Tuesday, October 30, 2007

CTI launches annual campaign “Beyond the Music”

“Beyond the Music lies the true passion of Christ. It’s a message of God’s love for a world that has gone astray. Music draws a young Christian to express his soul. Music entices a young listener to consider truth in a disarming way. CTI connects these young people with one another, and they are changed in God’s presence. This is what we do. This is CTI Music Ministries.”

As CTI embarks on another fiscal year, we are taking a systematic approach to meeting our budget. 55% of our budget is raised by participating music missionaries. The remaining 45% is given by families, individuals and private businesses so we can make CTI participation as accessible as possible for young musicians. The annual campaign is the cornerstone of this remaining fundraising needed to meet our operational budget.

Our goal is 100% participation of CTI friends and supporters to raise $120,000 to help sustain the ministry. Every gift is meaningful and significant regardless of its size. Please join us in going “Beyond the Music”, and consider your part in supporting us financially. To learn more, visit CTImusic.org and click the downloadable brochure. You can also give a donation by clicking the “Beyond the Music” link on the homepage.

Thursday, October 04, 2007

Fulltime teams overseas

Our fulltime teams have entered the international phase of their ministry this week. 14:21 reported their safe arrival in Singapore this AM via phone while 1422 checked in from the ground in Hong Kong via e-mail. Both teams will be spending a month abroad working with the YFC charter in their respective countries.

Check each team's blog for more specific updates.

Friday, August 17, 2007

Fulltime ministry for '07 - '08 begins

Today marks the start of a new year for our fulltime program as the members of our 2007-2008 year-long ministry teams gather in Willmar tonight to meet each other at our orientation picnic. They'll start their training in earnest next week.

Look for pictures and bios to be posted on our website over the next 2-3 weeks, and be sure to check out their blogs for news from the road as they begin touring in late September.

Thursday, July 26, 2007

Mexico lands; Taiwan takes off!

The Taiwan team had a safe and complete check-in last night and is underway. They are scheduled to arrive at 6:25am Taipei time on Friday morning - that'll be 5:25 Thursday evening U.S. Central time.

Meanwhile, the Mexico team has reported their safe arrival in Chapala. They hit the ground running last night as they set up and led a time of worship for "Kings Kids" - a YWAM program meeting on the base where they will stay for the month.

Wednesday, July 25, 2007

Mexico and Guatemala checked in

The Mexico team checked in very early this morning and has already reported their on-time connection in Dallas for the last leg of their journey into Guadalajara. Look for contact from them soon on their update page.

The Guatemala team left Willmar very early this AM and has successfully checked through with all of their equipment at MSP. They have a scheduled connection in Dallas.

Our Taiwan team will be checking in this evening.

Saturday, July 21, 2007

All round 1 teams safely home

All three of our round 1 teams did make it safely back to the States this week.

Singapore returned as planned and on schedule, spent the night in a hotel in Minneapolis, and was able to attend debriefing day activities in Willmar on Wednesday.

St. Vincent was next to arrive. The team was delayed by a day due to some schedule problems with the airlines. They arrive mid-afternoon on Wednesday. Much of their written debriefing work had been sent ahead for them to do while they were delayed in Puerto Rico, and we had a great time of oral debriefing during the van ride back to Willmar from Minneapolis. The team was still able to give their final concert.

The Honduras team was delayed outside of San Pedro Sula. As a result, their departure itinerary was bumped by an entire day. Accordingly, they didn't land in the US until after 10 pm on the night of debriefing day (meaning they missed it.) Like the St. Vincent team, the Honduras team completed their written debriefing while delayed in San Pedro Sula. We held our oral debriefing at their hotel in the cities. About half of them departed from Minneapolis the next morning while the other half returned to Willmar to meet family and friends, etc.

All the team members have safely departed Willmar for their individual homes now. Thanks, team members, for giving of your time over the last 6 weeks!

Sorry for the delay in posting this news- it's been a busy week!

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

Round 1 teams travel update

Here's an update on the return travels of teams SINGAPORE, HONDURAS and ST. VINCENT:

The SINGAPORE team (which traveled the farthest) wins the award for making it back to the States first! They're all here and safe, staying in a hotel in Minneapolis tonight and will return to Willmar on Wednesday.

Our ST. VINCENT team encountered some delays with the airlines and missed their connecting flight out of Puerto Rico (wait, didn't this happen on the way down?? (yes) ). They'll spend the night there and will fly on to Minneapolis on Wednesday (half of them through Chicago, half through Dallas.) They should all arrive in Minneapolis by 5 or so - we hope to have them back in Willmar by 8:00. They'll miss the public Q&A but are working through some closure materials now in Puerto Rico. Hopefully they'll be able to get up on stage and still give their final concert back in Willmar.

The HONDURAS team ran into some transportation difficulties on the ground and was unable to make it to the airport on time. The airline is accommodating them however and they're all set to fly home tomorrow. Unfortunately, they'll miss the public debriefing activities. Please pray for them as we'll be bringing closure to their time during their short stay at the hotel in Minneapolis before they head home on Thursday.

Friday, July 13, 2007

Round 2 training

Members of our three "round 2" summer teams arrived this week and began training for their outreaches with our YFC partners in Guatemala and our YWAM partners in Mexico and Taiwan.

Check out their pages in our "Summer 2007" section for updates and pictures, and please pray for them! The teams depart on July 25.

Our round 1 teams will be returning next week! Check out info on their debriefing concert by going to the summer page- come out if you're local!

Friday, June 22, 2007

Saint Vincent team arrives

Computer difficulties at United Airlines kept the team from reaching their final destination on time, but they have finally made it, according to an e-mail from YFC this morning.

The team spend the night on Wednesday in San Juan, Puerto Rico because delays kept them from making their connection to St. Vincent. United took care of them, however, and they made it to St. Vincent the next evening.

Much of their equipment has been delayed, which was expected, so YFC is helping to secure some other gear for them until theirs shows up. They are hopeful that the next few flights from San Juan will bring everything over.

Wednesday, June 20, 2007

Singapore reports safe arrival

A call from Carolyn at 11:30am Central time informs us that the Singapore team has touched down safely and met their contacts. They need to chase down one piece of missing equipment, but otherwise all is well!

St. Vincent departs

The Saint Vincent team has successfully checked in and cleared security for the first flight on their three-leg journey to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. We'll post information on their progress as we're made aware.

Tuesday, June 19, 2007

Honduras and Singapore teams checked in

The Honduras team checked in very early this morning without a hitch! Team leader Willie Moon has called to let us know that the team has made it safely to Houston, where they will board the second and last leg of their journey to San Pedro Sula.

Later in the morning, the Singapore team also successfully checked in. Team Leader Carolyn Ballinger has called from Chicago to report that they have made their connection there as well, which means they've managed to avoid the weather delays that have impacted many flights through Chicago.

Praise God that these two teams are underway! The Saint Vincent team will be heading to a hotel near the airport tonight as they have an early checkin tomorrow.

Friday, June 08, 2007

Summer teams in training!

Members of our three "round 1" summer teams arrived this week and began training for their outreaches with our YFC partners in Singapore, Honduras and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Check out their pages in our "Summer 2007" section for updates and pictures, and please pray for them! The teams depart on June 19.

Our round 2 teams will arrive to begin their training shortly thereafter on July 10! Check back for their updates after that time.

Thursday, May 24, 2007

Fulltime Final Concert June 10

Our 2006-2007 fulltime teams will give their final concerts in a joint presentation at First Baptist Church in Willmar, MN on June 10 at 7:00 pm. All are welcome to attend this time of celebration of their ministry journey over the last 9 months.

Monday, May 07, 2007

Announcing 2007 Summer ministry plans!

We're excited to be able to publicly announce our ministry plans for this summer!

We'll be mobilizing 6 summer teams this year who will work with Youth for Christ partners in Guatemala, Honduras, Singapore and St. Vincent & the Grenadines, and YWAM partners in Mexico and Taiwan.

Our first three teams (Round 1: Honduras, Singapore, St. Vinvent) will begin their training in Willmar on June 5th and depart for their overseas locations on June 18th. They will return to the U.S. and host their public debriefing concerts in Willmar on July 17.

Our second three teams (Round 2: Guatemala, Mexico, Taiwan) will begin their training in Willmar on July 10 and depart for their overseas locations on July 25. They will return to the U.S. and host their public debriefing concerts in Willmar on August 21.

Please join us in prayer for these team members and the outreaches they'll be a part of. We'll be posting more details about the debriefing concerts on our website closer to the actual date.

Friday, April 27, 2007

CTI establishes "World Partners" regular giving program

Interested in helping to sustain CTI's international music ministry? Interested in investing in the lives of young Christian musicians? CTI Music Ministries is pleased to offer a brand new monthly giving program, "World Partners".

Our World Partners help give us the financial stability we need to continue our mission in a world of rising costs. They invest in the spiritual formation of young Christian musicians who will impact the world for Christ for many years to come. We desire for this group of givers to grow into a community of closely connected prayer partners centered around CTI's mission.

World Partners enjoy a front seat to the mission of CTI through monthly ministry updates included with giving reminders or statements. They can be confident that their hard earned money is being put to good use because each ministry update will outline how their "World Partner" gifts are making a difference through God’s work in CTI.

Enrolling in World Partners is easy now that online giving is in place! Yes, that’s right, we now offer easy and secure online giving for those who want to contribute regularly as a World Partner or give a one time gift to the ministry.

To become a World Partner, visit www.ctimusic.org or email CTI's development director, JoeVanderArk, at joe@ctimusic.org. He’ll be happy to answer your questions regarding World Partners or other giving inquiries.