December Photo Card and Christmas Greeting

The six letters of Christ fill the nine letters in Christmas. Christmas IS about Christ! 

Yet, for some this holiday feels more like a hole-iday (ie: empty crib, miles apart from family or for some first holiday after a loved one's passing). But God still enters into our garden variety of gunk (illness, trials, heartache, grief ...) AND no matter what He relentlessly loves as we are. 

Recounting the message of my Savior's birth DOES GIVE hope. Jesus comes not with a list of things for you to do, but with a list of things he has already done and will do. Jesus lifts burdens; he doesn't add to them ... When we see the face of God, it changes everything. - Max Lucado (Because of Bethlehem) 

Crown, cradle, cross (see Philippians 2:7) -- God (heaven's crown) came down as Christ born of Mary in Bethlehem's barnyard, to Jerusalem's cross, where the tomb-stone was miraculously rolled back. 

Christmas begins what Easter celebrates. The child in the cradle became the King on the cross. - Max Lucado (Because of Bethlehem) 

~ Advent is an invitation to (prepare) our hearts, the Gift that surpasses all gifts (Immanuel - God with us). Like a child eagerly awaiting the event of unwrapping their gifts on the eve of Christmas or on the very day, Advent is a season of anticipation- beyond the tinsel and great tidings - hope, peace, joy, and love. King Jesus IS coming, am I leaning into receiving Christ Child with joy? 

Who can add to Christmas? The perfect motive is that God so loved the world.
The perfect gift is that He gave His only Son.
The only requirement is to believe in Him.
The reward of faith is that you shall have everlasting life.
-- Attributed to Corrie ten Boom

Here is a new photo prayer card.  Feel free to print off the high resolution image by clicking the below image.

Celebrating 70 Years of God at Work

As Leslie and I have moved in to serving a larger portion of Cru, we thought it would be good to share some of the broader reality of what has made Cru (the US organization) who it is as part of Campus Crusade for Christ (the global organization).

70 years ago, in October 1951, Bill and Vonette Bright began the ministry that has become Campus Crusade for Christ with the backing of a 24-hour prayer chain. The ministry focused on reaching students at UCLA with an understanding that if you can reach college students today, you can reach the world tomorrow. What follows is a shortened timeline of the ministry (a fuller version can be found at http://www.cru.org/about.html).

By 1952, more than 250 students had received Christ and the influence of the ministry was spreading to other campuses. To meet the demand, the Brights accept their first 6 staff.

In 1958, Dr Joon Gon Kim launches the work in South Korea, which propelled Campus Crusade for Christ into becoming an international movement. (see photo on Left)

In 1967, 600 staff and students converge on the University of California, Berkley for one week. Over 700 students and faculty members receive Christ. (See photo on Right)

In 1972, Explo ’72 was held in Dallas with over 80,000 attending day time meetings throughout the week, and it is estimated the Saturday festival had between 100,000 and 200,000 in attendance with Billy Graham speaking each day. Not only did this event revolutionize Christian music, but it mobilized thousands to engage in ministry.

In 1974, Explo ’74 was held in South Korea. More than 300,000 delegates attended. Police estimated at one evening meeting, 1.5 million people gathered – 320,000 of them indicated a decision to receive Christ.

In 1976 the “I Found It” campaign launched. It is estimated, in its 4 years, 85% of American’s received some exposure to the campaign. It mobilized 300,000 Christians from 15,000 churches in 246 cities for organized evangelism. (see photo on Left)

In 1979, “Jesus” a film account of the life of Christ premiered in 250 theaters. Since then, the Jesus Film has become the most translated film in history, with over 1,900 translations and growing. (see photo on Right)

In 1983, KC ’83 occurred in Kansas City, drawing 17,000 college students and received training in evangelism and discipleship.

In 1985, Explo ’85 was a worldwide video conference with over 300,000 delegates in 98 countries. (see photo on Left)

In 1990, representatives from 102 countries converge on Manila, Philippines over six months. Of the 5,000 participating, around 89% came from countries other than the USA. 3.3 million Filipinos were presented the gospel and 447,000 indicated decisions to receive Christ. (see photo on Right)

In 2001, following the attacks on September 11, we produced an evangelistic magazine called “Fallen But Not Forgotten” It was distributed to more than 10 million people by hundreds of churches and Christian organizations. Mike served with the high school ministry and provided the logistics for distributing 250,000 “No More Fear Student Survival Kits” to jr high and high school students in NY City. (see photo on Left)

In 2002, Operation Sunrise Africa mobilized Christians in 22 African countries. Believers from India, the Philippines, Singapore, France, and the United States joined thousands of Africans to proclaim the gospel in 50 cities in 50 days. 64 million heard the gospel and 1.7 million and 81 new churches were planted.

By the end of 2009, Campus Crusade has a ministry presence in 190 countries. Those countries represent 99.6% of the world’s population.

In 2012, 1,500 Campus Crusade staff and volunteers from more than 30 countries participate in Heartbeat Tallinn event in Estonia’s capital city for 7 days. Over 15,000 Estonians heard the message of God’s love for them. (see photo on Right)

In 2020, EveryStudent.com (a website created by Cru) attracted 60 million visits with over 900,000 Individuals indicating a decision for Christ. (see photo on Left)

THANK YOU Faithful MINISTRY PARTNERS for joining with us as we serve the broader ministry of Cru.
So EVERYONE KNOWS SOMEONE WHO TRULY FOLLOWS JESUS!

Making A Life-on-Life Difference

 Recently, Mike was interviewed for the monthly newsletter of MATS.org, the organization we have used to purchase vehicles from that caters to missionaries and those they are connected with. They captured such a great picture of our ministry that we wanted to share it with you.

Making A Life-on-Life Difference

As we begin to phase out of summer and into the autumn, we thought it fitting to share a story of transition that friend and client of MATS Mike Rebholz has to share in his ministry with Cru. Mike has been coming to MATS over the years for vehicles for his family and ministry, and we’d like to take the opportunity to share more about the work of Cru and the Rebholz family journey. We hope that you are encouraged!

For what has been 23 years now, Mike began working with Cru (formerly known as Campus Crusade for Christ) in their high school ministry. Cru’s purpose is to help fulfill the Great Commission in the power of the Holy Spirit by winning people to faith in Jesus Christ, building them in their faith and sending them to win and build others. Mike’s dream of serving in ministry began early on and was of speaking and singing at church camps and retreats. God opened doors for him to be involved with Campus Crusade for Christ during his years at Bradley University while he studied music education. His work within the organization gained footing as he assisted in video editing and sound engineering for the high school ministry and eventually morphed into more administrative work. With a desire for more face-to-face interaction with people, Mike moved within Cru to Keynote in Indianapolis where he served as a sound tech for a band. During this time, he also met his wife Leslie, and began to take on some human resources responsibilities as well.

This transition from music to more closely dealing with and relating to staff within Cru turned into a position as the Director of Leadership Development and Human Resources Services with Athletes in Action (AIA). Under the umbrella of Cru, AIA is an international sports organization focused on equipping athletes, coaches and sport-minded individuals to grow in their relationship with Jesus and invest their lives into others. Mike’s role was to coach new missionaries, oversee policy procedure and implementation, assist in staff care, and intervene in crisis situations. It was during these six years that Mike was able to more fully experience the gifts that he had been entrusted:

“It’s a unique opportunity for me as someone who has an aptitude for policies and procedures, but to be driven by caring for the individual to be in this position. I want to make life-on-life differences in people’s lives, and right now God has that for me in these human resource care roles.”

Mike has recently transitioned into a position at the Cru corporate headquarters, where he serves in US Staff Care - a segment of human resources.

Cru encompasses many different outlets and ministries by which the Gospel is expressed and shared. Mike has found his niche in being able to use the gifts that God has given him and his family to minister to those that are working to expand this Good News. When asked what the most meaningful part of his work is, Mike responded, “On people’s darkest day, I get to point them to Jesus.” Part of his role often deals with balancing the individuals that make up the organization and the organization itself. It is a delicate, yet very important balance of holistic ministry.

With the ever-changing nature of our world and society, it is encouraging to hear stories like Mike’s. His words of encouragement to those of you reading that are also serving in ministry is this:

“I’d like to encourage those that are in ministry to never be afraid to be vulnerable about where God has you. Live in the context of community - in the light. God has plans for each one of us and he chooses to use us. The more we can be in right relationship with Him, the greater the propensity there is to fulfill the Great Commission.”

Personal Update:

Our family spent the summer in transition, as we slept in 10 different beds between June and August. Though we have a house to call home in Orlando, FL, our transition is not over. A large majority of our belongings are still in Ohio, and we are preparing to have them transported to us. We praise God for his provision of a house (and boy is there a story to God’s handiwork in it)! Our boys are in school: Benjamin started 4th grade, Maddox is now a Kindergartener, even our youngest Zachary started preschool just 7 min. from our house. They are slowly adapting to the change. We (Mike and Leslie) feel like we are barely keeping our heads above water in the myriad of details of our move, processing emotions of the many changes and our ministry responsibilities. But God is FAITHFUL every day to allow us to do what needs to be done.

PRAISE & Prayer Requests:
1) Praise God for the provision of a home we LOVE and getting settled into it.
2) Praise for all the safe travel done this summer back to the Midwest— over 2,700 miles were driven in late June and in July, and Leslie flew with the 3 boys solo to Ohio and back.
3) Praise for the incredible opportunity of a matching fund to help us raise additional monthly support. If you would like to know the details, please reach out to us and we ‘d happily alert you when the fund has been fully established.
4) Pray for the process of getting all of our belongings from Ohio to Florida.
5) Pray as Mike travels at the end of this month back to Peoria, IL for a conference at our sending church, Grace Presbyterian.

In July, we said goodbye to our OH house for the last time. Remembering where the youngest two joined our family. What a journey in the 5 years we called Ohio home!

Mike and Leslie “saying YES to the house” in FL.

But God...

In our last newsletter, we shared with you some of the hardships that we have faced. In the midst of that, we have clung to these two words “But God”. It is used in 47 verses in the ESV and the concept of but God is in around 100 verses.

Maybe you are like us in wanting to see a “but God” moment in your life. God is at work in each of our lives, yet at times we don’t understand what He is doing. I (Mike) have seen that time and time again in my life and know that because God doesn’t change, I can have confidence in times of trouble. 

Years ago, when I worked at a Christian children’s camp, we sang a song that used the words of John 16:33. “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” Jesus says this to his disciples as he understands the coming difficulties they will face as He will be crucified. While my circumstances are nothing in comparison, it is still true that Jesus has overcome the world.

Our BUT GOD moment we are about to embark on.

We have accepted God’s call to continue serving and ministering at the International Headquarters of Cru. This will allow our gifts to be utilized in a way that is leveraged across the entirety of Cru impacting 9,000 stateside and overseas

staff and volunteers. The scope is vast!

Mike is going to remain in the US Staff Care department doing special projects. Right now, Mike is leading a project to create building blocks of curriculum to engage our staff in personal character growth. All too often we see believers and people in ministry failing to live up to Biblical standards. This curriculum will be targeted at engaging our staff to keep growing so that significant failures which would require them to leave ministry won’t happen. For those in ministry, it is particularly devastating if they do not maintain a focus on their own spiritual

condition and character growth. 

Leslie has accepted a role to use her experience as a Ministry Partner Development (MPD) Coach in the program (Lake Hart STINT) that we have participated this past year. As the MPD Coordinator for Lake Hart STINT, some of the privileges she’ll have are resourcing and coaching the staff in the program with tools so that they will not be hindered by their finances during their transition. Thus, encouraging and equipping them to be fully funded and financially free to pursue their new ministry assignments be it internationally or stateside. It’s exciting to mobilize laborers for the Kingdom so that MANY more will come to know Jesus!

AND we believe this permanent move from Ohio to Florida we will thrive in continuing to serve the Lord and thrive as a whole family.

Prayer Requests:

1) Pray for temporary housing in Orlando June 12—July 2.

2) Pray for provision for moving our belongings from Ohio to Florida.

Special Prayer Email Group:

We are gathering interested people to join a prayer team expressly for our transition to Florida.  Use the checkbox "Florida Transition Prayer" at this link: http://bit.ly/RebholzPrayer

I Feel Crappy!

March 2021 Newsletter 

Sitting on our apartment couches across from our life coaches I (Leslie) uttered “I feel crappy” (and it wasn’t about being physically ill). In our bi-monthly meeting things began to spill out of my lips in the conversation. Maybe you have shared a similar sentiment in the last six months. Being is ministry as a “vocation” we aren’t without this experience. 

 My coach gently responded with care and follow up questions to unpack the raw emotion. Our coaches brought to mind the recent team time talk we listened to. I was struck by how I viewed myself and how my Heavenly Father sees me. 

During a recent team time we heard from a Cru leader equipping us to, “Reading your gauges.” We were challenged to read Luke 2:52, “And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor of God and men.” Jesus grew in four areas: Mental (wisdom), Physical (stature), Relationship and Emotional (favor of God and men). Three thought-provoking questions we individually pondered: How do you see yourself? How do you see God? How do you think God sees you? Perhaps they cause you to pause for a few moments. 

You may recall Mike and I are here at Cru Headquarters for a purpose. This eleven-month program is developing us, giving us space to work through the good, the bad, and the ugly. Spiritual Growth and development are good and healing things. But, I’m not going to sugar coat it -- it’s HARD work.

   

Simultaneously we have the privilege to serve in ways that bolster our staff. Some of the beautiful opportunities we have this year are to bringing our experiences (Leadership Development) to come alongside others whether it be with missionaries who had to unexpectedly return from overseas assignments, a fellow mom with kiddos still at home, the single trying to discover their next place God is calling them to serve. It’s worthwhile and exciting to know our training and experiences are not wasted for the Kingdom work, including right here in our own apartment complex with fellow Cru staff. For example, Mike’s expertise of processes in LDHR and Staff Care allowed him to be tasked to develop some training material and processes that will improve caring for staff in matters of the heart and their grown. This enables staff to live more conformed into the image of Jesus Christ.

A gift from Cru - Lent Devotional

 We wanted to share with you a gift of a lent devotional that Cru has produced.  You can either sign up to receive it as a daily email or get the entire devotional as a single pdf download (sent to you in an email).

Here are the first two days, yesterday and today.  Check them out to see if you would like to subscribe to the full devotional series.  

You can sign up to receive this devotional at:https://www.cru.org/us/en/train-and-grow/life-and-relationships/holidays/lent.html

New Year Photo Card

We wanted to share with you our New Year Photo Card for our family.  If you would like a physical copy mailed to you, please let us know by commenting on this post.  You can also download a printable version by clicking the image.

Prayer Request:

• Mike is taking an intensive Apologetics seminary course this week (an entire semester in 5 days of class).  Please pray for stamina and clarity of mind.  Also pray for Leslie as she deals with all the family logistics for the week.