Trinidad Team checks in

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

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

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

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!

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”

“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

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

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!

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

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.