Year End Director's Letter- A look back with gratitude and look ahead with excitement!

I love that word picture! God has called us all to be farmers.

Powered by the Holy Spirit, CBMC Northland has incredible momentum. As you prayerfully consider year-end “sowing”- financial gifts- I’d like to encourage you with a few thoughts on where we’ve been and where we are headed:

Yet this I recall to mind therefore I have hope~ Lamentations 3:21

A look back

80 Years of ministry in the Northland- The year was 1939 when local business men gathered together to form the first CBMC Northland group. Early on, men in our area felt called and led by God to focus on evangelism and discipleship to reach unbelievers through a new yet transformational channel- the marketplace.

Events large and small took place that provided attendees an opportunity to hear a clear gospel message and encouragement to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior through prayer. CBMC men following up with people that responded to the message and inviting them to join CBMC small groups and a one to one discipling relationship.

Current CBMC Northland Trusted Advisor Team member, Ric Olson earliest recollection of CBMC Northland goes

back to the mid 1940’s. His grandfather Axel A. Olson was a one of the first local leaders that helped plan a CBMC downtown St. Paul outreach luncheon that featured a high energy keynote speaker named Billy Graham.

The What we do and How we do it allows CBMC to reach people for Christ in unique and very effective ways. While some of our strategies to reach the marketplace for Christ have evolved, other proven practices have stayed the same.

A few highlight’s of 2018 activity include:

12 events and training sessions were conducted directly reaching over 2,200 people including:

• Major outreach events that presented a clear gospel message

  o August 4th Annual Brainerd Lakes Area Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast Apollo 16 Astronaut and Moonwalker Charlie Duke

  o November 15th marked the 40th Annual Central Minnesota Mayor’s Prayer Breakfastand Story Time with Si, Si Robertson from the hit TV show Duck Dynasty

• Leadership Institute Facilitator training sessions

• Connect3 Leader Training sessions

• Business Series Luncheons

• Leadership Coach Training sessions

• Leadercast

• Young Professional Retreat

• Christmas gatherings in Brainerd and Fargo

Teams/small groups meeting weekly and monthly focused on personal evangelism, discipleship and Christ focused business excellence

• 27 Business Peer Trusted Advisors Teams

• 15 additional Young Professional, Connect3, Mighty Men, Caleb, and Bible studies

A look ahead

 

For 2019 as we enter our 80th year of ministry, it’s exciting and important to reflect and celebrate on the many thousands of lives directly and indirectly being reached for Christ through past and current CBMC Northland activities. With that said, I believe the best days for us lie ahead.

 

Your continued investment into CBMC Northland is allowing us to reach our goal of Vision 220 Cities By 2022. Our focus now is on building even more momentum and expanding our Northland reach into an additional 100+ communities.

 

From the ends of the earth I call to you...lead me to the rock that is higher than I.~Psalms 61:2

 

Together we are growing- God is leading us to new heights, and relationships are the key!

 

The Vision 220 strategy is being implemented.

 

Plans are underway to expand in 2019 to new communities including: Rochester, Mankato, Owatonna, New Ulm, Bemidji, Detroit Lakes, Grand Forks, Devils Lake, Minot, Williston, Dickinson, Bismarck, La Crosse, Eau Claire, Madison, and Wausau.

 

To build the relationships in these areas, we’ve been taking steps to verify God’s call to some new CBMC Northland staff members.

 

Scott Ward and David Carlson are both now in Associate Field Staff roles and conversations are ongoing to determine whom else God is calling to join Alan Smith, Don Hoffert, Tom Whitney, Scott and David.

 

I would like to encourage you to prayerfully consider how The Lord will lead you to support in these areas of emphasis and growth as we look ahead to 2019 and beyond:

1. Discipleship- Desire to see each CBMC member in at least one Operation Timothy relationship. It’s estimated that currently 30% of members have at least one Timothy

2. Grow in decisions for Christ- Through Living Proof personal evangelism and outreach events, that more people would dedicate or rededicate their life to Christ

3. Growth of members and teams- with our added field staff and focused Vision 220 role out strategy, we can aim for a 20% per year target

4. Grow by 10% a year in members volunteering for leadership or on planning teams

1. Prayers that God will call and CBMC members will respond by increasing their level of financial support CBMC Northland

2. Praying, planning and preparing for God to enable the growth He has provided the vision for

Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans. ~ Proverbs 16:3

Thanksgiving and Prayer

These words from the Apostle Paul sum up well the feelings I have for you, our financial supporters and CBMC members, as I reflect on my gratitude:

I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, because I hear about your love for all his holy people and your faith in the Lord Jesus. I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ. Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people.~ Philemon 1:4-7

During this holiday season, may this be a time of great thankfulness and reflection on years past with even greater excitement for what plans God has as we move ahead with hope and a peace that surpasses all understanding.

For His glory and our joy,    

Alan Smith- CBMC Northland Area Executive Director
Email asmith@CBMC.com

Cell 612-816-1541