September 2025

September has been a month of preparation, planning, and catching our breath following our busy summer. We are now charged and ready to dive in to our fall programming. Here's a brief look...

Released Time

Sign-ups are underway for Released Time Classes. These classes begin in October, and we currently have two scheduled with a third in progress. This year's curriculum covers, among other things: creation, the fall of man, the flood, the life of Jacob, the life of Paul, prayer, the birth of Christ and the resurrection. We are so excited to reconnect with students from last year, as well as meet some new sign-ups for this year.

We have been receiving feedback from several families who do not participate in Released Time Bible Clubs because they are offered during school hours - even if during lunch time. We are already looking ahead to next school (2026/2027) and evaluating some opportunities to add after-school clubs for famililes who prefer that format. Stay tuned...

Book Clubs

Our book clubs for this year combined into one group for our kick-off at Robinson Baptist Church on Sept. 18th. We were excited to welcome three new readers from our summer book clubs who will be continuing with us through the school year. Our first book this year is Beyond Mulberry Glen by Millie Florence. There are some great themes here dealing with light and darkness that we are eager to look into through the lens of Scripture!

National Conference

It is always a pleasure to meet up with our fellow missionaries from Children's Bible Ministries for our yearly global conference. This year in September we were blessed to have our gathering in Kentucky near the Creation Museum and Ark Encounter. It was a great time of encouragement from our extended missionary family as we heard each other's updates and what God is doing through the ministry areas of CBM both in the United States and around the world.

Upcoming Event Calendar

September 28 : Ministry Update at Grand Haven Community Baptist

October 1 : Released Time Classes start for Griffin Elementary

October 7 : Released Time Classes start for Lakeshore Middle School

October 12 : Ministry Update at Jenison Bible Church

October (date TBD) : Released Time Classes start for Edgewood Elementary

For just a dollar a day...

As we see the ministry growing and our surplus shrinking, we stand in need of some additional monthly ministry support. We have no doubt that God will provide for these needs, but we don't want to leave our newsletter readers without an opportunity to be a part of His provision!

If just 25 families commit to $1 per day ($30 / month), we would have enough funding to support the needs of the growing ministry for the coming year. If God lays this burden on your heart, you can visit www.continuetogive.com/cbmprojectmichigan to set up your recurring gift, or see the support address below and include a note indicating the gift is for "Lakeshore Student Ministries".

Personal Updates

Our son Justin and his wife Fallyn have blessed us with a new granddaughter! Eliana Joy Witters was born June 12th. The family is doing well and adjusting to life with a newborn!

Our daughter, Tori, just annonced as well that she is expecting in May! This will bring the count to 4 grandchildren! We feel so incredibly blessed!

On a more somber note, my Dad has begun hospice care and is declining quickly. We don't know how much longer he will be with us, so please pray for grace and strength for our family as we walk through the days ahead.

Prayer Requests

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

Praises

Two of our students from this past year's ministry are looking for ways to become jr helpers and volunteer with us next year.

God has given us a good time of rest following a very busy summer.

Released Time signups have begun! Pray that many would take advantage of this opportunity.

Requests

Pray for Todd's Dad who has been placed under hospice care.

Pray for faithful volunteers who can help us staff our Released Time Classes this year.

Finances are tight this month as our surplus was mostly expended during our camp season. Pray for faithful donors to step forward to meet this need and to provide new monthlly giving to cover the increasing expenses of our growing ministry.

Closing Thoughts

We are so thankful for all the ways God has blessed His minsitry here in West Michigan. As we kick off the fall programming, we do so with eager anticipation of all that God will accomplish. To Him be the glory!!