As a part of our Church Leader Training program,
we would like to introduce Rodney Velting.
The Jerusalem Project is assisting
with their expenses, providing office
space y, and arranging opportunities
for the family to connect with families
here at Calvary Church.
If you are interested in connecting
with the Bacskai family during their
visit, please contact Denny Bergakker
([email protected]).
Gi ving To the Jerusalem Project
As a body of believers, we feel God
is asking all of us to play a part in
this project. As we gain a greater
understanding of the needs in these
areas, we hope to identify specific
areas where you could give your time
and talents to assist. These might
include serving on a care team for
an international pastor, helping with
accounting needs for a church plant,
or providing prayer support for a
pastoral resident.
You can also give of your treasure.
You can give to the Jerusalem Project
which will allow us to continue to do
church planting, leader training and
church strengthening both now and
in the future. To give to the Jerusalem
Project, simply check the box on the
giving envelopes or write “Jerusalem
Project” on the memo line of your
check. You can also designate your
gift to one specific aspect of the
project and your dollars will stay in
that particular area. Legacy gifts are
a great way to see the Jerusalem
Project continue long into the future.
My family came to Calvary
Church about 25 years ago
when I was in fifth grade. I have
attended Calvary ever since.
I married my beautiful wife
Christine in 2002 and we have
four children (Tessa-11, Audri-9,
Grisham-7 and Moses-4). God
has taken us on quite the journey
and the pastoral residency
program is just another in a
long line of blessings that God has graciously poured out on us
through Calvary Church.
Several years ago I felt God calling me to ministry, specifically
the pastoral residency program. However, Christine and I were
in the “waiting period” of the adoption process. While praying
about the residency program we received the referral for our
son. We felt this was God’s way of telling us to focus on bringing
our son home. This was clearly from the Lord as it wasn’t an easy
transition.
After awhile I felt God really nudging once again so I talked to
Jim Samra about starting the residency program. Not long after
that discussion, in January of 2016, my dad was diagnosed with
stage 4 brain cancer and given three to six months to live. I felt
God telling me that I needed to be available for my mom and
dad, and more importantly, to be there for my wife and kids.
My dad passed away in July 2017
and it took a few months of
grieving before God again began
telling me that now was the
time. In December 2017, as our
community group was reading
a book together, every word just
jumped off the page and slapped
me in the face. I knew I needed
to talk to Jim, once again, about
starting the residency program.
HOW CAN YOU BE A PART OF
RODNEY’S JOURNEY?
• Pray for him and his
family
• Send a note of
encouragement to him
at church
PO Box 1600, Grand
Rapids MI 49501
• Invite his family over to
share a meal
• If you see him, ask him
how things are going and
how you can pray for him
God has been so gracious to
give my exactly what we needed
through our adoption process,
the death of a parent and the
beginning of a new career in
ministry. I know that God’s hand has been guiding this and His
timing is perfect.
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