When ministering to the Body of Christ, I believe many churches today overemphasize human beings’ failure to meet God’s standard.

An essential, yet often overlooked, group of children we dare not forget as we move forward with ministry is children who live in apartment communities. Many of these children would be unable to stay after school for a Good News Club® if one were held at their school because their only form of transportation home is the school bus. Even so, many of these children go home to empty apartments where their only companions are siblings, television, or perhaps a computer. A key strategy we are working on for 2010 is partnering with churches to reach the children in the apartment communities.

I'm honored to work with Noelle Mena, Founder of Christian Women Affiliate.com.  I share her latest news regarding this wonderful site for women who have a heart to share His message.

We’ve all been there at one time or another. We walk into that sacred space and all of our senses are instantly tantalized. The color brown never looked so good. The sound of machinery in the back room never sounded so heavenly. Everything that’s right and good with the world is at our fingertips. So many choices! So many flavors! The aroma itself is intoxicating. The woman in the black apron behind the counter is suddenly your best friend.

It’s simple really: feed the hungry, the homeless, and the forgotten. Matthew 25:35 says, “For I was hungry, and you fed me.” It has always broken my heart to see the people on the street corner holding their “Will work for food” cardboard signs. More times than not, I have given them money. Then I began to think, I could do something more for them. I could do something more practical. I could help feed them. I could be part of the “Give us this day our daily bread” thing. I know many people who say these people may be scam artists, but many of them aren’t. It isn’t for me to know. The main reason my heart breaks for these people is because I know it could be me. It could be any of us. We’re all just a pink slip away from desperation.

Have you ever heard another Christian insist:  “I don’t care what other people think?”  Perhaps you’ve exclaimed that yourself; I know I have, usually because of injured pride.  The only trouble is, it can’t be true.

If you would have told me a year ago that I would be doing street ministry on the streets of Batavia, New York, I would have thought you crazy! One never knows what God has in store for them. After all, we were all uniquely created and designed by him for a purpose.

Colin was brought up in a little village with about twenty families. This was his world and he told me he thought the end of the earth finished at the bottom of his hill. Colin’s parents came to know Christ before he was five years old and his world changed. The TV was replaced with Sunday School and church services within the Brethren church. This early Christian teaching stayed with Colin throughout his life. Colin trained as an apprentice before taking his first job as an engineer for a company that manufactured forklifts. This lasted five years before he entered a seminary. He graduated after two years and took on his first church as a full-time Pastor.

Story by Spc. Terysa Shaffer

CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq - With his departure being less than one month away, Navy Lt. Rickey L. Bennett, chaplain, a Support Activity Sailor from Aurora, Colo., was starting to become worried that the rumors concerning the closing of the Warrior Gospel Disciples were coming true. His prayers were answered by the arrival of Capt. David Mvondo, chaplain for the 67th Expeditionary Signal Battalion from Fort Gordon, Ga.

Last Friday I had the great pleasure of attending a benefit dinner in recognition of some very special people. Bay Area Chaplains hosted a gathering of former prison inmates and the volunteers who give up their time to visit them while incarcerated. It was a beautiful testimony of what God can do with an open heart and a willing vessel. The sad news is that I forgot my notebook. Therefore I am unable to give you specific details, such as the correct numbers of volunteers and inmates represented. I can, however share with you what I remember and hopefully pass on one or two valuable lessons

Tattoos have held a prominent place in society for centuries. From culture to culture and age to age, the evolution and history of the tattoo goes beyond the boundaries of the physical or spiritual. When a person decides to get inked, the reasons are uniquely personal. In modern America, they have made counter cultural statements and aroused controversy in every walk of life.

Whether you were the kid or now are the parent, you can relate to the admonishment, "get covered". I say it all the time with the kids, especially the youngest. Her breathing transitions with weather changes and she's always the last one to put a coat on, let alone zip it up. This leaves her vulnerable to things she could avoid.

The story of Christ's birth is a story of promise, hope and a revolutionary love.  So, what happened?  What was once a time to celebrate the birth of a Savior has somehow turned into a season of stress, traffic jams, and shopping lists.  And when it's all over, many of us are left with presents to return, looming debt that will take months to pay off, and this empty feeling of missed purpose.  Is this what we really want out of Christmas?  What if Christmas became a world-changing event again?  Welcome to Advent Conspiracy, a movement calling us to proclaim Christ in how we celebrate Christmas.

Janet was born in South West London, England, in the area of Clapham. Her parents, who were very supportive of her needs, originated from the lovely island of Jamaica. Janet enjoyed a lovely childhood, and to this day they are a very close-knit family.

Meet Ken and his Quartet Radio Ministry. Ken’s background is Mennonite. His salvation was at a boy’s camp in a wooded land where they have small cabins, a sanctuary, and a small baseball field, a pond for swimming, a snack shop, and other fun attractions. When Ken was just a boy, he had daydreams of being a disc jockey.

Your Christian Connection Community Chapel (CCCC) is part of The Cypress Times Social Network and a group often visited by members and non-members alike. I have received emails from the bedridden and house bound who visit the chapel for their regular devotional times. This is YOUR chapel. It’s available for all readers of The Cypress Times and members of TCT Social Network, and we would love to see you there.