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CMNews
Equipping Christ-Centered Mentors Worldwide
Chrissy Myal,  Editor                                                                                                              March 2010,  Issue 3 
In This Issue
What's New?
A Message from Roy
A Call for Help
Todd's Story of Transformation
Why Walk Alone?
A Pastor's Perspective
Email Us
Special Leader Sample Pack

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He is Alive!
 
Resurrection
 
Jesus died a horrible death on the cross.
 But death could not hold Him,
The grave moved out of His way.
He arose to claim victory over all of our sins.
He broke the barrior that sin carried over us.
He defeated death so we don't have to fear it.
He provides a new life for all who call on Him.
He offers a new abandant life with purpose.
All He asks is that we give our heart to Him.
 
 That's what Easter is really all about. 
 

What's New?

ANNOUNCING MINISTRY PARTNERSHIP

 

ABMen is the national men's ministry organization of the American Baptist Churches USA. Christian Mentors Network has agreed to come along beside ABMen to help train the men of their approximately 4,000 churches to equip them as Mentor/Disciplers.

 

LEADERSHIP TEAM LUNCHEON

 

On March 6, 2010 CMN had their Leadership Team Luncheon and everyone present was very excited about the many unprecedented ministry opportunities we have before us at this time.

 

CMN Luncheon (3-6-10)

 

BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING

The CMN Board of Directors met after the Leadership Team Luncheon. We voted in four new board members bringing our total board to twelve members in Arizona and California. The board was very careful to weight the risk of taking on the national ministry of ABMen and other similar organizations. After much discussion, the board felt confident that we have the material supplies and, because of your help, the financial ability to do so at this time.

 

WOMEN'S MINISTRY TEAM MEETING

 

Also on that day, the women's ministry team met to discuss how they could better help train the women who wanted to be Mentor/Disciplers. They discussed developing a support network to help women who are responsible to train women in some of the new churches that are coming on board. They want to be available to help these women prepare to use the mentoring tools, such as, Mentoring His Way-Disciple Twelve and to answer any questions that might come up.

 

FOLLOW CMN ON FACEBOOK

 

Become a fan of Christian Mentors Network on Facebook. Join in on the discussion on mentoring and discipleship issues. Give your input in what mentoring has meant to you or someone you know. How does Biblical mentoring make a difference? Learn how you can become a mentor using Mentoring His Way-Disciple Twelve as a tool to mentor others the way Jesus would.

A Message From Roy

Roy

 No Greater Love
 
"Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down his life for a friend." (John 15:13 NKJV) God knew from the beginning of time that we would all sin. But because of His unconditional love for us, He gave us a way to overcome sin and death. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him, might be saved." (John 3:16-17 NKJV)
 

It is God's great love for us that motivated Him to send Jesus to the cross to die for our sins. "But God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since by His blood He did all this for us as sinners, how much more will He do for us now that He has declared us not guilty?" (Romans 5:8-9) "God showed how much He loved us by sending His only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through Him. This is real love. It is not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins." (I John 4:9-10 TLB) Jesus came not only to save us from hell and give us eternal life, but He also came to give us abundant satisfying life here on earth.  "I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." (John 10:10b)

 

These Scriptures came to life for me at the end of High School, when a classmate invited me to a youth retreat in the mountains. After living in 14 foster homes and being a part of a dangerous gang I did not feel that God was a loving God. I thought He was a God of discipline and was always ready to swat me with His angry hand. However, at that retreat I heard how much God loved me by giving His only Son to save and forgive me of all my sins. That night in the cabin I heard a small voice saying within me, "Roy I love you." These words "I love you" kept going over and over in my mind until I finally decided to get up and go out side. I went out into the forest and found a big tree. I knelt down; looked up and said, "God, are you there! If you can hear me I want to know your love. I want Jesus to come in and change my life, like you have with these other kids. Thank you for loving me and forgiving me and inviting me into your family. At that moment I felt as if a great weight was lifted off my shoulders. And I began to cry with joy. I was amazed that he had invited me to become a member of His family.

 

The problem was that my sin had been separating me from God's love. "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned." (Romans 5:12 KJV) "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all." (Isaiah 53:6 KJV) This, doing my own thing instead of God's will, is called sin. "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23 NKJV) Everyone fails to measure up to God's perfect standards and that includes me. This failure is called sin. The Bible says, "The wages of sin is death." (Romans 6:23a KJV) Wages are something I earn. Sins are the things I have done. The wage I have earned for my sin is death (eternal separation from God).

 

"If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him (God) a liar and His word is not in us." (I John 1:8, 10 KJV) God is perfect and holy. He cannot permit sin to enter His presence. Our sin separates us from God. Thus, through sin we face eternal death. We must realize that we are all in the same boat. We have all sinned. And our sin separates us from God.

 

"For by grace are ye saved through faith and that not of ourselves, it is the gift of God; Not of works, lest any man should boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV) Eternal life is given to us as a free gift, but, like any gift, we must receive it to make it our own. "But as many as received Him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name." (John 1:12 KJV) God offers us this free gift, but we must receive it. Now God says He will accept and acquit us and declares us "not guilty" of offending Him if we trust in Jesus Christ, who in His kindness freely takes away our sins. For God sent Jesus Christ to take the punishment for our sins and to end all God's anger against us. He used Christ's blood and our faith as the means of saving us from His wrath. (Romans 3:22, 24-25a TLB)

 

"I passed on to you right from the first what had been told to me, that Christ died for our sins just as the Scriptures said he would, and that He was buried, and that three days afterwards He arose from the grave just as the prophets foretold." (I Corinthians 15:3-4 TLB) If you believe that Jesus Christ is God's Son and that He died on the cross and shed His blood to cover your sins, that He was buried and rose from the grave on the third day to take victory over your sins, and that He has forgiven you of all your sins, then right now, you need to receive His free gift of eternal life.

 

"The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:23 NKJV) Jesus promises that when we open the door to our heart and ask Him to come in, He will come in. Jesus said, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." (Revelation 3:20 KJV) God does not lie. He must be obedient to His own Word. So we know that when we open the door to our heart and ask Jesus to enter, He must come in. You prayed, asking Jesus to come into your heart. So what did He do? Where is He right now? That's right! He is in your heart; and because of that, you know that you have eternal life. "And what is it God has said? That He has given us eternal life; and that this life is in His Son. So whoever has God's Son has life; whoever does not have His Son, does not have life. I have written this to you who believe in the Son of God so that you know you have eternal life." (I John 5:11-13 TLB) Now, because of God's love, we will live each day in God's grace and unconditional love here on earth, as well as for all eternity

 

As believers you and I are now able to say, "I know Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Savior.

 
Alive in Christ,
Roy

A Call For Help

In January, I sent out a letter describing the many wonderful developments in our ministry during 2009. However, I did not tell you about the exciting plans for 2010. I will do that now.

In the news section of this newsletter we mentioned our new partnership with ABMEN, the national men's ministry organization of the American Baptist Churches USA. They have approximately 4,000 churches. We have agreed to come alongside them in order to train their men in becoming Mentor/Disciplers.

 

At this time we are also talking to other national denominational men's ministries that we have developed relationships with through years of association with the National Coalition of Men's Ministries (NCMM). Needless to say we are experiencing the need for expansion within our organization, in order to keep up with these opportunities while continuing to develop the ministry with the churches in our local communities here in Arizona and California. The churches we are working with here are experiencing and explosion of exponential growth in transformed lives for Jesus Christ.

 

In the last nine years God has provided for us in incredible ways. But at this stage we see the unprecedented opportunity to meet the new growth challenges of our ministry. Overall, we estimate our needed income to increase by $5,000 per month. I must admit one of the most difficult things for me to do is to ask for financial help. I would rather have my teeth pulled. However, God has impressed on me that this is not about me; it's about Him and the work He has called us to do. It is clear that we cannot do it without you coming along beside us as financial partners.

  

I don't want to go through 2010 and not be able to take advantage of this awesome opportunity. If we pull this off, can you visualize five years from now the hundreds of churches and thousands of individuals who will be completely transformed into victorious Christ-centered, obedient, followers of Jesus? We will be well on our way to reaching our goal of "Equipping Christ-Centered Mentors Worldwide."

 

We need your help in order to do this. If each person, could give a little each month we could certainly reach our goal. We would ask that you prayerfully consider how God could use you in helping CMN expand its ministry for Jesus Christ. 

    

One word of warning: we do not want you to rob "Peter to pay Paul." In other words, please do not take money away from what you are giving to your church to help CMN. Meeting the financial needs of your church should be your first priority. With that said we are praying that God will reveal to you how to find a little bit each month to give as an offering to CMN. We know that as you do, God will continue to work through CMN in these unprecedented opportunities to serve our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

 

Thank you so much for your continued support of this ministry, and for prayerfully considering how God would use you in response to this request. May God continue to richly bless you and your family.

 

Alive in Christ,

 

Roy L. Comstock

President and Founder

Christian Mentors Network Inc.

                                

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Christian Mentors Network
 18521 E. Queen Creek Rd, Ste 105-216,  Queen Creek, AZ 85142
 
 Christian Mentors Network is a non-profit 501(c)3 corporation.
Todd's Story of Transformation                                by Todd Brashear

Barry & Julie Lynch

I was born in 1966 in Victorville, CA.  My mother, brother, and I lived on an Air Force base, as my father was a fighter pilot.  At age two, my father was shot down in the Vietnam War, and is missing in action to this day.  Raised by my mother, my brother and I became very close. We did everything together.  When I was in the eighth grade, we began using drugs.  This continued for many years.  In 1990 my brother died. His death was so painful for me that I could not cope.  Only by using drugs and alcohol could I continue day by day.  Year after year my drug and alcohol addiction became so consuming and extreme that I would get high at all costs.  Eventually I was homeless, jobless, friendless, and was full to the brim with shame. Everything was utterly hopeless. I knew it would not end well.

 

Although my mother is a Godly woman and she taught my brother and I the truth about Jesus, I never trusted or had a relationship with Him.  She has always prayed for me and trusted that Jesus would provide healing in every area of my life, even when there was no evidence that my life would change.

 

After many years of drug abuse, I can look back now and see that God was bringing me to the end of myself.  Everything I put my hand to ended up in failure. It was so frustrating I finally gave up. I got to the place in which I could finally see who I had become, and it was awful.  I cried out to Jesus, begged him to forgive my sins, and to come into the mess that was my life, and He heard me. 

 

I moved to Phoenix and spent the next six months in a halfway house.  These were the first six months of my life without drugs and alcohol since the eighth grade.  It was in no way a pleasant environment but miraculously God provided me with a peace that I had never known.  I wanted more and I knew, because of my mother's faith, that healing would only come through Christ.  Today I live my life for God.  He started a work in me that very moment I cried out to Him. 

 

When I look back over the past five years, I can see one supernatural event after another taking place in my life. Three years ago, God gave me the courage to start a small business.  Two years ago I met the woman of my dreams; she is the most beautiful, intelligent daughter of God.  The fact that God would entrust her to me as my wife is a responsibility and gift I can hardly fathom. 

 

A few weeks before my wedding, I went to a men's breakfast at our church and expressed some of my fears and insecurities about being the kind of husband that God calls me to be and that she deserves.  After breakfast, Roy Comstock approached me and asked if I would like to meet with him and talk; I agreed.  On my way home that day, I realized that my mother's prayers had been answered once more. She had been praying that a godly older man would come into my life to mentor me.  Suddenly he had. 

 

Roy and I spent the next year studying and completing the three volumes of Mentoring His Way.  Roy's commitment to mentoring me, and studying the Word of God has been life changing. I am now involved in a TriCord accountability group with other men that meets weekly. This has been an incredible blessing in my life.  Through the Word of God, the Christian Mentors Network materials, and Roy's godly insight, God is creating in me a man I never thought possible, a man useful to God, a godly husband to my wife, a good son to my mother, a successful businessman, and a real friend. 

 

I now know without a doubt, this will all end well.

Why Walk Alone?                                                                      by Chrissy Myal

ChrissyI don't know why we do it. I don't know why we choose at times to put one foot in front of the other and walk through the valleys of life completely alone, but we do. Sometimes, I know, it is unavoidable. There have been many seasons in my own life in which God has leaned in close, allowed every other human voice to drift away, and said, "Now you will listen to just me." Those are precious, beautiful, even heart wrenching times, especially when God has needed to speak a difficult truth to me, or correct my course.

 

There are other times, though, that I just let myself drift toward isolation. It is hard work to stay connected, to be accountable to someone, to share honestly and openly the great struggles of being a Christian woman. We find ourselves asking questions in the quiet of our minds like "What will so-and-so think of me if I share that I am struggling?" "What will so-and-so say if I admit that I am not living quite like I know I need to?" So we sink back into the shadows of separation and stay silent. My sisters, this should not be.

 

In Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 we find a beautiful picture of what happens when two people are walking together: "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken." God's desire is that we would walk together, help each other up when we fall, and stand at one another's defense when the enemy is on attack.

 

One of the things I love about sticking close to a sister in the Lord is that she helps me to remember the faithfulness of my God. Sometimes, in the face of discouragement, tragedy, or obstacles, we can forget to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus and the reliability of His promises. As we link arms and hearts together as women, though, we get to give voice to courage for one another as we press on. It has always been God's intention that God's people would look backward and forward together on the journey and have hope.

 

In the book of Joshua, in the fourth chapter, we read about a time when the Lord parted the Jordan River so the people of Israel could safely cross over.  While the river was parted, the Lord told them to gather twelve stones from the center of the dry river and place them on the shore as a memorial for the people of Israel.

  

"Joshua said to the Israelites, 'In the future your children will ask, 'What do these stones mean?' Then you can tell them, 'This is where the Israelites crossed the Jordan on dry ground'. For the Lord your God dried up the river right before your eyes, and He kept it dry until you were all across, just as He did the Red Sea. He did this so that all the nations of the earth might know that the Lord's hand is powerful and so that you might fear the Lord your God forever." (Joshua 4:21-24 NLT)

 

I love that the whole community had a memorial that they set up as a reminder of God's powerful work in their lives. I imagine that many times in the face of difficulties the Israelites would have glanced back together and said, "Remember: our God is able! Let's press on!"

 

On our own journeys we can do the same thing. We can open our eyes to the ways His love and protection are all around us, the way His Spirit is guiding us, and the way His Word speaks so clearly to our circumstances. We can train ourselves to be watchful for Him in the simple things, as well as the mighty ways He parts the seas and carries us through on dry ground. We can set our own stones up as memorials and choose to remember that the Lord is faithful.

 

I want to encourage you to give up on walking alone. Women, link arms with a sister or two who can help you up, who will pray for you, and who will look both behind and before you on the journey and encourage you to walk on. Men, do the same by building relationships with other brothers who will sharpen you.  Allow God to weave your heart and life with a few others as you seek to follow Jesus. Remember, "A cord of three strands is not easily broken."

 

Why, then, would we walk alone?

 

3 Women Praying
3 Men Praying
 
And one standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer; three is even better, for a triple-braided cord is not eaily broken."
Ecclesiastes 4:12
A Pastor's Perspective                                                           by Tim Kelly

Tim Kelly

  Making Discipleship a Priority
 

People in the church lead busy lives.  In the midst of a busy world the church must press to prioritize those things which God has asked of us, and not get sidetracked.  One of the highest priorities of the church is discipleship.  Yet even though Jesus instructs us to make disciples in His Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) to us, it seems that discipleship is a lost art within the church.  The excuse is painfully clear:  Pastors and church leaders are already swamped.

Perhaps you're thinking, "Great, here's yet another thing that I ought to be doing, but I'm overwhelmed as it is."  I feel your pain.  As a solo church planter my plate is full, and so is yours.  Add some crisis inside the church and "issues" outside the church, plus a budget strain, time crunch with family, and I am ready to raise a white flag into the air to keep from tackling one more ministry task.  However, we cannot dismiss Jesus' words to "make disciples of all nations."  Let us be reminded that the command to make disciples is not a suggestion from Jesus, but a command.  Phrase Matthew 28:19 any way you like in Greek, and you'll see that the central verb is make disciples, by which teaching and baptizing complement.  This is what Jesus intends us to do.  I want to share with you why and how you can make discipleship a priority in your church.
 
First, as I just said, Jesus commands us, and this is reason enough.  Therefore, we must make discipleship a priority; this isn't open to discussion.  I personally know of few churches in the U.S. who have an active discipleship plan apart from my own church.  U.S. churches implement great programs, but not necessarily what Jesus commands as essential.  So, what's going to give?  Let's be honest, we can cut those things in our schedules which don't have the same priority as discipleship.  I'm learning myself to let go of things and delegate other items that I simply have no business doing.  I firmly believe that if you put time into discipleship and pray for God to provide people to take things off of your plate, it will happen.  For me it's been letting go of more administrative things and financial items, and trusting my part-time office administrator and financial director to do what they do best, and it's working!
 
Second, if you are actively making disciples within the church, then you model it for your flock.  I meet personally with five guys on a weekly basis, utilizing the discipleship books from the Christian Mentor's Network.  I spend roughly six to seven hours a week devoted to discipleship, and it is worth every minute.  Why?  Through it I'm pouring into the lives of men to help them walk more closely with Jesus and, at the same time, prepare them so that they will one day disciple other guys at our church.  I look forward to the day, in the not too distant future, when we'll have sixteen of us fully trained to disciple more in our church, especially those who are beginning a new relationship with Jesus!  Additionally, by disciplining a handful of guys, I get to see who is truly faithful, available, and teachable (F.A.T.- a great acronym to use with guys - I'd probably phrase it differently for the ladies), basically those who have leadership qualifications.  Through discipleship, leaders within our church are being raised up.  So, out of my time with these guys, they become equipped, and I get to develop and see who is qualified and capable to be our future leaders.

 

Third, discipleship builds a strong church and the next generation.  There is so much talk about younger people leaving the church.  I believe that one reason why, is that we haven't involved them in ministry nor have we built strong relationships with them.  Discipleship addresses both of these issues.  When we disciple/mentor them, we get to listen to them, encourage them, impart to them, build trust with them, and strengthen relationships with them.  This life-on-life approach is the way that Jesus modeled for his own disciples and commands us to do.  Also, training them so that they can disciple others involves them in the nitty-gritty of ministry.  We value young people and more importantly, God wants to use them mightily.  A church engaged in discipleship will train the next generation for hands-on ministry in order to reach the next generation for Christ.

 

So, what will it be in your life and in your church?  Will you make discipleship a top priority where you develop a plan to actually disciple?  If you're a pastor or church leader, then it has to start with you.  You can be very involved in many "good" things, but Christ's words are straight-forward: make disciples.  I encourage you to begin today by using the Christian Mentors Network materials and resources to begin a discipleship plan in your church.  A brief word of caution...  This is not another program, but rather a value and mindset that will be passed from person to person.  Please do not let busyness keep you from what God wants you to do.  In the end, by valuing and practicing discipleship, you obey Jesus, train people for ministry, and build His church by His means.

 

Tim Kelly is Lead Pastor of Genesis Christian Church in Gilbert, AZ.  He is a graduate of Westminster Theological Seminary (Philadelphia, PA) and pursuing doctoral studies at Phoenix Seminary.  He is the husband of his lovely wife Lisa and father to three little ones under age 6, with another on the way.    

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Special Promotional Leader Sample Pack

BooksThis is a very special introductory offer! 

 We are offering a sample pack with a 30 day promise to refund, if this material is not what you want for your ministry!    

  Offer includes: one of each of the Mentoring His Way books (3 total), one of each Mentor Guides (3 total), and one Men's TriCord Journal and one newly released Women's TriCord Journal all for $112.00,  this is a 20% discount off the list price (plus shipping & tax, if applicable).  You can return this sample pack within 30 days by simply paying the return postage and we will promptly return your $112.00.                                                                                                                

       You have nothing to lose.... and you gain the tools to launch your own ministry!

As you think about starting a Mentor/Disciple ministry in your church or community, watch online or order a free DVD from Christian Mentors Network  to hear from people who have been involved in this mentoring ministry. 
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