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December 3, 2009
Greetings from the Kinkades:
I hope that you have had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We are so thankful for people like you who pray for and support us through this ministry. We pray that this Christmas season will bring you the joy that Christ gives through all circumstances. Our hearts are filled with joy when we think of all of our partners in ministry and how your support allows us to live out the mission to which God has called us.
Our lives have been defined by change in ministry and family. We are going through further change in camp leadership, CSB Ministries has a new president, my involvement in curriculum development with CSB has become a major part of my ministry, and our family is focused on a new addition.
Many of you have seen the camp report from this past season. Joe Greaser did an outstanding job as Camp Director, and we were blessed to have him on staff. However, after the long hours of the 2009 camp season, Joe decided that he would not be able to continue on for a second season. If this falls back onto my shoulders, it will greatly reduce the amount of time that I can spend on the rest of the ministry during these crucial times. Please pray that we will find the right man or men to take the position of Camp Director for the 2010 season.
It was with great surprise and trouble that we received the notice of Don Paterson’s resignation as president of CSB Ministries. His last day was November 13th. Don has done an outstanding job bringing CSB Ministries up-to-date while holding to the core values of our ministry. The very positive changes of the past five years were due to his leadership. Don will be missed. Pray for Don as he transitions to a position of ministry through a local church in Indiana.
God has provided for a seamless transition in leadership at CSB. John Launstein took over as president on November 16th. John has been president of CSB Canada for nearly two years. He will now oversee both organizations. The troubling thoughts of Don’s resignation turned to encouragement as God has brought us a man with a long CSB history, who has served as a pastor, and has business experience. John’s vision is in carrying out the path cast through Don Paterson’s leadership, especially in the area of curriculum. This is very encouraging, as my passion and involvement has been great in the area of material development. Pray for John as he takes on a huge load of leading both the US and Canadian organizations.
My involvement in writing and rewriting of CSB materials has now moved beyond our Treks material. If you remember from my last letter, a total overhaul of our Stockade and Battalion materials was a major topic of our last national conference. More recently I have been involved in writing a model of what is hoped to be our next generation of curriculum. This writing project is the first step in putting the ideas of the collective US and Canadian conferences into a working model. This is an exciting project and it allows me to put my background in CSB Ministries and my degree in secondary education to very good use. The initial responses to what has been seen in the field have been very positive. Your support for me is helping to make a difference in the lives of men on a national level. Pray that the Lord will give us the strength and wisdom to bring together the right materials for inspiring and equipping this generation of men to pass on the legacy of following Christ to the next generation.
Throughout the history of these letters you have been able to keep up with the work that we’ve been doing on our house. Most recently, we are finally getting the flooring done in the first story of the addition. This step was forced when it became obvious that my office, which is upstairs, would need to become a bedroom to make way for our new baby. We are expecting our 3rd child in the middle of January, Lord willing, and finally I will have my office space separated from the sleeping areas. Jennifer’s legs have been giving her some problems throughout this pregnancy, but other than that everything is routine so far. Pray for Jennifer as she goes through this next month. Pray that her legs will hold out and that everything will remain routine.
Madelyn and Abigail are doing well. Madelyn is eating up second grade, and Abigail is beginning to take hold of the learning process. Just the other day she was practicing her alphabet. I caught her just singing the last four letters. I was confused until I found out that she did not know those four, and on her own she was going over the ones she did not know. Cute! Both girls love acrobatics and both enjoy their Sunday school and kids programs very much. Pray that Madelyn and Abigail’s little hearts will follow in the knowledge of Christ.
Thank you so much for your continued support and partnership with our ministry through CSB Ministries. Together we are making a difference in the lives of men and boys. Our plans to bring CSB back to the forefront of men’s ministries are maturing as the Lord leads and supplies. This is made possible through our partners in support.
Our support base is still much stronger than two years ago. However, we have noticed a slight drop of about 5% in support over the last six months. This means we are now about $1700 per month short of full support rather than the $1400 last reported. We know the economy has been tough and God is supplying our needs despite the economic situation. Thank you so much to those who continue to regularly give and to those who have given special gifts to sustain us through these economic times! Pray that more people will feel the call to give and help erase our shortfall.
Thank you so much for your interest in us and in CSB Ministries. Please continue to pray for our ministry and for our needs. If you are not a part of our support team, will you prayerfully consider supporting us in ministry with CSB Ministries? To designate your gifts toward our Ohio Region ministry, send them to CSB Ministries, PO Box 150, Wheaton, Ill., 60187, and mark them “The Kinkades’ Ministry Support Team” Account # 312026. Or go to www.csbministries .org and designate your donation to our account.
In His Service
Dale L. Kinkade Jr.
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