Thank you and Merry Christmas from Mike & Leslie Rebholz and Keynote.

December 2012 Greetings

Christ’s Birth
  History
    Resurrection
      Inheritance from Immanuel
        Saint Nicholas
          Traditions
            Music and lights
              Advent
                Salvation

GOD’S GIFT

Little baby on the hay,

Soon there’ll be another day

When nails shall pierce Your hands and feet

As You provide our sin’s defeat.

Risen Jesus on the throne,

We lift our praise to You alone-

For You’re the gift that we receive

The moment that our hearts believe.

-Roy Lessin

As we count the days in December till Christmas, we are reminded this month is a time of renewal-preparing our hearts for truly the greatest gift ever given –  Jesus Christ.  Amidst this season of being bombarded by technology, consumerism, busyness, and presents it is so EASY to forget or lose perspective of the gospel.  We can honestly relate as we’ve been through a roller coaster this fall; moving, living in temporary housing, problems with and fixes to be made on our home, busyness, and ministry obligations that have stretched our family.  While we have praised God (but not enough) during that time we were overwhelmed at times with angst, stress, strife, relational struggles.  

In this season, there is a lot of glitz and glitter that is eye catching for our son.  As adults we are no different at becoming distracted.  We must ask ourselves, what am I celebrating? (Is it gifts, holiday festivities, family time, Jesus- my Savior and Lord?) Without the message of the gospel there wouldn’t be a need for a Savior, the two go hand in hand.  So by fixing our eyes, mind, and thoughts on the gospel we reap infinitely more in the spiritual realm than in material wealth. 

To name a few:

Awareness of my sin and forgiveness
My need for Jesus, His sacrificial gift
The Power of God
Transformation for His Glory
I am God’s workmanship, created to do good works
Choosing His Ways/thoughts are right despite my feelings and flesh nature (Isaiah 55)
He is the giver of all I need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3)
He has gifted EACH person
Awareness and keeping God’s amazing love before my eyes
Perspective in trials/hardships- conforming me to His image

May you ponder this Christmas the gospel message each day, priming your heart for His Birthday!

Below is a family photo card.  It is print quality so if you wish to have a print, feel free to download.

Spring Highlights

Volume 7 Issue 3
Spring Highlights


April– Mike coordinated a theology class –God, Bible & Holy Spirit-for Keynote staff as a part of required Institute of Biblical Studies (IBS) for CRU staff (see photo to rt.). Leslie took this class and enjoyed being a student (even with the Home work)!

One of Mike’s roles as the Associate Director of HR is to oversee the hiring of new staff and processing all the needed requirements (i.e.: paperwork, even VISA applications, coaching them as they raise their initial support). Harro (Michael Harrison.) is an Australian CRU staff person whose giftedness and training is in computer programming. Having him come and serve at Keynote has enabled our New Media labs to update outreach material and to bring our significant programming needs back in house. Mike worked many hours on building the training requirements needed for Harro’s visa. Since Harro’s arrival, he has been able to work on a new release of our God Tools mobile app just in time for a major outreach in Tallinn, Estonia. A special version of the evangelistic tools were created that allowed users to flip back and forth from the Estonia translation to the English version.

May- Leslie began to prepare summer project materials for the students upon their arrival. This included all the notes for the communications classes they would take. Personally, she completed her 5th mini marathon– Geist 1/2. 

June- Summer project students arrived! Leslie had the AWESOME privilege to teach one of the communication classes to the summer project students.

As an application evaluator, Leslie has the opportunity to talk one on one with those who apply for an internship or staff with Keynote. Erica, was a Keynote summer project student in the summer of 2009. This past Christmas during Christmas Conference, Mike and Leslie met with her to discuss doing an internship with Keynote. This month Erica has reported to Keynote as an intern! Here is a note she wrote personally to Leslie.

Thank you so much for having listened and talked to me over the phone during the extremely difficult time in my life this summer. Some of the words and verses you re- minded me of were used in such big ways by the Lord. He used them to comfort me with his love and point me towards Him in reconciliation. I am so appreciative.
– In Christ’s love, Erica

June 29th, we celebrated Benjamin turning 1! A precious gift from the Lord.

Keynote Summer Project 2012 Update

Group: Backbeat Serenade
Genre: A cappella
Tour Location: Wisconsin

“A woman and her 2 kids accepted Christ at our concert tonight. Their family will be forever changed! Grateful.”
— Shawna Paine, Keynote Staff


Group: Young Isaac
Genre: Acoustic Rock
Tour Locations: Florida, Indiana, Pennsylvania

While at a juvenile section of a Florida prison, during their last song, one of the teenagers started tearing up and he called the chaplain over and said that he felt that God was calling him to give his life to Jesus.

Group: Soul Seed
Genre: Eclectic mix of Hip-Hop, Gospel, R & B and Jazz
Tour Locations: Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Virginia,

Their first concert took place in 98° weather in the parking lot. Very few people stopped and stayed for the duration of the concert. But despite that, 3 people indicated a salvation decision.

Group: Theater Team
Genre: Stage production including music, drama and dance
Production: The Point
Tour Location: Indiana

He thought he was coming to be Superman, but God used the other members of Class Six to show him areas of his life that needed attention. “I can honestly say that this mission trip changed my life.”
— TreNation, performer and musician

Group: Film Team
Genre: Stop Motion Animated Short, Comedy
Film Title: Overboard

People kept telling him "Go on a summer project; go on a summer project." He was getting sick of hearing that. But when he saw the documentary he realized there might be a summer project that was more suitable to who God created him to be.
— Steve, Director of Overboard
View the film online at: http://bit.ly/OVERBOARD

A total of 3,453 exposures to the gospel and 362 people indicated a salvation decision through all of our summer projects!


Praises & Prayer:
· Prayer for Mike as he’s taken on additional responsibilities in leadership these next few months, that he’d have the strength and wisdom.
· Prayer for our family of 3– discerning balance in our home-life and ministry.
· PRAISE God for all the salvation decisions this past summer!
· Praise Leslie’s teaching opportunity has led to application in her own speaking.

GREATER are His plans

Volume 7, Issue 2
GREATER are His plans

Sitting in a hotel ballroom with 2,000 college students from IL, OH, MI, and IN brought back many memories.  Eleven years ago (2001) Leslie sat in a ballroom at the same Christmas conference (Mike’s last visit to this conference was 15 years ago). 
 

This year, we had the privilege to attend the Indy Christmas Conference as staff members.   We recruited for Keynote at this conference. Leslie was reminded of how college students face many decisions during this time in their life (what will they do for a summer job, what will they do after graduating college).  Their future is right before eyes-hanging in the balance!

God brought to mind how He’s taken Leslie on quite a journey in these last 11 years.  As a 22 year old then, she had no idea the blessings, experiences, challenges- she’d face and the steps for faith that God would empower her to take.  Jeremiah 29:11 comes to mind.  The Lord’s plans- WOW.  Leslie’s plans were to be a school teacher, get married and start a family.  God granted her childhood dream to be a teacher, find a Godly man, and give birth to our first child.  AND He did MORE!  Sandwiched in between these life events were opportunities to step out in faith to do a year internship and then join staff with Campus Crusade.  God has used Leslie to do greater things than she imagined.

At this recent Christmas conference Leslie marveled at His plans and what has already transpired.  “What He has in store for me and will do thru me for His glory.” 

The theme of this year’s conference was “God is Greater than…” (i.e.: God is greater than our future plans)  How timely to be reminded the God we serve is: limitless, unchallenged, faithful, ENOUGH.  His plans are greater than we can plan or comprehend.   Isaiah 55:8-9 even says it clearly:  “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

Looking back at one’s life and reflecting is difficult.  Yet, the delight is IN Christ- Have you seen how God has woven your life?   Can you finish this sentence:  God is greater than…?

Prayer Requests;

• The last week in April (23-28)Leslie is taking a required Seminary course. which she’s excited about!  Pray that she would complete the required class assignments in a timely manner over the next two months, balancing time with family (hubby and Benjamin), home and other activities.
• Mike is organizing that same Seminary class. Pray for all the preparation and logistics involved as we may have as many as 100+ students

A Year in Review

Volume 7, Issue 1

A YEAR IN REVIEW

Our precious gift...

We had a baby boy on June 29, 2011.  Leslie was induced as Benjamin Paul came 8 days late and showed no signs of arriving on his own.  After a full day of labor, he arrived at 5:50 PM by caesarian.  He weighed 6lbs 8 oz and measured 19.25 inches.

The author of No Fear Guide for First Time Parents put out by Focus on the Family writes “Parenting is an adventure, a source of incredible fulfillment and a unique privilege.  It’s a voyage of discovery, a humbling responsibility and a learning curve…above all, a gift from God-one that deserves to be received with joy and treated with the utmost respect.”  We are in amazement as we see this little gift of God.-he’s growing and changing fast.  Having a child of our own brings new understanding of God’s love.

As 2011 came to a close we wanted to reflect and share events of the last 6 months worthy of praise and reporting about.

May– June:  Summer Project stats

52 outreach concerts/events

5,033 heard the gospel message

355 indicated they started a relationship w/ Jesus.

August: Mike hit the ground running as our staff returned from the bi-annual CCC staff conference in Ft. Collins, CO.  training interns, and strategic planning for LDHR department.

Sept. Mike reflected on  the 10^th anniversary of the attacks of 9/11.  For Mike, it is hard to believe 10 years has gone by.  Mike spent 3 months in New York City following 9/11.  At that time, Mike was serving with Student Venture, the high school ministry of Campus Crusade.  The goal of the team was to distribute 200,000 “No More Fear Survival Kits”.  These kits contained materials to give New York students hope as well as a Bible and a gospel presentation.  Thanks to hundreds of staff, students, youth group kids and NYC leaders who linked arm in arm to take the good news of hope in Christ to the students of NYC, this project fulfilled its mission.

Recently our pastor shared that he was asked “How has your life changed as a result of 9/11?”   For Mike, the change has come in many ways – the memories of ground zero – the various conversations with those who lost people – the various people who now spend eternity in Heaven.  These all have brought about a change of compassion for the lost as well as knowing the power of God in the midst of total tragedy.

Oct: Mike traveled to the Intern coordinators Conference for CCC.  This is the first ever conference where representatives of ministries that use interns in Campus Crusade for Christ gathered.

Oct: Leslie served on a team to coordinate the Campus Crusade Worldwide Day of Prayer that Keynote hosted for Indianapolis.

Dec. Mike attended Ministry Partner Development (MPD) Coaches forum.  He is one of only 90 coaches nationwide.  70 of which were present at the conference.  This team facilitates coaching more than 5,000 US staff to help them raise their support more effectively.

Nov.: A home-school co-op  took a fieldtrip to Keynote.  What a unique opportunity to teach and tell kids about our ministry and what it’s like to share the Gospel.  It’s never to early to start teaching your children about missions!

Comments about Keynote from this home school group:

Laney (9): I loved learning about different ways missionaries can teach others about God!

Camden (8): I liked coloring the flags and learning about the different countries,  and standing up in front talking about it.

Renee (mom): The kids have loved the CDs and are listening to them every night.

Becky (mom): Today, we were praying for missionaries from our church in Brazil. My eight year old daughter said, "I know all about Brazil." She had done a report on Brazil during our Keynote tour. She then went on to tell us all that she still remembered about the country. Thanks for the great opportunity to expand our horizons!

Jillian (8): I liked when we did the country report, because it was fun to learn what Keynote had done in Hungary.

Jackie (10): I think it was cool that people can do a lot of stuff together if they work together.  Even if there is just a few people, it can go a long way—like the department at Keynote that has only two people, yet they can accomplish so much.

Jenna (7):  My favorite part was learning that Keynote is helping the world.

Andi (mom): We had heard about David Pendleton, but now that we have the DVD, we love him!  We have watched it several times and have loaned it out already.  We watched it with our extended family on Thanksgiving—we were thankful for the laughs and the gospel message. The kids have asked other kids if they have the “David Pendleton movie” and then they explain who he is.  And… we catch them often quoting lines from the DVD. 

Chelsea (5) I remember the flags. We colored them.  People have been there [to those countries] and built houses.

Grace (8) Everyone there [at Keynote] is a believer.  They travel to different countries and play concerts.

Blake (10) Keynote is a great ministry that has a big heart for God.  I loved the tour of the facility and I know that these people will do everything they can to proclaim the Good News all around the world.

Sherri (mom) We really appreciate all the time and preparation that went into the tour for our home school group.  It's so great to know that a ministry like this exists in our own city...a ministry that impacts the world for the cause of Christ and His gospel!  Thanks so much to Mike and all his staff for having us!  

THANK YOU for blessing us as a family by your faithful giving and prayers.  We in turn can bless others and share the hope of Christ.

Some of the Keynote LD / HR Team

Prayer Requests:

· For Leslie balance in: serving, involvement in activities-opportunities, home-life,, time with the Lord, relationships and keeping my husband and child my first ministry. I would choose what God wants. 

· For Mike peace, rest and strength in the midst of lots of demands, decisions and needs he faces in his role as associate director Leadership Development and Human Resources.