured.

“When I first got accepted to be a missionary,” she said, “I spoke in Orange City, Iowa at an Alliance church. Afterwards, a few Alliance Women had me over to someone’s house to discuss my need for a prayer letter.” They agreed, if I got my needs to them once a quarter, they’d keep track of all my addresses and send my letters out for me. This was before computers,” she said, “so this wasn’t something I could do on my own.”

Four times a year, Carolyn wrote a letter and mailed it to one of the Alliance Women, a retired missionary herself. She produced it and then she and the others stuffed envelopes and sent them out. “They did this for over thirty years,” Carolyn said.

She felt those prayers throughout her service, but most especially when things didn’t go according to plan. “One day, we were driving to different villages for evangelism when a wheel came off our car,” she said. “We were in the middle of the jungle.” They walked back to where it’d flown, and though they put it back on, they’d lost some of the bolts. Therefore, a short distance later, it came off again.

There was no way they could continue, but neither could they get to a mechanic. Thankfully, the village they’d just left was close, so they walked back. A car happened to be passing through so she gave him a note for him to give to the mechanic at their mission station so he would know what had happened. 

While they were waiting in the longhouse, a man came up to them. He said, “I can fix your car.” At first, Carolyn and her team didn’t believe him as this was a village without any cars. Why would a mechanic be there? But she learned he worked at the airport and was on vacation from the capital city. He was able to and did fix their vehicle.

Another time, God allowed her to get malaria medicine almost immediately. This, to her, was just another example of His grace and provisions, fueled by the prayers of others. Now that she’s no longer in the field, she wants to offer the same support and encouragement to missionaries, through Alliance Women, as she received herself received.

“Alliance Women meant a lot to me when I served as a missionary. They gave me money every time I came home so I could buy supplies and whatever I needed to take back to Africa. When I came home five years ago, I started participating from another angle—as the giver instead of receiver.  

Because their group is small, their funds are limited, which in turn limits how much they can give to Alliance missionaries. But Christ Community Church changed things to bridge the gap, made this fund a budgeted item, and through Beyond Belief, gives $3000 to the Christian Missionary Alliance district office to help with missionary needs. 

Carolyn felt a call to missions in high school and began pursuing that call in her mid-twenties. Thanks to Alliance Women and all they do to support those who are sent, she and her ministry partners can continue playing a part in sharing the best news ever to the least reached people well into their senior years. 

If you would like to learn more about Alliance Women or get involved, call Carolyn Brokopp at 402-253-4282. To be a part of all God is doing through missions at CCC, contact Eva Brandt at evab@cccomaha.org.  

Written By Jennifer Slattery

A Mission Trip that Hit Close to Home

Julie Raether had no interest in joining a short-term mission trip to Africa.  Nor did she have any idea the impact the experience would have on one of her most precious relationships closer to home. At the time all she could think about was all she had to do, and flying across the world simply didn’t fit.

Her husband had gone to Africa numerous times and returned home excited and full of stories about his experiences. “He kept talking about Africa,” she said, “and he wanted to get together with his team, but I didn’t want to go.” She had too many other concerns and responsibilities fighting for her time. 

Then, one day, her husband received an email from Eva. When he learned she was gathering a team to work at a hospital warehouse in Africa, he felt certain Julie, who worked in healthcare should go. 

She disagreed. “I work fulltime, go to school, and have seven grandkids,” she said. “I was like, ‘I’m not sure how this is going to fit, and I don’t know if it will.’” First hurdle—she needed to meet with her boss to request a full two weeks off. To her surprise, her boss responded, “You have to go!” But Julie still had another major obstacle to overcome—she was already registered for spring semester.

“I called my advisor. She was like, ‘Oh, my goodness! We’ll do what we can.’” She pushed two courses to the end of the semester and enrolled Julie for two other university classes online so she could still be full time when she returned. “I didn’t have much time to prepare,” she said. “They asked us to go in November, and we left in January. I’d never been, needed shots, and all those things that come with international travel. But the Lord laid everything out so beautifully, even down to the plane ride.” 

Eight-hour flights are challenging for anyone, but for Julie, who frequently suffers from restless leg syndrome, even more so.  She worried she might not feel well or that her leg issues would act up, but then she received a surprise blessing from one of her journey group members. “He told me he wanted to contribute Delta miles to my fund and to upgrade me to business class. So there I was, traveling from the US to Paris in business class. We got on the plane, took off, had zero problems. I watched a movie, we transferred planes. The Lord blessed our team immeasurably,” she said. 

Reality hit, however, once they landed and made it to baggage claim. “We were the minority,” she said, “and I didn’t speak the language. Right away I had a sense of, ‘How am I going to explain God’s love to a country that doesn’t understand what I’m saying?”

That thought replayed through her mind throughout the entire trip. “How can we tell others of God’s love when they don’t speak our language.” But she rested in the fact that three of their five team members had been to Africa before, they knew the way, and God had cleared a path for them. 

Their missionary host met them at the airport and, happy to see them, took them to the missionary house. The next morning, they traveled five hours to where they stayed for the remainder of their missionary service. Their work involved long hours, was hard, tiring, and rewarding. “We were on the ground for fifteen days and worked twelve of those days from 7am to 4:30pm,” she said. “Then our nights were filled with prayer meetings or dinners.”

Each morning, they had chapel with the leadership and hospital staff. “That was something I looked forward to,” Julie said. “Knowing we were worshipping and praising the same God. Whether or not we understood the language, He did.” 

Early on another one of the missionaries asked if anyone wanted to lead a devotion. Julie had been praying about this and felt God’s prompting on her heart to speak on how we can love one another if we don’t speak each other’s languages. “We do that by coming and serving,” she said. “By smiling, by trying to learn their language, but mainly by serving. Despite the language barrier, God commands us to love and another, and we need to figure that out when we’re serving.

“It was beautiful,” Julie said. “I spoke in English and an interpreter translated. To speak my language, then see the hospital staff nod while my words were translated was amazing. One of the most precious times I’ve had.”

But God wasn’t done blessing or using her. When she returned to the states, she met an old friend from Nashville for lunch. “We only see each other every few years,” Julie said, “and we both have adult daughters.” Together, they talked about some struggles and heartaches related to parenting. “Her daughter had lost a baby last year, and my daughter’s agnostic.” Julie explained. “While I was sharing my heart regarding my daughter, my friend said, ‘She’s not hearing you. You’re not speaking her language.”    

This truth, spoken by her insightful friend, stayed with her when she went to New York to visit her daughter. Her lifegroup had recently completed the Storytellers workshop, and as she interacted with her daughter and her daughter’s boyfriend, Julie thought of the Engel scale of faith. “I could see the timeline and thought, ‘We’re way to the left still, but that’s okay.’ The whole time I was sitting there, I kept thinking ‘relationship, relationship, relationship.’”

As a result, there conversation was drastically different than it had been in the past. “I could see a change in her,” Julie said. “She was more open with me to say things she’d wanted to about my faith and her feelings. It was like she’d been stuck in a box, afraid to hurt my feelings before. And I can see how God’s brought people into her life who are speaking her language.”

God was preparing Julie’s heart in January to speak the devotion that He later, through her friend, used to speak to her—the very words that paved the way for an amazing, God-orchestrated visit with her daughter. 

“For those who wonder, ‘I don’t know if the Lord sees me or knows where I’m at,’ He sees us every second of the day,” Julie said. 

And He’ll guide us. All we need to do is listen and obey. Whatever He’s asking us to do, we can trust that it’ll be good, because He is good. 

Hope and Healing

When God unites His children around a common mission, He unleashes hope, and sometimes, as was the case for Lynn Caniglia, deep healing occurs.  

In 2018, after breaking free from an abusive marriage, Lynn returned to Omaha beaten down and broken. Though she immediately felt safe attending church services at Christ Community, her experiences outside weren’t so peaceful. “I had a lot of anxiety,” she said, “in new situations and being around a lot of people, especially those I don’t know.”

And so, for a while, her world remained relatively small, manageable. 

But then spring flooding swept over much of Nebraska.  At first, she was largely oblivious to the extent of devastation. “I went to work, went home,” she said. “Didn’t listen to the radio or watch much television.” Her awareness grew exponentially, however, once she learned all that her coworker, Angela Robertson, has suffered. “She lost her home and everything in it,” Lynn said. “So it became personal.” 

The church immediately mobilized, both to help community members and one of their own. “Everyone here wanted to help out,” Lynn said. “They donated clothes, money, time.” Soon, others throughout the Metro and beyond, including various disaster relief organizations, joined in. One of the organizations, Eight Days of Hope, brought all their trailers and set up camp in the church gym. Then, everyone met to discuss who would do what, how, and where.

Some volunteers served out in the field while others, like Lynn, stayed back at the church to help in the kitchen and with other facilities’ related tasks. With her anxiety, this felt like the best place for her to serve. As she did, she was immediately struck by the Christ-like attitudes demonstrated by those with Eight Days of Hope. “They thanked us for allowing them to stay,” she said. “They couldn’t say that enough. My thoughts were, ‘We need to be thanking you. You’re sacrificing your time with your family to come here and help our neighbors.”

Their love for one another and those they served touched, inspired, and drew her. “I would stay after work helping to finish getting the food ready, and I’d help serve people as they came in. Before every meal, everyone” up to 100 of them, a number that normally would’ve caused her significant anxiety, “circled up together, holding hands and praying.”

She joined them, and to her amazement, she felt completely safe.

“This was something new,” she said. “There were more men than women, which right there would’ve been a huge trigger for me.” Yet there she stood, with a man on either side of her, and she felt completely at peace.

And in that moment, it was as if God was saying to her, “I’ve always been here.” She knew He would get her through anything, and He filled her heart with a newfound passion. “It was almost like He was showing me my purpose.” She said. “I’ve struggled with that. What’s my purpose, the skills that He gave me? And I thought, ‘This is it.”

He brought so much healing to her through the two week event—helping her feel comfortable in larger groups and with men. But perhaps most beautifully, he infused her heart with hope. “He made me feel like I’m needed. Like I’m worthy and there’s a reason I’m here.” 

During her time as an abused wife, she’d doubted each of those truths, and at times, felt she would’ve been better off dead. But not anymore. Now she’s excited not only to live, but to live a life that goes beyond belief! 

Written By Jennifer Slattery
Photography by Bryant Belknap

Obedience—Simply Take That Next Right Step

Written by Jennifer Slattery 

Most of us like to know what’s ahead. When opportunities arise, we want to know exactly what we’ll encounter and what will be required of us. Or perhaps we long to do something extraordinary—to play a part in God’s redemptive story—except we don’t how or where to start. But as one CCC journey group, led by Mark Krogh and Michael Wheelock, discovered last Christmas, living Beyond Belief begins by simply taking that next right step.

Their holiday surprise began with an email sent out by Emily McGaha inviting people to sponsor single moms and their children over Christmas. When the journey group replied, however, stating that they would love to encourage a family in this way, they learned all the needs had been filled. 

So Eva Brandt, Assistant Director of Missions, asked if they’d be interested in helping a man from one of Mission Church’s Hope Houses. At that time, Mission Church in North Omaha was housing four men looking to connect with Christ Community Sponsors. The journey group expressed interest so Eva sent them a list of gift options, which included various household items along with a “Fire Bible” designed to draw readers closer to Christ and encourage Spirit-led living.

The Journey Group then connected with Lisa Bayounne, Hope House director. They learned the man they were sponsoring was a Christ-follower who had experienced major life transformation in recent years and was active at Mission Church. “We wanted to meet him so we could encourage him in his walk Jesus and bless him with gifts,” Mark said. So the journey group invited the man, as well as Lisa and her daughter, to their group’s Christmas dinner.

During the meal, they heard more of the man’s transformation story and his passion to live for Christ. They also learned more about the Hope House vision and ministry from Lisa. Together they laughed, talked, ate, exchanged presents (including the “Fire Bible”), and sang carols. “It was a joy to learn first-hand how Jesus had transformed [this man’s] life. It was a privilege to encourage him with our expressions of care, generosity and love,” Mark said.  “It was a true blessing that the Lord brought our group together with the man from the Hope House for that special evening.”

When asked what he would say to a group presented with a similar opportunity, Mark said, “Just obey and take the next step. This all started with, ‘We’re looking for people that would be willing to bless a single mom with kids.’ Our group said, “Yes.”  Then things changed. God had something in mind we didn’t anticipate. We’ve learned to have a spirit of willingness and obedience. God honors that. It’s not necessary to know where everything’s going. Just take that next step.” 

If you would like to learn more about Mission Church’s Hope Houses, including how you and/or your journey group can get involved in Local Missions, contact Eva Brandt at evab@cccomaha.org.  

Passion Birthed Through Short-Term Missions

When Tera first learned Christ Community Church was sending a team to Senegal, she was surprised to sense God’s tug on her heart. But she felt like perhaps the last person who should be taking such a trip. Not only did she have three little girls in need of care and a husband who needed to work, she’d also never been on a mission trip before nor did she know how she felt about them in general.

“I’d always questioned short-term missions and their value,” she said. “I questioned their impact and whether they’re a wise stewardship of time and money. They aren’t vacations or holidays or opportunities to experience another culture. Missions aren’t supposed to be a selfish thing.”

But she wanted to be obedient above all else. “I was like, ‘Well, if I’m not supposed to go on this, God will make that clear.’” She decided to call her husband, convinced he’d tell her not to go. 

So, she called him that afternoon, and he said, “Go for it. Apply.”

Though his response surprised her, she still didn’t believe God was truly calling her on this trip. Too many other obstacles remained, and yet, by that afternoon, God had knocked down another major hurdle—who would care for her kids. Both her mother and mother-in-law said they’d help. 

With that covered, she continued to move forward, although she doubted she was the best person for the role. It didn’t seem like her skillset as a stay-at-home mom and former teacher matched what CCC was looking for in terms of team member skills. “I thought this would be a major roadblock,” she said. “I figured I’d fill out the application, they’d say, ‘Thanks for applying,’ and that would be that.

“Then I met with Eva [Brandt]”—Assistant Director of Missions at Christ Community—“and sure enough, she was like, ‘I’d like you to be part of the team.’”

This didn’t change how she felt about short-term missions, however. And yet, amidst all her questions and wrestling, excitement began to form. This was soon challenged by what felt like a major call to humility when she learned she’d need to ask for financial help.  

“That was hard,” she said. “But Eva encouraged me, saying this was an important part of the process—to invite others to participate.” And so, once again, questions regarding financial stewardship arose.

She prayed on this for a while. Then God spoke to her very clearly through an Old Testament passage. “I’m part of Bible Study Fellowship,” an international, interdenominational group that studies Scripture systematically, “and we were studying Joshua at the time. One of the themes we saw through our reading was that we simply need to obey God. At the very end of the book of Joshua, he said, ‘Choose this day who you will serve.’ And [all the Israelites] got excited because they had conquered all these people and could take the land God had promised them for themselves as he’d commanded.

“But what stood out to me was how Joshua seemed to be saying, ‘I don’t think you understand how hard this is. It’s hard to obey and follow God. You’re so hyped up, but I’m not fooled. I know the dedication obedience takes.’”

That, Tera said, was when it became clear to her that she was to go. She knew she couldn’t make up any more excuses.

So she went out of obedience, and while there, God not only expelled her previous concerns but burned within her a love for Senegal, the missionaries she interacted with, and the West African people. 

“We got to spend every evening sharing dinner with a different missionary family or group,” she said. “We got to hear their vision and what their ministry is about. We got to go and learn and listen and see them in action. That was very powerful for me.”

One night, one of the missionaries spoke about his original concerns regarding short-term missions. “He’d wrestled with the same things I had,” she said, “but he also identified the good things about short-term mission trips and how impactful prayer really is. How important it is to come and meet the missionaries, then go home and tell others about all God is doing and to pray for them.

“If that was the one thing God brought me there for—to pray for Senegal and a specific group of unreached people—[that would be enough]. This missionary made it clear: If God is calling you, you should go.”

God had clearly called Tera, she obeyed, and she’s so glad she did. “I know I’m not done,” she said. The passion God birthed in her heart during her time in Senegal will continue and will drive her prayers, her thoughts, and her giving. 

If you are interested in learning more about a short-term missions experience at CCC, contact Eva Brandt at evab@cccomaha.org.

Love Can

In 2014 CCC started an initiative called Love Can. This inspired Steve and Kim Ramm to start a store called the Love Can Store, where people in need can get donated furniture for free.

How we respond when our comfort levels are challenged says a lot regarding our hearts. How God responds each time we surrender to Him says a lot about His, and each day, through frustrations, stress, and celebrations, the Ramms, founders of the Love Can store, have experienced the joy that can only come from surrender and full dependence on Christ. 

Their ministry began with a simple idea initiated by a church-wide campaign encouraging Christ Community members to find ways to share God’s love. The Ramms responded by hosting a free garage sale that has grown into a thriving ministry that brings hope and dignity to countless families in need.

They’ve seen God’s hand again and again. 

“It blows me away,” Steve said. “To think, we can get a call for something, won’t have it, and the next thing we know, it’s here.”

“This is God’s store,” Kim said, deeply touched and inspired by His intimate involvement. As they walk in His will, He floods their hearts with a joy greater than their circumstances or challenges.

Through heat, cold, stress, and fatigue, they’ve discovered the blessings of obedience.

“God stretches me constantly,” Kim said, especially when she feels selfishness spring up. “The store is part of a building we never finished.” This means, it doesn’t have heating or air conditioning. The winters are really cold and the summers really hot. Sometimes I’m like, ‘Really?’”

When unpacking and putting away donations in below freezing or above ninety degree conditions, she can become frustrated with being there. “But then someone will call to set up an appointment to get in, and I’m reminded of how important [the store] is, and I’m brought to my knees.”

She shared one story in particular of a man recently released from prison who’d received custody of his two kids who’d been in foster care. He called on a day when Kim already had a lot going on and was feeling the stress of needing to tie up her responsibilities and head out town. 

“I was moaning and full of anxiety,” Kim said. “But then he came in the door with his girls, looked around, and introduced himself.” He needed furniture but didn’t have any money. “I said everything was free. He started crying, and his teenage daughter got excited. She started crying, too.”

Then the man shared his story, and it really humbled her. “I thought, how dare I be so blessed and so frustrated at being there in the heat for this person.” Instantly, her anger turned to joy.

That, perhaps, has been what has impacted Steve most—seeing her joy. “Kim does 99% of the work,” he said. “I’m along for the ride and pick up furniture once in a while. But I see the fuel she gets out of this, and I want to play a part. I see her being blessed with being a part [of all God is doing through her].” 

Reflecting on God’s provisions and care, Kim welled with emotion. “I think He loves seeing someone who was so often broke participate in His work the way He wants the world to look and be,” she said, her voice cracking. “I have such an enormously weird amount of joy, literally. It’s almost like God gives me hugs and says, ‘I’m pleased with you,’ and I can feel it. It’s a heart and soul hug.” 

She’s discovered, obedience always leads to increased intimacy with her Savior, and that has made the heat and cold well worth it.  

Want to participate in the joy of sharing God’s love with those in need? To donate items, contact Kim and Steve Ramm at 402-547-3675 or by email at kimberlyramm3278@gmail.com.

Contact Eva Brandt  at evab@cccomaha.orgto learn other ways you can become involved with the Love Can store.

Playing Her Part

No matter our age or circumstance, all of us can leave an eternal impact, and in so doing, we just might discover some of our closest friends. This was what Janice Hurley, the retiree who oversees Christ Community’s Stamp Ministry, experienced. The relationships she’s formed while serving have carried her through some rough times. 

When she came to Omaha twenty years ago, she was lonely and looking for a way to connect with others. She quickly became involved with Christ Community’s Alliance Women, a ministry of the Christian & Missionary Alliance (C&MA) that brings women together to pray, support, and engage in missional work in Omaha and across the world. While there, she learned of a unique way she and others like her could help further the gospel—through stamps.

“We receive stamps from all over,” she said. “Bags of them from OPPD and the Omaha Street School. The Open Door Mission gives us three boxes every two months. Blair Recycling donates two medium sized boxes every two to three months.” Weekly people drop off stamps at the Boomers & Beyond desk at church.  One donor is a woman from Mississippi. “She mails me her stamps in a 6 X 9 bubble bag every six months.” 

Once received, Janice and her ministry partners trim the stamps and send them to the Christian and Missionary Alliance in Florida who in turn sell them to large stamp dealers. The results have been inspiring and life-changing with over one million dollars raised in the forty-seven years since it’s launch. 

Currently, funds are being sent to a publishing house in Argentina, Publicaciones Alianza, dedicated to writing and releasing Spanish Sunday School materials. These resources are now sold in 13 Latin American countries, Spain, and the United States and are used by over 40 Protestant denominations. 

“It feels great to know you’re doing something for God,” Janice said. You can trim the stamps and feel you’ve done something. You’ve accomplished something. Something significant.” This is especially fulfilling to those with mobility or transportation difficulties. “There are people who belong to the church but can’t get out. One lady takes sixteen Hy-Vee bags filled with stamps each month, takes them home, and trims them. Another woman takes three boxes home from the Open Door Mission.”  

But when asked what she loves most about the ministry, she smiled and said, “The people.” 

Each Friday, from nine am to eleven, as many as twenty-four of them meet at the church to eat, trim, share life struggles and celebrations, and pray. She’s long appreciated the bonds she’s developed with her fellow trimmers, but two and a half years ago, she realized, in a tangible way, just how precious that community was.

After suffering from severe back pain, she found herself in the hospital—numerous times in short succession—and unable to walk up stairs. This was a problem as she was living, at that time, in an upstairs apartment. She was forced to move, “But I couldn’t get my things,” she said.

Two men from the stamp ministry stepped in to help. “I gave them a list of everything I needed, and they got it for me.” She donated three quarters of her things to the Open Door Mission, which they dropped off for her, and they brought the rest to the retirement home where she now lives.

She’s very grateful for the care they showed and the friendships she’s formed.

Relationships drew her to the ministry, helped carried her through a challenging and physically painful period, and have become a major bright spot in her week. Knowing her time spent also helps bring truth to those needing material in a language they can read and understand adds deep fulfillment to her joy. Janice will likely continue trimming stamps for as long as she’s able to hold a pair of scissors. 

---

To get involved, whether that’s through trimming or donating stamps, contact Sue Beed sueb@cccomaha.org/ 402.938.1570

Desiring More

Last fall, Shelley Sessions felt as if something were missing. She wasn’t experiencing financial difficulties or marital issues. In fact, she appeared to have every reason to feel happy and content. But God used a series of events to stir within her a desire for more—to experience a life that went beyond belief.

“Here in the US, I find it very easy to get distracted by a computer or a good book,” Shelley said. “Something that offers temporary satisfaction but isn’t of long term value. And I was left feeling as if my time was wasted.” 

As she prayed over this, God showed her that her personal entertainment time had become excessive. An escape that kept her from fully experiencing all God had planned for her. Feeling stuck and wanting help to process all God was showing her, she saw a counselor.  

During their sessions, the counselor asked an important question. “Why are you so afraid to do hard things?” This helped Shelley recognize the ways she avoided difficult tasks and emotions, and motivated her to take steps toward change. 

“When I saw an email come through regarding the Cuba Mission trip last summer, I thought, ‘I need to do this,’” Shelley said. “‘I need to step out of my comfort zone.’ My anniversary was coming, and this was something Scott and I could do together.” 

The trip proved challenging and life-changing. Being one who likes to have a plan and know what she’s supposed to do, God used the flexible schedules inherent to mission trips to teach her to relinquish control and depend more consistently on Him. When the team’s plans for VBS or another previously arranged event changed, she found peace in surrendering to what God wanted to do instead of what she thought was going to happen. Through her experiences, God reminded her that the VBS and construction projects weren’t as important as simply connecting with others, hearing their stories, and watching God move in their lives.  

She was most inspired by her Cuban brothers and sisters in Christ. “They had such a passion for Jesus,” Shelley said. “He wasn’t just part of their Sunday activity; He was their all. When they worship, they’re focused totally on Him. They’re totally engaged. It’s a different mindset.” 

Ultimately, Shelley was reminded that living Beyond Belief is much more than giving to a campaign or attending a Sunday service. “Through this trip, it was as if God was saying to me, ‘I have so much more for you. Don’t be satisfied with where you’re at, and don’t be afraid to go further.’” 

Written by: Jennifer Slattery

Cuba Update

In late October, I was blessed to visit El Colorado. That’s not the state of Colorado, but instead a small, hurricane-ravaged village in central Cuba. As I traveled around Cuba visiting small churches, this particular stop was very important, because many of you at CCC provided resources for hurricane relief in this and other hard-hit Cuban villages.

El Colorado, a poor village in central Cuba, is composed mainly of low-income people who have emigrated from the eastern part of the island for work. Because this area is so poor, the houses which are built of wood are more like shacks. When hurricane Irma hit the north part of Cuba on September 9th, this community was seriously affected. Many people suffered massive damage to their homes and were left destitute.

In the midst of the pain and despair that consumed many of the people in El Colorado, a small Alliance church with hardly any resources embraced their mission to share the love of Jesus and serve the community, helping the people most in need. Maribel, the leader of the group, along with her husband and several other church members, embraced the neighbors with a message of hope and strength from the Lord. They began by sharing what little they had of food, clothing, and basic supplies. This humble church with a dirty floor and no windows became a refuge for many who were affected.

Through our denomination’s relief efforts, CCC was able to quickly provide money for churches like this to not only help their church members but also their local community. I arrived about 7 weeks after the hurricane to see firsthand the critical impact of our support. Here are a few things I saw:

• I saw this church using the CCC funds to feed about 75 people from the community every Sunday and Wednesday. Many of the families have little food to eat between those two meals, so these have become life-saving nourishment for their bodies and souls.
• I met a single mom with 5 kids who does not attend the church but has literally been saved by this church. Now that her little hut is destroyed, she is homeless and without any food. The church has taken her in and is feeding and loving her family.
• I saw one of many houses where the roof had been completely blown off. The church provided building materials and free labor to re-build half of the roof so the family could live inside again.

During my visit, we provided the church just $50 to buy the goods for a simple meal for us. The church purchased a huge pig to roast with all the fixings for our meal, which fed not only all eight of us visitors, but also the entire community. 

I praise God for a leader like Maribel, a brave woman with an unwavering dedication to God, filled with the Holy Spirit. While we visited with people and the community ate their lunch, an Alliance pastor shared the Gospel and prayed passionately over the people. What a joy to see the church in Omaha and the church in Cuba partner to reach people with the love and hope of Jesus Christ!

CCC Deaf Ministry Celebrates 30 Years

The Deaf Ministry at Christ Community Church started in 1987, with a group of interpreters who actively interpreted CCC services for the deaf attendees. Several years later, God brought a Deaf man, Stuart Thiessen, and his wife, Linda, and they joined the team to be able to lead and teach in American Sign Language and the ministry continued to grow. This weekend, the Deaf Ministry celebrates their 30th anniversary of reaching the Deaf community in Omaha! Thank you to everyone who has worked to bring the gospel to this important part of CCC. Here is just one example of a life that has been changed because of our Deaf Ministry at CCC.

You might remember Kurmith, the high school student who was featured in a CCC video several months ago. Kurmith is a Sudanese refugee who is deaf and understanding his spoken language was very difficult. He could not understand it well enough to learn about God or understand the Bible while attending his Sudanese church. Yet he was curious about God and continued to seek answers to his questions from his school teacher who was a Christian. She helped Kurmith connect with the Deaf Ministry at Christ Community Church, where he was provided an interpreter at the middle school class as well as in Sunday services. Kurmith accepted Christ in 2012 and was later baptized. He continues to grow in Christ and has a passion to serve. He finds joy in working with a Deaf boy in preschool. Kurmith is strong in his faith and wants to follow God with his life. 

Praise God for the work Jesus has done in Kurmith’s life and in the lives of many others in the last 30 years! Thank you to Stuart and Linda Thiessen for their faithful service here at CCC and in their continued ministry in reaching some of the least reached people of the world.

Faith and Family Festival in Peru

We live in the Vitor Valley of Peru at Camp La Joya. When we first came to Peru, one of our goals as the camp administrators was to host a family event. We wanted this event to include many area churches that were not represented or were too small to have a voice. Recalling the beauty of the Better Together campaign, we set out to host an event that calls evangelical churches to unite and work together. There is great disunity in many of the Peruvian churches, thereby creating an “us versus them” mentality in the differences in teachings. Incidentally, we were invited to a meeting a few weeks before this with some of the area pastors, as well as other missionaries. We discussed the possibility of uniting the evangelical Peruvian churches and displaying a solidarity in our desire to work together and grow the church. This meeting reinforced what God had laid on our hearts to do. We even offered up the title of the moment to them as Better Together.

We pushed forward with this festival idea in hopes that it would the beginning of bringing this unity to our churches. We started planning it with the focus on music. We had heard that nothing like this had happened before in Vitor Valley. So on June 24th, the Faith and Family Festival took place. We had five Christian bands from different churches perform, games to play, a parrillada (BBQ), open pool, and a message given by one of the area pastors. 

We expected a team from Florida to arrive the day before to help set up the stage, decorate, and prepare for the game stations. Unfortunately, there were several travel delays for the team. And we added a last minute band to the day. It all added to a somewhat stressful, but joyous time.

We feel so blessed to have it all come together with over five area churches represented, and a handful of others that represented churches from Arequipa as well. Through all of this, Jesus’ name was made known and all glory belongs to Him. We are grateful that people have requested more and we pray that God will use this to further His kingdom and unite His people.

Thank you for your prayers for us at Camp La Joya. Please continue to pray for what God is doing through His church in Peru!

Help Welcome Kids Back to School

This summer, the CCC Alliance Women group is excited to partner with Mission Church, our newest Alliance church plant in Omaha, to help bless Franklin Elementary School in Village One! Franklin has over 270 students ranging from HeadStart through 6th grade. This past year, Franklin students attended school in a different building because of major, year-long renovations. The work is now complete and the Franklin students will start the 2017–2018 school year in a newly remodeled building. “Everyone is very excited to be going back to our building. On August 16th, we will have our ribbon cutting ceremony!” said Ms. Valarie Wolfe. As the School Support Liaison (SSL) at Franklin, Ms. Wolfe has worked at the school for 9 years, both in her current role and as a teacher. She shared, “I love being able to work with the students and be a positive role model in their lives.”

One huge challenge at Franklin is that the students come from many different backgrounds. Most come from families who face financial challenges. Others find school challenging because English is not their first language. Many students live in single-parent homes or with their grandparents. The school works really hard to help the students with their different circumstances and expose them to many new experiences. This year, students will have opportunity to take band and string (orchestra) class and to join K-Kids (Kiwanis Kids). Of course, the children will also enjoy recess and lunch each day!

To welcome the students back to their new building, Alliance Women invite everyone at CCC to provide Back-to-School welcome bags for the kids. Beginning July 23rd, we will collect travel-sized toothpaste, deodorant, floss, lotion, mouthwash, and hand sanitizer, as well as packs of markers, pencils, and crayons! We also want to include fruit snacks, gum, and granola bars. You can purchase the items and bring them to the Atrium between July 23rd and August 12th. Pick up a list of items at the Info Center in the Atrium. Women of all ages are invited to come help pack the bags on August 12th in the Student Center from 9:30–11AM. Myron Pierce will share about what it's like to be a kid in Village One. We’ll have a light breakfast and plenty to pack, as well as color some Welcome Back to School postcards to include in the bags.

Ms. Wolfe shared, “The bags will be a nice surprise for our students as they return to our new building. It will give our students a fresh start and encourage them to have a wonderful school year. It will also show them that there are people in the community that support them and want to see them succeed in school.” In September, Mission Church officially opens their doors in Village One, just a few blocks from Franklin School. We are excited to partner with Mission Church as they develop a close relationship with Franklin School in the coming years!

Bringing Jesus to Shepherds in West Africa

Much of West Africa, as you can see from this picture, is very rural and barren land with small villages full of farmers and shepherds. Not unlike during the time of Jesus, shepherds are considered the lowest of the low, spending most of their time out in the fields with cattle, goats, and sheep. Rarely would anyone visit them, care for them, or bring them good news. Yet this is exactly what a team from CCC did just weeks ago in a West African village.

Fama, a small village of a few thousand West Africans, is located about 90 minutes southwest of the CCC hospital. The good work of the hospital over these many years has softened the hearts of the people to these outsiders called “Christians” and so this was a key village for our team to visit. This team of 6 from CCC – Adam Cassidy, Von Walter, Dr. Jerry Busselman, Paul Lanphier, Aaron Goldsmith, and me (Pastor Craig Walter) – partnered with some of our missionaries in West Africa and African Pastors to de-worm about 3,000 of their cattle over 2 days. For these families and farmers this is an amazing act of love because this de-worming will cause their cattle to often double their weight, making them much more valuable when they are ready to sell. Yet even more amazing is not just the opportunity to see the love of Jesus in action, but for some a chance to hear the good news about Jesus Christ. This is where the shepherds come in.

After working hard in the middle of a cattle pen all morning….

… we were able to gather these shepherds under a tree and tell them the story of Jesus. International Worker Jake (in the center of the picture below) is sharing the gospel in their native tongue of Bambara. These men, young and old, have probably never heard of Jesus before. These shepherds, used to being ignored and mistreated, for a few minutes were given special attention and prominence by the God who loves them so much he died on a cross for them.

This is what it looks like to take the gospel to far ends of the Earth. If there is a place called the middle of nowhere, a small field near a village in West Africa is about as close as you can get to being there. What a joy it was for our team to bring the good news to this village and to advance the work of our missionaries and African Pastors other villages in West Africa