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APRIL 2024 NEWSLETTER

Charles

THE
BUILDER
April 2024

NEXT MEETING April 22, 2024
Fellowship Meal 7 p.m. (EDT)
Worship Service 8 p.m. (EDT)
First Christian Church Elizabethtown
1811 North Miles Street
Our Speaker: Stuart Jones, FCC Senior Minister

OUR APRIL HOST
From its beginning in the home of a faithful Christian woman in 1877 to locations on West Dixie, North Mulberry, West Poplar and now North Miles, the story of First Christian is simple and consistent. It’s a story of believers working together to lead people closer to Jesus Christ. We do this by Loving God, Loving People, and Serving Others. Stuart Jones is in his 16th year as Senior Minister.

THANKS
Thanks to Glendale Christian for hosting our March meeting. There were 127 men present from 23 congregations.

HOSTS NEEDED
If your church would like to host our June or October meeting, please contact Secretary Mike Vaught at mcv1788@gmail.com and Builder Editor, Charles Young at cw.young@windstream.net.

MAY MEETING DATE
When Memorial Day occurs on the FOURTH Monday of May, MFC meets on the THIRD Monday. The May 20 meeting will be at Hiseville Christian Church, 70 West Main Street, Hiseville.

CURRENT 2024 SCHEDULE
May 20—Hiseville Christian (3rd Monday)
June 24—OPEN
July 22—Russell Springs Christian
August 26—Rolling Fork Christian
September 23—Burkesville First Christian
October 28—OPEN
November 25—Jamestown Christian

A CHANGE IN PROCEDURE
To ensure a smooth transition from the speaker’s message to our business session, copies of the Minutes and Financial Reports will now be available for pick up PRIOR to the start of the meeting.

CHRISTIAN CAMP SEASON
Schedules for 2024 are available on the camp websites:
www.whitemills.camp
www.kycampcalvary.com

CAN YOU IMAGINE?
A minister had dinner at the home of a couple in his church. After he left, the wife said to the husband, “I think he stole our spoon!” This bothered her for a whole year. A year later, the couple had the minister for dinner again. Unable to resist, the wife asked, “Did you steal our spoon last year?” The minister replied, “No, I put it inside your Bible.” (Copied)

WELCOME
Every church sends a message through how they welcome and treat guests. Those with no strategy send the loudest message. “What we believe has not impacted how we treat you.” Not to be hospitable is to prove the message of God’s grace hasn’t impacted the totality of the church. Hospitality is the combination of two words: stranger and love. It literally means to show love to strangers and it is very biblical. God’s hospitality toward us is the foundation and motivation for our hospitality toward others. God loved us while we were still strangers. While we were His enemies, He pursued us. And now we are to accept others the way Christ has accepted us. Being hospitable is even a qualification for being a leader in the church (1 Timothy 3:2). Churches must have a plan for how they show love to those who are their guests. (Eric Geiger at ThomRainer.com)

ANSWERED PRAYER
Just because your prayers weren’t answered the way you wanted doesn’t mean your prayers weren’t answered!

CHRISTIAN STANDARD: PRESERVING OUR HISTORY WHILE PROVIDING FOR OUR FUTURE
In 2017, just months after we acquired Christian Standard, the accountants informed us of a storage unit in Cincinnati that we were paying a monthly fee to maintain. To eliminate this expense, I assembled our editors to explore the storage unit and then to clean it out. What we found was priceless. Inside that dark, sterile unit were the contents of what had been the Standard Publishing library, including the archives and bound volumes of some products that went clear back to 1866, the year Christian Standard started. I wrote about that adventure after we recovered those artifacts and rehoused them in a library we created in Quincy, Illinois. You can read about it in “Raiders of the (Almost) Lost Artifacts” at ChristianStandard.com.

In our latest issue of Christian Standard, we sought to show the incredible value of the Restoration Movement’s history and how it frames where we are today and how that knowledge might help us to face the future. Christian Standard considers this history and our role in it as a sacred trust—and so does our benefactor, The Solomon Foundation. To that end, TSF has incorporated a brand-new library which will serve as the archive’s permanent home within its nearly completed phase-three construction project at its headquarters in Parker, Colorado. Dedication of this facility should occur this summer, and preparations are underway to move the archive from its present location in Illinois to its new permanent home in Colorado. We thank The Solomon Foundation for their shared passion for the preservation and curation of our history!

But the Restoration Movement is about much more than history. History is a foundation upon which to build a future, and Christian Standard is dedicated to an effective, God-honoring future for our movement and its leaders and churches. This is why we make our print magazine content available online for free, and why we have an online-only news operation, and why we now have decades of old issues of Christian Standard accessible to everyone via our website. We do that because we believe our content is an indispensable resource for great churches and committed Christ followers! We seek to eliminate all obstacles so that our readers and all Christians can access the resources and receive the encouragement that we so desperately need today.

I am so encouraged by the number of people who have been responding to our donation appeals! Your gifts are making an incredible difference in our ability to provide these resources to you. I am asking that the churches in our movement consider making Christian Standard Media part of your monthly mission support. No amount of support is too small, and as a thank-you, we will provide an annual print subscription to all churches and individuals for every $50 donated. Just click on the donate button at our website, fill in your gift amount, and we will gratefully send you our print magazine all year. Please include your email and street address to receive print copies.

Once again, thank you so much and pray for us as we continue to play a role in building the kingdom! (Jerry Harris, Publisher, Christian Standard Media)
——————————————————————

The Builder is published by Men for Christ at Indian Hills Christian Church in Danville, KY.
Publisher: Judy Clay (judyclay01@gmail.com)
Editor: Charles Young, (cw.young@windstream.net)

MARCH 2024 NEWSLETTER

Charles

THE BUILDER
March 2024

NEXT MEETING March 25, 2024
7 p.m. (EDT)
Glendale Christian Church
Our Speaker: Jeremy Willis, Journey Christian Church, Shepherdsville

14 YEARS LATER–REPRINT FROM JANUARY 2010 NEWSLETTER
Our next meeting is January 25, 2010, at Lebanon Christian Church. The scheduled speaker is Jeremy Willis, Prospective Minister for the New Shepherdsville Church Plant.

2024 PRAISE REPORT
Praising God for Journey Christian Church and the tremendous influence they have had in the community since starting on October 10, 2010.

THANKS
Thanks to Columbia Christian for hosting our February meeting. There were 115 men present from 24 congregations.

HOSTS NEEDED
If your church would like to host our June or October meeting, please contact Secretary Mike Vaught at mcv1788@gmail.com and Builder Editor, Charles Young at cw.young@windstream.net.

CURRENT 2024 SCHEDULE
April 22—Elizabethtown First Christian
May 20—Hiseville Christian (3rd Monday)
June 24—OPEN
July 22—Russell Springs Christian
August 26—Rolling Fork Christian
September 23—Burkesville First Christian
October 28—OPEN
November 25—Jamestown Christian

THOUGHT PROVOKING
One of life’s greatest ironies: Sometimes our greatest gifts are presented in the packaging of adversity.

HOW CRUCIAL IS THE RESURECTION?
We cherish the birth of Jesus, His wisdom, His loving deeds, His courage in the face of a brutal death, but it is Christ’s resurrection which is absolutely crucial to Christian beliefs. In his first letter to the Corinthians, Paul explained that the Resurrection was the foundation of our Christian belief system. He insisted that if Christ had not been raised from the dead, then we who believe in eternal life have no hope for it al all. “If the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised. If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins” (I Corinthians 15:16-17, NRSV). Finally, Paul expresses very clearly how crucial the Resurrection is to our Christian hope. “If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied” (1 Corinthians 15:19, NRSV).

MOST BORING SERMON IN THE BIBLE
I’m sure it will never happen to you. But have you ever seen other people in church begin to doze off during the preacher’s sermon? Well, it wouldn’t be the first time! There’s at least one Biblical precedent. Paul’s audience began to fall asleep. Especially one young sleepy lad who was sitting in a third-story window. (Acts 20:7-12). Now, sitting in a third-story window just might not be too safe to begin with. But I guess the building standards were different then. Thankfully, this boring sermon had a very happy ending! Paul raised the young lad back from the dead after his big fall. And the church grew by leaps and bounds! And when he grew older, imagine what it was like for this young guy to tell that story to his grandchildren! (Copied)

ANNOUNCING A CHANGE IN PROCEDURE
To ensure a smooth transition from the speaker’s message to our business session, copies of the Minutes and Financial Reports will now be available for pick up PRIOR to the start of the meeting.

MEN’S CONFERENCE SPONSORED BY WHITE MILLS CHRISTIAN CAMP
Registration for this year’s April 25-27 Men’s Conference, UNLEASHED, is open online at whitemills.camp/events.

KNOW GOD’S VOICE
We waste so much nervous energy trying to make decisions. We can stress less when we remember three things: Gather the facts. What are the odds that the thing you are worrying about will ever occur? Control what you can control. Weather? You can’t control it, but you can watch the forecast. Don’t second-guess yourself. Make the best decision you can with the facts at hand. Pray, and take the next step. When you can’t sleep, don’t count sheep – read Scripture. Distinguish between God’s voice and the voice of fear. Worry takes a look at catastrophes and groans, “It’s all coming unraveled.” God says, “every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good” (Romans 8:28 MSG). Worry never sleeps, but God’s children do. (March 13, 2024, Max Lucado’s Words of Hope and Help)

WINTER/SPRING WEATHER ALERT
If weather conditions require the cancellation of our meetings, information will be posted on the website. www.kymenforchrist.org. You may also contact any member of the Executive Committee.

QUOTABLE QUOTES
Don’t dismiss a good idea simply because you don’t like the source.

The Builder is published by Men for Christ at Indian Hills Christian Church in Danville, KY.
Publisher: Judy Clay (judyclay01@gmail.com) Editor: Charles Young, (cw.young@windstream.net)

THE BUILDER FEBRUARY 2024

Charles

THE
BUILDER
February 2024

NEXT MEETING February 26, 2024
7 p.m. (EST)
Columbia Christian Church

Our Speaker: Joe Tipton, Senior Minister, First Christian Church, Monticello
Joe is originally from Wilmore, KY. He is an Asbury University graduate and holds a Master of Arts in Pastoral Leadership from Cincinnati Christian University. He had two successful youth ministries at The Carpenter’s Christian Church in Harrodsburg, Ky and Jessamine Christian Church in Nicholasville, Ky. In 2008, he was promoted to Associate Minister at Jessamine Christian Church and began a ministry of preaching and teaching. Joe started at FCC in August of 2011.His primary areas are preaching and leadership.
Joe is an avid sports fan (Go Cats!), basketball official, and golfer. Joe is married to his wife Jamie and they have three sons, Canon, and twins Jack and Andrew. His hobbies are reading, music and golf.

THANKS
Thanks to White Mills Christian for hosting our January meeting. There were 81 men present from 20 congregations.

HOSTS NEEDED
If your church would like to host a meeting, please contact Secretary Mike Vaught at mcv1788@gmail.com and Builder Editor, Charles Young at cw.young@windstream.net.

CURRENT 2024 SCHEDULE
March 25—Glendale Christian
April 22—Elizabethtown First Christian
May 20—Hiseville Christian (3rd Monday)
June 24—OPEN
July 22—Russell Springs Christian
August 26—Rolling Fork Christian
September 23—OPEN
October 28—OPEN
November 25—Jamestown Christian

QUOTABLE QUOTES
Long before Zaccheaus couldn’t see Jesus the tree was already planted to meet his needs.
Be careful how you use words and time. You can’t get either of them back.
Often the best thing about not saying anything is that it can’t be repeated!
By the time a man realizes that his father was right, he has a son who thinks he’s wrong!
You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.

A PRAYER FOR MY MINISTER
Father, let me be a pillar of strength to help hold up my minister and not a thorn in his flesh to sap his strength, or a burden on his back to weigh him down. Let me support him without striving to possess him. Let me lift his hands without shackling them. Let me give him any help that he may devote more time to working for the salvation of others and less time to gratifying my vanity. Let me work for him as the minister of all the members and not compel him to spend precious time in pleasing me. Let me be unselfish in what I do for him and in what I ask him to do for me.

ON THE LIGHTER SIDE
The story is told of the boy who took his cap pistol to church and fired it in the middle of a boring sermon. The father grabbed him by the arm and started to lead him out of the church. An elderly woman whispered to the father “I hope you are not going to whip that boy. He’s scared the devil out of more people than the preacher has in years.”

CLOSE SHAVE
“Mother,” said Johnny, “is dad going to heaven?” “Why, son?” “Well,” Johnny replied, “in all the pictures of angels I’ve ever seen they don’t have a beard, and daddy has one.” “Well,” sad mother, “if your father gets there it’ll probably be by a close shave.”

A PRAISE REPORT
Louisville Bible College (LBC) hosted a Celebration Service on Feb. 3 at Life Bridge Christian Church adjacent to the LBC campus, wrapping up the college’s 75th anniversary observance in 2023. Since 1948, Louisville Bible College has been committed to “Educating preachers and other Christian leaders for Christ’s church.” Due to a debt load of hundreds of thousands of dollars, LBC did not hold classes in 2015-16. However, under the leadership of Dr. Tom Mobley, who returned for a second tenure as president of LBC, the college “rebooted” with classes resuming in the fall of 2016. Eliminating all college debt was a key factor in the rebooting process. In 2018, Christian Financial Resources entered into a 15-year loan agreement with LBC to underwrite the college’s indebtedness. LBC was able to pay ahead on the loan and in November 2022 refinanced the remaining debt with the Christian Restoration Association at 0 percent interest, part of CRA’s Recycled Riches program. John Mitchell, CRA’s executive director, said, “It was a true privilege for the Christian Restoration Association to assist LBC in their debt-free campaign by providing them with one of our Recycled Riches loans. We were thrilled to take advantage of the opportunity to partner together to advance the mission of LBC.” In conjunction with its 75th-year anniversary, LBC launched a fund-raising campaign, “With an Eye to the Future,” to raise $75,000 to help eliminate its remaining debt. As only God can do, the goal was not only met, but enough funds were donated to erase the college debt completely! With its debt eliminated, the college is now looking to the future and to the effective fulfillment of its mission. A task force is currently working to present recommendations for future ministry opportunities to the Board of Regents. Special attention will be given to student recruitment, IT needs, and operational systems. As LBC’s bright future unfolds, President Kerry Allen and the administration team, along with the Board of Regents, recognize the gracious hand of God that has brought about this tremendous blessing, and are committed to operating debt-free in the years to come. (Christian Standard, 2-14-24)

WINTER WEATHER ALERT
If weather conditions require the cancellation of our meetings, information will be posted on the website. www.kymenforchrist.org. You may also contact any member of the Executive Committee.

The Builder is published by Men for Christ at Indian Hills Christian Church in Danville, KY.
Publisher: Judy Clay (judyclay01@gmail.com)
Editor: Charles Young, (cw.young@windstream.net)

JANUARY 2024 THE BUILDER

Charles

THE
BUILDER
January 2024

NEXT MEETING January 22, 2024
7 p.m. (EST)
White Mills Christian Church
231 Cave Road, White Mills 42788

Our Speaker: Joe Cooper, First Christian Church, Lexington, Ky.
Joe has over 50 years of ministry experience. During that time, he has helped lead churches in Kentucky, Indiana and Florida. He served as Senior Minister at First Christian Church in Lexington from 2010-2019. Joe retired from full-time ministry in May 2019. Since that time, he has served as an interim minister and has done “supply preaching” at several churches in Central Ky. In March 2022, Joe was called back to FCC to serve as the interim minister while the church searched for a new full-time minister. When Greg Herriford came on board in late 2022, Joe remained on staff in a part-time role as Teaching Minister. He leads the Wednesday night Bible Study at FCC. Originally Joe is from McKinney in Lincoln County. He grew up in the McKinney Christian Church. Joe graduated with a BA in Preaching from Johnson Bible College in 1974 and a Master of Arts in Practical Ministry from Cincinnati Bible Seminary in 1985. He and his wife Pam reside in Lexington.

HOSTS NEEDED
If your church would like to host a meeting, please contact Secretary, Mike Vaught at mcv1788@gmail.com and Builder Editor, Charles Young at cw.young@windstream.net.

CURRENT 2024 SCHEDULE
February 26—Columbia Christian
March 25—Glendale Christian
April 22—Elizabethtown First Christian
May 20—Hiseville Christian (3rd Monday)
June 24—OPEN
July 22—Russell Springs Christian
August 26—OPEN
September 23—OPEN
October 28—OPEN
November 25—OPEN

SERVICE RECOGNIZED
At Indian Hills Christian on December 14, Charles Young presented Ms. Judy Clay with a gift and plaque for her 25 years of service as Publisher of The Builder.

QUOTABLE QUOTES
“Wrong does not cease to be wrong because the majority share in it.” –Leo Tolstoy

“No one has ever become poor by giving.”
–Anne Frank

“It is far better to be alone than to be in bad company.” –George Washington

“Holding on to anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die.”
–Unknown

“You are not only responsible for what you say, but also for what you do not say when it’s your duty to say something.” –Martin Luther

“There is no pillow so soft as a clear conscience.” –Anonymous

“The hardest job kids face today is learning good manners without seeing any. –Fred Astaire

A PRAYER FOR THE NEW YEAR
Eternal God, thank you for bringing us once again to the threshold of a new year. Help us dedicate each day of 2024 to following your will for our lives. Guide us, Lord, in all our decisions and actions, day by day and hour by hour. Help us accomplish all that you desire for us to do, until our mission on earth is finished. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

SYMPATHY EXTENDED
Sympathy is extended to the family of David Jones from Southern Heights Christian in Somerset. David was a faithful attender of MFC and a former member of the Executive Committee. His funeral was on January 5.

ATTITUDE MAKES THE DIFFERENCE!
My Daily Attitude Action Plan Is. . .
A lways making today my best day
T aking pride in a job well done
T reating others with respect
I solating my negative thoughts
T reating tasks as opportunities
U tilizing my talents every day
D oing the job right the first time
E xpecting positive outcomes daily

RESOLVED
Even if you choose not to make resolutions for the New Year I hope you will make an effort to attend every meeting in 2024 and encourage others to attend. There are numerous area churches who do not attend our meetings. A personal invitation to “pick them up” or “share a ride” may be just what they need to become more involved. My challenge to you is to pray daily for Men for Christ, attend and invite others.

GOD IS FAITHFUL
God will never fail us.
He will not forsake.
His eternal covenant He will never break.
Resting on His promise, what have we to fear?
God is all-sufficient for the coming year.

WINTER WEATHER ALERT
If weather conditions require the cancellation of our meetings, information will be posted on the website. You may also contact any member of the Executive Committee.

2024 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Adam Hale, Chairman
270 646-8648
ahale@glendalecc.org
Trinity Searcy, Vice Chairman
270-268-1505
tsearcy@karbec.com
Mike Vaught, Secretary
270-308-5052
Mcv1788@gmail.com
Randy Herron, Treasurer
270-465-7642
randyherron@windstream.net
Allan Courtwright, Asst. Treasurer
270-699-0733
allancourtwright@gmail.com
J. R. Donahue, Director
270-735-2408
j.donahue0911@yahoo.com
Darrell Horn, Director
270-991-9441
darrellhorn@twc.com
Ralph Gibson, Director
606-872-3355
ralph.gibson2095@outlook.com
Charles Young, Director
270-766-9655
cw.young@windstream.net
Wally Devore, Director
270-670-6459
wndevore@scrtc.com
Bill Miller, Director
859-333-4478

DECEMBER 2023 NEWSLETTER

Charles

THE
BUILDER
December 2023

NEXT MEETING January 22, 2024
7 p.m. (EST)
White Mills Christian Church
231 Cave Road, White Mills 42788

THANKS
Thanks to Bradfordsville’s New Life Christian for hosting our November meeting. There were 114 present from 22 congregations.

HOSTS NEEDED
If your church would like to host a meeting, please contact Secretary, Mike Vaught at mcv1788@gmail.com and Builder Editor, Charles Young at cw.young@windstream.net.

CURRENT 2024 SCHEDULE
January 22—White Mills Christian
February 26—Columbia Christian
March 25—Glendale Christian
April 22—Elizabethtown First Christian
May 20—Hiseville Christian (3rd Monday)
June 24—OPEN
July 22—Russell Springs Christian
August 26—OPEN
September 23—OPEN
October 28—OPEN
November 25—OPEN

YEAR IN REVIEW
It’s customary around this time of the year to reflect on the happenings of the year. As 2023 ends, I’d encourage everyone to reflect on how closely they stayed with their mission for the year, whether a church, organization or as an individual. It’s important for us to know what our mission is so that we can work toward accomplishing that mission.
The Men for Christ mission statement is simple: To promote Christian Fellowship and the strengthening and establishment of churches after the New Testament pattern. The question is how well did we accomplish this?

Promoting Christian Fellowship:
We had 11 monthly meetings, held in a variety of places. Each meeting brought a unique speaker or in one instance musical group. Each meeting was filled with worship and the Word. Our meals were great and our fellowship even greater. We saw several churches who have not routinely attended in the last few years start to rejoin our fellowship. On a few occasions, we had over 100 men from 20 different congregations represented. One man from Glendale remarked about the Campbellsville meeting, that it was the best Men for Christ meeting he had ever been to and was inspired because of the message. I hope each message does that for someone.

Strengthening & Establishing Churches After the New Testament Pattern:
We did not establish any new churches this year. While that in and of itself is disappointing, we were able to strengthen existing churches. We heard reports periodically from Elevate Christian Church (our most recent church plant) and the progress they are making. They reported that the seed money we had given them a year ago was paying dividends now. The Executive Committee, after reviewing a list of current needs and wants from the church, made the decision with the approval of the body of Men for Christ, to gift them $20,000 to help with their current needs and wants.
We also began a project with Dogwood Christian Church. Dogwood, located in Western Kentucky, like many smaller churches has struggled in the wake of the pandemic and changing leaderships. After an inspiring meeting with their minister, the Executive Committee agreed to begin monthly financial support to help ease the burden of Dogwood Christian so they could be more concerned about their mission to see lost people come to know Jesus.
It was a promising year for Men for Christ. Each month, we heard reports from churches about the good things that were happening in their respective churches and communities, and I am very excited to see many of those same activities continue into 2024.
I am grateful to have served as the chairman for 2023 and look forward to serving in that role for 2024. I hope 2024 is even better than 2023. I look forward to seeing you at White Mills Christian Church on January 22 for our first meeting of the year. For the sake of the Kingdom, Adam Hale.

FAITHFUL SERVICE
We appreciate those who faithfully serve as members of the Executive Committee. Ben Fulcher and Russ Lunsford recently retired. Also, special thanks to Jim Pope who served as MFC Secretary for eight years.

QUOTABLE QUOTES
“This is Christmas: not the tinsel, not the giving and receiving, not even the carols, but the humble heart that receives anew the wondrous gift, the Christ.”– Frank McKibben

“If this is to be a Happy New Year, a year of usefulness, a year in which we shall live to make this earth better, it is because God will direct our pathway. How important then, to feel our dependence upon Him!”
— Matthew Simpson

2024 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Adam Hale, Chairman
270 646-8648
ahale@glendalecc.org
Trinity Searcy, Vice Chairman
270-268-1505
tsearcy@karbec.com
Mike Vaught, Secretary
270-308-5052
Mcv1788@gmail.com
Randy Herron, Treasurer
270-465-7642
randyherron@windstream.net
Allan Courtwright, Asst. Treasurer
270-699-0733
allancourtwright@gmail.com
J. R. Donahue, Director
270-735-2408
j.donahue0911@yahoo.com
Darrell Horn, Director
270-991-9441
darrellhorn@twc.com
Ralph Gibson, Director
606-872-3355
ralph.gibson2095@outlook.com
Charles Young, Director
270-766-9655
cw.young@windstream.net
Wally Devore, Director
270-670-6459
wndevore@scrtc.com
Bill Miller, Director
859-333-4478

The Builder is published by Men for Christ at Indian Hills Christian Church in Danville, KY.
Publisher: Judy Clay (judyclay01@gmail.com)
Editor: Charles Young, (cw.young@windstream.net)