Dear Fellowlaborer in the Lord,

May the riches of our heavenly Father’s blessings rest upon you and yours this day. As always, it is our joy to write to you and share some of our hearts with you who we love and pray for. As the song goes, and, even more importantly, as the Bible says, "We are family!"

At least here in the northern hemisphere, Spring is right around the corner, and the seasonal anticipation of new life and beauty is akin to our excitement and anticipation about what we see the Lord doing in our own lives and in the hearts of those in association with us. One of the most thrilling things is watching God use our new book to make a big impact upon many people of various theological persuasions. We wish you could read the feedback about it, and that which moves us the most is when people tell us how it is helping them to better know and walk with their Lord Jesus. He is The Man of all of our dreams.

We are also stoked about the Prophecy Seminar and Spring Weekend Fellowship in Denver March 28 - April 2. We hope that you receive this newsletter before then, and if so, you can most likely still get in on those activities (the phone at the Denver Southeast Holiday Inn is 303-695-1700). Also, we currently have about 40 saints going on the Bible Lands Tour June 10-23, and there may still be time to register for that. The Schoenheits are really jazzed about being with you who are signed up for this adventure. AND—we are taking along a "Hollywood cameraman" to film all the teachings on location, from which we plan to produce a video seminar.

As we look out from our perspective and ponder how to accomplish what we believe the Lord has given us to do, we think about Acts 2:42-47, and it is from those verses that we have drawn the theme for the Denver Weekend: "They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship..." As you may know, when we originally banded together more than 12 years ago, we thought of ourselves more like a think tank, materials resource center and networking entity. As time has passed, however, we have seen the need to build a family around the world whose hearts are knit together in real Christian love, and who are committed to the mission of spreading the true Gospel around the world.

How are we to do this? That’s a very good question, and one we often ponder. Based upon the above Acts verses, we do see a pattern. It certainly seems clear that the foundation upon which to build is recognizing and continuing in "the apostles’ doctrine." That is the basis for the wonderful unity described in the ensuing verses, a unity that involved deep personal interaction one with another, and which resulted in "the Lord adding to their number daily those who were being saved."

1 Corinthians 1:10 echoes the Acts 2:42 adherence-to-right-teaching-as-the-basis-of-true-unity theme: "I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought." Think about what kind of camaraderie and teamwork such an attitude would engender. Those kinds of relationships are what life is all about.

So our primary goal is to rightly divide the Word of God and present "the apostles’ doctrine" simply and dynamically, especially to faithful men and women who can teach others also. We want to feed people "health food" (sound=healthy  doctrine) so that they are sound-minded, strengthened in their individual relationships with their Lord Jesus and empowered to function in the Body as he directs them. We then want to motivate people to expand their comfort zones and reach out in order to get involved in the lives of other people, believers and unbelievers, always remembering the security of who they are in Christ.

The following verses seem to sum up what we are saying here:

Romans 15:5-7

(5) May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus,

(6) so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

(7) Accept [take unto yourselves] one another, then, just as Christ accepted [took unto himself] you, in order to bring praise to God.

We see in these verses that true unity comes from individual saints each "holding the Head," which means pressing in to the heart of the Lord and allowing him to purge us of "the sin that dwells in us." This takes courage, and it sure helps to have faithful and mature Christian brethren standing alongside us to help in the process and encourage us in our journey to the center of the Lord’s heart. As we aggressively reach out and take others into our lives with the goal of edifying them and pointing them to our Lord, our resulting unity brings great benefits to others and much glory to God. That is what we want to see via CES . We believe that this is your goal too, and we want you to consider CES  as your ministry.

You are probably familiar with Acts 2:42-47, but it might be a good idea to read it again and think about what you can do to see such Christianity happen in your neck of the woods. The components for such spiritual success must be contained within that record. Maybe your fellowship would benefit from studying and analyzing that key section regarding the beginning of the Church, the same outfit we belong to today.

We would love to hear from you any time, and we hope to see you at a CES  function sometime this year. In the meantime, please let us know anytime we can be of service to you. We love you very much, and we rejoice in the privilege of being a part of your life.

Yours in his service,

Michael Branch, Dr. Craig Johnston, Sue Hanna and I left on Monday, January 24 for a weeklong mission trip to Haiti. The plan was to teach a seminar for 25 ministry leaders, which was organized by Lesly Bertrand, and then do medical clinics at the orphanage founded by Lesly and his wife Bernadette, and at their church. We had begun planning this trip with Lesly last September when he came to the Leadership Conference, and had determined that January was the best month to come, because the rainy season would be over and the mosquitoes would not be a factor.

Since this was the third time CES  representatives had visited Haiti, one of my main goals was to understand how much of our teaching had taken root. I determined that Michael and I would teach almost entirely from 1 Corinthians, instead of going to many sections throughout the Bible as we usually do. I found a Creole version of the Bible in my Hermeneutica Bible Software program and made 21 copies, and also some in French. It turned out that they wanted only the Creole, and we had 21 ministers in attendance. Considering the silly way that I arrived at 21 copies, I found it amazing and providential that this was the precise number that were needed. The office copier had gone haywire, creating an assortment of errors, and when we straightened them all out we ended up with 21 complete sets.

All Haitians speak Creole, but French is spoken by only the most educated people. Creole has some limitations, one of which is that there are no verb tenses. Everything is spoken of as occurring in the present tense. This makes it challenging for them to understand some concepts, and we are endeavoring to overcome this hurdle.

Lesly Bertrand, 42, and his wife Bernadette, have been ministering together in Haiti for 20 years. They have eight children: Jean Eder (m., 18), Jean Amos (m., 16), Isaie (m., 14), Levy (m., 12), Rubin (m., 10), Dina (f., 9), Bernaja (f., 7) and Benny (m., 2). We never actually got to meet their children and see their home. We had hoped to get to spend some time with Bernadette, and had invited Lesly and Bernadette to go out to eat with us after our work was finished on Sunday, but a mix-up with the taxi driver rendered that impossible.

Lesly was associated with the Mennonite denomination until 1994, when he separated from them over doctrinal issues and started Grace Assembly Fellowship . This is the name of both his church and ministry, which comprises nine churches throughout Haiti. When he left the Mennonite denomination, they gave him the church building in Ballanton, his home church. Approximately 120 people attend. The building is solidly constructed with concrete blocks, and has a generator, lights and ceiling fans (but no windows or doors). Fenelus Jirot is the pastor of the church, while Lesly is the teacher and supervisor.

Behind the church is a school building, without lights, and in need of some repair. There is a large crack in the back wall, which Lesly is concerned about for the sake of the safety of the children. He estimates that the wall would require $1,000 to repair. 140 children attend the school daily, and it is a real work of faith. The children come from the families of the church and also the surrounding area. They have uniforms, and use the rustic benches that we saw in schools in Africa. The children from the orphanage also attend this school. Many of the children have a long walk both ways. Lesly would like to be able to feed these children a noon meal, but right now he lacks the funds to do so. He says he only needs $200/mo. to pay for one meal a day for 140 children. I don’t know how that is possible, but knowing Lesly, he will find a way. He needs $350/mo to pay the teachers and the director and for teaching materials. When money is tight, the teachers are not paid, but they continue to teach, having faith that God will supply their need.

Lesly has two brothers and a sister. His oldest brother is 52 and is in the hardware business, doing quite well. His other brother is a taxi driver. His brothers and sister are still Roman Catholics. Lesly attended Chesapeake Bible College, which has a branch campus in Port-au-Prince. He completed a three-year curriculum in 1997, during which he received training in hermeneutics, systematic theology, angelology, Christian counseling, cell groups, planting churches and church management. This makes Lesly one of the better-educated Haitian ministers.

The day after we arrived, we went to scout out the conference center where the seminar would occur, and the orphanage and church where the medical clinics would be. Lesly could not say how many people to expect at the clinic at the church. Looking back on it, we estimated that Craig and Sue saw about 150 people in one day.

The orphanage in Croix-Des-Bouquets (just outside of Port-au-Prince) is home for 15 girls and three full-time workers. The space is tiny, and he is looking for another location. It is a dark place, lit up mostly by the radiant faces of the children and workers, a true testament to the love of God at work. Lesly estimates that they need $500/mo. to meet their needs there, including paying the workers. They also need a phone ($300), which has to be a cell phone. Haiti, like many Third World countries, does not have very functional hard-wire telephone systems, and cellular technology has been a real help. Although it is relatively expensive, it makes owning a phone that actually works a real possibility without the exorbitant costs normally charged by the government to run a telephone line into a house or business. He also needs a fax machine, which he can hook up once he has the phone. Then he can offer fax and Internet service as a part of a business that would help support the orphanage and the minstry.

The orphanage also contains the ministry office, which has a modern computer (that runs Windows 95!) that was donated to them. Electricity is inconsistent, and the first time we visited the orphanage, the electricity was off. But on Saturday during the medical clinic there, the electricity was on for about an hour and a half and I was able to sit with Yvon Georges, a deacon and teacher in the church in Ballanton. Yvon is a young man with a bright mind and a beaming smile. He was able to speak enough English that I could share with him a little bit about how to use the computer. We were just ending our session when the electricity went out again. This is life in Haiti.

Yvon and Lesly wanted Microsoft Publisher  so they could provide business services to the community like business cards, brochures, etc . I sent them a copy of it when I got home so they could get started. Lesly is adamant that the Haitian people become self-supporting. He appreciates gifts of charity, but his vision is to bring the people he works with to a place of self-sufficiency. This alone makes Lesly stand out among his countrymen, many of whom are content to remain essentially colonized and dependent upon American and European generosity. Since Haiti is the poorest country in the world (a great testimony to the effects of a culture dominated by Voodoo!), they will need help with capital (money used to make money), but we help them best by encouraging their economic self-reliance. This would be a tremendous ministry for someone with business acumen and the ability to teach the essentials of economics, accounting and entrepreneurism.

Last year Lesly received a gift of $3000 from two believers toward the development of a training center, and this money was used to purchase land. They plan to start building something there that would serve as a school, church and conference center. It would be used for the purposes of his ministry and rented out to other groups when not in use. He still needs money for construction materials, and he plans to have volunteers do the building. Lesly’s vision is impressive, ambitious and infectious. His life is a beacon of faith and hope in a country of discouragement and despair.

Lesly is doing all this with only $120.00 U.S. in regular monthly support. He goes to his mailbox in downtown Port-au-Prince on Thursdays, and thanks God for whatever he finds there. In America, getting our mail may require a walk to the end of the driveway. To get mail in Haiti, one must first be able to afford the rent on the post office box. Then you must ride a "tap-tap" (a small pick-up truck with seats in the back and a roof, if you’re lucky) into downtown Port-au-Prince. Waits of up to two hours to find an empty seat on a tap-tap are not uncommon, and traffic into and out of the downtown area can add more hours. A simple trip to the mailbox can take the better part of a day!

Lesly needs a vehicle, preferably an older 4 x 4 of Japanese make, 1984 or 85. Then he can do his work much more efficiently, including travel the frequently impassable mountain roads and visit the other fellowships. Right now he has to walk and wait for tap-taps. He does so without complaining, but he gets tired, and all his travelling is hard on his family.

The seminar went well, and my hunch about 1 Corinthians proved to be right on. It brought up many practical topics that these leaders needed to understand and be able to teach. The theme of spiritual maturity in 1 Corinthians was timely and helpful to encourage the spiritual growth of these leaders.

I established three ground rules for the seminar so the participants would have something at stake. Since we provide them with everything, it is difficult to know if they are really committed to being there. I asked them to promise to be on time for each session, bring their Bible, notebook and pen to each session, and not talk without being acknowledged.

The first time there was a massive problem of lateness was after a break. When I asked why they didn’t keep their promise, one of the bold ones replied that the reason they didn’t return from the break on time is because the teacher did not call them back. This enabled me to explain to them about taking personal responsibility for their behavior. I don’t know if they "got" it completely, but after that they were much better about being on time. Only one person kept his commitment throughout the entire seminar, and he won a shirt as a reward. I did this primarily to teach them the difference between a "gift" and a "reward," which is a concept that is hard for them to grasp. Teaching people in America to accept personal responsibility is challenging enough, but helping people who have been brought up in a "colonial" and disempowering mentality is even more of a challenge. Lesly says that many of the denominations working in Haiti continue this cycle by breeding dependence upon denominational leadership and provision.

There are still some basic teachings that we need to keep working to help them understand, but they seem to be well on the way to becoming established in the faith. We continue to exhort you to pray for these ministers who must take a bold stand against witchcraft (voodoo), which still exercises an indescribably massive influence upon the minds of the Haitian people. Before they can become self-reliant and productive as a people, they must shake off the yoke of spiritualism and witchcraft that has enslaved them for centuries. Please pray for their election in March, because this may be a very important vote affecting Haiti’s future for a long time to come. We need to pray that leaders will rise up who will truly have a heart to improve the lot of the Haitian people and bring some spiritual, economic and political stability to this ravaged land. Pray also to see if perhaps the Lord is laying it on your heart to help them in some way.

Sue Hanna gives her perspective:

Haiti was an experience of a lifetime for me. There are no words that can adequately convey what I saw, heard and felt. Even the photographs we took fail to convey what actually took place there.

My personal struggles en route to this adventure quickly paled in significance as the plane’s descent onto the runway in Haiti became a reality. The visible housing, if one could call it that, was far inferior to the worst I had seen during my home care nursing experiences in the U.S. [Mark adds: Sue’s heart is so tender and compassionate. She fought back tears as we drove away from the airport through the nearby housing area].

The countryside of Haiti is beautiful, with mountains, bodies of water, fruit trees and flowering plants. In sharp contrast was the incredible poverty of the people. During our stay, we learned of various cultural, political and spiritual reasons for this inequity.

Our pre-trip preparation included much research to set up a mobile clinic with few supplies, donated medicines and limited knowledge of tropical diseases. God was faithful to us, as well as to those who would receive His provision. Less than one week before our departure, we requested and received a box of medicine from a believer in the wholesale drug business that was to prove to be our mainstay. Also, Craig had a brief opportunity to speak with a knowledgeable American physician working in a rural Haitian clinic/hospital, and his input proved helpful to us in our clinics.

Craig and I were told that we saw 200 people during the week (150 in one day!). Many of the people had similar complaints: eye, stomach and skin conditions. Contaminated food and water are huge problems and most eat only one (sometimes two) meal a day. There were a few people who were very sick, and were carried in. The luxury of tests, x-rays and hospitals were not options available to us. There is little health care and no health care insurance. Medicine of any kind is usually not affordable. One man had become blind because he could not continue to pay for high blood pressure medicine. Prayer was first aid, and our supplies were second aid. Mark and Michael were faithful to help us with both, while Lesly and Bernard assisted greatly by translating for us.

We recouped our energy each evening at the wonderful American missionary guesthouse—TLC Ministries. Lesly worked tirelessly to provide for our comfort, shelter and safety [Mark adds: I think Sue felt safe almost all the time except when riding in the front seat of the tap-tap. They like to pass on curves, etc .]. There were special moments that transcended all cultural and language barriers (my three years of high school Spanish proved worthless in a Creole and French speaking country!). I saw that a smile, a shared laugh and a wave are a universal language. The children were the most beautiful I have ever seen.

The experience was enlightening, challenging, tear-jerking and enriching. I am more deeply thankful for all I have been given, and am daily more aware of the power of prayer and of God’s goodness.

Just when you think you have the inside scoop on God’s plan, something like Haiti comes along. Bad timing, outside stresses, financial concerns and self-doubt closely followed by decision to go. "Wow, that guy, Satan, certainly has some effective schemes to thwart my efforts," I thought. "Well," I guessed, "certainly I will be rewarded or get a big breakthrough for my attempt at self-martyrdom. I’ll probably end up on a plaque in some monastery or maybe become an honorary part-time Jesuit." My visions and self-centered directions fell like a lead balloon. Haiti was confusing, difficult and often frustrating. While we did have "hands on" medical treatment, there was so little we could do with a minimum of materials and no follow up. I was often angry and felt like asking God if I was to be the next Job.

Upon returning home, I have been left to reevaluate my own motives for service. I have been once again reminded that I don’t have the total picture. I have been brought back from pride to dependency. Thank God…and thank you, Haiti. See you next year.

Finally, Michael Branch tells his story:

I was extremely blessed to travel back to Haiti, this time with Mark, Craig and Sue. Mark and Craig roomed with me in the guesthouse, while Sue stayed in a separate room downstairs, but we all dined together and spent our down time planning, studying, reading and laughing (mostly laughing ourselves to sleep).

The guesthouse was a huge improvement over the accommodations John Schoenheit and I stayed in when we were there in 1998. It had screens on the windows, plenty of food and a t.v. (we were even able to watch the Superbowl!).

My Creole is still lacking, but I was able to greet everyone with "bonsior," which made the children laugh and the adults smile. I didn’t realize I was telling everyone "good night."

Our plan was to teach from 1 Corinthians to see what they knew and uncover fears and problems that prevented them from learning. Mark led the way and my job was to periodically step in and drive home certain points with Mark backing me up. Mark’s leadership was patient, empathetic and skillful. The ministers promised us that they would study what we taught and teach it to others. They are a very thankful, warm and loving people with a desire to know the truth.

I suggested that we learn more about Voodoo. We knew that Voodoo was a hindrance to the Haitian people’s lives, but I saw that the lives of even the Christian ministers were still somewhat trapped by some of these beliefs. The country of Haiti is severely impoverished due to the bondage of this pagan practice. I understand having to overcome obstacles, but I can’t begin to imagine facing these hardships day after day with a smile.

Thank you Mark, Craig, Sue and CES  for giving me this incredible opportunity to witness the power of God’s Word in one of the world’s more neglected places.

Summer Family Camp
Tuesday, July 25 - Sunday, July 30

Indiana FFA Leadership Center
Rt. 125W6595 —Trafalgar, IN 46181

The Christian Family: A Laboratory of Love

Summer is the time for family outings and vacations, and we are very excited about our first ever CES Summer Family Camp,  which promises to be a time with something for everyone in the family.

Come join us for four days and five nights of family-strengthening teaching and workshops, recreation and lots of good fellowship. The camp will be held at the FFA (Future Farmers of America) Center in Trafalgar IN, which is about one hour south of Indianapolis. We will begin on Tuesday evening, July 25, and end with breakfast on Sunday, July 30. Registration will be from 1:00-5:00 p.m. on Tuesday afternoon, with supper at 6:00 p.m.

The theme will be The Christian Family, A Laboratory of Love . This was the subject of the very first CES  Bi-monthly tape and is a subject that continues to be crucial for fruitful Christian living. As we are well aware, there is a massive spiritual attack on the family world-wide. Satan knows that he can very efficiently and effectively steal, kill and destroy countless lives by assaulting the integrity of the family, which is the building block of society.

We want this time together to be a wonderful time of family bonding enhanced by teachings of God’s Word, recreation and other events designed to pull families together. Right now we plan to search God’s Word and grow together in four specific areas:

1. Creating a family mission statement: how to develop a sense of family purpose, unity, vision and destiny.
0. 
   Harnessing the power of words: how to utilize the power of words of blessing, praise and encouragement to one another.
1. Tapping the power of forgiveness: how to liberate one another from the sins of the past in order to establish and maintain a blessed family life.
2. Learning to love by listening: how to deeply honor, cherish and respect one another in Christ by open and authentic communication.

Each day we plan to focus on one of these themes, beginning with teachings and small groups in a morning session. The early afternoons will be time for expressive arts, workshops or other group activities, with the remainder of that time devoted to recreation. In the evenings, we will have a campfire with worship and prayer, skits and other fun stuff.

Workshops will support the particular needs of blended families, single parents and teens. Children’s Fellowship  will follow the theme of the adult fellowship, tailored to the understanding of the children. The age breakdown will depend upon the number and ages of those who register, but the following will be the approximate age groups: 0-2, 3-5; 6-9; 10-12; Teens.

To prepare for this experience, we recommend to you the following books:

• The Five Love Languages, by Gary Chapman
• The Gift of the Blessing, by Gary Smalley
• The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Families, by Stephen Covey

Housing at the camp consists of 18 private lodge rooms that each have two bunk beds (we request that these be for families only. First come, first served. Please call the Home Office for availability before registering ); cabins with bunk beds that sleep 42 people each and tent camping around the grounds. The cabins will be designated for Families, Men/boys and Women/girls. Tent camping is for adults and whole families only (no one under 18 is permitted to camp by themselves). There are also motels and RV sites within a 20-minute radius.

We are absolutely thrilled with the initial response to our new book, One God & One Lord: Reconsidering the Cornerstone of the Christian Faith . Most people are surprised by its depth and by the amount of information it contains, especially for only $15. It really is a resource for a lifetime.

If you have it, you have probably seen a good number of typos. We have seen even more, and we are diligently working to eliminate them for the second printing, which is not far off, based upon how fast we are selling the book. So what you have, if you have a copy of the first edition, is a collector’s item! Ya gotta love the classic typo on page 168, 1st paragraph, last line. Look closely. We may even leave that one in!

One helpful way to decide whether or not to buy a book is to look at the Table of Contents. In case you don’t have the book yet, here it is:

Chapter 1: Christianity 101: Two Adams

Chapter 2: The Destiny of Mankind

Chapter 3: Jesus Christ: The Purpose of the Ages

Chapter 4: A Prophetic Portrait of the Messiah

Chapter 5: The Messiah the Jews Expected

Chapter 6: The Four Gospels: The Fourfold Portrait of Christ

Chapter 7: The Synoptic Gospels: Open or Veiled Messiah?

Chapter 8: The Gospel of John: Great Scott! He’s Back from the Future!

Chapter 9: "But What About John 1:1?"

Chapter 10: The Book of Acts: "A Man Accredited by God"

Chapter 11: The Church Epistles: The Head of His "Body"

Chapter 12: God’s Namesake in Action

Chapter 13: Our Fellowship with Jesus Christ

Chapter 14: The Book of Revelation: "King of Kings and Lord of Lords"

Chapter 15: The Expansion of Piety

Chapter 16: The Beginnings of Heresy: Gnosticism and Neoplatonism

Chapter 17: Jesus Christ: Incarnated or Created:

Chapter 18: The Rejection of Both Scripture and Logic

Chapter 19: Socinianism and the Radical Reformation

Chapter 20: Modern Trends and Final Thoughts: Ecumenism, Biblical Unitarianism and Trinitarian Renewal

A. An Explanation of Verses Used to Support the Trinity [The Top 100!]

B. Use and Usages of Kurios ("Lord")

C. Orthodoxy, Heterodoxy, Heresy

D. Divine Agents: Speaking and Acting in God’s Stead

E. Names and Titles of Jesus Christ

F. Satan vs. Christ: Head to Head

G. Beyond a Reasonable Doubt: Historical Proofs of the Resurrection

H. 46 Reasons Why Our Heavenly Father Has No Equals or "Co-Equals"

I. 34 Reasons Why the "Holy Spirit" is Not a "Person" Separate from the One True God, the Father

J. The Order and Structure of the Church Epistles

K. Logical Fallacies Employed in Trinitarian Theology

L. The Name Yahweh

M. Modern Versions and Trinity "Proof Texts"

N. Textual Corruptions Favoring the Trinitarian Position

O. 22 Principles of Bible Interpretation

P. Prayer Words Used Regarding God and/or Christ

If you are a subscriber to this year’s bi-monthly teaching tapes, you should by now have received both the Jan/Feb and Mar/Apr tapes. If you have not, please let us know right away. Mark Graeser worked very hard for hours and hours to produce the first two tapes, a two-part teaching titled "God Told Me To Do This Teaching."  It begins with a follow-up to John Lynn’s last 1999 teaching, You Are The Only You God Has , and then deals with the issue of decision making and the will of God. It is a very practical teaching that we think will keep us from going overboard on the belief that God will give us unlimited personal guidance and direction.

John Lynn will do the May/June bi-mo, titled May I Have This Dance for the Rest of Your Life?  It will look at the biblical truth about the Giver and the gift as it relates to the reciprocal relationship between each believer and the Lord Jesus Christ, which is in some ways like a dance. In Christian circles today, the subject of "the Holy Spirit" is one of the most mishandled and confusing topics there is, to the detriment of people’s lives. We hope to help people see what the Word of God says about this critical subject.

Three other teachings will follow during this year, and we encourage you to invest a mere $25 to receive all six. Hey, why not throw in another $15 for The Contender. That way you will receive something from us each month.

If you have been thinking that it is due to Post Office malfeasance that you have not yet received your February issue of The Contender , you must look to blame us instead. Due to many circumstances apparently beyond our control, we were unable to get this issue out in a timely manner. We apologize for the delay, but we trust that the issue will be worth the wait. The April issue should arrive on schedule.

We are now carrying three new booklets, basically written by John Schoenheit, updated versions of our Position Papers and two new videos produced by both John and Jenivee. If you haven’t yet availed yourself of these videos, you are in for a treat.

If everyone listened to this series, human societies would be radically rearranged all over the world. How about just starting with your world, and inviting a few friends over to hear some sound (and ancient) biblical solutions to contemporary problems. Tape 10 is Civil Law, Parts 1-4  and Tape 11 is Civil Law, Parts 5 & 6; You Must be Born Again; Speaking in Tongues . Each tape is two hours long (4 ~ 30 min. segments) and cost $25.

This very practical study is just what you need to assist you when talking to people who are confused about whether they are a Christian. You know the conversation. "Are you a Christian?" "Well, I guess so. I don’t think I’m a very good one though. I do a lot of things I shouldn’t do." You can give them a copy of this booklet and they will quickly learn that they are a child of God by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.

Everywhere we look these days there are misguided Christians who are speaking out against the death penalty. This booklet is a thorough examination of the topic, biblically establishing that putting evildoers to death is life affirming. All the common objections are handled, and the necessity for the death penalty clearly established from Scripture.

Actually this study is about "the emendations of the Sopherim" but we threw the word "sex" in just to get it to sell better. Actually, this is a serious treatment of a very important spiritual issue—proper sexual behavior according to Scripture. This will be a very helpful resource for young people who are being bombarded by our oversexed culture with the message that they should have sex with anyone and everyone who is willing, regardless of gender, age or political persuasion. The booklet highlights the spirituality of sexuality, the godliness of its design and includes an appendix on and the influence of evil spirits in illicit sexual behavior. This is a must read for every adult who has ever even thought about engaging in sexual behavior. Even if you are too old to think about it for yourself, you could buy one for a friend.

This was formerly 52 Reasons and is also included as an appendix in the One God & One Lord  book. You will find this useful to give to those with whom you are acquainting with a non-Trinitarian gospel. It is a logical and concise synopsis of the main arguments against the notion of a triune God of three "co-equal persons."

Defending Dispensationalism and 34 Reasons Why The Holy Spirit Is Not a Separate "Person" From the Only True God, The Father (also an appendix in the One God  book) are now updated and in booklet form. All booklets are $3.00 each.

Do you sometimes feel isolated and frustrated with being single and being a committed Christian? Do you see yourself as The Lone Ranger, with Tonto having been written out of the script? Do you find yourself longing to share things with another single person who has similar doctrinal beliefs? If the answer is YES, you need to, foremost, read God's Word and pray on a consistent daily basis; then, register with the CES  Singles Network!

A new network is being formed, one that might bless you as a committed single man or woman of God. The CES  Singles Network will advocate and support communication and friendship among our single adults. We are not trying to do some sort of match-making. Rather, we want to see our singles helping each other to grow up into Him and enjoying life more. As brothers and sisters in Christ, we all need to stick together, bear one another's burdens, and generally just be good friends for each other. But at times, singles may feel a bit lonely or left out. So if we can reach out to each other via the phone, e-mail, or snail mail, we will be able to strengthen and uphold one another in love. We will send you a list of all singles who sign up to be a part of the network.

Steve Morrow is heading up the singles network. To receive a registration form, please call Steve at 860-355-8484 or email him at shm777@snet.net.

The Barna Report for April-June 1999 surveyed a nationwide sample of adults who attend a Christian church. They were asked what they would look for if they moved to a different community and were seeking a church to attend. They were asked to rate the importance of 22 different qualities of churches. The number one quality they would look for in a new church were the beliefs and doctrine of the church. Care for others and the quality of sermons were the next most important factors.

As you may well know, in June of 1998 we introduced the Partnership Program in order to give people an opportunity to make a specific financial commitment to our work, and also to help us be able to better budget and plan our expenditures. The program has been a great success, and we are so thankful to all our partners for their support.

Logistically, however, the Plan has been just short of a nightmare for us here at the Home Office  (still the office in John Lynn’s home). This has been due primarily to our desire to bless those who support us by giving something back to you in the form of CES  books and tapes. Based upon all the feedback we have received since the program began, we are now streamlining it considerably. We hope that this makes it easier on you, as well as us.

If you are currently a Partner, we will honor your Partnership commitment until it expires. Please note that after  the Spring Fellowship in Denver, the Plan will no longer include the waiver of CES  Weekend Fellowship, Conference and Seminar registration fees. This change will affect both current Partners and those who sign up under the new Plan.

Here’s how the new Plan will work: Everyone who makes a commitment to give $10.00 or more per month is a Partner, and each Partner will receive a subscription to The Contender  and the current year’s Bi-monthly Tape subscription, as well as a 15% discount on the purchase of all CES  materials. That’s the Plan. To make the Plan even easier, we have also decided to run the Plan on a calendar year basis. Then in January we will automatically renew your commitment for another year unless you decide you do not want to continue on the Plan or you would like to change the amount or method of contribution. You will receive a notice at least two months prior to the end of your commitment informing you that your commitment is about to end and of the amount remaining on your commitment, if any. If you wish to continue, then you do nothing. Otherwise, contact us and we’ll make the adjustment.

Each and every day we are grateful beyond words for those dear saints who choose to share of their hard-earned money with us. We do not take lightly the investment that you make in our lives, and we work hard to justify your trust in us. THANK YOU for helping us share God’s wonderful Word with many people around the world.

Teen Camp Saturday, July 1 to Thursday, July 6
Camp Hope, Waynesville, NC
Cost: $150 (includes all meals & accomodations)

The Bible can be a challenging book, and it is important to develop an "I can do" attitude about it. Most Christians either just sit wondering what a verse means, or they think that whatever anyone thinks it means is okay because that is what it means to them. This study camp is designed to show students that the Bible has specific teachings and doctrines that need to be adhered to in order to please the Lord, and, better yet, we can know what those are even in the difficult sections of Scripture.

The primary focus of the camp will be the study of God's Word and how to work the Word for better understanding. There will be two study sessions a day, a longer one in the morning and a shorter one in the evening, and these will not be lectures, but problem solving. I have been teaching how to study for a long time, and have found that the best way to learn is to study the Bible hands on, not through lecture.

Participants will be given work sheets with both general and specific problems and questions that need to be answered. We are working hard to make the questions not only academically interesting, but also valuable for teens and young adults in their lives. A sample question might be: "Romans 7:14-17 has the word "do" many times. There are three Greek words translated "do" in this section, each with a unique and very important meaning. List the three Greek words and their definitions. Choose the best one-word definition for each Greek word and rewrite the section replacing the word "do" with the definitions you have. Write a few lines about "your translation" and what Paul is saying to you as a Christian." We will have lots of camp staff that will be available to help each one understand what they are doing and help if students get stuck. Students will also be helping each other.

CES will provide some study material, but each also student should bring a concordance, Greek lexicon, Bible Atlas, Bible Dictionary, Greek Interlinear and two versions of the Bible, one being the NIV.  If you have a Study Bible with a good set of maps in the back then you will not need an extra Bible atlas. If you have none of these at all and are starting from scratch, buying all this will cost $75 to $100, depending on what you buy. If you are buying, please contact John Schoenheit who can get you in touch with discount book sellers. There is no need to purchase full price at a mall. When you register, you will get a complete list of recommended books, and other lists of how to pack for camp, etc .

Of course, "all work and no play" makes the mind dull, so there will also be lots of activities, games, rap sessions, singing, prayer and campfires at night. Come join us for this unique experience. For more information, please call me (John Schoenheit) at 704-542-7250 or email me at Jschoen777@aol.com.

Well, why wouldn't you think in those terms? Singles functions, even among Christians, tend toward socialization rather than discipleship. No doubt you’ve heard of many dynamic married  couples, but how many dynamic Godly single  leaders can you name? We think of one in particular...

The CES Singles Weekend  will focus on The Lord Jesus Christ, in regard to the following topics:

In addition to the teachings, there will be plenty of time for recreation and socializing (there's that word)! This all takes place in the inspiring mountain setting of Camp Hope (Yes, that really is the name!) near Asheville, North Carolina. If God has been laying it on your heart to move deeper into His call for your life, this will be a wonderful place for Him to unfold new possibilities to you. And you'll have fun! Don't let this unique opportunity for service, fellowship and study pass. The dates are noon, Wednesday, May 24 through noon Sunday, May 28, 2000. The cost for the weekend is $170.00 or $200.00 if you want to whitewater raft. There will also be an optional trip to mine for gems at a cost of approximately $10.00 (the cost varies depending on how many buckets you fill). Fishing requires a non-resident three-day pass for $15.00. If you have any questions, please call Jenivee Schoenheit at (704) 541-4124 or you can e-mail her at guinevere4@juno.com.

Singles Weekend Registration Form

We’d like to take this opportunity to welcome aboard some new members to the CES  team. Dottie Heman is now our new bookkeeper. Dottie and her husband, Jan, live in Greenfield, IN and have three children. Dottie will be working part-time for CES  from her home. Also working from her home is Chris Duffy, who lives in Houston, TX with her husband, Richard. Chris will be helping us with our website, so you can expect a new look and easier ordering in the very near future. Janet Speakes will be doing data entry on a part-time basis for us here at the Home Office. Janet and her husband, Gene, live here in Indianapolis with their two children. And last, but certainly not least is Robin Lawrence. Robin will be doing some much needed clerical/secretarial assisting part-time for John Schoenheit in Charlotte, NC.

Welcome, ladies! We are thrilled to have you with us and are truly thankful for the provision you are to us and the Body of Christ. We look forward to a long and fruitful relationship with each one of you and your families.