CTI News

This blog has moved to ctimusic.org

2010-04-06T10:41:00.000-05:00

Hello friends of CTI Music Ministries!

With the recent launch of our new website, we've moved our news blog back to ctimusic.org. Stop by and check it out! You won't be able to comment directly on the posts at the CTI site, but they will also cross-post to our facebook page, and we encourage your comments on them there.

Thanks!

A Mother's Thank You:

2010-01-28T14:25:00.004-06:00

From Colin's mother: (one of last year's fulltimers)

I just want to let you know what a fantastic time we had here this weekend with the group! Their presentations Sunday were led by the Spirit, and those young people shone for the Lord!

Host families have nothing but amazing things to say about them.....

Something unexpected happened to our family specifically, I want you to know about:

We knew what Colin was a part of last year, sure. And we appreciated it and were proud of him.

But, only after having the opportunity to see/hear another group without Colin were we able to truly appreciate the awesome ministry our son was a part of. It was so much easier for us to see what he did in other churches, etc when another team ministered to our church.
We found ourselves in tears, thanking God for what Colin was a part of....a year later!

So, anyway....if either team needs housing as they travel thru the country this year, please don't hesitate to give me a call!

Thank you all for obeying the Lord and sending these groups out. :-) ( and please hug our girls, Rachelle and Leslie for us when you next see them)

Thank You From a Ministry Partner

2010-01-19T13:30:00.002-06:00

From Rockford Rescue Mission, one of our stateside ministry partners:

Dear Brothers and Sisters at CTI,

When your group was here on Jan. 8^th, our Executive Director happened to overhear them practicing from her office upstairs. She inquired of me who this group was – she just knew they were different. After I informed her, she wanted to be sure we sent our big

THANK YOU!

Your ministry was a real blessing to us as you lifted up His Name and character in righteousness.

New CTI Album - "Stepping Forward"

2010-01-14T09:16:00.005-06:00

Production on a new CTI album "Stepping Forward" is progressing quickly. It's exciting to watch as the album take shape.

It is our hope and prayer that this album will be more than a collection of music, but rather yet another avenue for our fulltime teams to encourage the church, challenge Christians to loving action, and share the hope of Christ with those who may not know him.

Stay tuned to our Facebook page for more information and samples of tracks as they are completed.

The CD is available for pre-order off the CTI website, and should ship sometime in mid-February

14:22 Reports Safe Arrival in Taiwan!

2009-10-08T09:17:00.001-05:00

The following is from 14:22's team blog...

Hey friends, family, and supporters!

Team 14:22 has made is safely to Danshui, in Taipei County, Taiwan! We're 13 hours ahead of Minnesota here, so we've had a little bit of adjusting to do, but we're all excited to be here and excited to be representing CTI in this amazing country! After 36 hours of travel, lots of time in airports, amazing food (potstickers and Bubble Tea, yum!), and a great apartment to stay in, we are starting to feel rested and prepared to play concerts here and build relationships with the people of Taiwan. Please pray for us as we continue to get settled here, please pray for our health (a number of us are sick, myself included!), and pray that we can be servants for God and share His love with everyone we encounter here in Taiwan.

With love on behalf of 14:22,
Lesley.

Team 14:21 Reports Safe Arrival in Honduras!

2009-10-05T21:43:00.001-05:00

Team leader, Carrie VanderHorst, called this evening to report the team's safe arrival in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. The team met up with Mauricio (YFC National Director) and have settled in at the YFC base.

Their equipment made it safely and there were no hiccups in their travels at all!

The team will be splitting their time in Honduras between San Pedro Sula and a camp that the YFC has built in the Copan region of Honduras.

They are excited to play their first concert tomorrow morning!

Check back in the coming weeks for updates from the field!

Team Serbia checks in!

2009-07-22T15:50:00.001-05:00

The Serbia team checked in safely this afternoon! They are on their
way to Belgrade! We will post an update when we have word of their
safe arrival in Serbia!

Guatemala team checks in

2009-07-22T13:01:00.001-05:00

The Guatemala team had a very smooth checkin and they're making their way through security now. We'll post an update once we receive word of their arrival in Guatemala.

Round 2 teams arrive for training

2009-07-07T21:20:00.000-05:00

Tonight was orientation for our Guatemala and Serbia ministry teams. They will begin their two weeks of training tomorrow morning.

The comming weeks are the pinnacle of our ministry cycle - we've got two teams in training, two teams on the field, and two teams making final preparations at home to join us in 5 weeks for their upcomming fulltime year. Please join us in thanking God for these young people and praying for them!

Honduras team to continue ministry

2009-06-29T09:22:00.002-05:00

The CTI office has been monitoring the political situation in Honduras closely since last Thursday when it became evident that something significant would happen within the government there by Sunday. We spoke with the team leader several times on Thursday in advance of their departure to neighboring El Salvador (a ministry trip that had been planned since before the current events surfaced) and have been in touch with them throughout the weekend as well.

Team Leader Laura Schuh has informed us: "so far there's been no violence, and we are completely safe. We have been nowhere near the capitol city where all the protests are, and we're not going to be anywhere near it when we go back." We have also been in touch with our ministry partners in Honduras who are confident that there is no danger to our team, but are exercising additional measures of caution to ensure their safety.

Today (Monday) the intention is for the team to return to Honduras and continue their ministry as planned at a YFC camp in the Western state of Copan. The team has been registered with the US Embassy in Honduras, who is aware of their presence and their itinerary and is able to contact them should the need arise.

As of this writing, the U.S. State Department has not issued any travel watches or warnings for Honduras. The US Embassy in the Honduran capitol of Tegucigalpa did release a public announcement advising US citizens residing in Honduras to avoid unneccesary travel for the day. The notice also asserts that "Honduras’ borders remain open, and the airports remain open for regularly scheduled flights."

As of right now, we intend to continue our ministry in Honduras as planned while remaining informed of the situation there through multiple sources. You can read the team's personal updates on our website at ctimusic.org.

Team Honduras Reports Safe Arrival in Honduras

2009-06-17T13:00:00.001-05:00

Team Leader Laura Schuh called this afternoon from Honduras to report the team's safe arrival in San Pedro Sula!

Everyone is safe and all of their equipment made it safely as well.

They have their first concert this evening and are looking forward to their month of ministry with the Honduras YFC staff.

Check back throughout the month for updates that the team leaders will send as time and means allow.

Team Hong Kong Reports Safe Arrival

2009-06-17T09:48:00.002-05:00

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Sara (team leader) called CTI's office this morning to report Team Hong Kong's safe arrival! They, and their equipment, all made it safely and they have already met up with the YFC staff.

They enjoyed their first meal in Hong Kong very much and are anxious to get to work.

They'll update when time and means allow, but it sounds as though things are off to a great start!

Team Honduras checks in!

2009-06-16T18:40:00.000-05:00

Following Hong Kong's lead, team Honduras also checked in smoothly this morning. Look for a blog update shortly.

Team Hong Kong Checks In!

2009-06-16T06:56:00.001-05:00

Team Hong Kong had a safe and smooth check-in this morning at the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport. Be sure to follow their team blog for more updates on their tour!

Round 1 teams sendoff concert

2009-06-14T20:31:00.002-05:00

Fulltime final concert

2009-06-07T19:18:00.002-05:00

Our two fulltime teams closed out their year tonight in a final concert here in Willmar. What an amazing year it's been! Look for our next two fulltime teams to arrive in August!

Summer minsitry begins

2009-06-01T20:26:00.000-05:00

Our round 1 team members will arrive tomorrow to start training for their upcomming partnerships with YFC in Hong Kong and Honduras!

Check out their blogs on ctimusic.org to read their ministry reports throughout training and from the field.

Support our summer project!

2009-02-23T16:19:00.002-06:00

Funding the combined cost of our summer opportunities for 2009 will require us to raise an additional $14,107.

We invite you to learn more about our 5 summer partnerships for 2009, and to contribute to our 2009 Summer Ministry Project fund.

Summer, 2009 plans

2009-02-06T15:05:00.005-06:00

CTI announces confirmation of all of our summer partnerships for 2009:

Round 1: (training June 2-15, overseas June 16 - July 14)

YFC Hong Kong

YFC Honduras

YWAM Taiwan

Round 2: (training July 7-21, overseas July 22 - August 17)

YFC Guatemala

YFC Serbia

Our target is to mobilize 55 young people on these teams in addition to leadership (5 teams with 11 members and 2 leaders on each team.)

CTI's summer ministry is one of the key ways we seek to support global missions and ministry through the impact of music while developing Christian leadership and character in young musicians. Please pray along with us for these five ministry partners, these 55 team members, and these 10 leaders: that those to whom we come might be changed because of our coming, and that those who go might be changed because of their going.

Team 1421 arrives home safely!

2008-10-23T12:48:00.001-05:00

Team 1421 arrived home safely today with al of their equipment! Check their blog soon for updates on their trip!

Team 1422 arrives home!

2008-10-22T10:28:00.001-05:00

Team 1422 arrived home safely! Their gear made it safe and sound as well!

CTI announces departure of President David Lanning

2008-10-02T16:57:00.000-05:00

After serving as CTI's president for the past 5 years, David Lanning will be leaving CTI's staff at the end of October, 2008 in order to pursue other opportunities. Longstanding CTI board member Bruce Marcus will assume the role of interim president while the Board of Directors and staff work on a long-range reorganization of CTI’s administrative structure.

Further information is available at www.ctimusic.org.

1422 reports safe arrival in the Philippines

2008-10-02T10:09:00.003-05:00

Nate called this morning to pass along word of the team's safe arrival in Cagayan de Oro in the Philippines. They have met the DeCleene family and are getting settled in. Check their blog in the comming weeks for updates on their ministry there!

Team 1422 departs!

2008-09-30T09:10:00.001-05:00

The members of Team 1422 have checked in safely and are on their way to the Philippines! Check back soon for updates on their trip!

Team 14:21 Reports Safe Arrival

2008-09-28T22:55:00.002-05:00

Team Leader Laura Schuh called this evening to report the team's safe arrival and connection with the YWAM staff in Taipei. The team encountered several delays (mostly due to weather) but their equipment made it safe and sound with them as well.

They are looking forward to a month of ministry with YWAM. Be sure to check out their blog for updates throughout their month overseas.

Team 1421 departs!

2008-09-26T17:20:00.001-05:00

Team 1421 is safely checked in and on their way to Taiwan. Check their blog for updates about their ministry with YWAM Taipei.

Overseas locations for fall 2008 ministry

2008-09-03T16:40:00.002-05:00

We're pleased to announce that our fulltime teams have been invited to minister in Taiwan and the Philippines this fall.

Both teams will leave at the end of September - 1421 to Taiwan to work with YWAM there, and 1422 to the Philippines to work with several missions agencies and churches under a coordinated effort by a radio ministry operating out of Cagayan de Oro. They'll return to the US in late October to resume their stateside touring.

The teams will have more details to share about their upcoming work, so be sure to check their blogs!

Celebrating another great summer!

2008-08-23T12:38:00.007-05:00

Our round 2 teams have returned to the US, finished their debriefing with us and headed back to their respective homes. We want to thank all our 2008 summer team members for being a part of this experience and welcome them into the community of CTI alumni!

Round 2 teams return and give final concert

2008-08-19T19:16:00.001-05:00

Fulltime 0809 kicks off

2008-08-15T17:52:00.001-05:00

Tonight marks the start of our 2008-2009 fulltime season as our team members arrive from all over the US (and Canada) for their orientation picnic tonight. Check the site in a few weeks for information on the new fulltime teams!

Singapore team reports arrival

2008-07-24T20:42:00.001-05:00

Team leader Laura Schuh called to let us know that the team arrived safely (and along with all their gear!) in Singapore. She'll send more details once the team gets their feet under them again.

Singapore departs

2008-07-23T14:02:00.001-05:00

The Singapore team has also cleared security at Minneapolis and is on the way. We don't expect to hear from them for a while as they have no domestic layovers.

Guatemala takes off; Bolivia lands

2008-07-23T11:15:00.001-05:00

Our Guatemala team is on their way after a smooth checkin. Meanwhile, our Bolivia team has arrived in La Paz after experiencing some delays in Miami. The resulting connection time in Lima was adequate for the team, but apparently not for their gear. They expect to be re-united with it tomorrow.

Bolivia team checkin

2008-07-22T06:09:00.001-05:00

Our Bolivia team is chexcked in and on their way! We'll post news of their arrival as soon as we learn of it. Our Guatemala and Singapore teams fly out tomorrow.

All round 1 teams home

2008-07-16T08:28:00.001-05:00

As of 5:00 this morning, all three round 1 teams are safely back in Willmar. They will spend the day debriefing before giving a final concert this evening and heading home tomorrow.

Taiwan team home safely

2008-07-15T23:35:00.001-05:00

Team Taiwan is safely "home" in Willmar. They will spend tomorrow debriefing their trip. Check back for updates on the other teams shortly.

All round 1 teams back in the US

2008-07-15T13:15:00.001-05:00

All of our round 1 teams have checked in from their first domestic layovers. There are some delays affecting the Honduras team, but Trinidad and Taiwan appear to be running on schedule at this point

Taiwan team on the ground

2008-07-15T10:35:00.001-05:00

Team Taiwan has landed in Detroit. They will be continuing on to MSP after clearing customs and immigration.

Round one teams return

2008-07-15T10:28:00.001-05:00

Our three round one teams are scheduled to return today. Check back for updates on their progress.

TORNADO UPDATE: EVERYONE IS SAFE

2008-07-12T10:57:00.004-05:00

Some of you have heard about the tornado that came through Willmar last night. We wanted to let everyone know that all of us at CTI - the team members, the staff, the host homes, the training facilities... everyone is safe.

The tornado passed about one or two miles south of the ministry building. If you're familiar with the area, it crossed Hwy 71 just south of the AG church and did some significant damage to some homes and businesses there. No lives were lost, and there were two injuries.

Training for our round 2 summer teams (at First Baptist Church) was underway at the time, and continues as normal today.

We thank everyone for their concern!

Round 2 begins

2008-07-08T21:23:00.002-05:00

All 29 members of our three round 2 teams (Singapore, Guatemala and Bolivia) arrived tonight for their orientation picnic here in Willmar. Round 2 training starts in earnest tomorrow morning. Check their individual pages for updates throughout training and their tours.

Note: We ask the team leaders to update us once a week when possible. Though some teams are able to update more frequently, many teams are not able to access the internet as often, and updates may be more irregular. We appreciate your understanding about this.

All teams on the ground, and safe & sound!

2008-06-19T17:40:00.002-05:00

With word arriving today from Honduras, we've now had contact with all three teams. Travel went well for all of them, and they're a day or two into their ministry abroad. Check their individual pages for updates, which we expect about once a week.

Taiwan team checks in

2008-06-17T10:28:00.003-05:00

Our third and final Round 1 team has successfully cleared check-in at Minneapolis and is on their way! We'll post news of their safe arrival here when we learn of it.

Honduras team checks in

2008-06-17T08:20:00.001-05:00

The Honduras team also had a smooth check-in at the airport this morning and is on the way! Next up: Taiwan!

Trinidad Team checks in

2008-06-17T06:22:00.001-05:00

Our Trinidad team had a smooth check-in this morning and is on their way! The Taiwan team is on the road to the airport, and the Honduras team will depart the hotel for the airport shortly. Praise God for smooth operations so far!

All 2008 summer ministry locations finalized

2008-05-07T11:30:00.003-05:00

We've now confirmed our final two ministry partners for this summer! We'll be making a return to Honduras to continue working with our longstanding partners in YFC there. We'll also be sending a team to Trinidad to forge a new partnership with YFC!

The nation of Trinidad is officially known as "Trinidad and Tobego." These are two separate islands that comprise one nation (lest anyone hear "Trinidad and Tobego" and think they are two separate countries.) The country lies at the extreme southern end of the Caribbean island chain - the main island of Trinidad is about 20 miles off the coast of Venezuela.

One of YFC's primary means of ministry in Trinidad is through "day camps." Our team will be involved in publicizing these camps through nighttime concerts for kids (ages 5-18) designed to increase awareness of and interest in attending the camps.. There are also plans for ministry in schools as well as street and "community center" ministry. It will be an exciting adventure for our team to explore ways to help YFC share the Gospel there!

CTI announces summer '08 locations

2008-04-02T15:23:00.002-05:00

As of today, we've confirmed our fourth ministry location for this summer.

Confirmed so far are round 1 teams to Taiwan (working with YWAM) and round 2 teams to Bolivia, Guatemala and Singapore (all working with YFC.)

We're still working with other partners to confirm two additional round 1 teams. Look for those locations to be posted here when they're confirmed!

Ironman athletes raising critical funds for CTI

2008-03-28T10:42:00.003-05:00

When Willmar natives and Derrick and Jacob Cruze step up to the starting line at Ironman Coeur d’Alene on June 22^nd, (2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run) they won’t be competing just for themselves. They’ll also be raising funds for local nonprofit CTI Music Ministries (Carpenter’s Tools International).

The Cruze brothers are fundraising as a part of the Janus Charity Challenge, an innovative program designed and sponsored by the investment management firm, Janus. The program acts as a catalyst to motivate Ironman athletes to use the race to raise money for charity. But unlike most other race fundraisers, there is no pre-determined beneficiary. Each athlete can select the nonprofit organization they wish to support. Since the program’s inception in 2001, triathletes have raised over $18 million for hundreds of charities throughout the United States.

“Janus is proud to continue to offer this exceptional program because it engages more people in meeting the critical needs of their communities. The incredible commitment of athletes like Derrick and Jacob Cruze is a true testament to the caliber of Ironman athletes, and only helps to drive more awareness and support for vital nonprofit organizations throughout the country.” said Janus corporate sponsorship director, Casey Cortese. To inspire athletes to participate, Janus makes additional contributions to the beneficiaries of the top fundraisers at each of the full distance U.S. Ironman races.

CTI Music Ministries provides established youth ministries with the engaging resource of a relevant music team for evangelism to the non-believer, discipleship for the growing Christian, and encouragement to the Body of Christ. CTI’s team environment provides Christian musicians in transition to young adulthood a living training ground to develop their gifts in the global missions workforce while providing life-skills training and promoting spiritual formation in their own lives. Derrick & Jacob attend the home church of several of CTI’s permanent staff. After a presentation last year, the Cruze brothers felt called to support the work of CTI in a direct way. Not being musicians, they are lending their athletic ability to help fulfill the mission of CTI through supporting its operations.

The Cruze brothers are putting out a call to our community to join their fundraising efforts. To make a contribution, go to www.januscharitychallenge.com and click on "How to Donate".

Ironman Coeur d’Alene will be held in the mountain forestry of Idaho’s beautiful panhandle on June 22^nd. In the months leading up to the race, you can view Derrick and Jacob’s training and fundraising updates online by visiting their blog at ironmanderrickjacob.blogspot.com/. You can track their progress on race day live on www.ironmanlive.com.

CTI releases new studio album!

2008-01-31T17:28:00.001-06:00

We're proud to announce the release of Speak Without Sound, our new studio album for 2008!

Featuring members of our 2007 - 2008 fulltime ministry teams, Speak Without Sound is a concept album that we hope will take each listener on a journey, encouraging them as they seek the God that we serve and the life that He calls us to live.

We know it's kind of an odd title for an album (especially for one produced by a ministry that seeks to use music as a primary way to communicate our message!) But we also recognize that music simply provides us with an entryway into worlds that we would not have an opportunity to interact with otherwise. But it only opens the door. On the other side, our very lives must speak without sound if our message is to be understood and believed, for we know our words will be void if the fruit of Christ-likeness is not evident in us.

What opens the door for you?

The song from which the title is drawn goes on to proclaim "Your love is so loud!" How amazing and true it is that something as intangible as love is demonstrated most clearly in ways that speak louder than any message we can communicate audibly!

At CTI, we recognize that our greatest ministry takes place beyond the music, in the moments when we speak not through microphones, but through who we, as individuals, are striving to be. And that's a ministry opportunity that is available to everyone.

Saint Francis of Assisi admonished those under his charge to "preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words." We hope you'll join us in discovering the ways that we are all called to speak without sound.

You can preview or order the CD online by visiting CTImusic.org

CTI launches annual campaign “Beyond the Music”

2007-10-30T18:59:00.000-05:00

“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.

Fulltime teams overseas

2007-10-04T10:05:00.000-05:00

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.

Fulltime ministry for '07 - '08 begins

2007-08-17T14:16:00.000-05:00

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.

Mexico lands; Taiwan takes off!

2007-07-26T09:19:00.000-05:00

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.

Mexico and Guatemala checked in

2007-07-25T11:37:00.000-05:00

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.

All round 1 teams safely home

2007-07-21T11:53:00.001-05:00

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!

Round 1 teams travel update

2007-07-17T23:38:00.000-05:00

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.

Round 2 training

2007-07-13T10:31:00.000-05:00

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!

Saint Vincent team arrives

2007-06-22T09:54:00.000-05:00

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.

Singapore reports safe arrival

2007-06-20T11:37:00.000-05:00

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

2007-06-20T05:46:00.000-05:00

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.

Honduras and Singapore teams checked in

2007-06-19T11:36:00.000-05:00

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.

Summer teams in training!

2007-06-08T16:34:00.000-05:00

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.

Fulltime Final Concert June 10

2007-05-24T12:23:00.000-05:00

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.

Announcing 2007 Summer ministry plans!

2007-05-07T18:27:00.001-05:00

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.

CTI establishes "World Partners" regular giving program

2007-04-27T14:31:00.000-05:00

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.

New CTI videos

2006-11-22T20:37:00.000-06:00

Check out two new videos posted in the video section of our website! The first is a video review of our ministry in '05-'06, and the second features YFC national directors speaking on the value of hosting a CTI team.

We've also just begun hosting our videos with YouTube, so hoepfully that will make for a better online viewing experience. Enjoy!

Teams report safe arrivals overseas

2006-11-17T13:31:00.000-06:00

We've heard from both teams this morning via e-mail, and all is well!
Please pray for 1422 in Taiwan as they adjust to a 13-hour time difference (!) and for 1421 in Bolivia, which, though only two hours ahead of Minnesota, required about 24 total hours of travel to reach. Also, the capitol city of La Paz is at 12,000 feet in elevation, so pray that the team is able to rest and overcome the altitude sickness and weariness that accompanies it.

Teams depart for international ministry

2006-11-16T16:02:00.000-06:00

Both of our fulltime teams departed Minneapolis this morning for a month of international ministry in Asia and South America.

14:22 will be spending four weeks helping Youth With a Mission (YWAM) spread the Gospel through school appearances, street shows and relational "coffee-house" ministry in Danshui (Taipei), Taiwan.

14:21 will spend the month partnering with the Youth for Christ International (YFCI) charter in Bolivia as they seek to expand their evangelism and discipleship efforts in the capitol city of La Paz, and and increase YFC exposure in the cities of Cochabamba and Oruro.

As always, we value your prayers for CTI and our ministry partners worldwide as we mobilize these 14 "musicianaries" into this next component of their year on the field with us.

Fall Newsletter and President's Update online

2006-11-01T16:33:00.000-06:00

Our fall newsletter has just been mailed out. You can read it online in the news section of our website. If you'd like to receive our newsletters when we print them, you can subscribe to them here.

Every two months, David Lanning (our president) personally composes and sends out an e-mail update as well to people who have specifically requested to receive it. David's current e-mail update can also be read online. If you would like to be added to our e-mail update list, fill out our quick onlinesubscription form.

CTI announces Fall 06 international ministry locations

2006-10-13T03:20:00.000-05:00

We have just this week formalized plans to send our two fulltime teams to minister internationally this fall.

14:21 will be working with Youth for Christ (YFC) in Bolivia through school presentations, open air plaza evangelism, helping some local Bolivian worship bands develop their abilities as "lead worshipers" and possibly opening for a few other bands in concert settings. The team will be working in the capitol city of La Paz as well as the outlying cities of Oruro and Cochabamba- places where YFC either has a presence and wishes to increase their exposure, or desires to break new ground.

14:22 will be continuing our recently developed partnership with Youth With a Mission (YWAM) in Taipei, Taiwan- a strategic partnership involving both a commitment to the lost and a passion to see young people released into ministry. This will be the third CTI team to join the YWAM mission in the region.

Both teams will depart from Minnesota on November 16 and will return on December 13th. Please pray for our teams and our partners as they prepare for these month-long outreaches!

Support CTI by registering for Urbana!

2006-10-12T00:02:00.000-05:00

If you're thinking about going to Urbana, but you haven't registered yet, you can do that through our website and support CTI at the same time! For every registration processed through our site, InterVarsity will send us $20! How cool is that? Just click the Urbana logo on CTImusic.org when you're ready to register.

See you there!

Join us at Urbana!

2006-10-11T23:50:00.000-05:00

Planning on going to InterVarsity's Urbana Missions Conference? We'll be there! Stop by and say "hi" to some of the staff and team members at our booth (they won't bite, we promise!) We'd love to meet you!

Off and running...

2006-09-23T09:59:00.000-05:00

...and coming to a town near you! Our two fulltime teams departed today for their 7-week fall domestic tours. Their travels between now and mid-November will take them as far west as Seattle, and as far east as New York. They'll be visiting many states in between, and 1421's fall tour will include a week in Ontario as well.

Tour schedules for each team can be found on their CTI update page- just click here and then select the team whose schedule you want to view. You can also view promo pictures and team member bios from their CTI update pages.

New this year: Each fulltime team also has a blog that you are invited to participate in! Read their updates and add comments of your own! Blogs are accessed through each team's update page

New headlines posting service

2006-09-11T21:31:00.000-05:00

You can now add CTI headlines to your news reader! We've just rolled out a new method for delivering news which includes a syndicated feed. Click the headline to learn more.

Now when you click a headline in the news window on CTImusic.org, you'll be taken to our offsite news page on blogger. Using this method lets us post more news more quickly, and get it all out to more people more efficiently!

If you use an RSS aggregator or news reader, you can add this feed and see updated CTI headlines without ever having to visit the site directly. We hope you'll take advantage of this new service!