Partnering With You

November, 2009 - A New Direction

2009-11-30T14:29:00.009-05:00

What do you do when God says, “Jump"?

Panic?? Sit down?? Close your eyes and leap?? Swing your arms wildly and shout “Cowabunga!” as you get a running start before hurtling yourself as high as you can?

We’ve done all of these and more since the beginning of September, because God has asked us to jump.

For about a year we’ve been sensing that God had some changes in store for us, but after we got the good news that Tom won’t need brain surgery, it was as if “God threw all the doors wide open,” as Tom put it, and cleared away every obstacle for us to walk into a new phase of the journey we are on with Him in ministry.

In our prayer letters you have read about Tom’s involvement with local bands and musicians as he lives out his faith in front of them while playing his drums. You’ve heard us explain the vision and ministry God is giving us with local artists through CreateArt days. You know we’ve been trying to fit in recording Cathy’s music around our regular work hours for a couple of years.

We have been involved in these ministry activities, and (quite honestly) many other opportunities God has been divinely setting up, in addition to our Keynote duties. We are at critical mass as far as the hours in a day go, and God has asked us to JUMP!

So we have begun working with Halcyon Arts, a new department in Artists in Christian Testimony, International, and will be on staff with A.C.T. Int. full time beginning in November 7, 2009.

And now we are asking you to JUMP with us! ACT staff members raise their support just like Campus Crusade staff do with one difference—we will also be able to have a part time job with ACT. Since ACT doesn’t offer health insurance, Tom is looking for a job that will have benefits with a 20-30 hour weekly commitment. BUT WE STILL NEED YOU TO PARTNER WITH US!! If each of you would continue your partnership with us at your current level, and Tom can get a job with health insurance, we will be fully funded at our 1997 pay rate. (You probably remember us mentioning a few times over the last couple of years we’d like to be able to have a raise!) We will also have to continue to look for others to partner with us in order to bring us into a 21st Century pay scale.

We will give you a call in December to share more of what God has done in our lives over the past few months and what we will be doing with Halcyon Arts…
…and to ask you to jump with us.

Some details about you might want to know about our transition…

Halcyon Arts is the newest department of Artists in Christian Testimony, International.

Prayer with our new ACT colleagues.

A.C.T. has been sending artists out into the world to use their gifts as salt and light to bring people to Jesus and influence the culture for 40 years. Byron Spradlin, the founder of A.C.T. International, invited us to join with them, and so Halcyon Arts was born. Our ministry will be here in Indianapolis and allow us to continue, and further develop, the relationships and activities God has placed in our lives the last several years.

What will be the same?

Both of us will work just as hard (in fact, we’ve already been putting in more hours than when we were in the Keynote office) to further the Gospel – the only message of hope and lifechange – in a place that desperately needs it. The art and music worlds are dark places, filled with people who need to hear about Jesus!

We can’t do this without you, our faithful ministry partners!! Prayer is what changes people, and people change culture. You are on the front lines with us. We also need your continued financial support. A.C.T. Int. is 501 (c) (3) organization and a member of the The Mission Exchange (formerly called the Evangelical Fellowship of Mission Agencies –EFMA). All gifts are tax-deductible and will be acknowledged with a receipt.

What will be different??

The most exciting difference for us is that we will be back out in the world, among people who need Jesus!!

Our prayer letters from Keynote have been full of lifechange stories. We trust that God will continue to show us what He’s doing through our ministry, so we can share those with you. Just like going to a very dark country, however, we may not have dramatic stories to share for a while as we build relationships. For one thing, we were sharing about the ministry of 100 staff members while with Keynote. Halcyon Arts has two staff members! For another, Keynote’s ministry was focused on REAPING. We view our primary role as one of SOWING. As our culture moves away from a Christian under-girding, sowing is becoming more and more necessary. As Keynote bands talked about God from stage in 2000 when we first came to Keynote, the audience understood who God is. We have watched that change at a very rapid pace!! Halcyon Arts exists to help change that trend.

Lots to tell

Like we said on the front page, we’ll be calling each one of you to share our vision more fully. And of course, we’ll continue to update you with our monthly prayer letters, adding more information about our new ministry in each edition.

At the end of our last staff meeting with Keynote, everyone gathered around us and prayed, thanking God for calling us into a new season of ministry, and asking Him to continue to lead and provide.

Contact Info
Please change our email addresses since the Keynote ones will be disabled soon.
cathy@howies.org
tomas@howies.org

Our other contact info is still the same:
Tomas and Cathy Howie
310 S. Sunblest Blvd
Fishers, IN 46038
317-578-7053
www.howies.org

Here’s the A.C.T. website url so you can get the bigger picture for who we’ll be working with. www.actinternational.org Halcyon Arts isn’t on the “Departments” page yet, but we will be by January 1st.

Financial Support Info
Campus Crusade for Christ provides us with a severance package (provided there are funds in our account), however, we have already transitioned to A.C.T. and would prefer you switch your giving over to A.C.T. as soon as possible.

We hope you will JUMP with us and join us in ministry with Halcyon Arts. A.C.T. is set-up to handle donations much the same as Campus Crusade. You can contribute by check, electronic fund transfer (EFT), or by credit card. Our letter in November will have all the details, and we can answer any questions you have when we call you.

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January, 2009

2009-01-30T10:53:00.017-05:00

Communicating God’s love through music and the performing arts.

Stories and Healing

Some people are able to fly above the hard circumstances of life with graceful agility that amazes me. Maybe because I have a deeper emotional well than they do, or maybe I just don’t get it yet, crises tend to plummet me into a sinkhole no matter how hard I try to fly. But I’m learning that the quicksand has a solid bottom and is shallow enough to keep my head above the surface.

Life is great right now, which makes it easy to look back on difficult times and see what God was showing me. One (of many!) things is that the “I” in Ps 16:8 is JESUS, not me! (See Acts 2:242-36) So instead of feeling worse about myself and my situation when life is hard because I DO feel shaken, I can collapse on Him, the unshakeable One.

On a sub-zero, snowy night two weeks ago, Tom and I played at a local church coffeehouse where I shared stories illustrating these thoughts and a song based on Psalm 16. The pastor sent us a message the next morning:

“You and your husband continue to be a blessing. There was a woman in the audience who truly needed to hear the message you delivered. It may have been life-changing for her. She desperately needs to know that God is on her side; that she is not facing life alone in her trials.”

As do we all.

Praying for Healing
Many of you know Arthur Heaton, the son of Bill and Judy who lived in the Plattsburgh area several years ago. A couple of weeks ago Arthur was diagnosed with leukemia. Here is a part of Bill’s email:

Pray for a cure; leukemia is a cancer of the bone marrow, so every bit of one's body is affected. Pray for healing inside out. I am marking a map of those praying for him, so that he may see this circle of love, an embrace by the Lord.
Please pray for Arthur, and email Bill so he can put you on Arthur’s prayer map

Bill closed his email with:

Deep inside, this is a privilege to bear, a profound testimony is possible in the coming years.
An Older Woman

Cathy with Lauren, graphics intern, and Kristin, graphics staff— all wearing red :-)

There’s no more denying it. I am an older woman. A couple of months ago I saw a rack of reading glasses at Goodwill and bought a pair to see if they would make reading easier. They did— just another confirmation that I’m not 29 anymore.

Lately there have been several WAY more pleasant reminders that I’m… more mature. Younger women have been asking me to help them clarify what God is doing in their lives. I have also felt God leading me to speak into others’ lives when situations present themselves. And two young women have outright asked me to mentor them.

Not exactly sure how to do that, I bought a couple of books. Both of them use Titus 2:3-5 as kind of screening process for would-be mentors. This has been very humbling, especially since I feel that I still struggle. But I’m willing!

I LOVE spending time with these dear ones. By building into them, I’m encouraged and energized. So I guess I don’t mind being an older woman. There are just as many benefits (at least so far) as there are disadvantages.

Being a mentor has also increased my longing to have my own mentor.

An Older Man

“This is the year. In 2009 I am going to be intentional about playing drums with local bands, especially jazz.” Tom has been in various local bands since we came off the road, but feels God calling him to expand what he’s been doing for a couple of reasons.

During our time with Ritmo D this summer he noticed how much playing everyday improved his abilities. He wants that to continue; that means he needs to play more.

The bands that have been calling him are full of men and women who need to see Jesus lived out in their midst. Most of these folks are disenfranchised with Christianity, and the only way they will consider a relationship with Jesus is to be loved.

Pray for God’s love to flow through Tom into their lives.

Eternal Economics

Many of you have asked how we’re doing financially with the economy the way it is. The Lord has been very good. All of our bills are paid.

But to be honest, the budget is stretched extremely thin, and there will be some large bills coming due next month.

Would you consider investing in a “commodity” that always guarantees BIG returns and never loses value— God’s Kingdom!! Exponential growth happens! People who come to Christ through our concerts are discipled and become witnesses for Jesus!!

Would you please pray about Joining our financial partner team if you don’t already give monthly? And if you are a financial partner, would you pray about increasing your level of partnership?

And a huge THANK-YOU to those of you who are SO FAITHFUL!!!!

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Here’s a practical way you can help a ministry partner… and us since income from sales on this site are given to missionaries.

Beautiful wood turnings, necklaces, cards, sculpture, crocheted afghans and beaded socks— all handmade by a Christian family (Cathy’s sister, Amy, is the mom.)

Keynote

January is a busy time here! The bands are revising their programs, learning new music, recording demos, and rehearsing so they will “play skillfully” (Ps 33:3) when they begin touring in February-- for audiences full of people who are searching for real answers!

Please pray for:

Our hearts to always yearn to be closer to Jesus
God to heal Arthur Heaton
God to provide a job for Jon
Chris and Deanne as they prepare to be married
Chris and Deanne to grow in the Lord as they prepare for marriage
Our ministry partners (and us) who are struggling financially

THANKS!!

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Our mission statement

"Partnering with strategic ministries to communicate God’s love through music and the performing arts"

Authentic
Dynamic
Catalytic
Worldwide
Life Change

Everything we do, from organizing equipment to processing finances, to performing and sharing the Gospel on stage is put through the filter of our mission statement and values.

Give electronically through CCC's secure server

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October, 2008

2008-10-20T10:23:00.011-04:00

Communicating God’s love through music and the performing arts.

Changing the world...

...from our desks...

A brand new Christian in Argentina wanted to use her musical talents for her newfound Savior. Typing “music & missions” into an Internet search engine, Andrea clicked on the top hit— Keynote’s website. That’s how she came to be in our Hispanic band this summer. She’s back in Argentina now, and applying to be on staff with Campus Crusade. The country’s national director is hoping she will begin the music ministry there which has the potential to reach thousands of students with God’s love.

Tom is building the new website. Keynote.org will be up and running Nov. 1st. Who knows how many “Andreas” there are in places near and far who, with one click of a mouse, will get connected with Keynote and begin to change their world through this website??

Please pray for Tom as he searches for ways to make the technical stuff happen. Our most helpful consultant, by the way, is our son Chris— who is also changing the world from his desk!

“Tonight, 30 or 40 students roll through the little café where I’m singing, and I do my best to tell them that there is more to knowing Jesus than just a feeling and a guarantee. One guy, sitting to my right, stares at me as I talk. His face says, ‘I hear you, I'm thinking about it, but I'm not sure.’"

Jimmy sent Cathy this email because she is his new booking agent. She did the ground work to get him the coffeehouse gig at Daniel Webster College in NH. Let’s let him continue the story….

“After I'm done, I sit down with a Red Bull and talk with some of the students. A couple of them have been in a production of Les Misérables, and we start talking about how the Bishop redeems Jean Valjean's life, just like Jesus does for us, but that it is all too easy for us to believe the lies we've been told about ourselves. In the play, Jean has a meal and sleeps at the Bishop's home, but wakes to a nightmare about his imprisonment. The nightmare convinces him again that he is nothing but a worthless convict. He knocks the Bishop out, takes his silverware and runs. He is caught and returned to the Bishop's home, where the Bishop pretends he gave Jean the silverware, and even gives him more. The police release him.”

“’Jean Valjean, my brother,’ says the Bishop, ‘With this silver I bought your soul back. You promised me that today you would be a new man.’”

“I love that. It always makes me cry. I realize there is no one, Christian or not, no convict, no college student, no old geezer like me, that cannot become a new man. Jesus is everything.”

From Cathy: “Working with Jimmy has been great. He has the same vision for his songs as I do for mine. Check out his website littlelordmusic.com. Give the site a little time to load. You’ll find Jimmy’s blogs, his music, photos, and lots of other stuff.”

…and with our music

Composer Jon at his composing station, working on “This Year.”

“THIS YEAR” — A Christmas Musical by Darrin Gowan, Cathy Howie, and arranged by Jon Howie. Rehearsals begin next week and the entire church is really excited!! The story takes place in a diner on Christmas Eve until Christmas morning, since everyone is stranded due to a flash flood. (More realistic than snowed in from a blizzard in central Indiana!) It’s a story of hope in the midst of pain as several of the characters struggle to make sense of their situations. Three of the four songs are written, and much of the arranging still needs to be done. Please pray for Jon and Cathy!

Chronicle — A local band playing original music in search of a drummer. Enter Tomas Howie! This is another opportunity God has given Tom to play in a local band with musicians who probably are not believers. Please pray for Tom as he spends time with the band and shows them Christ’s love in rehearsal, helping with graphics, and hanging out with them.

PLS + mPS + CICSA + SitR — Alphabet soup representing local performance opportunities for Tom and Cathy. The audiences are important to us, of course, but so are the other performers, producers, and hosts as we use the talents and songs God has given to us to bring Him glory and encourage His people. Please pray for Verona, Jessi, Gary, Steve, Eddie, and others who have been at our concerts recently.

A Future Wedding

Chris and the love of his life, Deanne Denniston plan to be married June 6th, 2009.

This fall, Indiana, Crossroads of America, will also be the Crossroads of the World! Right here in Westfield, Keynote is hosting the Global Music and Arts Ministry Leaders Summit! Our 25 registered guests representing 12 countries (Mongolia, Brazil, Thailand, etc.) are gathering here from Oct 31st – Nov 5th to exchange ideas and learn from each other in order to be better equipped to lead their ministries and share God’s love around the globe. Cathy’s been working on the details for this historic and world-changing event for weeks. We’ll share more about this next month.

Please pray for:

Us, that we will keep Jesus as our first love, even working at our desks.
Progress in recording Cathy’s music.
All aspects of the musical to reflect God’s glory and get done on schedule, and for the people who will come to see it.
Jon as he arranges the music for the musical and searches for a new job.
Chris and Deanne to grow in the Lord as they prepare for marriage (Deanne came home from Argentina in August.)
Our 41 brothers in jail in a Muslim country because of their faith.

THANKS!!

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Our mission statement

"Partnering with strategic ministries to communicate God’s love through music and the performing arts"

Authentic
Dynamic
Catalytic
Worldwide
Life Change

August, 2008

2008-08-28T15:09:00.011-04:00

Communicating God’s love through music and the performing arts.

Sometimes Ministry is Easy :-)

“You kept us together, on-track, and focused on the Lord.”
-Mark V., Ritmo D’s Director, in a note to Tom and Cathy

Sometimes ministry is hard work. And sometimes what God wants to do just flows out of us. This summer His love not only flowed out of us, blessing those around us, but flooded our hearts on the way out.

A summer of playing percussion in order to share the Gospel pretty much doesn’t get any better than that for Tomas. Add into the mix working with energetic students and work becomes fun!!

Working with young ladies who want to go deeper in the Lord energizes Cathy. In addition to that, having the privilege of leading the devotionals and teambuilding
exercises fills her soul!!

We started with rehearsals and training in Indiana— hours and hours of building into the students— then travelled through NY state, New Jersey, and Florida sharing the Gospel.

Here are some comments from audience members—

“You all had a great spirit and joy of the Lord. I have decided to get out of my box [and accept what Jesus did for me on the cross]. May God bless you in abundance!”
—Abigail, 22, Vineland, NJ

“I truly felt you were sent here tonight to speak to me. God bless you all.”
— Juan, 26, (who began a relationship with Jesus that night!!)

“I could really connect with your stories. I am bless that you have came [sic] today and show me the reason why I should stay involved in Christ and not to run away, just to give it all to him.”
—Karisma, 18, Brooklyn, NY

Highlights for us include—

Explaining God’s grace to a band member who didn’t want to accept it. Right after she prayed, thanking Him for his abundant and free gift of grace, she shared and sang from stage with new energy and life. Two people accepted Christ as their Savior at that concert!!
Discipling the young men and women on the team as we lived with them 24-7.. eating, rehearsing, setting up equipment, sleeping in a church sanctuary… Every day
abounded with teachable moments!
Unofficially helping to lead the Ritmo D leadership. The three directors were tour “newbies” and were severely stretched. God used our experience to lend stability and maturity when personalities and expectations collided.
In almost every situation we were in, we watched God work through us, especially when we had no experience or skills to help the situations that came up.
Ritmo D was the first partnership between Keynote and Destino (the CCC ministry to Latinos/Hsipanics). Being part of this historic effort was amazing, and we look forward to seeing it grow.

We praise God for His glorious acts in the lives of the 42 new believers, fellow band
members, and our lives, too!!

He is AMAZING!!

Some Pictures from The Tour

Tomás in rehearsal - see, Dave and Nance: we DID use your hat!

Lucas, Christy, and Tomás

Thank God for rain -- and tents!

Andrea came from Argentina to be in Ritmo D. A new friend and beautiful sister in Christ!!

University of Florida, Gainesville

Vineland, NJ - small church, big hearts!

Orlando, FL

Summer Project Totals

7 bands
1 short film team
23,407 miles travelled
93 concert outreaches
13,090 men, women, and children heard about Jesus Christ
and the angels rejoiced over 349 new believers in Jesus!

Please pray for:

Us, that we will keep Jesus as our first love
The 42 people who asked Jesus to be their Savior at Ritmo D’s concerts
The 302 new believers from other Keynote summer band ministries
Continued progress in recording Cathy’s music, and for our interactions with producers and musicians
Chris and Deanne to grow in the Lord as they prepare for marriage
Our 41 brothers in jail in a Muslim country because of their faith

THANKS!!

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Our mission statement

"Partnering with strategic ministries to communicate God’s love through music and the performing arts"

Authentic
Dynamic
Catalytic
Worldwide
Life Change

June, 2008

2008-06-17T16:29:00.018-04:00

Communicating God’s love through music and the performing arts.

Mi Destino: My place in this world

Everyone at Keynote began getting ready for the Summer Project this week. The air is electric around here as we anticipate the great things God will do in and through us and the students who will arrive June 17th.

As we mentioned last month, we are going to be touring with Destino, the first-ever Hispanic Keynote Summer Project band. Our concert program will challenge listeners to find their place in this world… and in God’s Kingdom.

The group is very eclectic—

Nellie (Puerto Rican-Amer.) - director
Mark and Gloria (Mex.-Amer) - directors
Bruce (American) - music director
Lucas (Native Amer.-Mex) - guitar
Israel (Mexican) - bass
Christy (American) - vocalist
Andrea (Argentinean) - vocalist
Steven (American) - horns
Tomas (American) - percussion
Cathy (American) - discipler & team mom

Please pray for each of us— that we will serve each other well, proclaiming the Gospel by our actions as well as our words.

Here's our schedule:

July 17th, 2008 -
University @ Buffalo State
Buffalo, NY
8:00p.m.
Free!
July 18, 2008 - Light of the World Church Outreach
Rochester, NY
7:00p.m.
Free!
July 19, 2008 - Restoration Life Christian Fellowship
Rochester, NY
12:00noon
Free!
July 25, 2008 - Chestnut Assembly of God Youth Outreach
Vineland, NJ
5:00p.m.
Free!
July 30, 2008 - University of Florida
Gainesville, FL
Free!
August 1, 2008 - Staff Services Family Time @ Lake Hart
Campus Crusade for Christ Headquarters
Orlando, FL
8:00a.m.
Free!
August 1, 2008 - Lake Hart
Orlando, FL
12:00noon
Free!
August 3, 2008 - Iglesia El Calvario (Calvary Church)
Orlando, FL

One leaves the nest for his own place

On a hot and humid Sunday afternoon, we packed up our van and Chris’ car with everything a 20-something man needs and headed for his new place an hour away in Muncie, Indiana. Chris has been working for about a year as a computer programmer for a company there through the internship program of Anderson University. Last summer he lived at home and commuted, but as you remember, gas prices were significantly lower last summer!

We’re really excited for and proud of him as he steps out on his own, and we’re fairly confident that he won’t starve. As long as there are frozen pizzas, he should do just fine!

One leaves this world for a better place

Last month we were in northern NY State for Tom’s dad’s memorial service. During the service, we were able to explain the commitment Vince made to Jesus before he passed away last December, and that because of that commitment, he’s in heaven with Jesus now. Chris read a passage of Scripture; Tom and Cathy played a song she wrote about Vince, and we all enjoyed lots of family time with relatives we don’t see often enough.

Tom’s mom is holding up well, but misses her lifelong husband terribly. She would appreciate your prayers for God’s comfort as she grieves. While out East we enjoyed catching up with many of you!

Thanks for your hospitality and for coming out to the coffeehouse we had at the great Adirondack Soup Co. What FUN!!! We wish we were closer, so our visits didn’t have to be so far apart because...

...WE LOVE YOU!!!!

Whole My Life Changed Upside Down

New believers in Lebanon after the Boyd Family Band’s 3rd tour

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you..”
Ezekiiell 36::26

Often our reports of what God is doing through Keynote include numbers. Numbers representing individuals who have asked Jesus to come into their hearts. The numbers are impressive and encouraging, but the lives they represent are often anonymous souls added to the Kingdom.

But one of 1,650 new Lebanese believers stepped out of the anonymous shadows and emailed the Boyd Family Band, a Keynote performing group that was in Lebanon recently. Here’s a little background first, from Bruce Boyd.

“Riad” is a teenage boy we met at an orphanage in Lebanon. He was just hanging out as we set up. Our host, “Al Dawa”, began a conversation with him and then asked me to come over and talk with him. Riad was really interested in the gospel and comes from a unique situation (transplanted
from South America to Lebanon, and living with his mom, but being schooled and ‘cared for’ by the orphanage). He couldn’t believe that God would actually love him and forgive him, but once he grasped the gospel message, he was eager to receive Christ and ended up praying with me shortly before our concert started! We’ve
been in touch with him since, but this email was the first one that really reflected the extent of his lifechange! So encouraging!!

Here is Riad’s email (including his own spelling):

“Dear mr. bruce heyyy how r u all ? i really miss u all .. i've read all your masseges. I thank you so much for being in touch with me. well it's is so great to know such persons like u all. I’m in grade 9 … and will start to study for a whole month , preparing for the goverment exams.

"Bruce, since Jesus enter my mind and i entered his heart whole my life changed upside down. i would really like to thank yu all for helping me. i now know the meaning of love, peace, and care. i really changed. i got that patient soul. i know the meaning of appreciating the time, the world, and my mom.

"we'll keep in touch ok ???? talk to you later GOD BLESS YOU AND KEEP
YOU SAFE ... Riad"

The concert at Riad’s school was a Divine appointment . Because it was Lebanon’s presidential Election Day, all schools were closed for fear of rioting. Riad’s school was the only school-like facility the Boyd Family Band could get into to do a concert, and everything was arranged at the very last minute!

During their third concert tour in Lebanon, the Boyd Family Band shared the Gospel with over 5,000 students at 21 concerts in 10 days and saw 1,650 students ask Jesus to come into their hearts. One of whom was Riad whose “whole my life changed upside down.”

P.S. For more about this tour in Lebanon and the Boyd Family Band, go to: www.boydfamilyband.com.

Please pray for:

Us, that we will keep Jesus as our first love.
“Ridal” and his new faith in Jesus.
Continued progress in recording Cathy’s music, and for our interactions with producers and musicians.
Jon as he plans to get out on his own into an apartment with two other young men.
Chris as he has moved an hour north to Muncie where he has a good computer programming job for the summer.
Our 41 brothers in jail in a Muslim country because of their faith.

THANKS!!

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Our mission statement

"Partnering with strategic ministries to communicate God’s love through music and the performing arts"

Authentic
Dynamic
Catalytic
Worldwide
Life Change

May, 2008

2008-05-06T14:29:00.010-04:00

Communicating God’s love through music and the performing arts.

blue sky nine in Egypt

“For you have delivered me from death and my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of life.” Ps. 56:13

You have been praying for the Muslims in blue sky nine’s audiences while they were in Egypt. God heard your prayers!

Although most of the conversations after their concerts were in Arabic, band members were able to speak to the students who spoke English.

During the concerts, Scott shared how he had used alcohol and drugs to deal with the pain of strained family relationships he was going through.

After a show, Holly (lead female vocalist) had a conversation with a young woman named Olivia. Holly remembers… “She pulled me aside after our concert in Alexandria and said, ‘I do not know about God’s love. I feel unhappy. I have thought about drinking or doing drugs to make me happy. After I heard your message today, I do not want to do these things. I want to know God’s love for me.’

“Olivia is just one of the reasons God sent blue sky nine to Egypt— God wanted her to hear that He loves her and will keep her feet from stumbling.”

Plattsburgh - May 12, 2008

Coffeehouse at Great Adirondack Soup Co. (24 Oak Stt..) at 7:00p.m.

Come out to the Great Adirondack Soup Company on Oak Street (across from the library) and hang out with us for the evening. We’ll play some tunes, share what God has been doing at Keynote and in our lives, and catch up with what He’s been doing in yours. If you could bring a finger dessert or snacks, that would be marvelous! Drinks will be available.

We know this is REALLY short notice, but we just got everything arranged. So join us for an evening of fellowship, worship, and a fun time in the Lord!!!

We will also be at North Country Alliance Church May 11th, at the 10a.m. service and Koinonia Church in Potsdam, Sunday morning, May 18th.

While we are on the road we’ll be checking our email, so if you want to get together with us while we’re in New York, the best way to contact us will be by email.

In Memoriam

On Friday, May 16th, there will be a Memorial Service at Saint Mary’s Catholic Church in Potsdam, NY to celebrate the life of Vince Howie, Tom’s dad. As this letter goes to press, we’re not sure of the time— although it will be in the morning. If you live in the area and would like to come, send us an email and we’ll get you the time and directions.

Destiny: DESTINO

After we get back from New York we’ll only have a few days before the Summer Project begins. The SP is like a summer missions trip for college students who want to try music ministry.

This year 70 students— twice as many as 2007— will have three weeks of training, then tour in bands, work as office interns, or help produce a short film. The summer for Keynote is like what we do all year long… on steroids!! This year we will have seven SP bands including two with Impact (Crusade’s ministry to African Americans); and new this year— a band with Destino (CCC’s ministry to Hispanics). Tom and I are SO excited that we get to tour with the Destino band!! Tom will be playing percussion and Cathy will help shepherd the students.

We’re really looking forward to being back out on the road for a couple of weeks! There are a couple of concerts already booked— we will be going with Destino to Orlando, New Jersey, New York City, and Rochester, NY. If you know of any Hispanic ministries that would like to do an outreach in these areas, let us know ASAP!!

CreateArt: Creative Ministry

An idea from the Lord dropped into a conversation Cathy was having with a friend and became immediate ministry.

Here’s the short version— What would happen if we invited a bunch of creative people to come to our house with their art supplies and set up mini-studios all over the house for them to create in their medium? What if these people know there will be a theme, and, to help them get started, what if we discuss the theme (i.e. “faithfulness”) before we start? And what if, after we eat dinner together, we tour the mini-studios and hear each artist describe his work and creative process?

The answer to all of these questions is CreateArt!! We’ve had three of these days at our house, and the response has been overwhelming as creative individuals have had the space, freedom, and encouragement to feed their souls by creating.

So far, the artists who have come to CreateArt have been Keynote staff and family members, but we have a vision to expand into our local church and, eventually, reach out into the local art community. That’s really exciting, but the immediate ministry has been within our family. Jon has begun composing again after a 2- year dry spell, and Tom is painting and drawing after an even longer journey in the desert. And both of them attribute having the freedom, encouragement, and camaraderie to create as lifting heavy weights and depression!! We were just trying to be faithful to God’s call… and He used CreateArt to bless our family!! He is SO good!!

Sabbatical: lots of R & R

Our responses to, “How was your Sabbatical” sound much like the comments people make after retiring— “How did we do all this AND work, too?!?” “We’re busier now than when we were working!”

While we did keep busy, we also got to REST. Sleeping a little longer in the morning, driving to errands in a leisurely manner, reading some good books, and even lying in the sun gave us time to catch our breath. Both of us still have more than half of the items on our dream to-do lists, but we got good starts on activities which will continue to refresh us (like CreateArt days and recording Cathy’s music) in the weeks to come.

Speaking of Cathy’s music… we began recording a full-length, 12-song CD with our friend Eddie while on Sabbatical, but it’s going to be a long, expensive process. We’re hoping to finish by mid fall. We’ll keep you posted!!

Please pray for:

blue sky nine on tour in Wisconsin.
Giants of Silence, as they begin outreach in Mexico City, Mexico.
Us, that we will glorify God in all we do.
Progress in recording Cathy’s music, and for our interactions with Eddie and Steve.
Tom’s mom, Bea, as she adjusts to life without her husband of 59 years.
Beccy, a stay-at-home mom who is in prison unjustly and not allowed to see her young children.
Our 41 brothers in jail because of their faith in a Muslim country.

THANKS!!

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Our mission statement

"Partnering with strategic ministries to communicate God’s love through music and the performing arts"

Authentic
Dynamic
Catalytic
Worldwide
Life Change

February, 2008

2008-02-06T12:26:00.001-05:00

Transformed

The day after Christmas, we left the Keynote parking lot at 10:00a.m., in a van filled with 7 people, pulling a trailer loaded with sound equipment and instruments headed for Chicago. There, 400 college students would be gathered to learn about, and go deeper into, a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Tom had worked for a couple of weeks learning music and making drum charts (which came in very handy during rehearsals) in order to be prepared to lead the students before God’s throne in worship.

Here is what some of the students had to say—

“I realized that although I have known God through my whole life, I have always been missing personal faith.”
    — Jake

“God truly broke me down this week. I put up walls, but He broke them down to bring me closer to Him.”
    —Amera

“I just became a Christian in November, so most of this stuff was so new to me. I love it and am so glad I was able to come and learn so much!”
    — Lilly

Transformed lives!!

Job Transformation

DYNAMIC is one of Keynote’s core values. As our culture changes we flex in order to reach people where they are.

Within the ministry we also flex and adapt. Both of us are now in the newly formed Marketing Department.

Tom designs graphics and websites (critical to reaching the Internet generation!) and is a key team member in the new video strategy - one of his most recent projects was producing a recruiting video for the Impact Music Project.

Cathy helps prepare bands going overseas and continues to do administrative tasks for David Pendleton. She will also be working with past Keynote concert hosts to determine how we can be even more effective in sharing God’s message of transformational love with those who haven’t yet heard.

And we can only do this with your partnership!!

...the creative maladjustment of a transformed minority

-The kids ruled during this song at a house concert. They praised God with EVERY ounce of their being!!

Remember last summer when we wrote about two of Cathy’s songs being chosen to be included on a songwriter compilation CD to support a local ministry called Faith, Hope & Love? That was just the beginning of a long stream of new music relationships God has brought into our lives that have led to lots of performances and recording opportunities!

-Cathy singing at the Sacred Grounds Coffee Shop in Lafayette, Indiana (Tom plays percussion).

What a privilege to sing the songs God has given us and encourage others in their spiritual journey! We’re not sure what He’s up to exactly, we just keep doing the next thing that He puts before us and seek to be transformed by Him in the process.

More transformation

Eddie and Steve are independent recording engineers with their our studios. Both of them offered to help us record Cathy’s music at very reduced rates. The recording is going slowly. (We’ll let you know when we get songs done and posted on-line.) Right now, the main thing seems to be our relationship with these men, with a little recording thrown in.

We hope we’re blessing them as much as they bless us!

FOR SALE: Big Daddy Tours

While driving the bus all over the U.S. when we were in X-nelo (2001-2003), Tom enjoyed using the rotating destination window on the front of the bus. His favorite label was “Big Daddy Tours”. (A long time ago someone gave him the nickname “Big Daddy T”.) In the spirit of embracing change and being flexible, Keynote is selling both of our tour buses. Bands have been using the vans and trailers which are easier and cheaper for us to maintain. If you, or someone you know, is in the market for a bus (or two!) check out our buses and get a (rather large!) piece of Keynote history!!

Maladjusted

“This hour in history needs a dedicated circle of transformed nonconformists. The saving of our world from pending doom will come not from the actions of a conforming majority but from the creative maladjustment of a transformed minority.
—Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Atlanta 1966

(See Romans 12:1!!)

Please pray for:

blue sky nine on tour in Wisconsin.
Giants of Silence, as they begin outreach in Mexico City, Mexico.
Us, that we will glorify God in all we do.
Progress in recording Cathy’s music, and for our interactions with Eddie and Steve.
Tom’s mom, Bea, as she adjusts to life without her husband of 59 years.
Beccy, a stay-at-home mom who is in prison unjustly and not allowed to see her young children.
Our 41 brothers in jail because of their faith in a Muslim country.

THANKS!!

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Our mission statement

"Partnering with strategic ministries to communicate God’s love through music and the performing arts"

Authentic
Dynamic
Catalytic
Worldwide
Life Change

January, 2008

2008-01-24T12:05:00.001-05:00

Life Change

“I came here with a bad attitude saying, ‘Oh boy another training.’ But it has been LIFE CHANGING! It’s GOOD stuff! The best field training I’ve ever experienced!”

During a new staff training class, Nellie, third from left in the photo, shared how she was hurt by a church’s legalistic interpretation of Scripture when she was younger . Later, I (C) came into the classroom to teach the next class on Bible Methods not knowing about the previous discussion.

At the beginning of class, I reminded our new staff of our core values at Keynote emphasizing the last one. “Most of the time we talk about LIFE CHANGE at Keynote we’re talking about God working in the lives of interns, summer project students, and the people in our audiences. But God is just as interested in seeing our lives changed continually as we serve Him. One of the most effective tools He uses is His Word.”

As we worked through Psalm 1, Nellie’s excitement grew. At the end of class I asked if anyone wanted to share what God had shown him or her, and Nellie could-n’t contain herself. She filled me in about the previous class’s discussion and the bondage she had been under. “I’m FREE!! God’s Word is so awesome!!” The five of us spontaneously applauded, rejoicing with her.

My prayer for the class was that God would ignite a passion for studying His Word in our new staff. He fanned that desire in all of us by displaying its awesome power in our midst!

Indianans Bring Life to India

From an email while Giants of Silence (Keynote’s loud rock band) was in India—

…in Hubli, our concert opened up the doors for a cool ministry to the local police department. Vellu, the local crusade staff guy, had to jump through a lot of hoops to get a permit for our concert. After many visits to the police station to try and get our concert approved, his persistence paid off. The police approved the concert, but there were a lot of restrictions including: No dancing, No praying, No "converting," No inviting Hindus, etc.

Due to the language barrier (Indian English is VERY different from American English) we were a little unclear what exactly those restrictions meant for us, and what would happen if the police felt we were breaking them. For example, Vellu said to us with a sly grin on his face "Jumping will be fine, because jumping is not dancing." {Jumping is the preferred activity at rock concerts.} He also told us that although we couldn't ask people to pray with us from stage, we could "inform" them of what words they could use if they chose to pray at another time. And that if the police got any complaints, they could shut us down.

We only made a few minor adjustments and shared the Gospel with the 300ish people in the audience. Three police officers were there, and they didn't seem to have any problems with us. In fact, they told Vellu afterwards that they were impressed that he "stuck to his faith" in getting the permit without bribing anyone. (Bribing the police is the norm.)

The really cool thing, is that in all of those visits that Vellu made to the police station, he befriended a young police inspector in the process. He ended up sharing the Gospel with him, and the police inspector invited Christ into his life!! Vellu's gonna keep visiting the police inspector, and hopes that this will open the doors to share the Gospel with more officers.
--Sam for Giants of Silence

Life in Lebanon

The Boyds (dad, mom, and three high school aged sons) went back to Lebanon in November. Here is part of the email they sent out—

Once again the Lord blew us away with the ripe harvest field that there is in Lebanon. Although many schools canceled concerts due to political instability, we performed 21 times. We’re still compiling all the results from the venues which allowed response cards, but initial numbers show we were able to play for almost 5,000 students with almost 1,500 of them indicating decisions to receive Christ! INCREDIBLE.

Thank YOU for praying – there’s no question the Lord honored your efforts. Especially rewarding for Julie and me was watching our boys deliver the Gospel, and experience the joy of God working through THEM to change so many lives for eternity! Be sure to check out our website for some recent photos of these past several weeks! http://www.boydfamilyband.com/album.php Please pray for the Lebanon team as they are now working on all the follow up – they’re a remarkable group of folks. Pray too for their support. Because of this year’s war and all the instability, rampant inflation is taking its toll on their limited resources.
—Bruce, Julie, Brandon, Shaun & Ryan

See Keynote (almost live) on the Web

In the comfort of your own home you can watch several Keynote videos!

Keynote’s 40th Anniversary video is on www.youtube.com Search the site for “Keynote 40th Anniversary” to get the video and see some amazing costumes, hair-dos, and choreography… as well as God’s abundant blessing. You are a partner with us in this heritage!!

There are four other videos at www.keynote.org/visiondinner/vision2007/. Click on “Watch the Videos”

Keynote Intro: the fast-paced opening piece for our annual Vision Dinner.
Giants of Silence in India: more info about the story above.
Keynote in Tajikistan: features one of the Tajik Campus Crusade musicians, Azam, that we hosted in our home several times when he was here at Keynote for classes. Those in the band he now plays in led him to Christ and out of Islam. Look for the guy wearing a red shirt in a window superimposed on the background video.
Man on the Street: interviews of people in some of our band’s audiences. These are the people YOU are reaching by partnering with us!!

The Pace of Life… and Death

This fall, in the middle of the craziness of taking a seminary class and our regular Keynote duties, we made a trip to NY State to help Tom’s dad, Vince, close up his barbershop. The Lord gave us a good visit, but when we left, we wondered if that was the last one with him.

On Dec 2nd he passed away, but the week before he had prayed with Tom’s former pastor and asked Jesus into his heart. So we know will see him
again… in heaven!!

To read his obituary, and to leave a comment, go to www.foxmclellanfuneralhome.com.

Please pray for:

Us as we transition to Keynote’s Marketing Department.
The new believers in the Middle East and India.
Tom’s mom, Bea, as she adjusts to life without her husband of 59 years.
Beccy, a stay-at-home mom who is in prison unjustly and not allowed to see her young children.
Our 41 brothers in jail because of their faith in a Muslim country.

THANKS!!

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Our mission statement

"Partnering with strategic ministries to communicate God’s love through music and the performing arts"

Authentic
Dynamic
Catalytic
Worldwide
Life Change

August, 2007

2007-08-21T16:31:00.002-04:00

“Like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be recovered, so we must die. But God does not take away life; instead, he devises ways so that a banished person may not remain estranged from him.”
    --2 Samuel 14:14

There has been so much going on at Keynote and in our lives! Here are some glimpses of what God is doing...

US Campus Crusade Staff Conference Percussionist

That’s Tom in the percussion “cage” above, far left (and on the big screen) with the Keynote worship team leading the 6,000 US Campus Crusade staff members before God’s throne. We spent much of July at CSU in Fort Collins, Colorado with all of the US Campus Crusade for Christ staff. We heard great messages and worshiped together. Tom played percussion in the arena and for a smaller CCC ministry (Life Builders). He had a blast and added so much with his enthusiasm and plethora of percussion instruments--including a wooden elephant bell Cathy brought back from Thailand!

National CD Release of “Breathe” in Indy

Cathy’s Songs on Contest CD!!

In the spring Cathy entered “in everything” and “Everywhere” in a songwriting contest (to hear these song, click on over to cathyhowie.com).

The day after her birthday in June she found out that they were BOTH chosen to be included on the compilation CD, “BREATHE”! What a birthday present!!

    --Standing beside the CD table at the Faith, Hope, and Love concert in Indianapolis, Cathy holds up the CD containing two of her original songs.

We attended the CD release event and met a producer who is interested in helping us record Cathy’s music! This is all very exciting, but also quite scary. It will also cost a LOT of money to make a CD. Please pray with us, asking God to show us unmistakably if this is the way He wants us to go.

To order a CD go to www.fhlinternational.org. Click on “TO ORDER A COPY” on the top right.

    --Faith, Hope, and Love Songwriting Contest Winners Event Poster

Tom did all the graphics for this CD cover!

Blessings

Our church family worked several weekends and helped us “get ‘er done!” Our house looks so pretty with its (three!) new coats of paint!

Our financial support has been holding steady, but coming this fall, we will have some significant needs. Please pray for God’s promised provision.

I Scream, You Scream!

Three new families moved into our neighborhood in July. We are planning an ice cream social so all the neighbors can meet one another. Please pray that we will shine God’s light to these new friends.

Print Materials

In the next few months you may receive some print materials from us--business cards, prayer cards, notes, magnets, etc. Cathy recently found a site on-line that occasionally prints items for FREE!! They look really nice, and we just wanted to let you know that we’re not using support money to get them made. Enjoy!

Keynote CD Graphics Designer

Every other year Keynote produces a worship CD that is given to every CCC family at Staff Conference. Tom conceived and produced all the print materials for the CD. Above is the CD cover which features one of our newest Keynote young ladies glorifying our God.

On The Home Front

JON is living at home and looking for a job. He bought a car this summer and a piano this week--each for $100!! CHRIS just got a paying internship job for a software developer. He was made for this job and is teaching his teachers!! Please pray that we will have Godly wisdom in parenting our adult children (MEN!)

At Staff Conference we were given the “Discover God Study Bible”, one of the last projects Dr. Bright worked on before going to heaven. Mrs. Bright signed the presentation page in our Bible after a seminar taught by her son.

Five 10-40 Tours

This fall we have four different bands going to five very dark areas of the world.-- Lebanon, Turkey, India, Tajikistan, and Egypt. Please pray that God will prepare the hearts of those who will be in the bands’ audiences. Remember what God did in Lebanon and Eastern Europe recently?!? We’ll keep you posted!

“We are becoming everyday what we shall be for all eternity.”
--John Stemper, quoted in a workshop at Staff Conference.

We love and appreciate each one of you!!

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Our mission statement

"Partnering with strategic ministries to communicate God’s love through music and the performing arts"

Authentic
Dynamic
Catalytic
Worldwide
Life Change

Summer Project 2007 Update

2007-07-30T12:04:00.000-04:00

Hi Everyone!!

We are on our way to Fort Collins for Campus Crusade for Christ’s National Staff Conference. (We’ll share more about that next month.) Until then, these are the faces (see attachment) and stories about what God did during our Summer Mission Project with students from all of the US. Here is the “Cliffs Notes” version—

5 student bands!
22,000 miles traveled!
57 shows!
5,815 people exposed to the gospel!
1065 people lead in worship!
248 people indicating decisions for Christ! (Including 9 people receiving Christ through our worship band! That’s a first!)

Isn’t God amazing!! We are so encouraged, honored, and very humbled that God would use us (meaning YOU, and Tom & me) to accomplish these and many other things for His Kingdom!! The night of the final banquet was filled with story after story of what God did and how He used each student. What is God doing in your life? Drop us an email—we’d love to hear your story!!

Stories from the FINAL BANQUET

Many of the students arrive with an attitude of “I’m here to show the world what I’ve got.” That was the case with a young man (let’s call him Steve) who was told he would lead Proof of Purchase, the praise and worship band. Soon it became obvious to the band director, however, that Steve was not the person to lead others into the throne room of the Lord, so the director took over the lead role. It was a very difficult situation. But the team directors persevered with him, encouraging and loving him even though his anger and attitude made it very difficult.

During the Final Banquet, he shared from stage how amazing the last few weeks had been. He confessed his bad attitude, told how God broke him, and how he doesn’t care anymore if he’s leading or singing in the background as long as God receives the glory! There wasn’t a dry eye in the room!!

During the Summer Project the students take classes, and I (Cathy) got to do a little teaching. Fun!! I worked with Impact the African American band. (They had their own letter, so their band photo isn’t in this one.) At the banquet, they told how disappointed they were when a concert was cancelled, and how it turned out to be a divine opportunity. Tom and I arranged for them to play at Hephzibah, our church’s home for kids who don’t have anywhere else to go. Most of them are African American, so it was an amazing ministry opportunity, both on and off stage, as band members took the time to get to know the kids and even “jammed” with them. That night, 18 young people gave their hearts to Jesus!

This is why we do what we do… every task, every minute, every day. Thanks for doing it with us!!

love and prayers--
Cathy and Tom

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Our mission statement

"Partnering with strategic ministries to communicate God’s love through music and the performing arts"

Authentic
Dynamic
Catalytic
Worldwide
Life Change

Glory In The Midst of Tragedy

2007-04-20T01:41:00.000-04:00

I'm sure each of you has heard what's been going on at Virginia Tech. I'd like to share a couple of things you probably don't know about the situation.

In 2004 X-nelo, the Keynote band we used to be in, played a concert at Virginia Tech. I don't have the statistics for how many people were in the audience or how many students prayed to receive Christ that night. But I do know God's Word is alive and doesn't return void.

Let's just imagine that at least one person was affected for eternity at that X-nelo concert. Then let's imagine that he or she was one of the people killed in the massacre this week. How would you feel about the ministry we share? Selah. Pause for a minute and think about it. How do you feel about ministering with us?

This imagining is closer to the truth than you might think. Four CRU (Campus Crusade) students were killed by the gunman on Monday. I don't know if they were at the X-nelo show three years ago. But I do know there have been thousands, (thousands!) of students who have heard the Gospel at Keynote concerts. What do you think the chances are that they are all still alive? I'm thinking very slim. Some of the students who heard the Gospel, some who made a commitment to Christ, have gone into eternity. I don't know of any personally, but statistics and probability could be used to prove that at least one student who made a decision for Christ at a Keynote event is now in heaven with Jesus. So I ask you again. How does that make you feel?

Remember the Keynote band, The Boyds, that went to Lebanon just before the revolution when so many Lebanese were killed by their fellow countrymen? The Boyds played in schools and led over 2600 young men and women into the Kingdom. What are the chances that all of those children are still alive? Very, very slim. Doesn't it make you stop and think?

It does me! And here's what I've been thinking over the past couple of days-- I am SO grateful for each of you partnering with us. Often we close our letters with something like "We couldn't do this without you," or "Partnering with you." Those aren't platitudes to make you feel good. That's reality. We couldn't do this without you, and you are partnering with us in bringing light to those without hope, to some who have very little time left here on earth.

I also think of Herr Schindler in SCHINDLER'S LIST. "I could have saved one more," he moaned as the allies come in to rescue those Jews he was able to save by buying them from the Nazis. "This ring-- one more. This car-- ten more." Although the Jews surrounding him try to console him because he did so much for them, he is racked with regret that he didn't do all he could. It's as if he eyes can see the spirits of the Jews he could have saved who died at the hands of the Nazis.

There is so much more to be done.

Last week Chasing Elvis, another Keynote band, came back from Eastern Europe where they played for Muslims and atheists. A highlight was hearing from two young ladies who accepted Christ last year in Albania. Their lives are CHANGED! These young women met the God of the universe who made them, and this year they glow with the Hope of their salvation. I love these stories of changed lives-- it's why we do what we do. But this week I've been thinking about all the students at our past concerts who haven't responded to Jesus' gift of salvation, and my heart cries-- "Just one more Lord. And another. And one more."

Without you, honestly, we couldn't carry on. The enormity of the task would be too heavy.

Blessings to each of you-- Cathy (and Tom)

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Here are some quotes from the Virginia Tech Campus Crusade Staff team. You will have to copy the web addresses and paste them into your browser windows since I don't know how to make links.)

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19.Apr.2007, 1:07 a.m. EST

By Tony Arnold, Campus Ministry PR

Thank you all for your prayers. They are both felt and very needed. Molly (http://campuscrusadeforchrist.com/virginiatech/mollys-story/) taped 2 interviews Wednesday--one with CBS and one with ABC. Each one took almost 2 hours. The interviews were emotionally exhausting for Molly and anyone involved. Molly is a freshman that is involved in the ministry of Campus Crusade at Virginia Tech. She lived next door to the first victim of Monday's shootings.

Watch Molly's Story

You can now watch ABC’s interview with Molly (http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=3056249). It mentions her involvement with a Christian Bible-study group. Some members of the film crews, producers and correspondents have been visibly moved by Molly’s story. I’ve received calls from New York and D.C. from producers who have been overwhelmed by the raw footage or the comments of those who participated in the interviews. I've had some incredible conversations with media people.

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19.Apr.2007, 12:40 a.m.

Taken from Cynthia Thomas’ blog (http://campuscrusadeforchrist.com/virginiatech/prayer-and-praise/) staff member at Virginia Tech (There are more posts by Cynthia on this site. Just click on the titles under "Tragedy" on the blue bar on the left.)

At 10 tonight we met at the chapel for prayer and praise. I split off in a group of 5 girls, and none of them were really ready to pray I think. We prayed for the victim’s families. One student who is attending a summer project with my husband and I to North Africa this summer, Tony, came and told me that he had received a support check in the mail that day from one of the Cru students killed. Wow. We were all really… I don’t know it was just a “wow” moment.

I stood outside with my husband and a student, Tim, and talked about how we were, and the student said something that I thought just summed up how I was feeling too. He said, “I mean, things were so great…” I just said, “Yeah they really were!” A lot of us are grieving the loss of the way it was, and unsure of what “normal” will be. Afterwards, I was talking with one of the girls in my Bible study, Jessica, and she was very grieved but unsure of why since she didn’t know any of the deceased very well. Two of the girls she leads have been greatly impacted, losing one member of their Bible study and another member being traumatized by finding two of the dead. She mourned for them, feeling completely clueless of how to minister to them. I can relate to that. I feel like that too.

Two members of the Billy Graham rapid response team were here, and we all prayed for Jessica, which I really appreciated and I think she did too. Oh, by the way, something I forgot to mention about our noon prayer time today. As we were finishing up our prayer time, Jeff, our director, says on the bullhorn, “now Franklin Graham is here with a message for anyone who wants to listen.” And there was Franklin Graham not 10 feet from me! To be honest, I was a little starstruck. I thought to myself, “Heck, yes, I’ll listen to what Franklin Graham has to say!” Franklin Graham shared with us a little from scripture, specifically John 3:16 I remember, just telling us that God loved us and was in control, but he had no answer for why this happened. If I could see over the photographers that were standing between us and him, I’d probably have enjoyed it more, but all of us were really honored that he came to minister to us.

I think that was when it really hit me how big of a thing this is internationally. I mean, its a big thing for us in Blacksburg, but I’m realizing its a big thing for everyone in America, and around the world. It’s strange to be somewhere where history is in the making. Well, it’s for the birds if you ask me. I’d give anything for life to be as it was a week ago.

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Here is how our students were touched by this tragedy:

4 students who were involved with Cru at Virginia Tech were killed in the classroom shootings.
The student who found the 2 bodies in the dorm room shooting was a student involved with Cru .
We have a student who was one of only 2 to be able to walk out of his classroom without being shot. As you can imagine, he is very shaken up after witnessing what he did.

Thailand Update

2007-02-27T10:39:00.001-05:00

Highlights of Cathy's Thailand Trip

Watching the faces of the parents as the children sang during the closing program. I was on stage, so I had the perfect vantage point to see their expressions of pride and delight… and the sparkling array of camera flashes!

Leading about 160-180 children of missionaries in worship everyday. Several of these children gave their hearts to Christ during the week!

Using songs I’d written during the worship time. I wasn’t sure which songs would work best, so I brought a whole stack with me--songs we sing in church, traditional favorites like “Jesus Loves Me” and “The B-I-B-L-E”, VBS favorites, and some I’d written. I was so excited during a prep meeting when it was agreed that my songs conveyed the meaning of the lessons the best!

Hearing over and over “Thank-you for coming from the US to teach our children!! They look forward to this conference all year. It’s the only time they get to play with other American kids.”

Getting to know servants of the Lord from all over Asia, many of whom are making great sacrifices to spread God’s love.

Feeling like a celebrity walking through the hotel and Night Bazaar as children excitedly pointed at me and introduced me to their parents. Each child is so special!!

Leading our team of nine women in prayer and reflection as we went through this journey together.

Meeting “C”, a kindred spirit who came to the conference with her daughter. Neither have a personal relationship with Jesus, but they both heard the Gospel. I pray it won’t be much longer before they enter the Kingdom of Light.

”Talking” with Kaye, the hotel staff worker in charge of my classroom. After I found out he knew some English (he sang “Take Me Home, Country Roads” for me!), I asked him if he understood what we had been telling the children. He said, “Oh, yes! I love God and read my Bible!” I gave him the Jesus Film on DVD which he received with great joy.

Spending time with Mee at the night market (above). Another kindred spirit, Mee makes Christmas tree balls out of yarn and thread which are beautiful. She explained how she makes her ornaments and we talked together twice. I was surprised to find out that she can write English and even has email!

Getting to know Teerapol, a young man on his first business trip to the US, on the long flight from Bangkok to NYC. He had a book of English phrases for businessmen, so I asked if he needed help. We talked about the difference between Thai and US foods, customs, driving, etc. He wrote the names of each of our team members in Thai, and I gave him the Jesus Film on DVD. He graciously accepted it and mentioned that he has a Christian friend in Thailand.

Holding Owen (10 months) during the long flight to Thailand, so his mother could eat her meals. Although she didn’t want to know how to receive Christ, I prayed for Owen while I held him… that he would grow into a strong man of God and serve the Lord.

Riding an elephant! I went with our team just to be a good sport, but found that I loved it!!

Worshipping with Thai believers Sunday morning. We sang the English words to the tunes we recognized as they sang the Thai words. This is what I imagine heaven will be like! All languages being used to praise God!  And the pastor’s message on “Love is Patient” was perfect timing on the day before our 32-hour journey home. (Above, outside the church.)

Please pray for:

The Thai missionaries who attended the conference, the children who received Christ, “C” and her daughter, Teerapol, Kaye, Mee, the Thai believers, Owen and his mom, and our team.
That all of us would walk closer to Jesus today than we did yesterday.

THANKS!!

-----

Our mission statement

"Partnering with strategic ministries to communicate God’s love through music and the performing arts"

Authentic
Dynamic
Catalytic
Worldwide
Life Change

February, 2007

2007-02-02T15:20:00.001-05:00

We really appreciate each one of you, and we’ve felt your prayers-- especially these past few months. Corresponding with you is very important to us, but with Tom’s health issues we haven’t been able to keep up with you as well as we would like. That being said… here’s what has been going on with us!

Thyroid Tales

In November Tom had his thyroid removed because it contained papillary cancer. The surgery went well; he breezed through the recovery, and by the first of the year he began a stringent diet to get ready for the radioactive iodine treatment that would kill any remaining thyroid or cancerous cells. The treatment was successful, and we celebrated by ordering pizza (which Tom hadn’t been able to eat for over two weeks!) Each step of the process has gone well, and we know that it’s because you are praying. Please continue to pray for him as the doctors figure out the thyroid hormone replacement dosage (this is different from person to person). This is the last step in his treatment, but it’s also the trickiest and can be discouraging when the results don’t happen as quickly as we’d like. Tom is still a little run-down, but is beginning to perk up. And just this morning, Tom’s doctor pronounced him “CURED!” Praise God!!

Thailand Travels

Many of you don’t know that Cathy is co-leading a mission trip to Thailand from Feb. 2-12 sponsored by our church. (We had planned on sending a prayer letter out the beginning of January to fill you in, but that didn’t happen!) Anyway… seven women and a family of six are going to do childcare during a home school conference sponsored by the Asia Education Resource Consortium. The people attending the conference are missionaries serving throughout Asia. Most of these families are so isolated in the countries where they serve that the only education option for their children is to home school them.

Our church commissioned us and prayed for our Thai trip as people gathered around us and laid hands on us at the altar.

The AERC Conference is an opportunity for them to be ministered to by the speakers, meet others doing similar ministry, swap school ideas and materials, and get energized to keep doing what God has called each of them to do. Most of the attendees are Americans who are really grateful that their children will be cared for and taught by American Christians. Cathy will be running the worship/music part of the childcare including leading each age group in worship, putting together a program the kids will perform for their parents (something most of them can’t do where they live!), and building into the lives of the small group of children who will help make the backdrop and props. She also hopes to have conversations with some Thai unbelievers. Check out cathy’s blog for more information:

cathyhowie.blogspot.com

Thailand Team

Sitting on the stage in the KidZone, our church’s children’s ministry, as the pastor tells the kids that we will be taking care of missionary kids. All the children gathered around us to pray for us just after this photo was taken. Left to right: Cathy, Deborah G., Carla V., Nicole C., Amy B., Darla G., and Kevin, Nicole, Lisa, Christopher, Matthew and Michael A.

Won’t you be my neighbor?

When we bought our house in Indiana, we thought the street (Sunblest Blvd.) and town names (Fishers) were really cool names to have in our address as missionaries. But shining our light in our neighborhood has been particularly difficult for two reasons. First—almost half of our neighbors are Christians! (Which has been great fellowship!) And, secondly—the unbelievers we have met really don’t want to socialize…. until recently. Two cousins moved in next door around Thanksgiving. After talking with them a couple of times, we invited them to church, and they’ve been coming! After church this week they volunteered to help with the Easter musical set construction and painting (they are painting contractors). They will only be here until the end of April, so please pray that we, including the believers in our church, will be good Christ-ambassadors to them.

Partnering with Strategic Ministries…

Our Keynote mission statement* begins with the word “partnering”. Since we often do concerts in places where we don’t live, we need to partner with other ministries. On the other hand, since we are able to reach people through music that many ministries can’t, they need to partner with us. Just another example of Christ’s body functioning! Also a good example of Paul’s observation that some till the soil, some sow, while others harvest. The following is a long chain of God using Keynote partnerships to reach students in Brazil…

About 6 or 7 years ago, Kristin, a college student, came to Keynote for our summer project. (Every summer we invite talented college students to come here for training, after which they rehearse with a band and tour for 2-3 weeks.) A few years later, Kristin came on staff with Campus Crusade for Christ in Brazil, where she met Janie (pronounced SHZON-yay) in her local church music ministry. She suggested Janie go to the US and participate in the 2003 Keynote Summer Project. Janie did come and spent the summer in the USA touring in a multicultural band—she plays an amazing basso nova guitar! Before she even met Kristin, she knew God was calling her to do music ministry using secular music (sound familiar?!?), but she knew she needed more training. She came back to Indiana for most of 2005, then went home to Brazil to start a “Keynote” ministry in her country.

Sure of her calling and equipped with Keynote paradigms and material (which she translated into Portuguese), Janie launched Musica & Missao—“Music and Mission”—in late 2005. Since she is the only person in Brazil on staff in this capacity, the going has been slow. But that is starting to change. M & M hosted the first ever Brazilian music summer project this January. (That isn’t a typo. Brazil is having summer right now.) Four Keynote staff made the long journey south to partner with her by teaching classes, running sound equipment, and building relationships with the students in the project. After the two-week training, Janie asked the eleven Brazilian students to pray about joining her in developing an evangelistic music ministry in Brazil with Campus Crusade. THREE students responded that they feel God calling them in this way! Janie is thrilled, “My team will increase by 300%!!” she said in an email. She also said that 3 or 4 other students are stilling praying about joining Musica & Missao with her. Please pray for the students in this Brazilian Summer Project band, the Brazilians who will be in their audiences, and those students who feel God calling them to partner with Janie.

Partnership!! Together with you, we are partnering with a sister in Brazil to reach Brazilians for Christ!!

Please pray for:

Pray for Cathy and the Thai team as they travel, and for their ministry in Thailand.
Pray that God would continue to meet our needs in His remarkable timing!
Praise God for Tom's healing - we are amazed at how He has been with us through every step in the process!

THANKS!!

-----

Our mission statement

"Partnering with strategic ministries to communicate God’s love through music and the performing arts"

Authentic
Dynamic
Catalytic
Worldwide
Life Change

Keynote Update 1-8-07

2007-01-09T00:28:00.000-05:00

Bands in Rehearsal for 2007 Tours

Happy New Year everyone! The rehearsal rooms are full of activity (the bands are still at the old location until this summer) as our three big groups are rehearsing full time in order to be ready for tours beginning the end of this month. Please pray for strategic concert dates!

Here is a message we just received from a Campus Crusade student who hosted a Keynote band on his campus to reach students for Christ last fall in St. Louis, MO:

"When you look at what you all did. It's quite amazing.... You guys have such guts and such great hearts.... You all are stewards of your craft and while it's sad you are gone. You live on. I still remember Maryville University, Missouri. I haven't felt God like that since. And I just want to thank you for what you did that day.... You started off this semester with a bang. And we were able to harness that for the rest of the semester. I love you guys. God's smiling upon you guys. You did Him proud. Thank you. bradley "

Home Front

On the home front we are all a-buzz with nutrition and ingredient labels. Tom is on a really restricted diet (no dairy, chocolate, eggs, seafood, molasses, soy, iodized salt, and several others I can't remember right now) in order to prepare his body for the radioactive iodine treatment for his Thyroid cancer on Jan 18-19. I went on-line and found a cookbook for this diet--

Good thing, because I have to make everything from scratch, and my culinary ability with so many no-no's isn't very creative after working all day. Please pray for him as he also has to be off his thyroid medication until the treatment. He's been off the meds since Thursday and is already very run-down, lethargic and sleepy. Also praise God that this treatment/diet is all that's necessary to completely get rid of the cancer!! God is so gracious... we could be talking about chemo and radiation if the cancer had been worse!!

Serving with you--

Cathy and Tom

-----

Our mission statement

"Partnering with strategic ministries to communicate God’s love through music and the performing arts"

Authentic
Dynamic
Catalytic
Worldwide
Life Change

December, 2006

2006-12-26T16:25:00.000-05:00

blue sky nine rocks with The Rock!

Keynote band blue sky nine made two stops in November to military bases in the southeast: Fort Gordon in Georgia, and Fort Jackson (above) in South Carolina. They played before over 700 soldiers, received over 500 cards asking for more information, and saw 55 soldiers receive Christ! Praise God for this dynamic ministry!

Some comments:

"I'm very happy I came today. I feel like today marks the day I start living my life for God."
"Awesome. Thank you for opening a Jew's eyes to the love of Jesus."
"I loved the show and the spiritual comments touched me heart and soul. I say that because although I believe in God your group made me really think about wanting to go more in depth with my Lord Jesus Christ."

Praise God for these men and women – pray for them daily!

Tom's Health

As most of you know, Tom was diagnosed this fall with Papillary Cancer of the Thyroid. His visit to the dentist for a routine teeth cleaning resulted in a series of tests that culminated in the complete removal of his thyroid on November 13. The cancer was confirmed in the biopsy after the surgery.

Our next step in the healing process is for Tom to undergo a radioactive iodine treatment in January (we thought it was going to be this month, but that turned out not to be the case).

Once that is done he will go on Synthroid for the rest of his life to replace the hormone the thyroid naturally produces

Join us in praising God that everything well VERY well during the surgery, and that Tom is healing and feeling much better than he did before the operation.

Tom's Work

Tom has been busy this fall photographing the new bands, producing promotional materials for the bands, doing graphics work for recruiting tools, and working with a sign company to develop new signs for the new building!

Cathy's Work
Cathy has been very busy this fall also, working on training for new Keynote staff, as well as ongoing training for senior staff. Her teaching and organizational skills are proving to quite an asset to the Staff Development Department, which she joined in November.

Please pray for:

Pray for the new believers from Keynote events.

and

THANKS!!

-----

Our mission statement

"Partnering with strategic ministries to communicate God’s love through music and the performing arts"

Authentic
Dynamic
Catalytic
Worldwide
Life Change

September, 2006

2006-09-26T11:58:00.000-04:00

Infinit Impact Impacts Eternity

From an email sent to us by Infinit Impact, the African American summer student band:

Our hearts were grieved when we saw teenagers (age 12-18) dressed in blue jumpsuits escorted into the gym of the juvenile detention home where we were set to perform. They came in with hard stone faces. We were worried they wouldn’t receive our Message. It was amazing to see the transformation as we went through our program. God softened their hearts! We saw kids crying and dancing with vibrant smiles. That night 35 of the 55 kids in the crowd gave their lives to Christ!! This experience has strengthened our hearts—we’ve learned to trust God even when it looks like people won’t be open to the Message.

We're Baaaaack!

God provided the financial needs we had, and we are out of the red! And just in time, too!! Our first day back in the office fulltime was spent moving into our new office building. (See related story on the back page.) Since the two of us make up one half of the operations department, our director and co-worker were very glad to see us!!

Summer Project ‘06

The students have gone home, but they left a mark on eternity-- five bands played 65 shows exposing more than 3750 people to the Good News of Jesus with 205 of those people asking Jesus into their hearts for the first time!! Thanks for praying and giving so these people had the opportunity to come into the kingdom!!

Band Update

Remember to pray for our regular bands which are out touring now. Piper Down (hard rock), blue sky nine (acoustic coffee house), Chasing Elvis (funky rock), David Pendleton (ven-triloquist), black soil project (rap), and The Boyds (family praise and worship) all have heavy fall tour schedules. We’ll share the results from their concerts as we receive them.

Stories from the Campus Crusade for Christ staff website---

Keynote Moves into New Headquarters

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Keynote's Headquarters: Answering an 8-Year Prayer

A note from Cathy--

For the past nine years since we have been on staff with Keynote, I have done much of the correspondence with you, our ministry partners. I often wrote a note, typed up our prayer letter, or responded to emails in between teaching our sons (who were both home schooled, K-12) or working around the house. But as of the end of July, I am now full time in the Keynote office. The transition from homemaker to office worker is going to take me awhile. We intend to “get back up to speed” with our communications with you, our precious partners in ministry, as I gradually figure out how my new routine is going to work. Thanks for your understanding and patience!!

-----

Do you live in Indy?? We’d love to give you a tour of our new “home” so you can see God’s provision. Get in touch with us and let’s get together! (Out-of-towners are also welcome  !!)

Please pray for:

Pray for the new believers from Keynote events.
Praise God for providing a facility which is above and beyond what we could have hoped.
Praise God for providing our support!

THANKS!!

-----

Our mission statement

"Partnering with strategic ministries to communicate God’s love through music and the performing arts"

Authentic
Dynamic
Catalytic
Worldwide
Life Change

July, 2006

2006-07-23T23:06:00.000-04:00

God Provides a New Building!

Tom’s first day back was spent at our new building assembling cubicles and doing electrical work. While that may not sound very exciting to you, it’s VERY exciting to us. God provided a building that is FIVE times the size we have now! And our landlord is going to build us a brand new rehearsal complex, too! In our current building there isn’t room for one more desk. We’ve converted closets, a kitchenette, and hallway into office space. There are six new Keynote staff members in training with Campus Crusade for Christ right now; about 20 more people are done with training and are raising support, and a bunch of interns will join us in the fall. Without this new building, where would we put them?? As we look ahead to the future of Keynote, we see God preparing us for huge ministry opportunities—this building will be used by God to send bands out all over the US and the world proclaiming God’s love to the lost. So putting cubicles together directly affects the Kingdom!

Summer Project ‘06

Summer project bands just began their tours this week. They will be traveling all over the US spreading God’s love and Good News in over 50 outreach events. Please pray for the students in MangoFish, Young Isaac, Proof of Purchase, Swerve, Infinit Impact, and the dinner theater (see middle, right). We’ll share the results of their tours next month.

Chief Cook and.... Set Painter!

Cathy’s first day back in the office was a long one—9 AM to 10:30 PM—helping with a new Keynote “band”. One of our summer groups is doing a drama in cooperation with another Campus Crusade ministry—Here’s Life Inner City, which ministers to the poor and “hopeless” in our cities. We are partnering with them by producing a moving, yet funny, drama about a disillusioned HLIC staff worker in a dinner theater format. The goal is to raise awareness for inner city ministry and provide an opportunity for suburban folks to help out financially... directly impacting lives with the hope of the Good News of Jesus Christ! Cathy helped paint the set last week, and helped cook and serve the meal for the premiere on Thursday.

Keynote painters and cooks, Renae and Cathy posing on the set after serving a five-course meal. They and another friend did all the set painting. Fun ministry!!

During a moment of inspiration, Cathy knew the outside of the apartment door needed graffiti.... but what to write?? Her name of course!! Hmmm. Maybe she was a ghetto girl from the ‘hood??

Lebanon Update

Remember the 2,658 new believers in Lebanon from Keynote concerts? We don’t have any information as to how they are doing, especially in light of the recent events in the Middle East. We do have confirmation from the Lebanese national director that all Campus Crusade staff members are OK. His request for prayer follows. Please include the new believers in your prayers during this scary time.

Greetings Friends,
I come with letter to ask you to pray for Lebanon at this time.
The security situation is deteriorating rapidly and the Israeli attacks are expanding and reaching every area of Lebanon. At this time no one can leave or enter the country because of the air, sea and land blockade. Food Supplies, medicines and petrol are still available but will not last if the blockade stays long. Roads & bridges connecting the Lebanese areas have been completely destroyed. The airport is severely damaged and as I write these words I am hearing the explosions of rockets exploding in Beirut & Jounieh seaports.
Today I checked on all our team members and am thankful they are ok. All team members have been asked to stay at home, we are trying to relocate one family that lives very close to the Airport and the Southern suburb of Beirut where the air strikes are focusing.
I ask you at this time to pray with us for this madness to stop very soon. Please pray for the safety and security of our team members and their families. We have two staff whose families live in villages in the South. We know one family have moved to a safe location down there but we lost contact today with the other family after an air strike hit a bridge close to their home. Please pray for all the wounded and families who lost their loved ones in this war. Please pray for wisdom and safety as we try to help the thousands who were forced to leave their homes and are seeking refuge in school buildings.
I thank you for joining us in prayer for Lebanon. I will try to keep you posted with our latest news.
Blessings-- Edmond, National Director Campus Crusade for Christ in Lebanon

Support Update

Great news! We only have about $100 left in new monthly support to raise!! Thanks for all your prayers! Right now we are working part time in the office, and as soon as all our support is in we’ll be back full time! Probably before the end of the month!!

You can support our ministry through Campus Crusade's online giving site. Just click the following link and follow the instructions.

You support will ensure that our work resumes in a timely manner, and that furutre interruptions will be few.

Thank you!

Give electronically through CCC's secure server

August New York Trip

We will be visiting New York between August 5th - 20th. We are figuring out our schedule right now, so let us know ASAP if you’d like to have us stay with you or get together when we’re in town!

Please pray for:

The situation in Lebanon and the rest of the Middle East.
Students touring with Keynote Summer Project bands and the people in their audiences.
Praise God for providing our support!!

THANKS!!

-----

Our mission statement

"Partnering with strategic ministries to communicate God’s love through music and the performing arts"
Authentic
Dynamic
Catalytic
Worldwide
Life Change

Everything we do, from organizing equipment to processing finances, to performing and sharing the Gospel on stage is put through the filter of our mission statement and values.

-

Creative-arts ministry grows to Westfield office

2006-06-23T16:05:00.000-04:00

The following press release appeared in the local paper; the Keynote move is now officially public! We will give you more info as things progress.

Creative-arts ministry grows to Westfield office

Keynote group uses music as outreach; August set for move

WESTFIELD -- A creative-arts ministry is moving to Westfield, leaving behind smaller accommodations in Carmel and to further expand a connection to the community.

Keynote is a ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ, which offers outreach programs, music-ministry training and praise and worship to churches and ministries around the world.

The nonprofit organization focuses on using music while worshiping and schedules bands to perform at schools, prisons and partnerships with inner-city ministries throughout the United States and overseas.

Keynote moved from Irvine, Calif., to Carmel in 1992, and it has grown from 60 to nearly 100 staff members in five years, said Chris Zaugg, Keynote's executive director.

Zaugg said contacts with a property owner in Westfield led Keynote to the 50,000-square-foot Osram Sylvania building at 18725 N. Union St.

He said Sylvania is moving from one side of the building to the other, and Keynote will use the vacant 20,000 square feet on the southeast side. The move will allow Keynote more office space and more room for projects.

Zaugg said it will be a welcome change when Keynote moves by August.

"It was just a perfect place," he said. "We're very familiar with the community and like the small-town aspect."

Town manager Jerry Rosenberger said the community is excited about Keynote moving in.

"We are hopeful that their presence will present local opportunities for us to use their talents to enhance our community outreach," Rosenberger said.

Zaugg said plans are in the works for Keynote to purchase another building in Westfield to use as rehearsal space for the bands. Until then, rehearsal space on Old Meridian St. in Carmel will continue to be used.

April, 2006

2006-04-03T17:01:00.000-04:00

Sunny Place Worship Seminar

March was a great month for us, including a trip back to Sunny Place in Chicago to work with their Worship Team! It was a program that combined spiritual principals of worship with hands-on musical training.

What a fantastic weekend! The SP team were so incredibly eager to learn and grow as musical servants. Sunday morning’s service was a true celebration in God’s provision. We love you guys! See you again soon!

Blue Sky Nine in Albania

Blue Sky Nine, Keynote’s acoustic alternative band, just returned from a missionary tour of Albania, Kosovo, and Macedonia. They played for over 1,000 students, most of whom were Muslims. Over 250 of these kids received Jesus!

Please pray for these new saints. As we’ve recently seen in Afghanistan (where a recent Christian was sentenced to die under Islamic law), Islam does not look kindly on converts to Jesus.

Goodbye, Bruford!

Some sad news from the Howie camp: we had to put our beloved dog Bruford to sleep last week. After months of physical decline, she went home on Thursday, March 23.

We’ve received lots of love and condolences from friends and supporters – this helps tremendously in our grieving period.

Thank you!

Jon's Senior Recital

Jon will be performing his Senior Piano Recital at Indiana Wesleyan University on Wednesday, April 12, at 7:30p.m. His program will include original compositions! Let us know if you will need directions.

Support Update

As of March 28, we have received $500 in new monthly support! Praise God! 1/4 of our goal has been reached.

You can support our ministry through Campus Crusade's online giving site. Just click the following link and follow the instructions.

You support will ensure that our work resumes in a timely manner, and that furutre interruptionsa will be few.

Thank you!

Give electronically through CCC's secure server

Please pray for:

Jon and Chris as they finish out their school years. Jon will be graduating from IWU this spring!
Pray for the new saints in Albania, Kosovo, and Macedonia.
Continue to pray for Steve: Tom’s friend: Last night he told Tom he has re-established a relationship with God! Wow!

THANKS!!

-

February, 2006

2006-02-15T21:20:00.000-05:00

X-nelo’s Impact on One Student’s Life

We just received this email from a former student leader of a Campus Crusade movement that we partnered with to reach his campus with the Gospel—

“In August 2002 X-nelo [Tom was the drummer then] played at Winthrop University, SC. The turnout was a bit under-whelming, but life-changing for a girl named Allison. She left her dorm room to take a letter to the post office, heard you guys playing, and thought, "Somebody's radio is really loud!" (You were playing outside in an amphitheater on campus). On the way to the post office she passed you playing, and stopped to listen. She met several of the student leaders that night, and was really excited about getting involved with us. She was already a Christian, but was very young in her faith; she didn't come to Winthrop looking to grow or get involved in church. She got involved in Rene’s Bible study, however, and began growing in her faith.”

“The next year Allison transferred to Northern Colorado. She got involved with Campus Crusade there and became a student leader, went on a summer missions project in San Antonio, and got a heart for Hispanic ministry. (She is Hispanic.) Last summer she went to East Asia on a summer missions trip, which she loved as well. She'll be graduating this year and continues to have a heart for Hispanics and now wants to reach out to them with the Gospel.”

“I know you don't get to see a lot of results from most of your shows, but you definitely do make a difference! Especially in Allison’s life!”

--Nathan and Rene F.

We are moving!!

God provides NEW BUILDING for Keynote – Abundantly, beyond what we could ask or think.... The businessman who provides us with our current buildings just purchased a really new one for us. The current buildings have been great , but we are growing out of them with all the new staff members that have joined Keynote over the last couple of years.
The new building is six miles from where we work now, is bigger and lower maintenance. So we can continue to grow AND work more efficiently in our mission to build the Kingdom!

Dear, precious partners in Christ—

As I (Cathy) sit here typing, I’m having trouble reading the type on the screen through teary eyes after reading email from Keynote performers. The tears are partly joy—mixed with some heaviness of heart. Joy for new lives in Christ!! And heaviness, because we hear DAI LY of how much we are needed at Keynote. Because of our low support situation (about 71%), we have been assigned to raising support fulltime. That means we cannot do our jobs at Keynote until we reach 100%. PLEASE PRAY that our support would come in quickly... that we can find new monthly partners... in order to get back to the work God has called us to at Keynote!

From our director, Andy Kellogg:

“Tom and Cathy are a vital part of the Operations Team at Keynote! I long for the day that God brings in their support so that they can return to “active duty” in our office. Especially in light of Keynote moving to a new facility, the need for their return is, even more crucial as our department will be responsible for handling the myriad of details before, during, and after the move.”

We are fasting during lunch on Tuesdays, asking God for a major break-through in this area. We will be skipping lunch, using the time that would normally be spent in preparing and eating, in prayer. And the hunger pangs that remind us we didn’t eat will also be a reminder to seek God’s face throughout the afternoon. If you would like to join us in this, let us know (e-mail is an easy way for us to communicate, see bottom of the front page), and we’ll be in touch with specific prayer requests.

Over the next couple of weeks we will be trying to connect with all of you-- to see how you’re doing and ask about receiving this prayer letter via email. We appreciate all of you. Your prayers and giving make our ministry with Keynote happen!!

Our mission statement

"Partnering with strategic ministries to communicate God’s love through music and the performing arts"
Authentic
Dynamic
Catalytic
Worldwide
Life Change

Everything we do, from organizing equipment to processing finances, to performing and sharing the Gospel on stage is put through the filter of our mission statement and values. The story about X-nelo being the catalyst to draw Allison closer to God is a great practical demonstration of this. In many instances we will never know the results of our concerts, but we are very intentional in ministry, nonetheless. The particular concert that Allison saw had very low attendance, but Life Change happened for her!

Please pray for:

Allison (above story)
Garry (a partner with terminal cancer)
84 new believers from a David Pendleton show (Keynote ventriloquist)
Jon and Chris (classes, relationships)
The Montanaros as they deal with the tragic accidental loss of their 20 year-old son Albert, Jr.
and new partners so we will be fully funded.

THANKS!!

-

January, 2006

2006-01-23T20:54:00.000-05:00

Our Joint Mission: Partnership

We, Tom and Cathy, together with you, are partnering with strategic ministries to communicate God’s love through music and the performing arts. This is our mission statement. (It also happens to be Keynote’s!)

The dictionary describes a partnership as: a relationship between individuals or groups that is characterized by mutual cooperation and responsibility for the achievement of a specified goal.

As we begin our eighth year with Keynote, we are so grateful for your partnership with us!! Over the next few months, we will be highlighting portions of our mission statement and values:
Dynamic
Authentic
Catalytic
World Wide
Life Change

This month, the topic is Partnering.

Without a series of partnerships in ministry, there would have been 1,400 fewer people entering the kingdom through Keynote events last year. You partner with us; we partner with the Keynote bands; and the bands partner with strategic ministries - spiritual movements - which are committed to sharing God’s love and disciplining those who accept His love.

We aren’t interested in working with groups who just want to have a good concert! Everything we do is measured with a heavenly yardstick—will what we are doing have eternal benefits for those around us? If the answer is “no”, we don’t get involved. But if the answer is “YES!”, we pull out all the stops, leave no stone unturned, and hit the ground running in the direction God is pointing.

Why We Partner Together

--Comment from a young girl in Jamaica at a blackSoil project concert

-– From blue sky nine after playing at NMU (our alma mater!) in November 2005

2006 Keynote Bands

blue sky nine
Amy, Teresa, Chris, Kevin, Stephanie
Acoustic Coffee House

Piper Down
Jill, Mia, Randy, Laura, Seth, JJ, Matt
Alternative Rock

Chasing Elvis
Arlee, Laura, Jen, Dan, Jimmy
Funky Alternative

Please pray for each of them as the touring season has just begun. We will include stories of lives changed next time. If you can’t wait until then and would like to receive updates from the bands on the road, let us know and we’ll email you right away as we receive them.

Family News Briefs

Cathy in The Keynote Office-- The mystery is finally over — I know what my job is and have been doing it for about 6 weeks. I am on the same team as Tom — Operations — and am the “Efficiency Expert”, (unofficially). :-)

All my years of organizing our home and school are being put to the test as I dig through years of stuff that has accumulated, waiting for someone to deal with it. My first week I found six, that’s SIX, coffee carafes that had no coffee makers! Everyone at Keynote raves when they can find an item, walk through a storage closet, and can eat their lunch in a clean and shiny kitchen. This frees the bands up to focus on rehearsing and getting ready for tours!

Financial Support Climbing Slowly-- The good news is that all of our bills continue to get paid on time. God has used your faithfulness!! But we are still far short of what we need to raise. Tom will be working on finding more ministry partners from home until we are fully funded.

Please Pray

The performers on the road and the people who will be in the audiences.
Our finances.
God will bring in $2,000 in new support by April.
Jon, as he is in his last semester. (!)
Chris at college.
Us as we continue to try to figure out what the new “normal” is with both kids gone and Cathy working.

Thanks!

-

New Life Church, Yorkville IL

2006-01-23T16:46:00.000-05:00

Standing O

We had a fantastic time on December 11, fellowshipping and worshipping with New Life Church or Yorkville, IL. Pastor Rick Thiemke leads this dynamic church, whose focus on missions is nothing short of laser-like.

Twice a month, New Life Church has a Missions Window to The World; an opportunity for missionaries to share God's work through them. One of the ways NLC shows its love and appreciation for the work of full-time missions staff is to give a standing ovation! It was such a blessing!

Shawn Clifton, Worship Pastor of NLC, let Tom sit in on congas during the church's worship set (Shawn is in yellow in the above photo).

Our Missions Window to The World took NLC from Indianalopis to France, Australia, and Singapore! We also shared our needs, and were dobly blessed by the tangible outpouring of financial support from the congregation.

You can visit New Life Church on the web at http://www.nlcyorkville.org/. Drop in and say "Hello" to Pastor Rick and his staff: tell him we sent you!

-

November, 2005

2006-01-23T16:13:00.000-05:00

Doing The Hokey Pokey!

We had a blast in October, traveling to The Detroit and Chicago areas!

Our first stop was at Community Wesleyan Church, where we led worship for their three-day Missions Festival. Norman Wilson from The Wesleyan Hour spoke, and his message of going into a deeper commitment in missions was very powerful.

Our next stop was Sunny Place Church of God, where we provided some down-home family entertainment for their First Annual Fall Festival! It was a great outreach event for the church into the community surrounding the church and in the lives of non-believing friends of church members.

The more we go through this path Christ has led us down, the more we see our role not as Christian Entertainers – not as musicians trying to find a career path in “Gospel Music” – but we see our lives as beacons that shine out Christ’s love to everyone we encounter.

Is what we’re doing relevant to the Kingdom of heaven? Are our lives a mere passing of mist, as some secularists would have us believe, or are we heavenly nuclear explosions in our world, setting off a chain reaction of love and witness that results in the salvation of countless souls?

It’s our choice.

Happy Birthday, Pastor Pete!

Family News Briefs

Cathy’s Outreach - Cathy is working with a young believer and her kids, doing some much-needed discipleship (the woman’s husband is not a believer). Pray for them.

Also, Cathy is doing special music for the Trinity KidsZone kids outreach. She definitely has a gift working with kids.

Our last newsletter mentioned our demo recording, be the center (of it all). We will talk more about opportunities to receive that next time!

Tom’s Music - Tom has struck up a musical relationship with Anthony, a phenomenal young guitarist. God is behind this – Anthony is a believer who has turned away from Christ – what an opportunity to reach out and bring this man back to God!

Pray!

Please pray for:

Our finances, and quick success as we seek new ministry partners...
Cathy as she transitions into keynote as a full-time employee. She was previously considered a stay-at-home Mom, but now that Jon and Chris are both out of the house, she is now required to give four days a week to the office. This has been a difficult transition for her, and your prayer will go a long way to cover her in God’s grace.
Our walk with God, that He would be our sole sustainer and provider...

Thanks!

-

October, 2005

2005-10-11T15:08:00.000-05:00

Higher Ground

Campus Crusade has produced a powerful evangelism tool for use during hurricane Katrina recovery efforts. Similar to the Fallen But Not Forgotten magazine of 9/11, Higher Ground offers comfort and a message of hope in Jesus. It is a resource you can use while you are serving the afflicted in praying, caring, and sharing ways.

You can preview the booklet and order copies of Higher Ground at http://www.kartinahigherground.com/.

blue sky nine

Our concert at Nicolet Technical College in Wisconsin was meant to be pre-evangelistic, but Teresa ended up sharing the gospel anyway! It was funny because, after the show, she mentioned to us that in the middle of her sharing she realized she wasn't supposed to, but it was already too late to stop and just went ahead and finished her testimony to a good-sized crowd! Amazing how God works sometimes!

One of the academic vice-presidents heard us off in the distance and really liked the fact that we were doing an outside show! They said that was HUGE in building credibility with both the student body and the campus faculty.

Huge with the student body because it broke the misconceptions about Christianity being an uptight religion, and huge with the campus faculty because it was a positive event that they recognized and appreciated. I hope that will open doors of trust for more Crusade opportunities to share there. Please take a moment to pray for Nicolet Technical College and the spiritual condition of students there. Thank You!

-Chris, drummer, blue sky nine

Upcoming Events

Community Wesleyan Church Missions festival-- We will be returning to our good friends at CWC in Washington, Michigan, for their Missions Festival October 13–16! We look forward to catching up, sharing what God is doing in our lives through our ministry! And Keynote band Chasing Elvis will be performing! Don't miss it!

Sunny Place Family Festival-- We have been invited to be part of the First Annual Family Fair at Sunny Place Church of God in Addison, Illinois. The festivities will take place Saturday, October 29 at the church. It will be a fun afternoon, so come on out!

New Life Church-- The New Life Church of Yorkville, Illinois has asked us to be featured missionaries on Sunday, December 11. We will be presenting our ministry, sharing how the Lord works through our musical gifts to reach people with His glorious Gospel!

Late-Breaking News!

We're excited to announce the "completion" of a "pre-Demo" CD of Cathy's music. This six-song set, titled be the center (of it all) is a rough recording and mix of six of Cathy's newest songs. It will be available at the above events for $5!

Please pray for:

Our finances, and quick success as we seek new ministry partners...
Tom's friend Steve, who needs the Lord...
Cathy's finger stitches and her transition to full-time at Keynote...
Our walk with God, that He would be our sole sustainer and provider...

Thanks!

-

September, 2005

2005-09-09T21:14:00.000-05:00

Urgent Need… Critical!!

Normally, this part of our prayer letter contains news about what God has been doing through us as we partner together to reach our world for Christ. We have had a busy and fruitful summer (see photos and stories on the back), but what we feel is crucial right now is asking you to pray for us.

We know many of you pray for us. We are SO GRATEFUL for your prayers! Thank-you, thank-you!! But listen to one of our partner’s own admission:

I admit that I have not consistently been praying for you, though I will be praying more. A collection of health-related problems could just be a run of bad times (not fun, but OK), or it could be a physical reflection of spiritual conflict really not fun, and scary too). Either way, or whatever else it might be, I will be praying more for you.

There have been many issues in our lives that have multiplied and intensified since we have been in Indiana with Keynote. While God uses them to refine us and the enemy tries his best to “take us down” with them, we have been overwhelmed often. Knowing that prayer is our best defense, we implore you to consider if God may be asking you to take your prayer for us to another level.

Some ideas—

Commit to praying for us on the same day of the week for 10 minutes
Commit to praying for us, 10 minutes each day
Leave our prayer letter in the bathroom and pray…. :-)
Put “pray for the Howies” in your Palm Pilot or date book
Pray through a portion of scripture, claiming God’s promises for us
Be creative!

If this is something you want to take seriously, please let us know. Write, email, or call us (info below) with your commitment, and share your prayer concerns with us… we pray for you, and knowing what you are facing will help us better know how to pray.

Family News Briefs

Jon and Chris hit the ground running-- Our nest is empty! Both Jon (senior piano major at Indiana Wesleyan) and Chris (freshman at Anderson University majoring in Computer Science) are off at college. The house is very quiet. We are excited for them, looking forward to this stage of our lives, but we are a little lonely.

Tom hits the floor-– Carrying a gallon jug of water over to the dog’s dish, Tom passed out tensing all his muscles. Cathy couldn’t get him to respond, so she called 911. The paramedics and our family doctor didn’t find anything wrong. As soon as we can afford it, Tom will undergo some neurological tests to try to figure out what happened.

Financial Support hits bottom-– A number of factors make is necessary for us to raise more monthly financial support. We haven’t had a raise in 9 years, our benefits have increased from $400 to $1,200 a month, 2 kids in college, lots of medical bills…

Stories From The Road

We’ll have more band stories next time as the fall tours are just beginning, but here’s a gem from blue sky nine.

Yesterday we were in Downtown Chicago, very close to the Sears Tower. This was the first time for a band to come and play in this college’s history. God was great to us, and this was the biggest event this school has ever had.

It was a big event for the Kingdom of God as well. A young lady who had heard about the concert a day before decided to come. She was not invited by anyone, but God put it in her heart to come and hear Blue Sky Nine on floor 15 of the multi-purpose building.

Before she left the social-hangout eat-free-pizza time Beth Ann, who is on the Crusade Chicago Metro Team, prayed with her to receive Christ. Praise God for the soul that has become a part of the Kingdom!!!

Please pray for:

our finances,
transition and ministry placement for Cathy as our home schooling years are over and she starts work in the Keynote office,
Jon and Chris as they begin college studies,
Tom’s health,
all the bands as they begin fall tours…

Thanks!

-

Ah, Good Intentions!

2005-08-12T13:39:00.000-05:00

Crusade Staff Conference 2005

Cathy writes:

When we sent out postcards from Colorado, I was planning on writing on this blog right away. But life happens! When we got back to Indiana, we went up to Chicago for the weekend to lead a partnering church in worship and packed up Chris, our youngest, and moved him into Anderson University on Monday.

More pics will follow shortly!

Since then, we’ve had a few medical issues to deal with, so I am just now sitting down to write about our CCC Staff Conference experience two weeks later.

Many of you know I am seeking the Lord’s will for what is next for me since we will have an “empty nest” this fall. I have been writing brief thoughts down as they occur to me this year, keeping them paper-clipped together, but I haven’t allowed myself to dwell on it yet. There were too many other important life events that I wanted to take in completely. Dividing my attention with what’s next for me would have been difficult to do… and I wouldn’t have been able to enjoy Chris’ last school year, his graduation, or the Keynote Summer Project with a split focus.

But as soon as a bunch of us from Keynote were loaded into the caravan heading to Staff Conference (held at CSU (Colorado State University in Fort Collins), and referred to as CSU after this!), I let my mind begin to think in this new direction. I read a couple of books (Stories of Emergence, by Mike Yaconelli, and Becoming a Woman of Influence, by Carol Kent) and began a special journal, separate from my daily one, containing thoughts about what might be next. There were many little thoughts from the amazing speakers at CSU that may be direction for me (or may not!), but the overwhelming impression I received there was to be a follower of Jesus. Following Him with everything I have. Joe Stowell put it an interesting way: If we want to truly follow Jesus, we must care about what Jesus cares about, and Jesus cares about people. That means a true follower of Jesus loves people. Sounds like a no-brainer, but I’ve never heard it put just that way before. He also said that the test at the end of the day as to whether Jesus knows I love Him is if I have loved the people around me. In other words, how do we prove we love Him? We do as he has asked and care for his sheep.

There are other things I want to share, but that’s enough for today. Check back in a couple of days and there will be more.

-

Crusade U.S. Staff Conference 2005

2005-07-30T23:11:00.000-05:00

Equipment Master

Tomás was appointed Equipment Master for both this year's Summer Project, and for Keynote for Crusade's 2005 U.S. Staff Conference in Fort Collins, CO. This meant that he had to coordinate all of Keynote's equipment needs for the two weeks we would be serving Crusade's staff during the conference.

Keynote has enough equipment to comfortably outfit 4 bands. For the Summer Project we stretch that a bit, outfitting 6 bands with PAs. Things get a bit thin, and we usually use this opportunity to buy some new gear.

Well, for this summer's Staff Conference, Tomás had to put together 8 PA systems! It was a tricky business, but, with the help of Mark, Rob, JJ, and Cory, we managed to pull it off.

This is what the warehouse looked like before Conference load-up, with 8 stacks of sound systems and one very large stack of personal instruments and gear:

Percussion

Tomás was again asked to play percussion on the Main Session worship team. He teamed up with Michael Ramos, CCC Staff who works in the President's Office at CCC headquarters in Orlando, FL.

This is always a great thrill and blessing! Helping to lead 4,000 staffers in worship is quite an honor!

He also played drums in the team that led worship for Christian Leadership Ministries, a Crusade ministry that reaches out to college professors.

Cathy Leads Homeschooling Seminar

Cathy again gave her seminar "Homeschooling and Ministry". Two years ago about 6 people attended. This year over 30 attended, and we agreed to start a Yahoo Group to help homeschoolers on Crusade Staff to network.

The biggest thing for homeschoolers is the sense that they are doing this on their own. Knowing there are others on Staff who have experience is a huge blessing, and helping these people to network through Yahoo Groups will expand Cathy's ministry beyond the walls of Keynote.

Caedman's Call

This year's staff conference had three special musical Guests: Caedman's Call, Fernando Ortega, and a thrilling off-broadway musical production called "The Rock and The Rabbi", which is based on the life of Peter and Jesus (a production that had more percussion than any other group we've ever seen!).

Tomás had the opportunity to help Caedman's Call with their equipment set-up.

Tomás got to hang and chat with Garett (percussionist) and Todd, Caedman's Call drummers. Two very nice fellows who love the Lord. They flew in to CSU the afternoon of their show, despite getting into an accident on the way to the airport in California that morning!

They have a huge setup. Lots of drums.

The show was great! This is a band that really loves the Lord. The band recently returned from a trip to India, and they feel called from God to reach out to people in this predominantly Hindu country (read more about their vision here.)

Fernando Ortega

Fernando, former CCC Staffer, returned once again to CSU. This time he brought his band, and Tomás had the opportunity of not only helping the band setup, but he let David Owens, Fernando's drummer, play his kit!

David is a super guy, and a great drummer. He and Tomás found out they both love Progressive Rock, and the conversation took off from there!

The show was great, Fernando telling us funny stories about his time on staff and the cyotes who eat his neighbors cats.

Watching David play was a clinic in tasteful, ambidextrous drumming. He showed how a powerful groove can be laid down without bashing the kit.

Conference Wrap

Throughout this year's Staff Conference we heard how God is moving throughout the world, not just through Campus Crusade for Christ, but through other ministries.

The theme for this year's conference was "Follow Me". Jesus wants us to be His followers; Bill Bright called himself a Follower of Christ. This is to be our goal, to follow the Lord wherever He may lead.

Through a faithful following of Christ, with the heart of a servant, we can be dynamic witnesses to His love. We can see our world changed, and see many come to Christ.

It is through your faithful partnership that we can continue to work full-time for The Lord. Thank you!!

We will give you more detailed reports from Crusade's 2005 Staff Conference in future newsletters and Blogs.

God bless you!

-

July, 2005

2005-07-18T16:00:00.000-05:00

Keynote/Impact Summer Project 2005:
500+ Come to Christ!!!

Every summer all of Keynote goes into overdrive for eight weeks as college students who want to change their world for Christ invade our campus. This year 44 on-fire students and young people came from Kazakhstan, Mexico, Brazil, and all over the US to participate in Summer Project ‘05. Besides having participants from three countries, this summer’s Project was unique in that a group of African Americans from IMPACT (Crusade’s African American movement) joined with us—the diverse body of Christ working together with one goal: to spread the Gospel!! Training and rehearsing took up the first five weeks, culminating in complete dress rehearsals. A couple of friends-of-friends accepted Christ during these performances, even before the bands were officially “on the road”!!

The air was very calm after the last band left. We caught our breath and prayed for a good harvest—of souls in the audiences, and of changed lives in the band members. While we are earnestly involved in reaching the lost during the school year, our focus shifts to building kingdom workers during the summer. Developing those who come to us into the workers Jesus asks us to pray for since the fields are ripe for harvest. We build into them and send them out.

Some went out a little timid, some nervous, but most were eager to see God work. They went all over the US and to Australia (where it’s legal to share the Gospel in public schools!). Here’s how God answered our prayers: 6 bands traveled 33,000 miles, played in front of 6,600 people, led 1,000 people in worship and saw more than 500 people ask Jesus into their hearts!!!!

The students were also changed. They shared incredible stories (see back page for a couple!) of God’s protection and provision and said they will never forget how God met them and used them this summer—stones of remembrance for them that will enable them to continue to be workers in a ripe field.

Your prayer and financial partnership was instrumental in this year’s Summer Project!!! We couldn’t do this without you! Isn’t God AMAZING!!

War Stories - Amazing accounts of God at work in this year's Keynote Summer Project…

6-19-05 Swerve (Pop/rock):
Praise the Lord! Someone accepted Christ at Swerve's dress rehearsal last Wednesday June 15th! After resting up and praying for concerts, Swerve is getting ready to go on tour heading out to Colorado!

6-20-05 Capt Oblivious (Aggressive Rock):
Today we drove (envision 8 adults and some equipment squished in a 6-passenger mini van) to our first concert site “Down Under”--Evans High School. We did 3 full concerts. We were told the students probably wouldn't respond real well. There were 570 students in attendance, and get this...85 people accepted Christ and 53 want to know more about Jesus! Needless to say, Captain O' is blown away at what God has done.

6-20-05 Mangofish (Modern rock):
Two days ago we got to play in Fort Jackson, which was amazing. One of the comment cards read "God needs more hardcore rockers." (Amen brotha!) There were 150 soldiers in attendance, many of them already believers. It was awesome to see how much we touched the lives of the soldiers. They had a tremendous amount of energy. We shared the Gospel, and 20 made decisions for Christ and 24 want to know more!! It was wonderful to be able to serve those who are serving us.

6-23-05 Proof of Purchase (Modern worship):
We had the privilege for 2 days to lead kids in worship before and after Josh McDowell spoke (during a conference). Talk about an honor! It's hard to put into words, but God was there in a powerful way. Looking out over the crowd we saw kids dancing, weeping, shouting, lifting their hands, jumping up and down, kneeling before the stage, and just totally lost in their Jesus. Many of us were overcome more than once during the worship. I had to ask God for the strength to sing, God's presence was so tangible.

Later a girl told Kristen the worship had changed her life. A boy named Micah came up to us and said that he had never been able to raise his hands in worship before, but something in him just had to that night. Another guy came up to Jay with a hoarse voice and said scratchily, "I lost my voice singing." Being able to see them enter true worship was more than humbling.

6-25-05 Captain Oblivious (Aggressive rock):
Tonight we did a concert with 60 people in the audience. Quite a few guys and gals were jumping & dancing close to the stage. I was taking it all in when a Crusade staffer said she thought a young man had some broken glass in his hand. I walked up behind him and heard him say, "Okay, he's gonna jump our way, I got it". What he had was a fair-sized piece of plexiglass with one end shaped like a blade...it was extremely sharp. I saw him take it and point it in the direction of Seth, our vocalist, (Seth had been stage diving). I tapped him on the shoulder and asked him for it. He said it wasn't his…that it "fell out" of the other guy's backpack. He handed it over. Funny thing...he and his buddies stayed for the whole concert and helped the team tear down.

This was just a reminder to me of the enemy at work. He's doing all he can to stop what our bands are doing. I don't know about the rest of you...I for one am rejoicing that the Word is going out, people are being ushered from the kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of Light, and we are being changed in the process. GO GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

6-28-05 SoulSeed (Urban Gospel):
On Sunday we had what could be considered our most memorable day on TOUR ever. Six members of the band taught evangelistic Bible studies to soldiers. We went through the Four Spiritual Laws with them, shared our testimonies, and lead them to Christ! It was life-changing seeing a room of 150 soldiers and having the opportunity to share the gospel with them!! The enemy was definitely upset about this wonderful opportunity and he tried all in his might to hinder us from ministering to the soldiers.

We were unable to get on base because we couldn’t find our insurance and registration papers for the van. With the tight security on base we were not going to be able to use Bible study as an excuse to go against the rules. After what seemed like HOURS, our host was able to find another vehicle to get us on base. Although we missed teaching some classes because we were late, about 40 soldiers accepted Christ during the two bible studies we did have!!

Later that evening we did a concert for another group of soldiers. And let me tell you... that night I think we almost broke the stage with the amount of energy we had. The soldiers were awesome and we thoroughly enjoyed sharing God's love with them.

Our Jobs

During the training time there is MUCH to be done, and both of us worked our tails off behind the scenes. Cathy planned and did much of the cooking for the Friday night dinners. All the students and staff eat together, watch a regular Keynote band perform, and then engage in lots of silliness—talent show acts at our thrown-together Holy Grounds coffee shop in the warehouse. Very fun, but students can really put the food away!! Especially when they’ve been cooking for themselves all week. :-)

Being the equipment dude and vehicle steward during the rest of the year, Tom continued in these for the Summer Project…except that during the year we have three large bands, and during the project we had SIX! Making sure each band had all the doo-hickies and thing-a-ma-jigs for their sound systems kept him busy until it was time to get a fleet of vehicles ready for the tours.

Prayer

Please pray for:
* the 500+ new believers in Christ,
* refreshing for Tom and Cathy as we head out to the Campus Crusade Staff Conference,
* protection and wise choices for Jon and Chris at home,
* Chris as he transitions into Anderson University August 1,
* our empty nest,
* what’s next for Cathy,
* and our finances.

Thanks!

-

June, 2005

2005-06-21T08:25:00.000-05:00

Keynote and the Former Soviet Union!

Remember Brother Andrew and others smuggling Bibles behind the Iron Curtain in the 60’s and 70’s? Soviet citizens and others communist countries were in spiritual lock-down, the vast majority without Bibles or anyone to tell them of God’s love for them. They were nameless and faceless prisoners out of our reach and behind enemy lines. And then the impossible happened! The West watched as the Berlin wall was torn down and the Soviet Union crumbled!!

Summertime at Keynote is all-hands-on-deck as dozens of college students invade our offices from all over the US to learn how to use music to reach the world for Christ. Last year, if you remember, we also had five men from Tajikistan, and this summer we have a team from Kazakhstan—both former Soviet strongholds. The Tajiks are still struggling for religious freedom under Muslim control, but God’s love is going out not only in their country, but in surrounding nations like Afghanistan, through their music ministry.

This week, we had the Kazaks in our home for some American food—homemade pizza!—and got to know their hearts which desire to share Christ and to have a positive influence in the music culture back home.

When we asked, “How is life different for you since the Soviet Union dissolved?” their answers were all the same: “I was able to hear about Jesus.” As they showed us photos on their laptop of conference rooms full of believers, heads bowed, hands raised praising God, we just kept shaking our heads in wonder. Something we thought we would never see—believers openly worshipping God in the former USSR! God truly is a Worker of the impossible!!

But with their new freedoms have come other forms of bondage—Muslims in leadership trying to impose Islam at every level of life, other cults, and even Western materialism all vie for Kazak souls. In this battle Keynote is coming alongside “Minority Report” (the name of their band) enabling them to be more effective on the front line of this spiritual assault into enemy territory. The Iron Curtain was removed, but the enemy’s bondage remains.

Thanks for helping us enable the Kazaks in a dark place to burn brightly! Your prayers and giving are affecting people we thought would never hear of Jesus!!

Howies Graduate Last Son

Chris graduated May 21, the first in his class! He will begin at Anderson University this August. Thanks for praying for him. The same day Cathy retired from home schooling! Pray for us as we seek God’s will in what is next for Cathy.

Five New Believers

On Wednesday nights during the school year, Cathy leads the children’s chapel ministry at church. On the last night there were many visitors in attendance, and she presented the Gospel. Five children accepted Christ! Four were visitors! Pray for these new little ones, Cathy, and others in the follow-up process.

Prayer

Please pray for:
* Student summer outreach bands (that God will use them to proclaim the Gospel),
* Transition and ministry placement for Cathy as our home schooling years are over,
* the Kazaks as they go home,
* the 5 new believers,
* and our finances.

Thanks!

-

April 2005

2005-04-18T09:38:00.000-05:00

www.drummingweb.com

Tom writes:

I receive a dozen or so emails a week from people who visit my drum site - most are just asking music questions.

But, this one came last week, and I wanted to share it with you all - not to gloat, it's not me, really, it's God. But it's just such a powerful testimony of how a humble website, burbling away on its own in cyberspace, can be a witness and a blessing.

I can't even begin to tell you how excited I am to have found your site. What you are doing is so awesome, especially since you tactfully give the glory where it belongs - to the LORD!!! I have drummed since I was a kid and have taken lessons on and off for years. Because I was a total mess-up before I gave my life to Jesus and couldn't stay focused on anything but girls, drugs and alcohol, I never really advanced my drum skills to the level I knew I could. Since I became a Christian 9 years ago, the Lord has given me a new passion and ample opportunities to use my gift for His glory (and my delight). However, now that I have 3 kids with major financial responsibilities on a slim single income, much needed lessons are out of the question (at least with a clear conscience). Your site has been a great inspiration to me as I endeavor to play skillfully (Psalm 33:3) to the Lord.

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! Keep up the awesome work!!

Join me in praying for this fellow, and in rejoicing that God is using something so simple to be a force for His Kingdom.

Internet Stuff

The Howies are expanding in cyberspace. The Internet is where it’s at, and we have some new tools to help you stay in touch with us, our family, and our ministry!

The Basics
First, there’s our long-time home on the World Wide Web, www.howies.org. On this site you can access our personal Keynote site, which contains an overview of our ministry, some information about Keynote, and a way to contribute financially (if you have fallen off in your giving because Campus Crusade didn’t send you your receipt, this is an easy way to get back on the team!);a resource site Tom put together with various things like essays, artwork, thoughts on religion and his testimony, etc.; and Tom’s world-famous Drumming Web.

New Additions
Next, we set up a domain for everyone in the family: www.jonhowie.com will send you to his Xanga Blog (he updates this quite often, with news of college doings and such); www.chrishowie.com sends you to Chris’ Xanga Blog; www.cathyhowie.com currently points to www.howies.org, but our intention in the near future is to turn this into a site devoted to Cathy’s music; and howieblog.blogspot.com, our new Keynote Ministry Blog.

The Best
This last website, howieblog.blogspot.com, is very important! In the past we have published our newsletter on our www.howies.org site. From here on out we will be publishing our newsletter on howieblog.blogspot.com. There are three reasons for this. 1. It’s easier for us, 2. it allows us to post continuous updates about our ministry and our lives rather than waiting until the end of the month, and 3. it allows you to post feedback to us online!

We’re most excited about this last feature – a new way for you to communicate with us! Simply go to howieblog.blogspot.com, and read the newest post. At the end of each post there will be a “comments” link; click on it and follow the instructions.

If you would prefer getting our newsletter by email or through the internet, PLEASE EMAIL US!

Support Stuff

This week we sat down with Carole, the Associate National Director of Keynote, and discussed our financial support. We talked about our personal finances, our income versus expenses, and our benefits

As we talked, Cathy and I realized that we haven’t taken a raise in salary since 1998, when Tom left his secular job! We’ve been struggling to make ends meet lately, dipping into savings – well, actually practically emptying our savings account – to pay our bills.

Carole was very concerned about this, particularly as it applies to our support situation. In the past 12 months, we have seen a zero balance in our Campus Crusade account several times, which has meant paychecks at about 25% of what they should be. Also, our benefits package (we pay our own medical, unemployment, and Social Security insurance premiums) has doubled in 8 years. These, coupled with the fact that our salary has fallen behind inflation, puts us in a very precarious position financially.

To put it succinctly, Keynote has asked us to find new ministry prayer partners and raise $2,000 in new monthly support. If we don’t do this, our position in Keynote is jeopardized, and we may have to leave staff.

What can you do?
One word: PRAY! We are looking for people, families, and churches, to pray for us REGULARLY as we begin to look for new ministry partners. We know God is the provider, so will you ask Him, on our behalf, to provide for our needs? Would you ask Him to give us practical help for each day? We have some of our own ideas and will share them with you in the weeks to come, but right now we need His direction. We need your prayers. THANK-YOU!

Two words: Partner Referral! Do you know anyone who would love to hear about our ministry? Please talk to him or her, and LET US KNOW! We love sharing what God is doing through us, and we’d love to talk to your friend!

Keynote is where God has called us to ministry. He has given us gifts and skills that are being used to tell people about Jesus all over the world. You are one of those gifts—Thanks for partnering with us!

One More Web Update

Tom has finished the design of the websites for two new Keynote bands: blue sky nine, and Piper Down! Click the links to see his work!

Family News Briefs

Everyone is healthy!
Cathy (laryngitis), Chris (strep), Tom (sinusitis), and Jon (mono) are all very glad to be well!

Chris and Poverty
Chris is taking one college class this semester: Social Problems. As part of his homework, he has to work two hours a week in an agency that seeks to alleviate a social problem. He drives down into the heart of Indy to work at a food pantry run by a good friend. His eyes are being opened a little wider.

Worship
Cathy spent last weekend leading ladies on a church retreat before the throne of God. “What an amazing privilege! Although everyone was very enthusiastic about my leading, what happened in each of our hearts was more about their desire to truly worship God than my leading. How cool to be in the room with them…. And the God of gods!

Response Card
We inadvertantly made mention of a response card in our April paper newsletter - that should have been removed. If you want to send us a card, well then please do! We'd love to hear from you!

Prayer

Please pray for:
* each of us to rest in God and His provision for everything we need… emotionally, physically, spiritually, and financially.
* Chris’ college decision (Anderson, Indiana Wesleyan, or Taylor University?) Thanks!

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March Madness

2005-03-18T15:55:00.000-05:00

House of Germs

It's been a wild month at the Howies. First, Chris became very ill - 102.3 fever, sleeping 20 hours a day, looking like death warmed over. After a quick trip to the local doctor, he was diagnosed with Strep and given a drug regimen.

One week later, Tom came down with similar symptoms, but did not have Strep.

Jon was home from college for Spring Break that week, and the day after we returned him to IWU he became very sick. A trip to the Health Center landed him in the hospital ER with Mono and dehydration! So, he's home recuperating.

(Blessings on the head of Laura, Jon's lady. She has been so great during this!)

Cathy has, so far, dodged the ubiquitous germs floating around our domain.

Worship

Cathy is, at this moment, leading worship for the Bridgeway Church's Women's Retreat. This is the third Women's Retreat she has attended this year: first the Keynote Women's Retreat, then the Trinity Church Women's Retreat, now Bridgeway.

With all the learning she has undergone in the past few months, her frontal lobe has been growing!

March Newsletter

We're working on the print edition of our March Keynote Newsletter, so stay tuned!

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Road Diaries

2005-03-04T10:54:00.000-05:00

Keynote bands Piper Down and Chasing Elvis have both returned from their 2005 inaugural tours, so we want to give you their updates from the road!

Piper Down

2/12/05

"I’m sitting in a Panera Bread place reflecting on the very first Piper Down tour and our concert last night. Oh, for those of you who don’t know, Piper Down – formerly known as “New Rock Band” – is made up of:

"Seth – singer of songs
"Jill – elegance incarnate on the keyboard and other singer of songs
"Dan – ruler of the rhythmic beats
"Rob – swashbuckler of the Bass
"Matt – purveyor of the wicked sweet guitar riffs
"Laura D – master of the mixing board
"And Me…Sam – ludicrously good looking guitarist on the left side of the stage

"Life on the road with a new band can be pretty interesting. Sometimes you play in a room where all of the power circuits are wired to a light dimmer pack so that none of your equipment works unless you run all the light faders at full power and unplug the lights that are connected to those circuits. And sometimes the maintenance guy that has all of this info forgets to tell you until after you’ve run around the room for an hour trying to figure out what’s going on. And sometimes guys named Mark don’t claim their food at Panera Bread, and unwittingly feed hungry Asian guys.

"Our evangelistic concert last night with Student Venture went pretty well. We played at Lake Highland Prep High School in downtown Orlando. All of the sound/power/stage issues we were having (we couldn’t get the monitors to work; the power didn’t work quite right; I might have blacked out a few times and luckily didn’t fall over; Seth nearly lost his lunch on stage; Matt cut his hand again….etc etc.) were kinda frustrating, but I think it was Mike Anderson that once said that we should look at stuff like this as opportunities to place our trust in God, and have our faith in Him grow.

"Through everything that came up, God was right there with us, and He got us through the concert. I think this concert also reminded me that things like sound/power issues and people passing out during a concert won’t stop God from working.

"There were probably around 70 high schoolers at the concert, and even more during halftime of the basketball game that was going on next door to us. Seth did a great job of engaging the crowd and getting them really pumped up. I think we may have set a new record for stage diving at a Keynote concert. On our comment cards, 8 people said they were interested in speaking with someone about spiritual things, and 4 people said they wanted to get involved in a Bible study. Lee, our host, said he only recognized 1 of the names on the comment cards that had a box checked off. And at least 5 people said they liked Seth’s shoes. Some of the comments we got were:

“'That was hot dude! Ya’ll sing uberly cool songs!'

“'I have one more experience with God in my life now, and it will be cool to talk to people and tell them about it.'

"-Sam"

2/16/05

"Piper Down at Southern Polytechnic State University, and Harvester something or other Church in Douglasville, GA. Basically…we’re in Atlanta, and we’re working with Atlanta Metro/Josh Irby, brother to our own Seth Irby.

"Our first concert was a lunch time cafeteria concert at Southern Polytechnic State University. There isn’t a crusade group on this campus, so we were there to help them get the ball rolling. It wasn’t a full on evangelistic concert….but Seth did share the Gospel…it was kind of in between an evangelistic concert and a pre-evnagelisic concert. I guess you could call it a Mid-evangelistic concert.

"The concert wasn’t your typical Piper Down fare. Because of noise issues, we were acoustic, and sans electric guitars…and bass,…and drums...and most of the screaming…and jumping…and flailing…we were practically naked up there, absent of the core characteristics that make a Piper Down concert what it is….it’d be like going to an IHOP and having your waiter say to you 'Sorry, we’re all out of pan cakes. Here, have some toast.'

"But all and all, things went alright. We had a pretty transient crowd, but at one time, we probably had 50 people or so hanging out. On our comment cards, 10 were interested in speaking with someone about spiritual things, 5 were interested in speaking with someone about beginning a relationship with God, and 10 were interested in getting involved in a Bible study. Josh actually got to talk to a group of guys for awhile during our concert, and by the end of it, he had a Bible study set up with those guys, ready to start next Wednesday.

"And then that night we played at Harvester (I don’t know the full name of the church) Church in Douglasville, GA. It’s the old stomping grounds of Mr. Seth Irby, and the current stomping grounds of his younger brother. We did an evangelistic concert for their youth group in the Gym. There were probably 30-40 people there, and 1 person said they wanted to get involved in a Bible study on the comment cards. Some of the comments we got were"

'I thought it was a good band and music even though I’m a little redneck.'

'I liked the show because it’s the only one I’ve been to that’s given me something spiritual to chew on.'

"Please pray for us as we’ve got 6 concerts in 4 days. Well, 2 of the concerts are acoustic 'no pancakes at IHOP' Piper Down concerts. So really, they should only count as half a concert each…so that puts us at 5 concerts in 4 days…but we have a few really late nights followed by early mornings. So those days should count twice as much….so, I guess we’re somewhere between 5 and 6 concerts in 4 days.

"-Sam"

2/18/05

"So I didn’t find out until after I’d sent that last update that Josh, and some of the other CCC Atlanta metro staffers, got to have some pretty good conversations with people during the concert. Josh had the privilege of speaking with a Muslim student. I’m not sure about all the details of this conversation, but Josh seemed pretty encouraged by it. Josh said that he told the guy about Jesus’ resurrection, and that it was totally new news to him. He also mentioned that he got to have a pretty cool conversation with an Indian student.

"We played in a pretty small room at Kennesaw State last night. The concert/event, sponsored by Campus Crusade and the Kennesaw State resident life people, was a benefit concert for tsunami victims. Another Atlanta area band, Almost Heroes, opened up for us. I don’t know their story, or even how we got hooked up with them, but I’m pretty sure they’re not Christians.

"It was cool getting to connect/talk with them a little bit before and after the concert. We let them use our sound system and some of the equipment. My ears might have been playing tricks on me, but I thought I heard someone mention that the Almost Heroes guys appreciated us sharing a sound system and stuff with them, and felt like we were treating them like family. Oh, and by the way, kudos to Laura D for doing a mighty fine job of running sound for what I would call a hectic/stressful situation.

"There were about 60 people there, and it looked like Josh and some of the other staffers were getting to have some pretty good conversations with students outside of the usual Crusade circle. I would call our set a pre-evangelistic concert, but we did get pretty close to the boarder of an evangelistic concert…then again, I don’t really like labels. Wasn’t it Kierkegaard who said 'If you label me, you negate me.'….?....hmmm

"No one checked any boxes on our lovely blue comment cards, but we did raise about $140 for charity, and about 6 people said they thought I looked like that guy Rufio in that movie 'Hook.'…which is weird because most people tell me I more closely resemble an Asian Denzel Washington. I don’t really see it, but who am I to argue?

"I think this concert might also have been the first time in a long time that I actually felt…heartbroken for the people we’re trying to minister to. I could be totally wrong, but it seemed like the general vibe in the room wasn’t that people had never heard about Jesus, or what he’d done to save us, but that they were pretty apathetic about any thoughts on God, or just didn’t think they needed God for anything. It kind of made me mournful (I’m not even sure if that’s the right word) in a way that I can’t really articulate.

"We’ve got a concert tonight here in Clarksville. I’m not totally sure what’s going on, but it looks like we’re going to be sharing the stage with 5 or 6 local Hardcore bands. It seems like it could be a good chance to connect with the other bands. Please keep praying for us as I think feelings of frustration are something we’ve all been dealing with at some point on this tour, and for all different reasons. Please pray that we’d remain united as a team, and that we’d continue to rely on God instead of our own strength.

"I’m gone like New Coke and Crystal Pepsi.

"-Sam"

2/19/05

"Sometimes, I like to sit in silence and see if I can hear God’s voice speaking in it. Tonight though, the only thing I can hear is a high pitched
"'eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.'

"That’s the last time I don’t wear earplugs on stage during a concert featuring 5 Hardcore bands…and us.

"We were just one of the bands playing tonight at the Penny 2 …club?...I’m not really sure what to call it. If you asked me, it was literally a dark hole in the wall. It kinda looked like a dank concrete basement where an underground fight club would have weekly meetings.

"There were actually a couple other Christian bands there tonight, but this definitely wasn’t a Christian event. We were working with Randy, a youth pastor/friend of Seth’s, and we basically had 30 minutes on stage to do our thing. It was kinda weird being the “tame” band of the night. We were there to plug Randy’s youth group (which, incidentally, meets at the Penny 2), to let people know about our concert tomorrow night, and also to connect with the other bands/whoever happened to be there tonight.

"We’ve had this video camera with us on this tour, and we got the idea to make a movie (actually, I borrowed the idea from the Allert’s…the CCC staff persons in San Antonio). It’s kind of a 'Welcome to Our World,' - a look at the people we meet on tour, the people we’re trying to reach. Rob got some great interview footage with the owner of the Penny 2 and some guys from the other bands. He mostly just asked for their honest opinions on life, God, religion, whatever we might think of at the time, or whatever else might be on their minds.

"Rob’s interview with the owner of the Penny 2 ( I can’t remember his name, but I think it was BJ) actually opened up the door for a cool conversation about God and stuff…which is actually the other reason we wanted to do these interviews. Rob said that BJ seemed like he was searching, and that they talked about getting to start over with God, a grand mulligan on life if you will. Pray that this conversation would get BJ to keep searching for God, and that he’d keep considering Christ as the answer.

"We’ve got one more concert tomorrow night at the Coffee Cave before we head home, and then….hey, look over there…it’s a bird…

"-Sam"

2/20/05

"60ft by 30ft. There’s a lot of stuff that’s pretty big and roomy that are also smaller than 60 x 30…like the inside of a twelve passenger van…mmmm, roomy…and Andre the Giant….big, and yet both are smaller than 60 x 30.

"But for some reason, playing a rock show in a coffee shop that’s 60 x 30 (that’s actually how many paces it is on the outside of the building) doesn’t seem so big and/or roomy. The Coffee Cave, though small in size, certainly had its wee little face rocked off last night. We played an evangelistic concert for a transient 20-30 people.

"Seth was telling us that the owners of the Coffee Cave are just starting to go through a divorce, and we weren’t even sure if this concert was going to happen. Seth seemed encouraged though and thought that our concert/message was just what Dawn (the owner) needed to hear at the time. If you wanted to say a prayer for them, that’d be swell.

"Seth also got to talk a little bit with Matt, one of the guys in the band that played after us. I don’t know what they talked about, but on his comment card, Matt wrote 'Thanks for explaining God in the only way I understand – music.'

"To be honest, I’m not totally sure why we were there. Maybe it was so Seth could talk to Matt, or maybe we were there for Dawn, or maybe we were there to show that kid with fangs that you can have a fun time with normal teeth. But I’m trusting that God had us there for a purpose, even if I can’t see it right in front of my face.

"-Sam"

Chasing Elvis

2/27/05

"Greetings from the commonwealth of Virgina:

"I figured it was time to send an update on the last week in the life of Chasing Elvis.

"Our show at Ft. Jackson in Columbia, SC last Sunday was awesome! The room was packed, with people sitting in the aisles and standing in the back, with about 700 total. After the concert, the comment cards showed that over 30 soldiers started a relationship with God, and over 80 were interested in talking more about spiritual things. Praise Him!

"So far this tour we have had 2 concerts canceled. First ECU, then both shows at George Mason.

"Needless to say, we were disappointed, but appparently we weren't supposed to play. At George Mason, we woke up and it was snowing, and i think no one in the area knows how to drive in snow, so they closed the school for the day! We tried to play the next day, but to no avail. The operations department at GM didn't have enough people on staff that day to make our show happen.

"Tonight we are playing at Langley AFB. We would appreciate your prayers. Then tomorrow night we have a show in Williamsport, PA before heading home Tuesday.

"Thanks for praying!

"Randy"

We got some letters from students at recent Chasing Elvis concerts. here's what they had to say:

"hey everyone!

"i just thought you would like to know that the chasing elvis was HUGE SUCCESS! on a campus that is notorious for flops, especially with a huge
snow storm to taunt us, we managed around 200 people to come. 40% being crusade members! it was amazing! one person accepted christ tonight and many expressed an interest about God and crusade! i am blown away by Gods work and our team of dedicated members that worked sooo hard to make the event work. Praise God, He definately deserves it!

-nate"

You can follow these bands on their websites:

www.piperdown.net
www.chasingelvis.com

That's all for now. We'll keep you updated on all the keynote news.

Keep checking back here!

-Tomas

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February Ministry News

2005-02-22T10:05:00.000-05:00

2005 Touring Season Begins

The newest Keynote band is the first out of the winter rehearsal gate. Piper Down, a loud rock band with punk leanings is on the road in Florida and Georgia, ministering to high school students with its energetic music and staff. Piper Down will be working mostly with Student Venture, Campus Crusade’s outreach to high school students. After their first concert yesterday, we received the following email:

"Our evangelistic concert with Student Venture went pretty well. We played at Lake Highland Prep High School in downtown Orlando. All of the sound/power/stage issues we were having (we couldn’t get monitors to work; the power didn’t work quite right; I might have blacked out a few times; Seth nearly lost his lunch on stage; Matt cut his hand again….etc etc.) were kinda frustrating, but a friend once said that we should look at stuff like this as opportunities to place our trust in God, and have our faith in Him grow.

"Through everything that came up, God was right there with us, and He got us through the concert. I think this concert also reminded me that things like sound/power issues and people passing out during a concert won’t stop God from working.

"There were probably around 70 high schoolers at the concert, and even more during the halftime of the basketball game that was going on next door to us. Seth did a great job of engaging the crowd and getting them really pumped up. On our comment cards, 8 people said they were interested in speaking with someone about spiritual things, and 4 people said they wanted to get involved in a Bible study. Lee, our host, said he only recognized 1 of the names on the comment cards! One young person wrote this comment: 'I have one more experience with God in my life now, and it will be cool to talk to people and tell them about it.'”

Stay tuned for more PIPER DOWN updates!

On The Other Side Of The Bus

When we were touring with X-nelo, Tom got to drive the bus... these days he spends most of his "bus time" on the other end! One of his main duties is to make sure the vehicles (2 big buses like this one, several vans and trailers) are road ready for the bands. Chasing Elvis just left in one of the buses and Piper Down (see below) took a van/trailer combo. Pray for them…. And their vehicles!

Keynote Goes International!

When you think of Jamaica, what comes to mind? Beaches? Reggae? Hurricanes? Soon you may be thinking “spiritual movements.”

Last year, Keynote created a short-term partnership to help facilitate the growth and expansion of the Campus Crusade ministry in Jamaica. As part of our ongoing commitment to resource our staff around the world, a team from Keynote traveled to Jamaica last month to be a part of the “winter” conference of the Jamaican campus ministry.

Two Keynote staffers on the right leading worship in Jamaica

Since our team almost doubled the size of the staff team at the conference, they not only served by leading praise and worship at each of the sessions, but by helping out with teaching a seminar called “The Priority of Your Relationship with God”, joining in the community outreach, and with various other conference needs. Even though Keynote’s primary role is music evangelism, our small team contributed significantly to the success of the conference and the growth of the ministry there, by simply being available and serving where needed.

So was it worth the effort to send this team? Last year, seven students attended the Jamaican winter conference, and this year’s attendance grew to twenty-seven—our team was definitely needed! Yet most significant was the response of the students. After several days of strong ministry training and teaching, the students were challenged by their National Campus Director, Carrol Richards, to commit at least a year of their life to the service of the Lord, through an internship with Campus Crusade or by joining their staff. Of the 27 conferees, 13 of those young adults responded with a commitment to serve the Lord for a full year following their graduation!

And when you think of Singapore, what comes to mind? Beaches? Tsunamis? East-Asian capitalism? Soon you may be thinking “music ministries.”

The Andersons, a Keynote family of 6, are working with the music ministry in Singapore in the area of team building and direction. They have been there for seven months (only three left to go) and are excited about the work that has been accomplished so far. In just one tour of an Asian country, they saw over 500 people come to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ!!!

The mission of Keynote is to partner with strategic ministries to share God’s love through music and the performing arts. We are privileged to see the Lord raising up laborers for His harvest in Jamaica and East Asia, and we are grateful to have you as partners with us in this mission, in Jamaica, in the U.S., and in nations far beyond our borders. Thank you for your prayers and support, as we continue to serve Him and resource other ministries around the globe with you!

News Briefs

Christmas Cards - We continue to read through the cards many of you sent. We pray for you as we read the fun letters and updates. If you didn’t send us a card, please drop us a line and let us know what’s up with you so we can better pray for you!

2004 Stats - Some of you asked about the stats on the back page of last month’s letter. You wanted to know how many Keynote offices there are in the US and what the breakdown for the stats was for each office. Well, there is only one office, the one we work at here in Indy. All the stats were from bands going out of this office! Thanks for your part in enlarging the Kingdom!

Websites - Stay tuned for more cool stuff on the web. But for now, if you want to see a little of what Tom has been doing, check out www.piperdown.net. We will also be moving into cyber space. If you would like to receive a notice when our new prayer letter is on the web, write us at cathyh@keynote.org.

Please pray for

The bands as they begin the touring season— for team unity, sensitivity to the Spirit and fruitful ministry; and Cathy (laryngitis!).

What Do You Think?

Please use the comments link below to let us know what you think of the "new" Howie Blog-Letter! These comments will be posted for all to see. If you want to write us privately, email Cathy at the email address above.

Keep your eyes on this space for all developments in our Keynote Ministry! We will not only be posting our monthly newsletter here, but also band road reports (affectionately called "War Stories"), personal notes, thoughts, and happenings.

We love you all.

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