The Good News in Cleveland

Pray for middle schoolers and high schoolers at Camp Patmos this week. 11 teens from CityView are there plus 4 serving at the camp this summer from our church. This would not be possible without those who gave money to scholarship our teens. I have a personal relationship with each of the teens we took, but I couldn’t say with confidence that a single one has a relationship with God. This is not a secret I keep from them. I post now in the hopes of someday reporting on decisions made this week. How awesome it would be for any of these 11 to someday read this and reflect on the work of the Holy Spirit in their hearts. May the Spirit work in hearts through the camp staff through the gospel preaching of Pastor Dave Burman he speaks. Dave is one through whom God has definitely worked in my life - he was my youth pastor when I was a teen at First Baptist Church in Elyria, Ohio!

So much basketball. Last night we had 16 young men cram into the living room to watch the Cavs. Today it was more hoops in the afternoon and then food and church starting at 6p. I just came in from a late-night showdown. Basketball has become a platform for connecting with people in Cleveland for the cause of Christ; several of these connections have deepened into ongoing relationships. It seems like a week never goes by that someone new isn't hearing the gospel in the Detroit-Shoreway neighborhood. The downtown is still ministry central for CityView. After having our main service in a hotel for around 8 years, we are excited about the possibility of leasing a long-term location. (I am also excited about laying to rest a long-term labor of love: completely setting up and tear-down church before and after every service.) The new spot would feature a storefront presence near Prospect Ave. and E. 9th St. and would be connected to a residential high-rise in which we already have a Bi