Colossians 1:28–29 (ESV) Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.
My First Try of Writing For The CCS Newsletter
God blessed Rod and me with a new ministry (Christ-Centered Solutions) several years ago. I say “us,” but Rod is God's engine in the work of the ministry. Rod has been given a true gift from God to carry out this ministry of helping other Christians and pastors with their Biblical counseling needs. He works long hours every day to help others, as well as wading into the world of a nonprofit with all the rules and procedures it involves. At this point, I want to thank our faithful prayer warriors and financial supporters personally; without you, Christ-Centered Solutions would not be able to operate and help hurting people. I also want to thank the CCS Board Members for their willingness to serve, and their support is invaluable.
Now, to the difficult part of being a nonprofit, which you may already know, but please bear with me). Christ-Centered Solutions is a donation-based ministry, and while those who receive Biblical counseling are asked to donate something for the care they receive, most can only give a nominal amount. Sometimes, those we care for aren’t able to contribute due to various life crises they are experiencing. Then, there are the other costs and services of running a nonprofit. One such cost is that of maintaining good financial records. CCS recently took a significant financial hit when the bookkeeping company we work with more than doubled their fees, and our CPA (we must file returns for the IRS and the state of South Carolina each year) also increased their cost, which is more than doubled from what
Now, to the difficult part of being a nonprofit, which you may already know, but please bear with me). Christ-Centered Solutions is a donation-based ministry, and while those who receive Biblical counseling are asked to donate something for the care they receive, most can only give a nominal amount. Sometimes, those we care for aren’t able to contribute due to various life crises they are experiencing. Then, there are the other costs and services of running a nonprofit. One such cost is that of maintaining good financial records. CCS recently took a significant financial hit when the bookkeeping company we work with more than doubled their fees, and our CPA (we must file returns for the IRS and the state of South Carolina each year) also increased their cost, which is more than doubled from what
we were paying pre-pandemic. Other services we must use have also increased their rates significantly, i.e., website, client forms, QuickBooks, etc. You know how difficult daily life has become with our economy as it is, and like most who support CCS, you operate on a shoestring budget like we do. One thing Rod doesn’t like when our newsletter goes out is asking for additional financing; he believes he might be asking for too much. So, this time, I’m asking, as his wife and partner in ministry. I’m asking you to pray about becoming a monthly supporter, be it $25, $50, or more; it’s easy to do when you’re on the Giving Page of the CCS website. Maybe you can only give once or twice a year, and that’s okay too, but please make us and Christ-Centered Solutions a part of your daily prayers. We love you, and we thank you for loving us and the people we minister to each week.
Thank you,
Teresa
Thank you,
Teresa
Sharing The Gospel & Encouraging Believers
October has been a busy time for us at Christ-Centered Solutions. Not only was I honored to address the good folks at Friendship Baptist Church on their 80th celebration of ministry, but I was also honored with the opportunity to preach at Sunset Park Baptist Church, Bear Branch Baptist, and lastly Crossroads Church. Anytime Teresa and I can visit other believers and share the ministry of Christ-Centered Solutions, we consider it a blessing.
Our trip to Friendship in North Charleston was extra sweet because we were able to see the dreams we had 10 years ago coming to fruition.
Friendship Baptist, in partnership with the Charleston Bilingual Academy, is reaching the community with the Gospel of Christ. The transformation is amazing to watch. Ten years ago, Friendship's congregation on any given Sunday ran 20-25, mostly older adults. Today, the numbers are closer to 200, which includes a significant number of children. Again, ten years ago, there were no children in the church except on special occasions. Today, Friendship is not only in partnership with Charleston Bilingual Academy but also with Holmes Avinue Baptist Church, which hosts a second campus for the school.
What brought about such change? Christians who faithfully prayed and believed God wasn't finished with the work He had begun decades earlier. It also took a willingness to make changes where changes were needed. If you'd like to hear more about the transition of bringing a dying church back to life, please watch the video with Pastor Timmons, myself, and Rev. Craig Tuck, who serves as the Mission Strategist for the Charleston Baptist Association (use the video button).
Our trip to Friendship in North Charleston was extra sweet because we were able to see the dreams we had 10 years ago coming to fruition.
Friendship Baptist, in partnership with the Charleston Bilingual Academy, is reaching the community with the Gospel of Christ. The transformation is amazing to watch. Ten years ago, Friendship's congregation on any given Sunday ran 20-25, mostly older adults. Today, the numbers are closer to 200, which includes a significant number of children. Again, ten years ago, there were no children in the church except on special occasions. Today, Friendship is not only in partnership with Charleston Bilingual Academy but also with Holmes Avinue Baptist Church, which hosts a second campus for the school.
What brought about such change? Christians who faithfully prayed and believed God wasn't finished with the work He had begun decades earlier. It also took a willingness to make changes where changes were needed. If you'd like to hear more about the transition of bringing a dying church back to life, please watch the video with Pastor Timmons, myself, and Rev. Craig Tuck, who serves as the Mission Strategist for the Charleston Baptist Association (use the video button).
Friendship Baptist Church Pastors
Mark Timmons, 2020 - present
Rod West, 2013-2020
Jesse Powers, 1970-1977
Mark Timmons, 2020 - present
Rod West, 2013-2020
Jesse Powers, 1970-1977
Do The Holidays Overwhelm you?
Thanksgiving and Christmas are just a few weeks away, and while some seem to be bursting at the seams with excitement, others may struggle. If you feel a bit overwhelmed at times by the holiday season, please do not hesitate to call us at Christ-Centered Solutions. Dr. Don Cashwell and I would be honored to serve you. If you need to set an appointment you can do so by visiting our Appointment page.
Coming in december!
During my time in pastoral ministry, I always had a burden for my people to learn and grow their theological understanding. I also wanted those I shepherded to have a real passion for the Word and to share that love with their children. I think many of us have seen kids leave for college only to watch lost and ungodly professors undo what pastors, parents, and churches poured into their children.
So, one of my projects for the last year has been to create a biblically-based puzzle book for teens and adults. There are crossword puzzles, memory verse filling-the-blank puzzles, word search puzzles, and more.
Some may question why spend a year working on such a project. The answer is that these books tend to sell well on Amazon, which suggests people want these types of products. The books and journals I have on Amazon are also another way of raising funds for Christ-Centerd Solutions. I can guarantee that every penny earned is returned to CCS to help others in need. Please visit my Amazon Author Page to purchase one or more of the items listed and allow us to help others at Christ-Centered Solutions. And again, please be on the lookout for the 101 Bible-Themed Puzzle book on Amazon come December; buy one as a gift for someone and get a second one for yourself.
Thank you!
Rod
So, one of my projects for the last year has been to create a biblically-based puzzle book for teens and adults. There are crossword puzzles, memory verse filling-the-blank puzzles, word search puzzles, and more.
Some may question why spend a year working on such a project. The answer is that these books tend to sell well on Amazon, which suggests people want these types of products. The books and journals I have on Amazon are also another way of raising funds for Christ-Centerd Solutions. I can guarantee that every penny earned is returned to CCS to help others in need. Please visit my Amazon Author Page to purchase one or more of the items listed and allow us to help others at Christ-Centered Solutions. And again, please be on the lookout for the 101 Bible-Themed Puzzle book on Amazon come December; buy one as a gift for someone and get a second one for yourself.
Thank you!
Rod
From A Grateful Heart
Words are not enough to share how thankful I am for our supporters and partners in ministry. I sent an urgent plea a few weeks ago because Christ-Centered Solutions faced financial difficulties. Over the next few days, God's people responded, and our immediate needs were met, at least for the short term. As did individual supporters, several of our supporting churches helped with special offerings. We are still behind in our yearly budgetary needs, meaning more adjustments will still need to be made moving forward, but I believe God will see us through as He has before.
Again, I encourage you to consider becoming a monthly supporter of CCS. If you're unsure about a monthly commitment, let me ask you to consider the following numbers just for our premarital biblical counseling as an example of how your donations are used.
- $25 a month would cover the cost of biblical counseling materials for one young couple.
- $30 a month would cover the cost of the online homework study we use for all premarital sessions for an entire year.
- $40 a month would cover the cost of our confidential forms program for a whole year.
Here are some other numbers you might find interesting from 2022.
- CCS provided 1,267 direct contact hours for biblical counseling, coaching, and soul care training.
- Almost $18,000 in materials and services were provided to fellow believers who were unable to cover the cost of care.
Let's Talk About Pain & Suffering
Most of us struggle for answers when confronted with the loss of a loved one, a job, or a dream, and sometimes we find ourselves questioning where God is in the midst of our pain. In the short devotional video, Is Suffering Ever Part of God's Will, I try to answer some of those questions and bring a Biblical perspective to loss and suffering. I hope you'll take a few minutes to watch the video, and as always it is my prayer that you find a sense of comfort and encouragement from what we do at Christ-Centered Solutions.
Below are more videos on the topic of pain and suffering.
Below are more videos on the topic of pain and suffering.
Turning A Dream Into A Reality
Over the next few years, one of our goals at Christ-Centered Solutions is to raise funds to purchase land and a home to serve as a pastor/minister restoration and renewal center. Why this project, and why now? Because a large number of pastors and the churches that they serve are in trouble. I routinely get calls asking if I know of a facility that helps pastors and other ministers who are burned out, have fallen into sin, or have a myriad of issues and need a place to heal and be restored.
Pastor burnout has been rising, and the local church now faces the challenge of a pastor shortage. In a recent interview with Dr. Michael Cloer of the Cape Fear Network of Churches, he stated that 20% of churches in one southern state are without a pastor. He also said that 469 Baptist pulpits in North Carolina are empty. Our pastors, their families, and churches are struggling, and CCS wants to help. I will share more about our dream for The Shepherd's House in our following newsletter. Until then, if you would like to support The Shepherd's House, you can do so on our giving page using the dropdown box.
Pastor burnout has been rising, and the local church now faces the challenge of a pastor shortage. In a recent interview with Dr. Michael Cloer of the Cape Fear Network of Churches, he stated that 20% of churches in one southern state are without a pastor. He also said that 469 Baptist pulpits in North Carolina are empty. Our pastors, their families, and churches are struggling, and CCS wants to help. I will share more about our dream for The Shepherd's House in our following newsletter. Until then, if you would like to support The Shepherd's House, you can do so on our giving page using the dropdown box.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:8-9 (ESV)
Spring 2023
rest for the weary pastor
In April 2023 Christ-Centered Solutions partnered with MIND Impact and The Cape Fear Network of Baptist Churches to host our first "Rest For The Weary Pastor" luncheon in Wrightsville Beach, NC. Approximately 30 people attended, both pastors and wives. Dr. Melissa Milanak was our guest speaker, and she addressed not only the importance of rest but several other topics. Plans for another "Rest For The Weary Pastor" are in the works for the fall of 2023 and will be held in Charleston, SC. To learn more about Dr. Milanak and MIND Impact, please use the link below.
I STILL DO
In May 2023, Dr. West and Teresa traveled to Union Baptist Church in Union, Kentucky, to lead the "I Still Do" Marriage Conference. Rev. Mark Webb and his wife, Kristy, hosted the Wests. The conference is based on Dr. West's book, "Marriage and Family From A Biblical Worldview," and Dr. Gary Chapman's book, "The 4 Seasons Of Marriage." To learn more about having Dr. West and Teresa come and lead this conference at your church, please use the link below.
grief support group
In February and March 2023, Dr. West began a grief support group for a local Wilmington church. His work with this group was based on his conference, "Providing Soul Care to The Grieving: Understanding Loss and Suffering." Please use the link below to learn more about the grieving conference.