Christians SPEAK UP!

Carol grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and lived in the Midwest most of her married life. In her first novel, Lake Surrender, Carol uses her love of Michigan lakes to tell a story of a woman to see a greater hand at work amidst her struggles with abrupt change and difficult circumstances. With slices of humor, Carol writes of the hardships many face, especially single moms. Her characters include the parent of a disabled child, a displaced employee, a lonely widow and a once homeless young man. 
https://www.carolgstratton.com/

Join us this week on Christian Devotions SPEAK UP! when host Scott McCausey interviews the Director of Rock Lake Christian Assembly, Henry Hawver.

Henry has served the Lord in many different venues, but not until he rededicated his life to Christ after questioning the validity of scripture. Through friend and minister Hi Gates, he turned his face back to God and lived a transformed life. He first became a minister at Wheaton Church of Christ in Remus, Michigan before preaching in Dewitt, Michigan.

Henry and his wife of almost forty years, Lois, have been involved in the care of children all their married lives. They have adopted four children, been involved in foster care for thirteen years and support Central Michigan Pregnancy Services in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan.

Through their passion for young people, involvement in a Christian Camp was a fore-drawn conclusion. Henry has served for over thirty years at Rock Lake. This adventure started as a 4th-5th grade camp counselor. Eventually, he was asked to take over the camp as the Dean. After ten years in this capacity, the camp director job became available. Henry felt led to serve in this capacity full-time and has been doing so ever since. As well as Director of the camp, he has served on the Program Committee, Capital Fund Committee and as Trustee.

Henry’s favorite thing about camp is being present when young people learn spiritual truths, commit themselves to Jesus as Lord and Savior of their lives, and are immersed in the lake.

Join us this week on Christian Devotions SPEAK UP! as Scott chats about feeding the hungry and clothing the needy with Pastor Russ McCoy.

Pastor Russ is affectionately known by the locals in St. Johns, MI, as a man of God and provider to the needy. Yet, his life was not always that of a humanitarian. As a troubled youth, he found himself serving in Okinawa during the Vietnam War. His first marriage lasted only five years as he fathered two children.

In 1993, his life was forever changed as he accepted the Lord, went to seminary, and became an Assembly of God Minister. He’s been married to Adele for forty-one years, serving the Lord and being an entrepreneur.

In 2010, Russ started The Basic Needs Center.  He and Adele have served over 1500 client families with food and clothing. God has provided everything needed through community support, local businesses, and a 100 percent volunteer staff.

Cindy Sproles is an author and speaker. She is the cofounder of Christian Devotions Ministries and the cowriter of the popular He Said, She Said Devotions written with her cofounder, Eddie Jones.

Cindy’s devotions and articles are published in Christian newspapers across the eastern seaboard, including Common Ground Christian Newspaper, Tri-County News and Hometown Christian News. She is a speaker for women’s conferences addressing not only the heart of women, but also their biblical responsibilities to their families. As a teacher and speaker for Christian writers conferences, Cindy teaches writing skills and how to write, placing God in the forefront.

She is a contributing author to CBN.com and is the Executive Editor for www.christiandevotions.us and the Devotional Acquisitions Editor for Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas. Cindy works alongside Scott McCausey and Eddie Jones to cohost the syndicated Blog Talk Radio show, Christian Devotions SPEAK UP! She is a certified life coach and mentor, an eldercare specialist, and a special needs advocate.
Her book, New Sheets –Thirty Days to Refine You Into the Woman You Can Be is being used to help raise funds for Hope House, an abortion crisis center. You can also check out her books at: https://cindysproles.com/

A Vanderbilt University professor, Debra Coleman Jeter has published fiction and nonfiction in popular magazines, including Working Woman, New Woman, Self, Home Life, Savvy, Christian Woman, and American Baby. Her story, Recovery, won first prize in a Christian women’s short story competition, and her nonfiction book Pshaw, It’s Me Grandson: Tales of a Young Actor was a finalist in the 2007 USA Book News Awards. She is a co-writer of the screenplay for Jess + Moss, a feature film which premiered in 2011 at the Sundance Film Festival, screened at nearly forty film festivals around the world, and captured several international awards. She lives in Clarksville, Tennessee, with her husband, where she’s releasing her newest book, The Ticket.

Jeremy Lundmark has served as the Pastor of Community Baptist Church in Apalachin, NY since 2009. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Life Choices Center in Binghamton, NY and works as a State Chapter Organizing Representative for the American Pastor’s Network in NY.

In June of 2014, Jeremy published his first book, The Fury of God. He was also the founder and president of Diligence Applied Ministries from 2009 to 2012. All his articles are now available on his personal blog, www.jeremylundmark.com. Jeremy is a passionate preacher of the Word of God and he is also passionately pro-life.

Join us this week on Christians SPEAK UP!  as Kirk Cousins outlines how he went from a small-time high school recruit to a Big Ten All-Star and a Washington Redskin.

Three-time team captain, Kirk Cousins is currently considered one of the most successful quarterbacks in Michigan State University history, holding MSU records for passing yards, touchdowns, completions, and more. In addition to his success on the gridiron, Kirk was named Academic All-Big Ten four years in a row, and he was selected as the 2011 Lowe's Senior CLASS Award winner in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision.

In 2012, Kirk was drafted by the Washington Redskins, where he has continued to inspire on and off the field. The son of Don and MaryAnn Cousins, Kirk grew up in Holland, Michigan, with his siblings, Kyle and Karalyne. Game Changer is his first book and outlines a God-led life.

Game Changer: Faith, Football & Finding Your Way is his first book and outlines a God-led life. Cousins gives readers an inside look at his life?as experienced under the bright lights of college and professional football?and how he puts his faith and values into action, both on and off the field.

Join us this week on Christians SPEAK UP! as members of the talented Snyder family share their heart for serving God through music, writing, and web design.

John I. Snyder is an international pastor, author, and conference speaker. His highly-acclaimed prayer guide, Your 100-Day Prayer from Thomas Nelson Publishers, has transformed the lives of readers all over the world. John received his Master of Theology and Master of Divinity degrees from Princeton Theological Seminary. He and his talented wife Sherin are involved in church-planting ministry and the new www.TheologyMix.com.  She is an interpreter for international conferences, an events planner, and much more.
Their daughter Stephanie finished high school at fourteen, just before moving with her family to Europe for missions. She earned her Freelance Journalism Honors Diploma and Honors Diploma in Subediting and Design from the London School of Journalism.

Sarah, the Snyder’s other daughter, also finished high school at age fourteen, then attended the King’s College in New York City. When the family moved to Switzerland, Sarah followed her sister’s footsteps and enrolled in the London School of Journalism and earned her Journalism, Newswriting, Subediting, and Design Honors Diplomas. Sarah (guitar, vocals, and piano) and Stephanie (drums, vocals, and percussion) formed the rock band Deer Park Avenue and have produced three records with renowned bassist Matt Bissonette.

Danen Kane has never been afraid to break convention in his music, but he has a remarkable ability to maintain accessibility and consistency of voice while creating eclectic and sometimes surprising tunes. Part of that ability comes from his unconventional path to music ministry. Kane’s first love was not piano or guitar; it was basketball. In fact, he didn’t do anything musical until he was twenty years old, when he felt a strong call from God to lay down the hours invested in his sport and focus on pursuing his faith.

“During my sophomore year of college,” Kane recalls, “I had a roommate who had an acoustic guitar and I was really curious. I grew up in a small town that didn't have any avenues of learning that kind of thing, so I just asked him if I could use it to try to learn some worship songs that I'd heard at Campus Crusade for Christ.” Despite no formal guitar or vocal training, one short year later he had completed his first independent project.

Being honest with himself is something that has served Kane well both in his faith and his music. That honesty is part of the strong theme woven throughout the songs of his new CD, Flesh and Soul. Kane explains, “There is a battle between flesh and spirit, a tension of living in our brokenness and our bodies and yet very much desiring God in every single moment. It’s a daily battle for the brand-new Christian or the Christian of 40 or 50 years. This record is about embracing the journey of sanctification and encouraging myself and encouraging others that if you're not in the best spot, or if you're struggling or feel like you've taken a step back, to keep fighting and keep wrestling with that.”

Join us this week on Christians SPEAK UP! when Scott shares the road of cancer survival with author and Boot Camp graduate Venita McCart.

Venita McCart began her ministry of encouraging cancer patients in 2004 and founded Faith Force Cancer Support Group Ministry in 2005. According to statistics at the time of her cancer diagnosis in 2000, her prognosis for survival was grim.

Because of her passion for Christ and a call to serve those dealing with cancer, she has been in contact with countless cancer patients and loved ones through her care group, personal contacts, writing, and speaking. Her goal is to encourage cancer patients and their loved ones from the perspective of faith. 

Venita serves as the Support Group Ministry Director in her church. She is an award-winning volunteer with the American Cancer Society and a member of the American Brain Tumor Association. Venita is a member of Word Weavers, has been published with Christian Devotions.us, and writes the material for her Faith Force Support Group Ministry meetings. Her favorite earthly joy is to spend time with her husband Gary, their two adult children (and spouses), and her six grandchildren.

Her first book, “It’s Cancer” – Finding Help and Hope on the Road to Recovery, was written to encourage cancer patients, survivors, and loved ones.