January 2025

A new year

Since our last newsletter in early December, we have enjoyed a restful Christmas season and a winter wedding in Denver! Brandon and Nayab tied the knot on January 10th, and we spent 5 days in Denver with them, along with our other kids. It was a wonderful time of celebration. We are now entering the stage of life where all of our kids are married and beginning their own families. We feel so very blessed!!!

We also received the news that we are going to be grandparents again! Justin and Fallyn are expecting their first child in early June! We are so excited for them as they prepare to welcome their first child into the world.

We have now settled back into a regular schedule and are already beginning our summer ministry planning.

Book Clubs

This year, we are expanding the book club minsitry in two exciting ways...

First, we are providing a shortened summer book club option. Our plan is to cover three books over three different meetings held in June, July and August (see dates below). These meetings will be held in a local park, and are designed to give some new families a taste of what book clubs look like and to expose them to other ministry opportunities we offer as well. Promotion will kick off in February.

Second, we are starting after-school book clubs in the fall. The idea is to offer the clubs right after school and either meet at the school or provide transportation to a local library.

Our community book clubs are still going strong! This is now our third year, and we have 17 students enrolled from 11 different families. This month's book is A Long Walk to Water

Our book clubs aren't just about reading fun books or being entertained by good stories. We select each book specifically for the biblical lessons and applications that it supports through its characters and plot. Although the books themselves aren't overtly Christian, each contains biblical ideas or themes that we use as discussion starters, ultimately pointing the readers to the truths of Scripture and to Jesus himself.

Summer Camps

Summer camp volunteer recruiting has begun! If you helped out last year, you should be getting an email in the next few weeks with details and a list of volunteer needs we have. If you weren't with us last year and would like to know more (or if you know others who may be interested), we'd LOVE to plug you in!!! Dates are given below. Reach out to us at the email at the bottom of this newsletter if you'd like to help and we'll get the information out to you!

Event Calendar

We are going to have a full summer! Here's how things looks as of right now...

Feb. 13th : Hudsonville & Spring Lake Community Book Clubs

March 7-8 : Church Ministries Conference in Grand Rapids

March 13th : Hudsonville & Spring Lake Community Book Clubs

April 8-11 : CBM Directors' Conference

April 17th : Community Book Club combined year-end wrap-up

April 28th : Last Released Time class of the school year

June 9th : Grandchild #3 is due!!!

June 14th : Kick-off of Summer Book Club in the park

June 30th - July 3rd : Adventure Camp in Nunica

July 12th : Summer Book Club in the park

July 21-25 : Day Camp in Spring Lake

August 11-15 : Day Camp in Grand Haven

August 23rd : Summer Book Club in the park

Sept 11-14 : CBM National Conference

Mid-September : Community Book Clubs and After-School Book Clubs begin.

October : Released Time Starts back up

Prayer Requests

Would you take a few minutes right now to celebrate and intercede for us?

Praises

Brandon and Nayab have begun their married life together!

Justin and Fallyn are expecting their first child in June!

Book Clubs are expanding this year!

We are adding a 2nd day camp this year and extending adventure camp to 4 days.

Requests

Pray for wisdom as we evaluate our Released Time program and look for ways to increase enrollment.

Pray for wisdom as we "ramp-up" our book clubs this year.

Pray for staffing and for the planning process for adventure camp and our two day camps and VOLUNTEER.

Closing Thoughts

Thank you for encouraging us through your prayers and financial support. God is at work here in West Michigan! Please pray with us that the gospel would change hearts and lives of those whom God has brought to us!