We are excited about the new year and what it holds for Christian Service Mission. After seven years of service and impacting hundreds and thousands of lives, we are looking forward to 2017. I believe the Lord has called everyone at CSM to “Connect with” people, communities and organizations for the Gospel. Seven years ago, the Lord lead me here with a clear challenge to bring critically necessary change to this four-decade-old organization and restore its roots in the Gospel. It has been an interesting journey, but I would not change anything.In 2010, CSM lacked vision, mission, values, and was in a massive amount of debt. We immediately developed a new Board of Directors that reflected the vision of “Connecting Resources with Needs.” Then we began the process of cleaning up a 40-year-old organization and making it fresh and new for our Master’s use. Last month, with the Board's encouragement, we set a new course and path for CSM. We will be debt free next month with a new opportunity to move forward. We have been charting this course with the staff for the last few months. After the Board meeting in March, we should be moving forward with a 2020 vision.
Since the Lord lead me to CSM in 2010, the phrase “Connect with…” has been on my heart and in my mouth, and essential to how we work out the Gospel here at CSM. Micah 6:8 defines that phrase and has been an impacting passage for us. The call to “do justice, love mercy and walk humbly before our God” is the path we have chosen. The Word of God teaches us so much about justice as the way we should look at life, people and God’s love for humanity. To love mercy is the heart He wants us to have toward all humanity and His great commandment. To walk humbly with our God is the daily living out of our relationship with God and people. “Connect with…” is the path of our vision for 2020.
“Connect with…” our partnerships impacts people and communities to see the Gospel change us from the inside out. “Connect with…” our campus initiatives impacts lives through daily mentoring and ministering by our staff and volunteers. “Connect with…” resource-sharing maximizes the impact we can all have in our partnership with the Gospel.
“Connect with…” has been in my heart for a long time, and we are ready to live out Micah 6:8 through justice, mercy and humbly walking in the path God lays before us. Thank you for trusting and connecting with CSM in the past, and joining with this vision for the future.
