DECEMBER 2001: REPRISING THE END OF THE YEAR AND ANTICIPATING 2002

CONFERENCES

August 4-11 I enjoyed getting away to the cool mountain air at Ridgecrest, NC for a week along with some 800 participants for the Exodus North America conference. This was Executive Director Bob Davies’ last year, so it was quite memorable. I occasionally helped with newcomers, stayed busy with lots of regional representative meetings, and special interest group for Southern Baptists. My testimony was also videotaped for a ministry in Atlanta.

Clay Thomas of Galveston Bible Church invited me to give the FREEDOM seminar in a forum format September 21-23. I really enjoyed interaction with so many of the participants who work or study at UTMB-Galveston. I also appreciated the opportunity to preach that Sunday morning. My sermon was "Observations on Jesus and the Woman at the Well". Many came up to me afterwards to tell me how helpful it was to them.

The South Central Regional Exodus conference TEXODUS was held Saturday, September 29 at Grace Community Church in Clear Lake. In addition to a few opening remarks as Regional Representative, I gave a workshop on Sexual Addictions that included a Top Ten Countdown of Songs for the Sexually Addicted! Joe Dallas was our keynote speaker, and gave several other workshops, as well. Attendance was about 200, and represented all 5 of the Texas ministries. Next year’s conference will be in the Dallas -Fort Worth area.

November 3 I went to San Antonio to attend AWAKENING-REACH’s first educational conference, HOMOSEXUALITY AND THE CHURCH’S RESPONSE at the Fortress Church. The three sessions covered Roots of homosexuality/lesbianism, parents’ testimony, and a talk about how the church should respond by a local pastor. As regional representative and ministry colleague, I was there to support them by my presence, prayers, and availability to minister. I enjoyed being part of the question and answer session at the end of the conference. We were all very pleased with the attendance and participation.

In both August and November we presented the FREEDOM FROM HOMOSEXUALITY from seminar. Some people newly exiting homosexuality came with some very probing questions.

I’m very excited that Dale Davis, who formerly worked with Brenda Barbarino with HIS IMAGE in Cleveland, has recently moved to Houston. He gave his testimony at both seminars, and was also a vital part of our question and answer time. Lately many of our audience are coming long distance to attend our seminar-so they have regional significance, as well.

On December 2 Dale Davis and I teamed up to speak at the morning service at his home church, West Oaks Fellowship. His pastor Frank Estes had given up his pulpit time for the main service. This is a unique ministry opportunity that has occurred very rarely in all my years of ministry. Dale gave his incredible testimony, and I followed up with information about local and international ministry. We were able to talk to quite a few people afterwards.

GROUPS

This last half of the year Adrienne and I kept busy leading separate groups for women and men. The Barnabas group met for 4-week modules that have rolled over to our current sixth cycle. This is a way of including new people on a regular, timely basis without sacrificing group cohesiveness We have been using Craig Lockwood’s FALLING FORWARD book on addictions for our discussions. . Not all of the participants are from homosexual backgrounds, and they also tell us how important these groups are for them. Many find these groups to be a place for real accountability and in-depth sharing that they have not found in their own churches

Adrienne’s women’s group met two Tuesdays each month and studied IN THE COMPANY OF WOMEN by Brenda Hunter. They explored resolving issues in the past that interfered with healthy friendships in the present. All the women were very enthusiastic about it.

LOOKING AHEAD TO 2002:

Please check our web site www.ccrhouston.org or call the CCR office at 713 722 4360 for more specific details about any of the following:

FREEDOM FROM HOMOSEXUALITY SEMINNAR at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church 9am to 5pm on Saturday, January 12, 2002. Advance registration $40 per person, $50 at the door. We hope to have many concerned Presbyterians in attendance, especially since there is an important vote concerning ordination of homosexuals coming up in February.

UPLIFT group for parents and friends of people struggling with homosexuality meets 7:30pm-9pm the third Monday of each month.

LIVING WATERS, an intensive discipleship group for men and women dealing with any kind of emotional and/or sexual brokeness will be held weekly Thursday nights 7pm-10pm January-June (26 weeks). Participation is limited to 15 men and 5 women. Applications and arrangements for interviews need to be coordinated through the CCR Office. The cost of the course is $325, of which $100 needs to be paid before December 29 to reserve a place.

BARANABAS group for men dealing with any type of sexual/relational brokenns will continue to meet for 3-4 week modules which can roll over each month, as long as a minimum of people commit to the new cycle. Tentative meeting day will we Monday night from 7pm-9pm.

PRAYER REQUESTS:

• Discernment, wisdom, and health for director Michael Newman and Adrienne Godre, Coordinator of Women’s ministry
• Co-laborers to work with CCR (board members, small group leaders, parents group coordinator, and administrative help....)
• Opportunities for speaking engagements and working with more churches
• More prayer intercessors to support CCR in prayer
• Financial partners to strengthen and expand CCR ministry

FINANCIAL UPDATE-DECEMBER 2001

2001 projected budget $48,200 (not yet reached)

Minimum needed per month $3,500 (for basic expenses)

Dedicated monthly pledges $1,150

Monthly Donations

January $8,626.24 

February 2,500.00

March 4.526.50 

April 1,945.00

May 2,631.97

June 9,192.00

July 2,310.00

August 4,552,70

September 4,895.00

October 1,810.00

November 2,013.00

Please note the difference between dedicated monthly pledges and monthly giving. Many thanks to those occasional givers, and big one time givers whose generous gifts help us through the lean months. However, our committed FINANCIAL BASE HAS NOT INCREASED. This past year we lost $6,000 from sources that were unable to contribute this year! This affected us greatly. God has been faithful to sustain us but WE NEED MORE OF YOU TO JOIN US AS MONTHLY PLEDGE PARTNERS so we can continue to move ahead as God gives us more opportunities.

You can be a pledge partner or make your existing purchases contribute to CCR’s ministry by using Lifeline, Randall’s Remarkable Card or Gerland’s Advantage Card or Gerland’s Advantage Card. Tell me more on how to give.

May God bless you richly during this Christmas season and in 2002,

Pastor Michael Newman