END OF THE YEAR UPDATE-DECEMBER 2002

HOT WHEELS FOR CCR

Thanks again for all of your prayers, and contributions for buying a new car after my accident in June. The board of directors approved purchase of a 1997 Nissan Maxima with reasonable payments for 3 years. I love the Bose sound system!

FREEDOM FROM HOMOSEXUALITY

In September, I was the chief presenter at the FREEDOM FROM HOMOSEXUALITY seminar at Grace Presbyterian Church, Houston. 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. KEEP US IN YOUR PRAYERS AS WE ARE SEEKING HOST CHURCHES FOR THIS SEMINAR FOR 2003.

BARNABAS GROUP

The Barnabas group for men has met consistently most Mondays of this year, with a core group of 5-15. Increasingly, it is a group for dealing with sexual brokeness, heterosexual and homosexual. God is really maturing those who have stayed with it a long while and new leadership is developing.

FAITHFUL, AVAILABLE, AND TEACHABLE

God has been at work bringing men interested in becoming leaders in CCR. In addition to Dale and myself, we had four men come to the national Exodus conference in Wheaton with us in August. This really helped them to catch the bigger vision of what God is doing in the US and the world. At our regional conference in Arlington in October, we had a group of 11 from Houston, which included a married man and his wife. By the way I am also doing one-one discipleship with a college student. That has been a real blessing! We are also praying for faithful women to help Adrienne!

MICHAEL DOES DALLAS/FORT WORTH!

This fall I went to the DFW area for several conferences. I ministered on the prayer team for the STRENGTH IN WEAKNESS taught by Andy Comiskey. I taught on Sexual Addiction at our regional conference in October, and was able to minister in person to a Spanish speaking e-mail counselee when I attended Mario Bergner’s SETTING LOVE IN ORDER conference in November.

RECONNECTING

In mid-November I finally joined West Oaks Fellowship. I had known Pastor Frank Estes for a number of years. The church again became interested in CCR as they got to know member Dale Davis. CCR’s webmaster is a longtime member, as well. We hope to do a leadership training for WOF early next year. We are also negotiating office space!

PLEASE CALL OR BROWSE

We receive an ever-increasing number of our inquiries from people browsing the Internet. They find us at www.ccrhouston.org. When you call us at 281-497-7044 , we usually have announcements about current events, as well.

UPLIFT-FOR PARENTS AND FRIENDS

Although I still have lots of phone calls from parents and friends, this group has been inactive this year as we have been praying for a new coordinator. We will have a brainstorming session in January, so stay tuned.

LIVING WATERS 2003

I am currently reviewing applications for the Living Waters program that will begin the second week of January. It is an intensive, six-month discipleship addressing sexual and relational brokeness, heterosexual and homosexual.

JESUS ES REY

I had the privilege of giving my testimony and preaching in Spanish at the morning service of NUEVO PACTO in Humble on December 8. It was videotaped and may be of use for some evangelistic efforts in Central America! Thank you for the invitation, Pastor Ojeda.

UPCOMING GENERATIONS

November 4-6 CCR was an exhibitor at the REGENERATION Youth Leaders Conference at Sagemont Church here in Houston. It was great to talk to lots of youth ministers who had lots of questions for us!

GOD’S FAITHFULNESS

God has shown Himself faithful and gracious in this year of transition, as we lost a faithful board member, changed church and office locations, and survived a car accident. We found ourselves with new expenses of monthly car payments, higher insurance premiums, urgent dental work, storage rental fees, telephone bills, beginning update of computer equipment (circa 1998),....

We had many generous one-time donations this year, yet our committed monthly pledge partners remains the same. As noted above, our financial needs have increased, so the need for your financial participation is crucial.

Please consider your financial gift to CCR through

1. monthly pledge,
2. one time gift,
3. merchant participation (CCR has accounts at Randall’s (1982), Gerland’s (105440)
4. Lifeline call 1-800-990-0109, Acct 25584 or
5. Credit card at www.helping.org

Tell me more on how to give.

May God bless you and keep you during this Holiday season. Please keep us in your prayers.

Pastor Michael Newman