NEW SEASON FOR CCR

After many years at the Encourager Church (since 1988), I spent much of 2001 praying about my place there as the church was entering a new season. After prayer, counsel, and agreement by my board, I announced my departure to leadership effective January 19, 2002.

Our ministry mailing address remains the same: PO Box 420437, Houston, TX 770242-0437, while our NEW PHONE NUMBER is 281-497-7044 while I am officing out of my home. We are still praying about future provision for office space.

IN MEMORY OF JACK PIERSON (BOARD MEMBER 1993-2001)

What a shock to many of us when Jack passed away as a result of congenital heart failure on January 18, 2002. Knowing little about ministry to the sexually broken, he signed on with CCR in 1993, and served as both chairman and treasurer.

Jack found someone to donate CCR’s first computer in 1995! He donated his own car to CCR in 1998. He enlisted friends as board members, donors, helpers with bulk mailings, and volunteers with the very successful CELEBRATION OF THE ARTS fundraiser (November 2000). Jack mentored me with valuable insights and advice as I matured as a man and ministry leader. He had a great impact on this ministry, and I, along with many others, will miss him greatly

FREEDOM FROM HOMOSEXUALITY

On January 12, 2002, , I was was the chief presenter at the FREEDOM FROM HOMOSEXUALITY seminar at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Houston, where it had been first presented in 1988. Four sessions dealt with the need for church involvement, roots of homosexuality, practical advice, and process of change. Adrienne Godre (Coordinator- Women's Ministry), Dale Davis (formerly with HIS IMAGE/Cleveland, OH), and Sharon also gave their testimonies. Pastor Jim McNaull is a new member on CCR board,

On a cold and rainy day, April 7, I presented the same seminar in Spanish to a group of about 30 at Centro Apostolico in Franklin Park (Chicago area). I flew up on Friday evening and spent time with Young People Group Director Lourdes Gonzalez who had contacted Enrique Garcia in Venezuela for a Spanish-speaking US contact. She and I had various e-mail exchanges and phone calls in between. The seminar took place Saturday from 10-4, and even the senior pastor and his wife attended. I was able to spend a lot of time on various questions that came from the audience. I was also introduced to the mostly Mexican congregation at the main service the next morning and able to share briefly. I also told them about the upcoming national conference in Wheaton in August.

On May 18, 2002 Lakewood Church, a recent ministry partner with CCR was the host for the seminar. Lakewood, a Houston church with an estimated 30,000 members, broadcasts their services on TV throughout the US. Thanks to the Exodus bulletin board, there were even participants from Oklahoma and Louisiana! . In addition to sessions challenging the church, giving roots of homosexuality, and detailing the process of change, Adrienne Godre,, Dale Davis, and Sharon were again available for testimonies. All participated in a lively question and answer session after lunch, when the group watched a videotape of Michael and Adrienne on the local Debra Duncan talk show taped last year. Currently several churches are considering hosting our seminar later this year. We will keep you posted. Right now the next scheduled one will be at Grace Presbyterian Church, a long time ministry partner, on September 21, 2002.

RECONNECTING WITH PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (USA)

I recently reconnected with St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, which helped establish our ministry in 1985. As I got to know the new pastor, Jim McNaull, he volunteered to come on as a board member . He had been very active in working for maintaining Biblical standards for sexuality within the Presbyterian Church (USA) during his tenure in Atlanta. Through his invitations, I attended various meetings with churches advocating Biblical standards for fidelity and chastity in the local Presbytery of the New Covenant in Houston. CCR actually has had some strong ties with other PCUSA churches since its inception, and I have been gettting reacquainted through Jim. I gave brief testimony at several meetings that preceded the local February 9 Presbytery meeting where the option for changing ordination standards ( which would allow ordination of practicing homosexuals ) was voted down. The denomination as a whole came out 3 to one against the proposed amendment.

MICHAEL IN DALLAS!

I joined Randy Thomas and Pastor Bob Stith to man an Exodus booth at the American Association of Christian Counselors conference in Dallas, April 26-27. The theme of the conference was sexuality, so it was very appropriate that Exodus was there. Many of the counselors coming by the booth were aware of Exodus, and were grateful for our presence. Janelle Hallman and Russell Willingham were also at the conference as presenters

GROUP TALK

LIVING WATERS began in January and will end June 27. Fourteen participants (nine men, and five women) will complete the intensive discipleship course. We saw MANY attacks on this class in particular, but are so pleased that ALL will be completing. We also have three new small group leaders for next year, as well as some potential interns.

Barnabas, an encouragement/discipleship group for men continues. This marks the 10th consecutive group we have run since last June. It provides another group experience in addition to LIVING WATERS. Please pray as Adrienne considers starting a discipleship group for the women, as well.

FRENCH CONNECTION

I almost got an interview with France Info! A correspondent mistakenly called me trying to get another perspective on the Enron disaster; I quickly switched into French to explain about CCR and Exodus! She was quite intrigued! I gave her contact information in France, so who knows what God might do with that "chance conversation"!

ON THE RADIO

The two interviews I did for KHCB 107.5 FM in March provided quite a few phone inquiries. In January I did an interview with Dolly Martin on her program TEMAS VITALES on their AM station/Radio Amistad 1400 AM. In the first weeks of June I did another program with Dolly and a late-night call-in program with Miguel Jacinto. Increasingly, I am doing more and more ministry in Spanish, as I am trying to connect more with the Hispanic community here in Houston, and as Exodus central office also uses me as a resource. I anticipate doing groups in Spanish in the future!

I was really pleased to be interviewed on the Mike Richards show on 700 AM Talk radio on May 23. We received several phone calls during my interview.

God has been blessing our efforts as we have had more churches get involved in providing meeting places, and we are seeing an increase in number of people involved in groups and counseling.

Please keep us in your prayers.

Pastor Michael Newman

NON-FUND RAISING EVENT FORM

_____ Sorry, I don’t trust you and amateurs
      at a CARWASH. Here’s the $10 
      donation anyway.

_____ My life is too busy to find junk for you
     to sell or to buy any of yours. Here is 
     $25 to save me the aggravation.

_____ My social life is already too busy,
      and I hate rubber chicken at fund 
      raising banquets. Here is $____ so
      I can spend that rare free evening at home.

_____I have fallen arches and can’t stand the
     heat, so I don’t want to participate 
     in walk/ride/bike/anything A-THON. 
     Here is $30 to avoid medical expenses 
     I may have had afterwards. 

_____I’m terrible at soliciting pledges or
     selling stuff, so it’s worth it to me
     to give you $15 so I don’t have to.

_____I can’t face another partners’ luncheon,
     so here’s $100 for me and the friend
     I couldn’t find to invite.

_____ My wife/doctor/scale tells me to stay
      away from those sweets, so I’m willing
      to pay you $50 to avoid those 
      dessert gatherings.

_____ Nor do I need to bake any goodies 
      for aforementioned dessert gatherings.
      I will donate $15 instead.

_____ I hate phone solicitations, but
      hate to be rude. Here’s $40 to
      soothe my conscience.

PS. Don’t forget CCR has accounts at Randall’s (1982), Gerland’s (105440), and Lifeline (call 1 800 990 0109 , acc 25584).

You can also contribute by credit card at www.helping.org

Tell me more on how to give.