Calvary Chapel North Phoenix

We are fast approaching our summer months.  Phoenix is famous for our heat (but it’s a dry heat…yea, the same kind they use to make jerky!).

May the Lord give us the grace to not focus on the weather this summer. The real hope we have before us of meeting the Lord Jesus face to face is a glorious hope! No amount of life’s trials and troubles can take that away from us. Amen?

God is very aware of what is going on right now in our lives. He sees the beginning, the middle and the ending. Nothing is too hard for Him.  He can be trusted with the deepest secrets of our lives. Let’s take the risk to open up everything to Him (He already knows it, but wants us to own up to it!).

He is ready with His grace, healing and mercy to be strong in our behalf. But it’s so very important to humble ourselves before Him in prayer and let Him do things HIS way.

Marriages, finances, children, friendships…there can be no end to the testings that come up in any and all of these areas. But this is just where the Lord wants to  take us by the hand and lead us THROUGH the difficulties, especially when we want to run FROM the difficulties.

I would encourage all of us to present every arena of our lives and spread them out before the Lord for His examination. He’s not looking to condemn us. He’s looking to restore us in every way. Let’s give Him that opportunity.

Thanks for taking the time to read this. May the Lord watch over your lives and continue to draw you ever closer to Him as we wait for the trumpet sound and are caught up to meet the Lord in the air!

Pastor Bob

As we head into springtime it is so awesome to witness the grace of God upon our church families! Even though things have gotten very challenging for many during these times, we have watched the Lord Jesus come alongside and undergird them with His strength and courage.

We have been able to help out several families in their time of need. Either from our food bank (Calvary’s Cupboard) or from our benevolence ministry, we watch how the Lord seems to put all the pieces together just in time for the urgent needs.

We have some new ministries opening up for the women in addition to the special studies going on Tuesday morning and evening: a monthly fellowship and encouragement for single moms, and a new study to begin for those struggling with weight issues.

The men’s ministry has begun an outdoorsman’s fellowship for those men who really enjoy getting out and either hunting, fishing, camping, shooting, etc. The goal is to have a Bible centered fellowship that includes those activities. This is in addition to the Thursday night study and the Saturday morning discipleship.

Our youth ministry is growing spiritually and numerically. Several of the youth are praying for open doors to go to Ukraine this summer on a short-term mission to minister at Camp 120, a teen camp for Ukrainian teens.

Our children’s ministry is heading into its spring quarter. All of the teachers, helpers and coordinators are volunteers committed to these 13 weeks. They have such a heart for the kids. We are hoping to get our VBS program set up for the third week of June (more on that later). We will be needing teachers and helpers and behind-the-scenes people to serve 8 am - 1 pm to reach out to children in our neighborhood.

These are just a few of the ministries that are currently active here at Calvary. May the Lord continue to pour out His grace and Holy Spirit upon us. This is our only hope.

Pastor Bob

Our new Basset Hound puppy, Stella, is now eight months old and settling down…a little. She no longer howls at night when I put her into her crate; but from 4:00 am on she begins her unique puppy whines and demonic low-tone bellowing. I usually turn on the exhaust fan in the master bathroom so I don’t hear it until I’m ready to get up.

Our older Basset Hound, Stanley, was taken in for surgery to have four fatty tumors removed. Because he has so much loose skin the stitches kind of bulge out a little on the ends. He looks like he walked by Dr. Frankenstein’s place…FrankenBassett. He is also wearing a protective collar to keep him from digging at the sutures. He is on pain meds for a little while to keep down the discomfort. This spaces him out to the point where sometimes he just stands in the middle of the room staring out into space. I wonder if he’s hearing things from orbiting satellites? I think I will cut back some on the dose.

Jesse and his family are adjusting to living in China. Two inch mattresses are the norm.  Food is different. Noise is abundant in that small apartment. But thank the Lord for His grace and His plan in ministry there. The teaching at the school begins next week.

Thanks to all of you who have faithfully prayed for our family during these times. I can’t express just how much I am humbled and blessed by your encouragement and support. God, You are so good!!!!

There have been many changes at our church during the past four months. We are counting on the Lord’s grace to see us through these next few months as we make several transitions in staffing and other ministries.

Pastor Lane Sharman and his wife, Karen, are now living in the San Diego area (since Nov.). They have been on staff faithfully serving our congregation for years. Their many ministries are now being spread out to several volunteers and remaining staff.

Pastor Jesse Claycamp and his family are heading out to China the middle of February. Pastor Jesse has faithfully served our congregation for years as well. His many ministries are also now being spread out to several volunteers and remaining staff.

Sandi Miller has faithfully served our congregation as well, as Children’s Ed. Director since 2005. She is now continuing to serve in a little different capacity, serving as a volunteer coordinator over the elementary grades on Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights.

Pastor Chris Steinle has been brought on staff as the new Children’s Ministry Pastor. He is also our church administrator.

His responsibility as Children’s Ministry Pastor is to oversee all the various children’s ministry activities on Sundays, Wednesday nights, VBS and all other children’s ministry events. He will be an encourager and pastor to the many teachers and helpers who volunteer so faithfully to our children.

Pastor Chris is also a CPA and his many talents will serve our congregation well.

Pastor Chris’ wife, Gwen, helps out on a volunteer basis part time during the week, taking care of various administrative responsibilities.

We now have volunteer coordinators over the main age classifications within the Children’s Ministry. Their area of service is to encourage and aid the teachers in their service of teaching and crafts.

Bill Davenport is now our youth pastor. He serves on a volunteer basis along with his wife, Emily.  They have come to us from Calvary Community Church. We are so blessed to have them join our team. The Junior and Senior High students are going to have a great year!

Our worship community leaders have formed a leadership team to bring further direction and vision to our worship ministry. There are about 25-30 people who participate in the worship community.

We will be seeing some additional worship leaders becoming involved and honing their skills to lead us into praise and worship of our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.

There are almost twice as many volunteers serving the congregation in various capacities than we’ve ever had before. I lift my heart to the Lord in thanks.

Truly we are going deeper in carrying out our mission to ‘equip the saints to do the work of ministry for the building up of the body of Christ’.

Our current board members are Rick Redpath, Bill Prevatt, Jesse Claycamp and myself. Mike Means is our Secretary/Treasurer.

These are some of the changes that have occurred and are occurring right now. We ask the Lord for grace and peace as He leads us through to the next level of ministry.

Thank you for the grace you have extended to me and to the leadership of this body of believers. Thank you especially for the prayers. They have been a sustaining force.

Pastor Bob Claycamp

At the beginning of this year we have a wonderful opportunity to reevaluate the condition of our fellowship with the Father and the Son.

2008 has been a year of many changes. For some it has been a year of great loss. For others it has been a year of new direction.

Many times things can get so jumbled that we put time alone with the Lord on the back burner. There are just too many other things that demand our attention.

It is time to reorganize our life and put Jesus first and foremost. He is our Shepherd. He is our Lord and Savior. He is supposed to be the One in charge of our life, not us.

Let us take the time to stop and have the Holy Spirit search out every area of our lives. May we turn over all the master keys of the rooms of our lives (even those secret closets that no one knows about) and let Him clean them out and sanctify them.

On Sunday evening, January 11, at 6 pm we are calling all the men together from Calvary Chapel North Phoenix. We want to use this time to be exhorted and encouraged to order our lives this year in a fresh, new direction. We want to help one another go deeper in our fellowship with the Savior than ever before. Our theme is “Running to Win” out of Heb. 12.

Men, please, if at all possible, reorganize your schedules to be able to attend. It will be well worth the sacrifice.