Partnering With You

Monday, November 30, 2009

November, 2009 - A New Direction

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.

-

Friday, January 30, 2009

January, 2009

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!!!!

------------

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!!

-----

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

-

Monday, October 20, 2008

October, 2008

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!!

-----

Our mission statement

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

Authentic
Dynamic
Catalytic
Worldwide
Life Change

Thursday, August 28, 2008

August, 2008

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!!

-----

Our mission statement

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

Authentic
Dynamic
Catalytic
Worldwide
Life Change

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

June, 2008

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!!

-----

Our mission statement

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

Authentic
Dynamic
Catalytic
Worldwide
Life Change

Tuesday, May 06, 2008

May, 2008

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!!

-----

Our mission statement

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

Authentic
Dynamic
Catalytic
Worldwide
Life Change

Wednesday, February 06, 2008

February, 2008

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!!

-----

Our mission statement

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

Authentic
Dynamic
Catalytic
Worldwide
Life Change

Thursday, January 24, 2008

January, 2008

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!!

-----

Our mission statement

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

Authentic
Dynamic
Catalytic
Worldwide
Life Change

Tuesday, August 21, 2007

August, 2007

“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!!

-----

Our mission statement

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

Authentic
Dynamic
Catalytic
Worldwide
Life Change

Monday, July 30, 2007

Summer Project 2007 Update

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

-----

Our mission statement

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

Authentic
Dynamic
Catalytic
Worldwide
Life Change

Partnering With You

Monday, November 30, 2009

November, 2009 - A New Direction

Friday, January 30, 2009

January, 2009

Monday, October 20, 2008

October, 2008

Thursday, August 28, 2008

August, 2008

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

June, 2008

Tuesday, May 06, 2008

May, 2008

Wednesday, February 06, 2008

February, 2008

Thursday, January 24, 2008

January, 2008

Tuesday, August 21, 2007

August, 2007

Monday, July 30, 2007

Summer Project 2007 Update

Previous Posts

Archives