As we receive news from the family we will be updating this website with prayer and praise information on Pastor Godfrey:  Please check back for reports.  Thank You

In order to support our beloved Pastor Godfrey we are making this website available to you.  If you would like to donate to his ongoing care  please click on http://www.godfreyjamescatanus.com/ or copy and paste the link into your web browser

Exciting News!

As posted on Facebook on Thursday, February 16th

 This morning, Anastasia, my mom, and I heard Godfrey’s voice. =)
Keep praying, God is doing His miracle in His time!

9.4.11 “Homecoming”

by Corinth Ann Catanus on Sunday, September 4, 2011 at 6:58pm

9.4.11  Homecoming

Since February, my family and I have spent much of the time apart from each other, sometimes even in different states. Whether it was me working in California, or Godfrey in the hospital, or Charissa living with grandparents, there were very few times when all of us were able to spend time together. This was such a drastic change compared to our lives before February. Godfrey had always intentionally spent a lot of time with Charissa, bringing her along with him to his students’ basketball games and concerts or being the lone father at her toddler gym classes amongst the moms and nannies. And, because I had worked a part-time job, I was able to spend a lot of time with both of them.

The beginning of August marked a season of celebration for our family. On August 4, Baby #2 stopped being likened to a fruit or vegetable. Our second daughter, Anastasia Joy (a.k.a. Ana Joy), brought much happiness to our family with her birth. And, because the hospital was a block away from RIC, Godfrey was able to meet her on her birth day. Several days later on August 10, our family was reunited as Godfrey was discharged home from the hospital. As a wife and a mother, these events brought much joy, peace, happiness, and a huge sigh of relief.

Godfrey continues to attend rehab Monday through Friday at a satellite RIC location, but is now able to return home after three hours of physical, occupational, and speech therapy. This is a next step on this long journey for our family, but thank God it is a step in the right direction.

Here are some updates and prayer requests:

• Godfrey continues to communicate via a keyboard called a “lightwriter” with his right hand. He does tire easily, but can now type up to a couple paragraphs at times. One of his prayer requests is that he would be able to speak again. Please pray that his voice would return. He is scheduled to see an ENT in several weeks who will take a look at his vocal cords.
• Godfrey depends on a wheelchair to get to and from the rehab facility. One of his prayer requests is that he would be able to walk again. Please pray that he would be able to walk. “For nothing is impossible with God.” –Luke 1:37

Ongoing prayer requests:

• Please pray that God would work miracles in Godfrey’s mind and body. Please pray for total healing of his body and that he would be able to recover all functions of his body again.

• Please pray that the damages to Godfrey’s brain would continue to reverse in a miraculous way.
• Please pray that Godfrey would be able to continue doing what he loves: preaching and teaching the Word of God, leading people into a deeper relationship with Christ, and discipling the next generation.
• Please pray for the staff taking care of Godfrey. Please pray that they will be used by God to heal him.
• Please pray against any pain or discouragement that Godfrey may be feeling.

Our lives remain crazy, but at least our family is now together. And, our God continues to remain present and unchanging. Thank you for keeping us in your thoughts and prayers.

Blessings,

Corinth

www.GodfreyJamesCatanus.com

8.4.11 Update, “Help Meet”
by Corinth Ann Catanus on Thursday, August 4, 2011 at 2:42am

Over the past several weeks, I have been trying to understand more about what it means to be Godfrey’s “help meet.” For those unfamiliar with the term, it is used in the book of Genesis where God creates Eve, a wife for Adam, to help Adam fulfill God’s call on his life.  I’ve heard Godfrey preach on this topic and passage several times, especially in the high school and college setting, as questions about calling (e.g. What should I major in?) or questions about relationships (e.g. Should I tell this person I like him/her? Am I ready to be in a relationship?) often come up. But even while one is in a marriage relationship, this question remains important: How can I help my spouse fulfill God’s call on his/her life?

While Godfrey has been here at RIC since July 6, he has been busy with physical, occupational, and speech therapy. As part of their program, they also have a psychologist come to meet with him and also has technology part of his schedule where he visits a technology center equipped with devices to help him communicate while working on his voice to return and motor strength to improve.

It has been through a couple of these devices, mainly through an alphabet board as well as a querty keyboard called a “lightwriter” where Godfrey has communicated his thoughts and his needs. One time, when my father, mother, Charissa and I were feasting on McDonalds in his hospital room, he typed out “MCNUGGETSYOURESOBLESSED.” With that comment, I understood that 1) he is still the same Godfrey… still a foodie at heart who is waiting for that first slice of deep dish Chicago style pizza and 2) helped me as a wife in being more sensitive overall in honoring his thoughts, feelings, and needs.

Despite all that has happened over the past several months, Godfrey and I see this upcoming time as a special season of celebration for our family. He will be discharged from the hospital soon, and Charissa’s younger sibling will be joining us soon as well!

Here are some updates and prayer requests:

* Last Friday, Godfrey was transferred to Northwestern Memorial Hospital for a neurosurgical procedure in which they implanted an internal medication pump for medication to enter through his spinal space. After the surgery, he was transferred back to RIC so that the medication could be titrated while receiving more therapy. The anesthesia, medication, and mild pneumonia has left him weak and tired. Please pray that the doctors and therapists would be able to titrate Godfrey to an effective medication dose and that he would be able to improve and regain motor function.
* Godfrey’s swallowing abilities have improved (because those muscles haven’t been used in months, they have weakened)… enough to be able to take small amounts of nectar-consistency foods and thin liquids. Last week, he let me know that he finished almost all the ice cream that the speech therapist offered him. Please pray that his ability to eat would continue to progress. In the meantime, his source of nutrition is via feeding tube.
* Godfrey’s liver shows possible signs of damage. Please pray that his liver would heal.
* Please pray that his voice will return soon. Please pray that in the meantime, his stamina to use alternative forms of communication would increase and become easier for him.

Ongoing prayer requests:

* Please pray that God would work miracles in Godfrey’s mind and body. Please pray for total healing of his body and that he would be able to recover all functions of his body again.

* Please pray that the damages to Godfrey’s brain would continue to reverse in a miraculous way.
* Please pray that Godfrey would be able to continue doing what he loves: preaching and teaching the Word of God, leading people into a deeper relationship with Christ, and discipling the next generation.
* Please pray for the staff taking care of Godfrey. Please pray that they will be used by God to heal him.
* Please pray against any pain or discouragement that Godfrey may be feeling.

Thank you for your thoughts, well wishes, and continued prayers for us.  We are so grateful for the continuous outpouring of love through this season. Although I haven’t been able to thank you individually for your support, please know that I do not take such actions of love for granted.

Blessings,

Corinth

 P.S. Godfrey wants you to know that now at 39 weeks, Baby #2 is the size of a small watermelon! It really is a miracle that this baby has not been born prematurely. Praise God for his protection over this baby who is due on August 5!

www.GodfreyJamesCatanus.com

July 31st, 2011

Please continue to pray for Pastor Godfrey and his family.  He has just completed his second session with RIC and is working hard to improve and get strong.  Pray for him and pray for Corinth, Charissa and soon to be born new family member. {Pray for strength, patience, endurance and peace.

Corinth Ann Catanus posted that  Godfrey will be heading to the OR on Friday, July 29 for a neurosurgical procedure. Please pray for the surgeons and nurses, and for the effectiveness of the surgery for medication placement. Thank you!

July 6th, 2011

Three words are better than two… sometimes. Update 7.7.11 by Corinth Ann Catanus on Thursday, July 7, 2011 at 3:59pm I can see hints that our daughter Charissa is beginning her terrible two stage. She has an opinion on her nightly attire and last night, she slept with both legs through one leg opening of her shorts. I don’t know if that is an improvement on wearing two pairs of shorts (at the same time) to bed last week. She started “school” several weeks ago and after her first day, she came home with two words newly put together: “no way.” Her response to everything for the next several days after that was “no way.”

But Charissa wasn’t the only one communicating in a new way. On June 15, the day after I returned to Chicago from California from one of my work trips, I attended one of Godfrey’s therapy sessions. The speech therapist told me that Godfrey has made a lot of progress while I was away and that he has begun writing. “Whaaaaat?!” She turned to him and asked him if there was something that he wanted to say to me. With his pencil in hand, he wrote three words: I LOVE YOU.

Over the next several weeks I continued to see my husband working hard during his physical, occupational, and speech therapy sessions. He would leave his sessions exhausted, tired, and drenched in sweat. To those who know are close to him, this isn’t a surprise. My husband has always been so hard-working and so determined.

I was met with another praise report as I got off the plane at Chicago O’Hare after this most recent trip to California. Godfrey has been accepted and has returned to RIC to continue his therapies! God has given him another opportunity to attend the #1 rehabilitation hospital in the country.

I apologize for not updating sooner and we are so grateful for those who remain so steadfast in prayer for us. I hope that you are encouraged to learn about how God is answering those prayers!

Immediate prayer requests:

Please pray that Godfrey would be able to talk soon!

Please pray that Godfrey would be able to improve and regain motor function.

Ongoing prayer requests: Please pray that God would work miracles in Godfrey’s mind and body. Please pray for total healing of his body and that he would be able to recover all functions of his body again.

Please pray that the damages to Godfrey’s brain would continue to reverse in a miraculous way.

Please pray that Godfrey would be able to continue doing what he loves: preaching and teaching the Word of God, leading people into a deeper relationship with Christ, and discipling the next generation.

Please pray for the staff taking care of Godfrey. Please pray that they will be used by God to heal him.

Please pray against any pain or discouragement that Godfrey may be feeling.

Personal prayer requests: Please pray for Baby #2 who will be here soon. The baby’s due date is August 5, but Godfrey thinks that the baby will be here sooner than that. We’ll see…

Blessings, Corinth

P.S. Godfrey would want you to know that baby #2 at 35 weeks now weighs the same as a honeydew melon (which happens to be my favorite boba tea flavor!)

June 22nd, 2011

Corinth says … Godfrey’s RIC follow up appointment is on Wednesday June 22 @ 2pm. Thank you in advance for lifting him up in prayer!

Familiar Voice Study

by Corinth Ann Catanus on Wednesday, June 1, 2011 at 8:40pm

Godfrey is involved in a research study conducted by RIC and Hines VA. The study investigates whether or not listening to familiar voices will help those with traumatic brain injuries. Basically, 3 of us family members (myself and Godfrey’s two brothers) recorded a total of nine 5-minute stories or memories from Godfrey’s past. Godfrey listens to these stories via headphones 4 times a day, 10 minutes at a time. The study will last a total of 12 weeks, with fMRIs done at the beginning and at the 6-week mark. Researchers will visit him twice a week to conduct sensory tests and to evaluate any progress. We are hoping that Godfrey would benefit from being involved in this study.

Last weekend, Godfrey had to miss four days of therapy and was re-admitted to the hospital for a minor procedure. Everything is currently ok and he is back at the sub-acute rehab facility. While we were at the hospital, he received some consultations that were needed.

Here are some of the praise reports since my last post:

• Despite not even being on any therapeutic doses of anti-coagulants, there is no longer any sign of the blood clot in the portal vein!
• Godfrey is communicating via the yes/no cards more consistently. Not only does he indicate yes/no by the tracking of his eyes, he has begun to regain subtle control of his right hand and points to these cards. He is now working on nodding his head yes/no. He does get tired easily, however, so these times of communication are short. But using this limited method of communication continues to give me a better picture of where he is at. He misses Charissa a lot (he now sees her several times a week). Interestingly, his theological stances are still the same. Among the questions his brother asked him were “Are you saved by grace?” YES. “Are you saved by works?” NO.

 

Immediate/specific prayer requests:

• Please pray that Godfrey would be able to talk soon!
• Please pray that Godfrey would be able to improve and regain motor function.
• Godfrey has a follow-up appointment at RIC on June 22. Please pray that he will be able to return to RIC upon evaluation at this appointment and that his therapies there will this time be partially covered by insurance (he would need to be consistent in participating in his therapies).

Ongoing prayer requests:

• Please pray that God would work miracles in Godfrey’s mind and body. Please pray for total healing of his body and that he would be able to recover all functions of his body again.

• Please pray that the damages to Godfrey’s brain would reverse in a miraculous way.
• Please pray that the blood clot in his left arm will dissolve on its own.  Please pray that a possible underlying condition putting Godfrey at a greater risk to form blood clots will not cause additional blood clots to form.
• Praise God that the speech area of the brain is intact. Please pray that Godfrey would be able to continue doing what he loves: preaching and teaching the Word of God, leading people into a deeper relationship with Christ, and discipling the next generation.
• Please pray for the staff taking care of Godfrey. Please pray that they will be used by God to heal him.
• Please pray against any pain, anxiety, or discouragement that Godfrey may be feeling.

Some of you have been wondering where I’m living. I am still working in California, and have the fortunate ability to group my shifts together. Although I do have to work a short stretch of 12-hour night shifts in a row, this allows me to fly to California for work, and then return to Chicago to be with Godfrey. Charissa will be traveling with me here and there. I will be flying back and forth until I am 36 weeks pregnant, which is when the airlines won’t let me travel anymore.

I am still so grateful for all of you who have supported us through prayer and through generosity. I know that I haven’t yet been able to thank many of you, but please know that you have blessed us tremendously.

Blessings,

Corinth, Charissa, Baby #2, the Catanus Family and the Dela Cruz family

P.S. Godfrey would want you to know that now at 30 weeks, Baby #2 weighs 3 pounds, like a head of cabbage.

www.GodfreyJamesCatanus.com

by Corinth Ann Catanus – Friday, May 27th, 2011

?Godfrey J Catanus is back in the hospital for another surgical procedure, as well as for consultations with specialists for his medical care. Thank you in advance for your prayers!

by Corinth Ann Catanus on Tuesday, May 17, 2011 at 9:42pm

Birthday treat for Daddy and Daughter

One of the highlights at our time at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago was the opportunity for Charissa to be reunited with her father after almost 3 months of not seeing him. She would point to pictures of him around our apartment and say “Daddy” so even though he was out of sight, he was definitely out of her mind.

Charissa wasn’t able to visit his hospital room because of her age. But, because Godfrey’s trach was removed towards the end of his two-week stay at RIC, he was able to get a pass to the cafeteria on the 2nd floor via wheelchair. The Saturday before her 2nd birthday, they both had a special treat when they were able to see each other.  It was wonderful that Charissa was able to see Godfrey in his workout clothes and sneakers instead of lying down in a hospital gown, and it was a special time for the immediate family to celebrate her 2nd birthday. And, we could see that Godfrey showed some signs of recognition when he heard her unique cry (those who know her know which sound I’m talking about!).

Happy birthday to our “Bugster” and “Cha-Cha Bug” (nicknames Godfrey would call Charissa because of her big eyes). You are so full of life and bring so much joy to our lives. Your mommy and daddy love you very much.

   

www.GodfreyJamesCatanus.com

 

  

Monday, May 16, 2011 at 8:41pm by Corinth Ann Catanus

by Corinth Ann Catanus on Tuesday, May 17, 2011 at 9:42pm

There is a huge Marc Chagall art piece hanging from the ceiling of the lobby of RIC. It is entitled “Job.” On the back of the artwork reads Job 14:7 and it is the largest printed scripture verse in the city of Chicago. And although yes, I admit that to some degree this verse is taken out of context, it is a reminder to me about the story of Job… how big God is, and how even during times of hardship there is reason for hope.

I’m sorry that I haven’t been able to write an update until now, and I apologize that I haven’t been able to get back to individual messages and phone calls. Please do not take it personally.  The past two weeks at RIC have been time-intensive with Godfrey’s therapies. I wanted to be with Godfrey as often as I can as well as learn as much as I can at RIC.  At the same time, I missed seeing Charissa… it is one of my big hopes that I won’t have to feel divided with my time and that one day our family would not be separated.

But throughout these past two weeks, our family has been given so much hope:

• When Godfrey arrived at RIC, although his lungs were making his own breaths, he was breathing through a trach with some oxygen. Godfrey no longer has his trach, remnants of the trach on his throat are healing, and he is breathing through his nose without any oxygen.
• He has been weaned off of any medications that may have a sedating effect. His new medications have now helped him achieve a better wake/sleep cycle, and we see him with his eyes open more often during the daytime.
• He is starting to gain control of some of his muscles. On the first day of his physical therapy session, he was completely slumped over on the exercise mat. Now, he is gaining control of his neck muscles, is working hard to pick his head up, as well as turn his head from side to side. This is after almost 3 months of not using any of these muscles.
• Godfrey is also gaining control of the muscles in his right hand. He is beginning to squeeze our hands by command, and is trying very hard to strengthen the muscles in his thumb (for a thumbs up sign!)
• Godfrey has also improved so much with tracking with his eyes, a precursor to communication. We are starting to use yes/no cards to communicate, where Godfrey will hold his gaze on a card to communicate a yes/no response.
• The speech therapist has begun swallowing exercises on him, a precursor to eating and perhaps speaking.

Although these gains may seem small, we have seen a faster pace of progress over these last two weeks at RIC than over the past several months he spent in the hospital.  Unfortunately, however, Godfrey’s consistency isn’t enough to mandate a longer stay at RIC. But in 1 month he will be reevaluated and will hopefully by then (if not sooner) be able to return to RIC. In the meantime, he will be continuing his therapies at a sub-acute rehab facility in the suburbs, and our family has been taught how to continue these therapies.

The Yes/No communication cards have given us a glimpse of where Godfrey is at.  When it is just me and him, there are questions that I ask on purpose such as: “Is your favorite basketball team the Lakers?” NO. “Is your favorite basketball team the Bulls? YES. “The Bulls are playing Miami tonight.  Do you want Miami to win?” NO.  There are other questions that I have ventured on to ask him. “You were in the hospital for almost 3 months and are now at rehab facility. Do you remember what happened?” NO.  So of course I explained to him. Finally, there are questions that I was afraid of asking, but asked anyways: “Are you still going to keep on fighting?” YES. “Do you want to quit?” NO.Although we are in the early stages of communication, and although we are not positively sure about the accuracy of responses, these are some of the things that he has communicated to me.

These are some of our prayer requests. Some of our ongoing prayer requests have been updated:

• Please pray that God would work miracles in Godfrey’s mind and body. Please pray for total healing of his body and that he would be able to recover all functions of his body again.
• Please pray that the damages to Godfrey’s brain would reverse in a miraculous way.
• Please pray that Godfrey would become increasingly consistent in his participation in his therapies and that he would be able to be readmitted at RIC soon (he has a follow-up appointment in 1 month, sooner if he progresses quickly)
• Please pray that the blood clots in the portal vein and in his left arm do not extend nor detach.  Please pray that a possible underlying condition putting Godfrey at a greater risk to form blood clots will not cause additional blood clots to form.
• Praise God that the speech area of the brain is intact. Please pray that Godfrey would be able to continue doing what he loves: preaching and teaching the Word of God, leading people into a deeper relationship with Christ, and discipling the next generation. In the meantime, please pray that we would have a consistent means of communication.
• Please pray for the staff at the rehab facility that Godfrey has now been admitted to.  Please pray that they would be used by God to heal Godfrey.
• Please pray against any pain, anxiety, or discouragement that Godfrey may be feeling.

I know that many of you, especially those in the Chicago area, are looking forward to visiting Godfrey. We too look forward to these reunions and have already felt your love even from a distance. But we respectfully ask that you understand how these visits may hinder Godfrey’s progress. Because of his brain injury, he is very sensitive to groups of people and can have trouble in filtering different types of sounds/conversations/noises. We don’t know if seeing so many different people may have an overwhelming effect on him and for that reason, I hope that you will understand that he is unable to have visitors at this time. But, we will be sure to let you know when such reunions will be possible.  Thank you so much for all of your love.

Blessings,

Corinth, Charissa, Baby #2, the Catanus family, and the Dela Cruz family

www.GodfreyJamesCatanus.com

P.S.  Godfrey would want you to know that now at 28 weeks gestation, Baby #2′s weight is the same as that of a Chinese cabbage.

From Pastor Godfrey’s brother, Jay:
Halfway through the RIC program today. The pace and intensity of the therapies is challenging and exhausting, especially for Godfrey J Catanus, but we know it’s a miracle we’re here and we appreciate all of you for praying, giving, and supporting us to get to this stage. There’s still tons to pray and fight for, but we’re so thankful you’re all with us. Blessings!

Update #8 on Godfrey, Easter Hope 4.27.11

by Corinth Ann Catanus on Thursday, April 28, 2011 at 12:07am

On the evening of Good Friday, I was at work: my first out of four 12-hour night shifts in a row.  The telephone rang, and my co-worker turned to me and said “somebody from ER wants to talk to you.”  My mind raced… did something happen to Godfrey?  Did something happen to Charissa?  Upon accepting the phone call, the nurse on the phone explained that somebody had brought food for me to the ER, and that I could meet the visitor in the ER lobby.  With much relief, I made my way to the ER and found one of the college students waiting for me.  She had just come from the Good Friday service at WCC, and thought of Godfrey and I. Only, it wasn’t “food” that she had brought for me. It was communion. After a good cry between the two of us, I walked back to the NICU thinking of the significance of Jesus’ last supper with his disciples. On the eve of a day where Jesus knew he would carry the sins of the entire world, he decided not to “live it up” according to the worldly standards. He chose not to travel and see the world, he chose not to eat at the nicest restaurant, he chose not to party and to indulge in sinful desires. Instead, he spent more time with his disciples and loved them, continued to teach them, and even washed their feet. This is the same God that continues to be present in our lives. He calls us, even in our ignorance and imperfectness, to commune with and to believe in Him.

And although I wonder what the disciples were thinking when they saw their Best Friend go through all that suffering, and although I still don’t know why the things are the way they are with Godfrey, the reminder of Easter gives me a Hope that is bigger than this world. A Hope that defeats death. A Hope that reminds me of my need of a Savior.

Some praise reports:

• Last night, the drain for excess cerebrospinal fluid was discontinued because it was no longer needed. There was no need for another neurosurgical procedure to place an internal shunt.
• There are no signs of infection found in the cerebrospinal fluid.
• Now more medically stable, Godfrey was transferred back to Neuro DOU from ICU.
• Now more medically stable, Godfrey may soon be able to transfer to the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago for the brain stimulation program.
• Godfrey continues to show us in increasingly small ways that he senses our presence in his room.

Here is how you can be praying for us:

• Please pray that Godfrey would remain free of infection and that he would be well enough to start the next phase of his recovery.
• Please pray that there would be a room available for Godfrey at RIC and that the air ambulance would be available for transfer.
• Please pray that Godfrey would wake up!
• Please pray that the damages to Godfrey’s brain would reverse in a miraculous way.
• Please pray that the blood clot in the portal vein does not extend nor detach.  Please pray that a possible underlying condition putting Godfrey at a greater risk to form blood clots will not cause additional blood clots to form.
• Praise God that the speech area of the brain is intact. Please pray that Godfrey would be able to continue doing what he loves: preaching and teaching the Word of God, leading people into a deeper relationship with Christ, and discipling the next generation.
• Please pray for the nurses, doctors, and staff members taking care of Godfrey. They know that Godfrey is loved and that there are many people praying for him. Please pray that they too would somehow acknowledge the presence of the God that Godfrey loves so much.

 

Blessings,

Corinth, Charissa, Baby #2, the Catanus family, and the Dela Cruz family

P.S. Godfrey would want you to know that now at 25 weeks gestation, Baby #2’s weight is that of a rutabega.  Hrmmm… I wonder how many of you will google “rutabega.” =P

A Note From The Catanus and Dela Cruz Families:

 

In this challenging time, your love for Godfrey and our family has been a priceless source of strength for us.  So many people have expressed their gratitude for Godfrey’s friendship, ministry, and contribution to their own lives.  We see God’s goodness in your countless offers to help, and we invite you to participate with Godfrey as he moves forward in recovery.  Please visit his website,http://www.godfreyjamescatanus.com/ to donate to his medical expenses, read updates, or learn more about his progress.  Again, thank you for your continued prayer and partnership.

Godfrey (2nd from the left on the bottom row) with some of the youth group students in 2006

Neurosurgery #2 Update

by Corinth Ann Catanus on Tuesday, April 19, 2011 at 5:37pm

Godfrey’s second neurosurgery has been completed after four hours in the operating room.  The neurosurgeon has been able to fit the skull bone piece back without much complication. But, Godfrey did need a ventriculostomy because of excess fluid in the brain and a drain has been inserted to drain this fluid. He is off the ventilator from the surgery and his vital signs are stable. He is currently in the Intensive Care Unit.

Immediate prayer requests include:

• The excess cerebrospinal fluid in the brain is being tested for infection. Please pray that there is no infection in the brain.
• Please pray that that Godfrey will wake up.
• Please pray that damages to Godfrey’s brain will reverse in a miraculous way.

We are grateful for your prayers.

Love,

Corinth, Charissa, Baby #2, the Catanus family, and the Dela Cruz family

www.GodfreyJamesCatanus.com

Surgery this coming Monday, Update on Godfrey #7, 4.16.11

by Corinth Ann Catanus on Saturday, April 16, 2011 at 2:19pm

This past week, I found myself a little bit overwhelmed with emotion when I attended back-to-back emergency C-sections at work.  It wasn’t because of the fast-paced nature of my work, but for different reasons. Neonatal ICU nurses attend any high-risk deliveries and before the change-of-shift, I went to the delivery of a baby several days older than Catanus Baby #2.  The doctor had warned me that the baby was probably going to be very sick and once I heard of the plan to section, I had started setting up any emergency equipment we may need for the baby and making sure I had all the emergency medications on me to bring to the C-section room.  As the baby was born, I found myself thinking of Catanus Baby #2 and how he or she would be about the same size as this baby we were taking care of.  Soon after the delivery, I was called again to attend another high-risk C-section. As I was leading the dad and baby out of the C-section room, the baby’s grandmother rushed to us and exclaimed to the baby “the whole church has been praying for you!”  In a short span of time, I was given the opportunity to appreciate how God is the giver of life and how important it is to be part of a community of faith who remains prayerful for each of its members.  These are two things that I don’t think I can ever take for granted again, going through this trial involving Godfrey.

Godfrey is still currently recovering from pneumonia, and we pray that he will be free of any sort of infection before his neurosurgery scheduled for Monday.  The plan of the surgery is to return the piece of skull bone and if needed, to insert a drain for any excess fluid in his brain. The neurosurgeon says that there will be a 60% chance that he will need to do the latter, but he won’t be able to determine that until the surgery. It is our hope that Godfrey’s surgery will be as simple as possible.  The more simple the surgery, the less recovery time, and the sooner Godfrey can begin the brain stimulation program in Chicago.  But, God knows what Godfrey needs.  In the meantime, Godfrey continues to show us in little ways that he is aware of our presence in his hospital room.  We continue to celebrate over these small signs of hope.

Here are our immediate prayer requests:

• Please pray for the neurosurgery scheduled for Monday. Please pray that it would go well without any complications and that it would be a step forward in Godfrey’s recovery.
• Please pray that Godfrey would be free of infection before the surgery.
• Please pray for the neurosurgeon. Please pray for his skill and discernment.

These are our ongoing prayer requests:

• Please pray that Godfrey would wake up!
• Please pray that the damages to Godfrey’s brain would reverse in a miraculous way.
• Please pray that the blood clot in the portal vein does not extend nor detach.  Please pray that a possible underlying condition putting Godfrey at a greater risk to form blood clots will not cause additional blood clots to form.
• Praise God that the speech area of the brain is intact. Please pray that Godfrey would be able to continue doing what he loves: preaching and teaching the Word of God, leading people into a deeper relationship with Christ, and discipling the next generation.
• Please pray for the nurses, doctors, and staff members taking care of Godfrey. They know that Godfrey is loved and that there are many people praying for him. Please pray that they too would somehow acknowledge the presence of the God that Godfrey loves so much.

 

Many of the doctors and nurses continue to be in awe that people are donating to Godfrey’s medical expenses. They are aware that so many people are praying and fighting for Godfrey.  Our family is so grateful for your support and generosity. Your Faith is touching more people than you think.

Blessings,

Corinth, Charissa, Baby #2, the Catanus family, and the Dela Cruz family

P.S. Godfrey would want you to know that now at 24 weeks, Baby #2 is the length of an ear of corn.

A Note From The Catanus and Dela Cruz Families:

 

In this challenging time, your love for Godfrey and our family has been a priceless source of strength for us.  So many people have expressed their gratitude for Godfrey’s friendship, ministry, and contribution to their own lives.  We see God’s goodness in your countless offers to help, and we invite you to participate with Godfrey as he moves forward in recovery.  Please visit his website,http://www.godfreyjamescatanus.com/ to donate to his medical expenses, read updates, or learn more about his progress.  Again, thank you for your continued prayer and partnership.

Godfrey holding Charissa when she was 5 days old

Update on Godfrey #6, 4.11.11 “Rest”

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” –Matthew 11: 28-30   My husband had been clinging to these verses prior to being originally admitted to the hospital.  It was a busy season in youth ministry and at the church, and in fact, he had been planning on going on a personal retreat with God that week.  Godfrey was very much looking forward to this time of refreshment with God, and he confessed that it was a much needed time of rest amidst the full ministry schedule.    Perhaps God knew that Godfrey needed more than a day or two of personal retreat with Him.  Perhaps God wanted to ensure that Godfrey received the time of refreshment and rest that he needed.  At times I almost feel selfish in asking God to return Godfrey to us.  But at the same time, we know that God hears our prayers and that He loves us.   Godfrey, Charissa, and I are currently still in California, just waiting for the right time for Godfrey to begin his rehab at RIC. He is recovering from pneumonia and now, the neurosurgeon is considering returning the piece of skull bone (which was originally taken out to relieve pressure from the brain hemorrhage).  In addition to that, Godfrey may need more surgical “work” on his brain, but that cannot be determined until the neurosurgeon goes in again.   Here is how you can be praying for us:  Please pray that Godfrey would wake up!Please pray for the neurosurgeon who may operate on Godfrey again.  Please pray for discernment and skill for him.  Please pray that the neurosurgery would have no complications. Please also pray for discernment for the family as we have input on when this surgical procedure will be done.Please pray that God would continue to bring healing upon Godfrey’s entire body and that Godfrey would be clear of infections.Please pray that the damages to Godfrey’s brain would reverse in a miraculous way.Please pray that God would continue to provide for financial needs.Please pray that the blood clot in the portal vein does not extend nor detach.  Please pray that a possible underlying condition putting Godfrey at a greater risk to form blood clots will not cause additional blood clots to form.Praise God that the speech area of the brain is intact. Please pray that Godfrey would be able to continue doing what he loves: preaching and teaching the Word of God, leading people into a deeper relationship with Christ, and discipling the next generation.Please pray for the nurses, doctors, and staff members taking care of Godfrey. They know that Godfrey is loved and that there are many people praying for him. Please pray that they too would somehow acknowledge the presence of the God that Godfrey loves so much.   I am beginning to feel weary myself, from the pregnancy and the busy schedule.  Many thanks to the Woodbridge Community Church family (especially the youth/college groups) available to help me and Charissa.  And many thanks to you who continue to show us generosity and encouragement. I apologize that I cannot thank you individually at this time. Thank you for blessing us.  May God return such blessing upon you.   In Christ, Corinth, Charissa, Baby #2, the Catanus family, and the Dela Cruz family   P.S.  Godfrey would want you to know that baby #2 is the size of a large (Philippine) mango… yum!   A Note From The Catanus and Dela Cruz Families:   In this challenging time, your love for Godfrey and our family has been a priceless source of strength for us.  So many people have expressed their gratitude for Godfrey’s friendship, ministry, and contribution to their own lives.  We see God’s goodness in your countless offers to help, and we invite you to participate with Godfrey as he moves forward in recovery.  Please visit his website, http://www.godfreyjamescatanus.com/ to donate to his medical expenses, read updates, or learn more about his progress.  Again, thank you for your continued prayer and partnership.

By: Corinth Ann Catanus

by Corinth Ann Catanus on Sunday, April 3, 2011 at 10:04pm

With everything all set for tomorrow’s transfer to Chicago, Godfrey decided that he wanted to stay in California a little bit longer…  This evening, doctors put a hold on tomorrow’s transfer due to a rising temperature and other signs of an infection.  This is not a setback, but perhaps more time and opportunity for Godfrey to get healthy before he begins rehab.  Thank you for remaining in prayer.  God is in control.

www.godfreyjamescatanus.com

 

Update on Pastor Godfrey, Monday April 4th

Please pray for Pastor Godfrey, he has an infection & doctors are treating it at this time. His flight to Chicago (scheduled for this morning, Monday, April 4th), has been canceled. Pray that this infection will respond to medication & will be gone very soon. Pray that he will be well enough to fly to Chicago very soon. Pray that his room in RIC will be reserved for him so he does not have to wait

Update on Godfrey #5, 4.01.11 “O you of little faith”

Saturday,March 26

Monday, March 21st

Just received: from Gabriel Jay Catanus
Loved ones, please keep praying for Godfrey J Catanus today. He needs our support to fight through some more challenges. Thanks for passing this on.

Saturday, March 19th, 2011

When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled.  And he said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus wept. So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” John 11:33-36

So often I have turned John 11 for comfort in the recent days. Although it is an account of a real and great miracle that Jesus performed, it has spoken to me in a different way: Jesus’ love for Lazarus is so deep and so strong. When He wept, the people around noticed His love for His friend. Jesus also understood the grief of those who loved Lazarus, and He Himself was “deeply moved and greatly troubled.” Our God is not one who sits off in the distance, watching creation take its course.  But our God is one who is lovingly involved in our lives, even when we are suffering.

Each and every day, God has been teaching more and more about His love by seeing His love for Godfrey.  I realize that God has already given Godfrey the most precious thing: Life through Jesus Christ. But in His mercy, God has continued to perform miracle after miracle:

• After spending 25 days in the Intensive Care Unit, Godfrey’s condition is now more stable and he is currently in the Neuro-surgical Directive Observation Unit.   This is 29 days after doctors told me that he may die on the OR table.
• Despite having 3 ½ feet of small intestine removed, there are good signs that he is tolerating his feedings and absorbing the nutrients that he needs.
• The pancreas and liver are improving.
• There looks like there may now be blood flow through the portal vein.
• Godfrey’s heart and lungs remain strong, and he is still breathing on his own with the help of a tracheostomy and minimal oxygen.
• Godfrey continues to show us in little ways that he senses our presence in the room.

The case managers and staff have begun talking to me about where Godfrey will go after he is discharged from the hospital.  The doctors have given me limited options, most of them saying that in his condition, he would only be accepted at long-term acute centers. But the doctors have also told me that it was highly likely that Godfrey wouldn’t be alive or that he wouldn’t be able to get off the ventilator or this or that.  Godfrey continues to defy the outcomes that were expected of him. And with that, God has opened the doors for Godfrey in a big way! God has given Godfrey the very best: admission to the #1 rehabilitation center in the country, specializing in brain injuries and strokes! With my own medical knowledge and small faith, I had also not expected Godfrey to be accepted into a rehab center where he would be surrounded by a team who would actively work to get Godfrey better. But God’s love for Godfrey is so big that despite the seemingly impossibilities, Godfrey got accepted to the very best facility.

The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago continues to be the leading rehabilitation center in the country. Godfrey was accepted into a first-of-its-kind program in the nation that will last two weeks. The goals include brain stimulation and family teaching. Pending a meeting with the admissions director, our hope is that Godfrey will be transferred to RIC once he is ready to be discharged from the hospital. This could happen in as short of a time as 1 to 2 weeks. God has extended Godfrey’s life on earth, and for that reason, our families will continue fighting on his behalf, doing everything we can to make sure that Godfrey gets the best opportunity to get well.

Here is how you can be praying for us:

• Please pray that Godfrey would wake up!
• Please pray that finances would be provided to ensure that Godfrey would be able to get the best care available. Please pray that the upfront cost of transporting Godfrey to Chicago via air ambulance (the only mode of transportation that Godfrey would be able to take) would be provided within one week: $25,000.
• Please pray that there would be no obstacles in the way of Godfrey’s transfer.
• Please pray that the brain continues to subside, and that the damages to his brain reverse in a miraculous way.
• Please pray that the blood clots in the arms and in the portal vein do not extend nor detach.  Please pray that a possible underlying condition putting Godfrey at a greater risk to form blood clots will not cause additional blood clots to form.
• Praise God that the speech area of the brain is intact. Please pray that Godfrey would be able to continue doing what he loves: preaching and teaching the Word of God, leading people into a deeper relationship with Christ, and discipling the next generation.
• Please pray for the nurses, doctors, and staff members taking care of Godfrey. They know that Godfrey is loved and that there are many people praying for him. Please pray that they too would somehow acknowledge the presence of the God that Godfrey loves so much.

Our family is so thankful for how God has used many of you to keep us encouraged by praying and fasting, sending messages of love, cooking food, and through generous giving.  Our God continues to answer prayers and perform miracles. His love for us is so great, and He is in control.

In Christ,

Corinth, Charissa, Baby #2, the Catanus Family, and the Dela Cruz Family

P.S. Godfrey would want you to know that Baby #2, now at 20 weeks, is the length of a banana.

Friday, March 11th, 2011

Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” John 11:40

To those who continue to pray and fast on behalf of Godfrey: THANK YOU!  We are so grateful that you are praying day AND night. I deeply apologize if I have not responded to individual messages, but I am so overwhelmed and appreciative of your words of encouragement and love. They serve as great reminders that I am not alone and that there are many people that love and care about Godfrey. We continue to see God working and doing His miracles:

• Despite having undergone numerous high-risk surgeries, Godfrey is still here with us.  God has allowed us to celebrate our 4^th year wedding anniversary on March 10.
• Godfrey is now off the ventilator and with the help of a tracheostomy and some oxygen, he is breathing on his own.
• Godfrey’s vital signs are beginning to stabilize.
• The swelling in Godfrey’s brain is continuing to slowly subside.
• The pneumonia is resolving.
• The large blood clot in Godfrey’s portal vein has actually gotten smaller.
• Despite his condition, Godfrey somehow still continues to minister to people working in the hospital and we see Faith increasing.
• Out of all the people that could have been assigned to take care of Godfrey, the nurse who was assigned to transfer Godfrey to the ICU and take care of him during his first three very critical days is a fellow believer and member of Woodbridge Community Church, the church where Godfrey works.  She continues to be assigned to take care of him and we are also thankful for numerous other medical team members who are so invested in seeing him get well.
• Godfrey continues to show us in little ways that he senses our presence in the room.

Here is an updated list of prayer requests:

• Please pray that the bleeding and swelling in his brain continues to subside, and that the damages to his brain reverse in a miraculous way.
• Please pray that the blood clots in the arms and in the portal vein do not extend nor detach.  Please pray that a possible underlying condition putting Godfrey at a greater risk to form blood clots will not cause additional blood clots to form.
• Please pray that the pancreas and liver improve.
• Please pray that he tolerates his feedings and gets the nutrients that his body needs.
• Praise God that the speech area of the brain is intact. Please pray that Godfrey would be able to continue doing what he loves: preaching and teaching the Word of God, leading people into a deeper relationship with Christ, and discipling the next generation.
• Please pray for the nurses, doctors, and staff members taking care of Godfrey. They know that Godfrey is loved and that there are many people praying for him. Please pray that they too would somehow acknowledge the presence of the God that Godfrey loves so much.

Thank you.  In Christ,

Corinth, Charissa, Baby #2, the Catanus Family, and the Dela Cruz Family

P.S.  Godfrey would want you to know that now at 19 weeks old, Baby #2 is the size of a large heirloom tomato.  An ultrasound on March 7 showed that the baby is healthy and strong. =)

Friday March 4th

On Friday February 11, my husband Godfrey Catanus started having abdominal pains and vomiting. We attributed it to something that he ate. The next day, he drove an hour to conduct a Regeneration meeting, but still had episodes of vomiting and had to drive back home shortly after the meeting started. The following day, Sunday, he faithfully went to church despite still feeling ill. He led the Purity ceremony during the church service and coordinated the Purity banquet. After resting at home for a couple hours, he returned to church to preach at Root. My husband loves doing Kingdom work. He returned home, and after several more hours of abdominal pain and vomiting, I decided to take him into the Emergency Room at Western Medical Center Santa Ana.

Via ultrasound, they found a blood clot in the portal vein (one of the major veins of the liver), an extremely rare occurrence.  He was admitted to the hospital that evening and placed on blood thinners. Over the next several days, Godfrey underwent many tests and procedures to find out the cause of the blood clot. He was in great health, young, and all the tests were coming up negative. The doctors concluded that they would never find the reason for the blood clot, and discharged him from the hospital on the afternoon of Thursday February 17 with the plan to stay on blood thinners to dissolve the clot.

He looked forward to returning home to Charissa and I and spent a couple hours resting and playing with his daughter. He started having severe abdominal pains and more vomiting and I took him to work with me that night so that he could go to the ER. They ran more tests and decided to admit him to the hospital again, and he was transferred to Telemetry at 6:30 am. After my shift ended, I went to visit him at 7:30 am. Things started happening very quickly, his health rapidly deteriorated, and his body started going into shock.

He was placed on a ventilator and was rushed to the Intensive Care Unit. Soon after that, he was rushed to the Operating Room where they opened up his abdominal cavity and took out 3 ½ feet of small intestine. Despite being on blood thinners, the clot had extended from the portal vein into the mesenteric areas, preventing his small intestine from receiving oxygen. That same afternoon, he underwent neurosurgery, which lasted 9 hours, for a brain hemorrhage.  Over the next several days, Godfrey underwent two more surgeries involving the abdominal cavity.

My husband remains in very critical condition and is still very much in fighting mode. God has been gracious and has allowed us to see many miracles:

• They told me before his abdominal surgeries that if they found extensive areas deprived of oxygen, “life would be unsustainable.” Still, Godfrey is here with us.
• The neurosurgeon told me that the surgery on his brain was a very high-risk procedure and that he could very likely die on the OR table.  Still, Godfrey is here with us.
• His liver was damaged and there was nothing the medical team could do but allow it to rest. His liver is now improving.
• The bleeding and swelling in his brain is slowly improving.
• Godfrey continues to show us in little ways that he senses our presence in the room.

There have been many more miracles that we have seen and we are so grateful for those of you who have prayed and fasted on Godfrey’s behalf.  The doctors keep on emphasizing that Godfrey’s age and previous health is a plus for Godfrey. To our prayer warriors, these are specific things that you could pray for:

• Please pray that the bleeding and swelling in his brain continues to subside, and that the damages to his brain reverse in a miraculous way.
• Please pray that his pneumonia goes away and that there are no more infections.
• Please pray that his pancreas (which was also damaged) improves.
• Please pray that he tolerates his feedings and gets the nutrients that his body needs.
• Please pray that the blood clots do not extend nor detach.
• Please pray that he has no allergic reactions to any of the medications or treatments.
• Please pray that his vital signs stabilize.
• Praise God that the speech area of the brain is intact. Please pray that Godfrey would be able to continue doing what he loves: preaching and teaching the Word of God, leading people into a deeper relationship with Christ, and discipling the next generation.
• Please pray for the nurses, doctors, and staff members taking care of Godfrey. They know that Godfrey is loved and that there are many people praying for him. They take time to read the numerous notes and prayers posted on his wall. Please pray that they too would somehow acknowledge the presence of the God that Godfrey loves so much.

We are so overwhelmed and grateful for your love, support, and prayers. We are much appreciative of such tokens of love. Thank you.

In Christ,

Corinth, Charissa, Baby #2, the Catanus Family, and the Dela Cruz Family

P.S. Godfrey would want you to know that the baby is now the length of a bell pepper. =)

Thursday, March 3rd

From Gloria Catanus

1Peter 1:7 (TLB) “These trials are only to test your faith, to show that it is strong and pure. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold – and your faith is more precious to God than mere gold. So if your faith remains strong after being tried by fiery trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world…” Today God gave us a little taste of His kindness in answer to so many prayers. There are small signs of healing even though Godfrey James is still very sedated. Let’s continue to PUSH (pray until something happens) because we have a great and awesome God!

Again, thank you very much, our dear brothers and sisters around the globe. We love you all… thank you for loving us also.

Wednesday, March 2nd

Please keep praying for Godfrey J Catanus, Corinth Ann Catanus, and our family. We STILL NEED PRAYER for these important things here: miraculous healing for Godfrey’s brain, continued recovery in his whole body, wisdom for doctors/family, and greater faith to keep fighting alongside Godfrey as he’s still in very critical condition. Let’s trust God together and see him work.

Sunday, February, 27th

From: Gloria Catanus
Very encouraged by God’s family at Woodbridge CC this morning. Praise God for the comfort of the WORD…” Prov. 3:5,6. God is good all the time! Let’s keep praying and trusting.

Saturday, February 26th

We’re coming on the first whole week here. Godfrey is still in very critical condition, needing your prayer support for miraculous healing and recovery. We trust God and sense his presence, and we thank you for upholding us in this difficult time. Please continue to believe and push forward with us, Corinth, and the whole family.

February 24th, 6:30pm

Latest update on Godfrey:  From his brother: We THANK GOD that Godfrey made it through another surgery this morning. However, he’s still in very critical condition and in need of MORE PRAYER, particularly that God would heal his brain. PLEASE keep praying with us for him, Corinth, and the whole family.

Update:  Feb 23, 3:50PM

Please continue to pray for Pastor Godfrey. He is scheduled for a another abdominal surgery tomorrow morning.

There are encouraging signs, but please continue to pray, as he is still in critical condition.

Psalm 103:11, “For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear Him.”

CaringBridge Link

Dear Family and Friends,
A CaringBridge website was created to share health news and receive support.
Visit in three easy ways:

1. Visit on the web by clicking the link below.
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/godfreycatanus

2. Enter the website name, godfreycatanus, at www.CaringBridge.org.

3. Visit on your mobile phone: (http://m.caringbridge.org/visit/godfreycatanus)
When you visit you’ll be asked to log in, because I’ve chosen to keep the site private.

Show your support
• Visit and keep up to date.
• Leave a message in the guestbook.
• Receive e-mail notifications when the journal is updated.

Approximately 92,000 scavengers (18,000 families) live beside the dump. Most of them are illegal squatters who lost their jobs in poor farming villages. Many of them rummage through garbage to collect usable items for resale, such as paper, plastic, empty cans, aluminum, and vinyl, then sell them to a recycling center to make a living. Their average income per day is 200 pesos (approximately $5.)

In such a setting, it is not unusual for children as young as four years old to scavenge from early morning till late night to help make ends meet. As a result, many are unable to go to school. Due to the harsh living conditions, many children suffer from malnutrition and skin diseases. The infant mortality rate is as high as 30%.

Our Response:

The Woodbridge Community Church partners with a local church in Payatas called the Breakthrough Church, feeding malnourished children in two ways:  food for their bodies and food for their souls through the Jesus Kid’s Club. Every Saturday, Woodbridge Community Church sponsors a feeding program, where we ask the children to take a break from scavenging the garbage dumps, by providing them their meal for the day. Afterwards, they sing and study the Bible through the Jesus Kid’s Club. Second and third degree malnourished children receive top priority in the feeding program. A resident doctor regularly checks the childrens’ progress, until they are declared healthy. The cost per meal is $.38 cents. Woodbridge Community Church sponsors this ministry for $200.00 a month.

We feed approximately 400 children every week with nourishing food. We ask the mothers to assist by doing the marketing and cooking, making it a community effort.

The Jesus Kid’s Club, is a crucial part of this ministry. Here, they are taught how to have a personal relationship with Jesus and how to grow in Him. Not only do the kids get to know the Lord, but their parents, and families do so as well. Through this compassion ministry, they know what it is to be loved in the name of Jesus Christ. Many fathers who were former drunks and gang members have become strong believers, and three of them are now serving the Lord as pastors in the local church. Together, we are making a difference. Lets continue to TELL THE STORY AND SHARE THE VISION!

If you would like to receive more information about the Payatas Feeding Program, please contact the church office at email@woodbridgechurch.org or (949)552-1101

for more photos, click here

March 3rd is a special Sunday for both congregations as it was 5 years ago on Purim Celebration that Shuvah Y’srael began to meet to worship at 5000 Barranca Parkway.  Congregants from WCC were invited to join the Shuvah congregants to share in this day filled with music, dance, theater and most importantly, the message of Salvation that has been shared down the ages from Jerusalem, to Judea, to Samaria and now to the ends of the earth.  It began in Jerusalem and now in partnership, both WCC and Shuvah continue the message to our own Jerusalem (Irvine and surrounding cities).

Both congregations will join on March 3rd and 4th to celebrate this marker event, lunch will be provided at both services along with music, dance, a theatrical production of the Purim Story and, of course, messages from both Pastor Frank Winans and Rabbi Larry Feldman.

Lunch sign ups are required for catering purposes and will be available in the church lobby on Sunday, February 19th and Sunday, February 26th.  Please contact the church via email or call (949) 552-1101 if you are unable to sign up in person.

Researched and Written by Greg Orozco

Almost every Sunday when you and I are in our worship service something will be brought up about a mission trip being supported, prayed for, or someone heading off.  Why is it that?  Well, while we’re a pretty good example of a ‘serving’ church, our identity is most associated with two things: Ministries and Missions.  WCC has faithfully supported a 40 year love affair for missions and the selfless servants of God who go to places very much out of their comfort zone; but because of their devotion to the Lord, they heed the call. These folks are extraordinary people!

‘I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.’ (TNIV), John 4:35

The Early Days:  1970′s – 1980′s

WCC started in 1970 as Irvine Hills Community Church. Pretty much right from the beginning our church, led by founding pastor, Dr. Rich Samuelson, set aside funds to support the Baptist General Conference missionaries.  In their first year’s existence they gave $1156 towards missions support and by the end of the first decade, that figure had grown to $5000.  That money reflects passion and caring for others in need and this church was definitely pointing people’s hearts in the right direction!

The 70’s saw Jesus’ work being carried out in Ethiopia. Our church supported missionaries Bill and Alice Murray, Ruth Winterseen, and the Bill Head family.   Also, in the early 70’s we began support for a couple Tom and Jan Crowell. They answered God’s call to help in the translation of the Bible with Wycliffe Bible Translators and they settled in to do their work from Dallas, TX.  For many years Tom was the International Coordinator for Literacy and in more recent times the director of the Summer Institute of Linguistics (SIL). Jan taught English as a Second Language to those in the local public schools & others. Today she distributes strategic prayer information (Wycliffe Prayer Focus Bulletin) on the World-Wide-Web as part of her Wycliffe duties. People all over the world are reading the Word of God for the first time because of dedicated folk like the Crowells.  Jan’s parents, Don and Marion Bowman, were one of the charter member couples actively involved with the establishment of our church. Making the connection stronger for the church and the Crowell’s, and in a way seeing Jan as a homegrown WCC missionary

1990′s

Marc and Patty Rutter, once students at UCI, returned from Zaire to serve here in the USA as part of Campus Crusade for Christ (now CRU)) serving at Indiana University, Pennsylvania sharing Christ with students & faculty. Currently they work as the U.S. National Director of Leadership and HR helping to build ministry leaders in order to prepare them to change the world. The Rutters have been serving for over 31 years!

Kristy (Lovett) Fox began her association with WCC as a student at UCI who made our church her home while studying. She took part in the youth ministry and while in college, she worked as part time secretary in the youth office. Upon graduation from UCI she worked as a volunteer for Young Life as well as the WCC youth group. In the 1990s she began being supported by WCC. Kristy has been an Area Director for Young Life in Tustin, California for almost 17 years overseeing 7 different Young Life ministries. Today she and her husband Jon work with many of the middle school and high school kids in the Tustin area. Weekends are never boring for them as they have used many of them to run various camps in order to train kids in leadership, discipleship and other types of learning experiences.

Kristy Lovett-Fox as you can well see was a member of WCC. The Rutters you ask? Yep, former WCC members as well!

In the 90’s the hearts of the people of WCC felt compelled to begin offering support to the Home Missions programs of the Southwest Baptist General Conference. In a sense, this was an opportunity to give back. Home Missions programs that SWBC runs are programs designed to plant churches in the U.S. and WCC is a byproduct of these church planting projects. A church song written in 1969 called ‘Pass It On’ states, ‘It only takes a spark to get a fire going. And soon all those around can warm up to its glowing. That’s how it is with God’s love, once you’ve experienced it, you spread His love to everyone; you want to pass it on’. This spoke of the desire in the hearts and minds of the congregants of WCC, to pass it on through our support to the same program that we were started through!  It might well be considered a “Pay It Forward” action.

From 1990 up to 2000, mission support grew rapidly. God was igniting a burning desire within the members of WCC to view missions as a top priority!

As the title of this article implies, ‘to the ends of the earth’ are where missionaries are called.  For example, one of those who WCC began supporting during this time frame is Ruth Cowan. Ruth is a Board Member at Wycliffe Bible Translators and works out of their Orlando, FL office. Some others who we support as part of Wycliffe that came on in the ‘90’s are Dr. George Cowan, Dave and Nancy Wolfenden , and Tony and Colleen Barker.

Ruth is a great example of having taken God’s message worldwide! She’s worked in the U.K. and Peru as part of her Wycliffe assignments. These days she spends a lot of time traveling in the U.S. speaking to churches and at other venues spreading God’s message as well as taking part in projects that are associated with helping the people of Peru continue in their walk with the Lord.

Dr. George Cowan, the father of Ruth and Esther, another daughter whom we support as part of Campus Crusade, served from 1957 to 1981 as President of Wycliffe Bible Translators and as a member of the Board of Directors of the Summer Institute of Linguistics (SIL). His other duties included responsibilities in Europe, Africa, Mexico, Canada, and Germany among other places. Wow!!! Who in their right mind wouldn’t want to support this servant of God?

Dave and Nancy Wolfenden work in Makati City, Philippines on Bible translation projects for both New Testament and full Bible versions. Their other duties involve a school program called Faith Academy in Bagabag (Dave teaches computer and computer science classes there.)  Their entire family is active in A4J (All for Jesus) as an outreach to the poor communities surrounding Faith Academy.

Tony and Colleen Barker serve with Emmanuel Press in South Africa spreading the Gospel in the schools and taking part in discipleship via Bible lessons to others. Tony and Colleen also assist in church planting and government sponsored training groups. A former student recently wrote, ‘Put your full trust in the Lord Jesus and you will never be disappointed.  Never give up in life because you do not know how close you are to what you need when you give up.  Never give up on God for he will never give up on you’. This is an example of how WCC’s support is paying dividends in a former non-believer who has been transformed to the point where she is able to pen such sage advice!

Dr. George, Ruth, and Esther (more on her later) Cowan as well as the Wolfendens and the Barkers are current or former members of….you got it….WCC!!

“Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown.” Mark 4:20 (NIV)

During this same decade WCC came to know Nick and Maia Mikhaluk of International Partnership who live in Kiev, Ukraine. In their home in Ukraine, the issue is atheism and a lack of interest in believing in God. For many, especially the men, dependence on God is viewed as a weakness. Nick and Maia point the people to small groups that utilize a combination of an interest (cooking, learning to speak English [ESL], etc.) and Bible study.

The ‘90s also brought Benjamin Musyoka (World-Wide Missions)to our church.  He and his family were currently living in La Mirada while Ben completed his doctorate. Going back to his homeland, Ben has been teaching and helping many in Kenya, Africa. He and his wife Judith are very involved in the Kenya Food Project, important due to the drought issues that have been devastating this region of Africa where many lives have already been lost because of the lack of water. Effective Christian aid speaks volumes into the lives of those struggling just to survive.  Ben also teaches at Daystar University where his classes incorporate faith as well as learning and provides training to local pastors in the Kenya area.

In the 1990s we began supporting Esther Cowan. Does that name sound familiar? She’s also a  daughter of Dr. George Cowan and she was called to serve God through her work with Campus Crusade for Christ (now CRU). Esther has been working with CRU for 40 years as of this year! Another globetrotter for God in that her service has taken her to 48 of our states, plus Germany (and surrounding countries), England, Russia, Romania, Ukraine, and Slovenia. The last 6 years she’s been in Florida in the HR department for CRU Headquarters. God has blessed her with a great sense of humor based on how she closed out a summary of her 40 years with CRU: “Through the years many things have changed. The predominate color of my hair for one!”

2000 and Beyond!

Many of the families here at WCC have children or have had children take part in the AWANA program. AWANA offers many programs for children of many age groups (AWANA Clubs, 24/7, AWANA Lifeline, and AWANA International). We supported Brad and Margie Iverson who served in California and in Texas. Currently we offer our support to the efforts put forth by Don and Debbie Issaac for their needs to train, equip, and support those who are putting on these programs. AWANA has been a part of the WCC DNA almost from the day we moved into our current facilities, in 1984.  The missionary support for AWANA did not begin until the 2000’s, but the ministry has been alive and well at WCC for close to 30 years.

Mentor Me Ministries began in 2000 when its founder, Bob Drake began to mentor a 12 year old fatherless boy who had been abused by his father earlier in his life. This experience prompted the beginning of a program that provides training for Christian men to mentor fatherless boys. Since Bob and his wife Lynn were members of WCC at the time, they proposed their ministry’s needs to WCC and we have been supporting this program ever since. Prayer and Bible study are foundational aspects of the mentoring relationship between the mentors and the boys.

There are two other WCC alums who answered the call to missionary work, one being Jared Hall and the other called to mission work in an area that is not safe nor friendly to God’s work.  Hmm, are you beginning to see a trend here as it pertains to WCC and missionary work?

Jared Hall serves as a missionary with Fellowship of Christian Athletes in Irvine, CA. Jared has been on staff with FCA since 2007 as he spreads God’s Word with the high schools in Orange County. He gets together with these kids in ‘huddles’. What’s a huddle? Well, when kids get together to share their faith and to encourage each other, these are called ‘huddles’. An example of the Holy Spirit working through Jared was reflected in an article written for our bulletin in 2010 which showed that ‘the huddle size for these local schools is as follows: Woodbridge: 150; Northwood: over 400; Irvine: 130; Beckman: 120; Mater Dei: 170; Foothill: 300; University: 60’.

Our no-name alum, as mentioned earlier, serve in areas around the world that are hostile to the Christian faith and would not hesitate to kill or seriously harm our missionaries,  but that does not mean they cannot be prayed for. Simply put, these folk have been to a great many locations that brings God’s Word to those who have little to no spiritual truth in their lives.

The 2000s brought about a relationship between Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF) and specifically the Good News Clubs ministry that is under their umbrella of mission programs. The trained teachers of this program meet with groups of children in the local schools, homes, community centers and wherever else they can in order to present Bible lessons. They take part songs, Scripture memory games, and various other activities related to our faith in Christ. This ministry actually takes the Gospel to public schools. They even won a Supreme Court case to do so! Your support dollars and prayers helped in all of this!!!

Our support has also gone to a missionary, Tim Nash, who is part of the Baptist General Conference (BGC). Tim‘s work is in Tecate, Mexico. He works in the training and developing of those who are relatively new Christian leaders. Two programs that he takes part in are the Tecate Alliance of Churches and work with Kids Around the World, Inc. as they build a playground in the Tecate area for the kids which will assist Tim in his ability to create a safe haven for children and parents alike as he then teaches them the Word of God.

WCC and FACI together Envision larger fields to Harvest!

When WCC and the Filipino-American Church of Irvine came together so did mission support that was once part of FACI. “Together, We can do more than we can ever do alone”.

Part of this shared support goes to Baptist General Conference (recently changing its name to Converge Worldwide). Cirilo Doguilles the Executive Director of  Converge Worldwide and it’s leaders take the Gospel globally through planting churches, mobilizing churches, developing leaders, and showing the love of Christ in all aspects of their work. What a blessing to be a part of this process!

Other forms of Church Planting that FACI, and now WCC have been supporting are TEAMerica and Decade Cebu Church Plant. These are also part of Converge. I guess you could say that in a manner of speaking WCC is in the spiritual farming business!!

Far East Broadcasting has been a big part of missionary work for years and we have been blessed to get an up close view of what they do through the contact that we have with one of our own,… Pastor Jonathan Mortiz. We currently support two programs through FEBC and this has become a very fruitful relationship with a very high yield (I may as well keep with the farming terminology!!!).

Another missions program that WCC incorporated with the merger is the Payatas Feeding Program. Payatas is a part of the Philippines where families live on a landfill area and pick through it so that they can eat. The Payatas Feeding Program provides healthy meals to these families as well as spiritual education to the kids with a program called the Jesus Fun Club. We have been so touched by this particular program that we’ve sent folk from WCC to take part and help out first hand. In this, our 40^th year as a church, a team of WCC volunteers visited the Payatas area to serve, just as they had done in 2008 and earlier.

‘Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.’  Matthew 28:19 (NLT)

Ken and Bola Taylor of World Venture International are missionaries who have come to be supported through the merge as well. Their missionary work is extremely unique in that it uses Black Gospel Choir music as the tool for reaching Japanese non-Christians, who in turn began using this as a springboard to minister to their own non-Christian friends and family members. The Bola’s stated, “ If you want to reach people no one else is reaching you have to be willing to do things no one else is doing.” Amen to that!

One of the very first missionaries that FACI supported and whom WCC has come to truly have a special relationship with is Pastor Glen Kennedy. His work through Christians in Action, and more specifically, Asian Relief Medical Services (ARMS) has been a blessing to many who are too poor to take care of their basic medical needs. Another aspect of the work done by Christians in Action that is incorporated in Pastor Glen’s work is church planting and putting those who get medical help into the hands of existing church leaders so that their walk with Christ can continue to grow and blossom.

With UCI being so close to us it’s only natural that we take the word of our Lord into that campus and we do that through our support of a wonderful missionary program called InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. This is an evangelical campus mission that serves students and faculty nationwide. Their Small Group format studies Bible passages in depth while also serving as a means of fellowship, encouragement, and lasting friendships. UCI’s InterVarsity takes part in conferences, mission trips, and various events. The next generation needs godly leaders and this is why it’s a pleasure to support the future spiritual leaders that InterVarsity is producing!

The Newest Support

In more recent times WCC has found it important to support missionaries who are going into areas of the Muslim world in order to bring these people to faith. While we cannot supply names or specific missionary programs for the safety of the missionaries themselves, we can say that our support is going to organizations such as CRU and Frontiers.

Short Term Mission Trips

While WCC has always been a supporter of missionaries throughout the world and from a wide range of organizations, it is not only these people whom we have supported or looked to as great examples of servants to our Lord. People of all age groups from within WCC have been led by the Holy Spirit to serve in missions work.

Medical missions have served as a means of taking care of the physical needs around the world as well as serving as an opportunity to serve the spiritual needs of the poor people in the areas where the medical teams go to.

Leon and Doreen Nickens, who are nurses in the Orange County area and part of our WCC family, have traveled to places like the Philippines, Cambodia, and other areas with Asian Relief Medical Services (ARMS). They have witnessed thousands of people over the years come to make decisions to accept Christ along with hundreds of miraculous healings that only God can provide! Leon and Doreen have been able to offer the opportunity to pray and accept Christ to those they’ve helped and have come away with a greater appreciation for the power and love of Christ!

Marina Ball is another from WCC who has traveled to offer her service as a dermatologist in order to bring relief and healing to the poor throughout the world. Marina has gone on mission trips with Christian Medical & Dental Associations in places throughout the Asian world. What we so often take for granted as far as the care and treatment of our bodies, she has witnessed the many who never get the opportunity to receive medical or dental treatments become healed. She has used this as a means to bring God’s Word to others. Our Sister is a living testimony to Christ!

One of our young couples from WCC who have gone on various mission trips as God spoke into their hearts are King and Faye Sacramento. Some of these trips have been done through their colleges (at the time they were in college) and some were done after they got married. The medical mission trips were something that they took part in and these short term trips have helped to shape their marital and spiritual lives tremendously. They will soon be heading off on full-time missions work.

Another church leader who has taken part in short term mission trips is Marilyn Smith. Kidz At Heart International is an organization that helps in providing children from all around the world the opportunities to learn in ways that work for kids best, by training children’s leaders in presentations, activities and lesson building. In 2010 Marilyn took part in a 10 day trip to Uganda to present workshops for children’s leaders in hands-on teaching skills and how to create better Bible based lesson plans. 5 of those days included very intensive training. The rest of the time was spent interacting with the students themselves while practicing these new lessons. This January (2012) Marilyn is leading a team of 5 to Uganda once again take the next step in training leaders in Bible based lessons and activities for the sake of the kids and the long-term future of Christianity in a continent threatened by Islamic influences and power. Marilyn truly has a heart for God!

Training and teaching church leaders in parts of the world where church planting is taking place is another need. Pastor Graham McGuinness, our Care and Counseling Pastor, traveled abroad in 2011 to do just that. Pastor Graham, along with a team that included his brother, traveled to Asia in order to train the local pastors by providing necessary tools for the spiritual needs of those seeking to come to Christ and those wanting to maintain their relationship with the Lord. It’s amazing how God will use people from one end of the world to help people in another in order to keep us together as one church family!

Our youth has also joined in the privilege of serving God! In December of 2008 the WCC youth along with several adults, travelled to Mexico to serve our sister church in Guadalupe de Victoria, Mexico. They helped handout much needed items like clothing, blankets, shoes, etc. as well as gifts and toys for the children ages 0-16. This is a trip that had been an annual love mission by the church.

In 2009 the youth went a little further to take part in short term missions. They participated in the Payatas Feeding Program in Manila, Philippines. The youth got to see first-hand how the youth of this area live off of the scraps found in a trash dump site, sifting through garbage in order to find a meal for their family. The WCC youth helped provide meals and spiritual support and fellowship with their newfound Filipino Christian brothers and sisters.

On a Mission for God!

As you can see, WCC has throughout our 40 years of existence supported mission work. Perhaps this is the ‘what are you famous for’ stamp of our church. While we do a lot of things in the name of God and for the love of Christ, there is something about mission work that has always been dear to our hearts. When we give support to missions each and every week, you can almost envision us shouting, to quote the Blues Brothers , ‘We’re on a mission! We’re on a mission from God!’

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Woodbridge Community Church is a gathering of people from many parts of the world, who have been touched by the transforming power of Jesus Christ and are united in Him.  Please come visit us any Sunday as we gather together to worship the One who became flesh and walked among us.

Explore this site to know more about us – our values, our mission, our passion to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to people from all walks of life and from every generation.  If you are the kind of person who enjoys meeting others, whether from your neighborhood or from across the oceans, then you’ve found the right place!  Our Worship Service starts at 10am followed by light refreshments at 11:30am.  Adult Bible classes and an additional children’s program follow at 12noon.  Drop by our Visitor Center right next to the main church entrance; there you will meet caring people you can talk with casually over a cup of coffee.  Whether you have a question about God or the church, or simply seeking prayer and encouragement, this is a welcoming start to your experience at WCC.

Hopefully you will find Woodbridge to be a blessing and you will meet Jesus in a very real and powerful way.  The people are amazing at WCC, and I am proud to be their Senior Pastor!

Hope to see you here soon!

Pastor Frank Winans
Senior Pastor

for upcoming events and updates please go to our  facebook page

To hear my testimony, click here

 WCC Kids is about connecting kids with God

and equipping families to do the same.

Greetings, Awana families!

We’re so happy that you are investing in your kids by encouraging them to work on their handbooks, which get them into God’s Word… and gets God’s Word into them! Keep encouraging them, especially in the next few months, the “home stretch” of the club year.

Here’s an update for you on what’s coming up for the next few months.

What’s in this email?

* Valentine’s Day Cookie Exchange reminder & information

* Palm Sundaes challenge – will there also be dinner?

* Meet a Missionary Night

VALENTINE’S DAY COOKIE EXCHANGE

Each year, we celebrate Valentine’s Day in a very sweet way—a Cookie Exchange!

This Sunday, February 12, each clubber who wishes to participate should bring 12 cookies (preferably homemade) to share. They will then receive 12 cookies to take home, their own handpicked assortment.

Please label the cookies with the type and your clubber’s name.

We don’t want any allergic reactions!

Thank you!

PALM SUNDAES CHALLENGE – PIZZA PARTY?

One of our other annual traditions at Awana is a sundae party on Palm Sunday (which falls on April 1 this year). We have ice cream sundaes and enjoy fellowship as we look forward to celebrating Easter, the central holiday of our faith.

This year, a challenge has been issued. If the clubbers as a group can complete 100 sections—that includes Cubbies Elephant Walks and Lamb Paths, Sparks Jewels and Review Sections, and TnT Discoveries and Challenges—then the whole club will earn a PIZZA PARTY on April 1! Make sure your clubbers work hard to help reach the group goal—if every clubber completes 2-3 sections, the group can succeed!

MEET A MISSIONARY NIGHT

Last week, we had a “meet a missionary” night, featuring one of our beloved leaders, Mrs. Marilyn Smith. She spent the last few weeks in Uganda, and was able to share with our kids some of the things our great God is doing over there.

The handbooks often include sections that require a clubber to write to or learn about a missionary. We’ll have another “meet a missionary” night coming up soon, so make sure you look ahead to those missionary sections!

Blessings,

Mrs. Jamie

Awana@WCC

Club Commander

jwitmer@woodbridgechurch.org

949-552-1101 ext. 112

So what makes Woodbridge Community Church unique? Well, here are a few things:

1.  A friendly cross-cultural environment. Here, people relate as they learn about each other’s cultures, customs and traditions. We have a number of people with cross cultural marriages and families because the atmosphere of acceptance makes them feel at home. There is no pressure to conform to a dominant culture, because there is none, and you will not feel you are different or that you don’t belong. Here everybody belongs, because God welcomes everybody.

2.  Unity in diversity. We do not see our differences as something that divides us. Instead, we celebrate our differences the way God has made us and see it as an opportunity to grow in our awareness of the world around us.

3.  A Core Value of Community. We believe that God is for all people, of all ages and all generations. We have something for everybody, from the infant in the nursery to our Senior Adults. There is much to learn from one another, and instead of a church that divides across age groups, we design our church activities to incorporate healthy interaction between age groups.  We foster mentoring relationships that are characterized by mutual respect for and commitment to one another. We learn to laugh and cry together as a family of God.  We believe this is how God designed family to be.

A multi-cultural, multi-generational church is a reflection of what we believe heaven will be like – a great multitude of people!  Revelation 5:9 says, “..with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.”  Whenever people come together, looking beyond skin color, economic status, or generational difference, they worship God together with love for one another, and that community is God’s showcase of heaven on earth.

Kidz At Heart International Ministry sent a trained team to Uganda to encourage and uplift students and leaders with ideas and informative teaching techniques.  A team of 6 from all across the United State, Canada and Zimbabwe arrived in Kampala, Uganda to begin a week long conference with 77  children’s teachers and leaders from 26 churches and 6 districts.  Workshops were highly interactive, fast-paced and funny as American humor was translated for local understanding.   The team often wondered just what the interpreter was saying when the entire workshop would errupt in gales of laughter.  Fortunately, the host for the team was on hand to explain.

What is something you want to share?  Being told over and over again by various attendees just how long and hard they had been praying for just this type of training.  The warmth and welcome of the people of Uganda is such a wonderful memory to hold onto.  The joy of worship, the thirst for knowledge, and the vibrancy of their love for the Lord, all stand out as a time well spent in ministry to the Ugandans.  Plans were introduced to bring a Leadership Academy to Kampala for ongoing training and education.  Our team was part of the planning meeting that brought church leaders, NGO’s and University administrators together to share ideas and dreams for this to become a reality.

Worship under the Tent	Workshops Begin	Worship Together
Kidz VBS	Kampala Leader, Grace	Ready to L.E.A.R.N.

What other adventures did you experience?  our trip to the Watoto Villages was amazing.  We arrived after an hour and half of driving West from Kampala into the hill country.  We were carefully scrutinized by a guard carrying a rifle before being allowed to enter the village and  our host had to be notified that we had indeed arrived.  The complex is vast and beautifully kept.  This village is one of several around the Kampala area which houses and cares for abandoned children and infants.  We visited the “Baby Home” where we played with and loved on the littlest ones ranging from 3 months to 5 years old.  Babies found in garbage dumps, babies abandoned at police stations, and hospitals, find their way to the Watoto village where they are cared for by nannies, and 24/7 carers.  They are loved, played with, nurtured and given not just life, but value through this amazing village network.  Mothers and children are placed in homes together so that the children experience homelife not institutional life.  People come to the Watoto Villages from all over the world to work, build homes, schools, clinics and facilities.  Some come as teachers, some as carers, many come once and then return over and over.  Each of the villages cares for groups of children including young boys and girls  who have been rescued from  being forced to train and fight as child soldiers.  Our team were overwhelmingly filled with compassion for these children and amazed  at the compassion and depth of care that they receive through the Watoto Church organization.  We were so privileged to be able to visit and see it for ourselves.

Entrance to the Village	Village  Layout	:Homes in the Village
Infant Room	6 months Plus Room	Patio Play Area
Toddler Room	Crawlers Room	2′s and Up Room

Will You be going back?  Yes.  The training is only beginning.  The Leadership Academy (KAHLA) will need ongoing support, and in partnership with Kidz At Heart, local universities and Bethel, we hope to develop a dynamic group of trainers from both here and Uganda.  Our team felt like we only just scratched the surface of all that there is to do still.  We believe that we can bring training that will make a difference to the children’s learning and experiencing the Bible, in ways that will impact the future and strengthen the church in Kampala.

Senior Pastor, Frank Winans and Board Chairman, Mike O’Neill receive a plaque from the City of Irvine Council in honor of 40 years of “business” in the city.  The Mayor, Sukee Khang spoke of the multicultural blend of families meeting together weekly for worship.  he commended the church on its ongoing role of influence in the city and offered his congratulations to the church which celebrates its 40th anniversary alongside the city this year.