MAY 2011

A Publication ofChristian Encounter Ministries

Tending Lives…Training Leaders…

Christian Encounter

Expressing the love of ChristExpressionswww.ChristianEncounter.org Phone: 530-268-0877

CEM Staff Members Share Their Hearts in Riding the Agony

Suzanne Hartley, High School Teacher (goal: 300 miles) “Keep Pedaling. It may not always be fast; it might even hurt; but as long as you are able, just keep pedaling. This is something I re-peat to myself in the wee hours of the night. Every mile I pedal is both dollars raised and a living example of what we are asking our students at CEM to do every day. Just keep moving forward, even if it’s baby steps. The Agony is priceless in its testimony to our students. The gifted athletes start out strong, but then fade and hurt and still keep riding. The non-athletes are out of their element,

but also keep riding. The message is the same. Point your bike in the right direction (this part is critical!) and pedal. My goal will be to ride as far as I can while also being mindful of the testimony I am living out. One by one, the students will start to see that this is not just an athletic event, but a metaphor for their new lives in Christ.”

John Cox, Director of Counseling (goal: 200 miles)“I’m not a bicycle rider. I enjoy going for a hike, a run, or a walk. But after biking only a few miles, my body complains. My legs and knees hurt; my arms and hands are tired. Am I done yet? No, this is just the beginning. Then I am reminded that this challenge is not much different from what we ask our students to do every day. We ask them to trust, to take down their defenses, and let God heal their deep wounds and rebuild them. It doesn’t come easily. It is not comfortable, and yet they do it every day. I can’t

ask the students to do something I am not also willing to do. So, I get back on my bicycle. I press on in my training—even when it hurts. I keep my focus on the goal: to help the CEM students have a chance at a new life in Christ.”

Mary Parro�, Receptionist/Admissions Secretary (goal: 300 miles)“The Agony Ride is hard to describe. You have to participate in it to fully understand the pain. The Ranch is hard to explain. People don’t really grasp how difficult it is until they experience it. But God is powerful in painful and difficult situations. I know the Holy Spirit is present at the Agony—there is no other reason for so many people to push their bodies so hard, as either a rider or a sag-ger, except that they love Jesus and they love the kids at the Ranch. I also know the Holy Spirit is present and active here. There is no

other reason for a ministry like CEM to still be functioning in times as hard as these—except the Lord has willed it. People continue to give, even when it’s hard. Students keep coming, interns keep serving. It’s hard. But Jesus always shows up for the hard stuff.” See STAFF, Page 2

Special Pre-Agony Issue

Page 2

Christian Encounter Ministries is a non-profit, non-denominational, residential program helping 16- to 25-year-olds by providing love, spiritual guidance, high school education, counseling, and 24-hour supervision. Internships are offered to qualifying upper-level college students and graduates. CEM is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountibility, and all gifts are tax deductible.

agony Gearing up for

CEM’s 29th Annual 24-Hour

Benefit Bicycle Ride

July 29-30, 2011 1PM-1PM

Webster says “to sag” means “to droop, sink, slump; to lose strength or resilience.” Thus we have “Sag Stations” manned by “Saggers.” (S.A.G. is also an acronym for support and gear.) Volunteers come

from far and near to keep bike riders from drooping, losing strength, slumping, and sinking. They check bikes for safety,

offer food and drink, massage sore muscles, monitor medi-cal conditions, and give important encouragement and

enthusiasm. You don’t ride a bike? You can experi-ence the joys and camaraderie of the “best biking

event in the world!”

Am I Sagging?

Tom Kern, High School Principal (goal: 200 miles)“Not by might, not by power, but by my Spirit says the Lord Almighty. (Zechariah 4:6) Picture a bicycle wheel. First, the axle—the center of the wheel—the students are the purpose of the Agony. They’re here because they are losing life’s ba�les. Simply trying harder will not give them victory. Only God and His Spirit can do that. Surrounding our students are the spokes—the Agony riders. We join ourselves to the students as conduits of

God’s love and power. We, also, are dependent on God’s power, love, and wisdom, not our own. Then, the tire/rim—you partners in prayer and sup-port. You hold the spokes together so the wheel is a balanced unit. Because you are the dispenser of God’s material funds, the event’s success is depen-dent on you. Thank you in advance for responding to God’s prompting and being His channel of love and provision for His kids here at CEM.”

STAFF I Motives for Riding Clarifiedcontinued from Page 1

METROCREATIVECONNECTION.COM, 123RF.COM, KANSASHIGHWAYPATROL.ORG

Lisa Carr Keri Chappell Ken Clark Gary Clelan Bryce Corkins John Cox Carol Douglass Katie Dyer Mike Dyer Jennifer Foxen Sco� Harms

Page 3

Rare and Extremely Rare by Mike Petrillo

Agony Rider(s) defined:Noun, plur. or sing. 1] Rare: Men and women who demonstrate the love of Christ by riding a recently popularized torture device (bicycle) as far as possible in 24 hours. By raising funds for each mile of suffering, they provide for and encourage those who are seeking a deeper fellowship with Jesus. 2] Extremely rare: CEM students who have received benefit from previous Agony Riders and who follow their example of commit-ment. Only 575 people meet the criteria of definition 1] and just thirty can identify with definition 2].

In the past 29 years only a select number of people have lived up to the definition of Agony Rider. Many of them have ridden in numerous Agony Rides. One has ridden in them all. Because they made these sacrifices, hundreds of youth who have needed a place to find the healing of Jesus’ love have been able to come to Chris-tian Encounter Ministries. The most unique and rare group of all are those special individuals who watch an Agony as a CEM student, who capture the vision of sacrifice and service, and who come back as Agony Riders. Jackie Turner (pictured far right), who completed the residential program of CEM in 2010 had this insight: “I saw Agony riders like Pastor John ride in honor of his dad on his father’s old trike. That was true commitment that was so real. I watched CEM staff and former interns making sacrifices for the students. They were people I complained to all the time as a ranch student. I saw people like Amber Tippe� ride and heard her say, ‘To love the ranch students is worth the pain.’ So I want to ride as a way to pour out the deep love in my heart.”

There are 30 other stories of deep love, commitment, appreciation, reconciliation, and spiritual power. Those stories are from that rarest group of Agony Riders. Three former students have ridden over 300 miles in 24 hours. Eighteen have raised more than $1,000 each for other students. Two rode while recovering from serious physical ailments. Jackie will become rider 31 (and 576) of that number on July 29. One of her roommates at the women’s ministry house for CEM grads, Amy Rothman (pictured right), plans to join her—32 and 577—and still counting.

It is an honor to be named among these saints. Won’t you add your name to this list of rare individuals?! You will never forget the teamwork, the camaraderie, and the satisfaction of serving the Body of Christ.

Follower(s) of Jesus defined: Noun, Plur. or sing. Men, women and children who examine and respond to the commands of Jesus Christ, especially those whocommit to personal acts of sacrifice such as serving the sick andthe poor; missionaries; evangelists; agony riders; etc.

Do you see your name below?Winter left reluctantly this year, and the cold, damp weather hasn’t been

conducive to enthusiastic bicycle training! These forward-thinking bikers have already registered for the 2011 Agony anyway! You can register on-line (www.

christianencounter.org) or call for an application at 530-268-0877.

Riders are met at each check-in station by a diverse group of enthusiastic saggers.

Suzanne Hartley Tom Kern Jeff LaChappell Holly LaChappell Haily Macedo Nancy March Steve March Craig McAtee Patrick McKenzie Phillip Nunnink

Doug Parro� Mary Parro� Janet Pearson Amy Rothman Trent Thacker Jackie Turner Marcia Ward Beth Welch Ruth Welch Sheila Wimberly

NONPROFIT ORG.U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDGRASS VALLEY, CA

PERMIT NO. 60

Christian Encounter MinistriesPO Box 1022Grass Valley, CA 95945

CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED

•

July 29-30, 2011AGONY RIDE RESPONSE FORM

You may also sign up to ride or SAG or make a donation via PayPal online at ChristianEncounter.org

[ ] I am 18 or older and would like to SAG in CEM’s 24-hour Agony Bicycle Ride.

[ ] I am 18 or older and would like to RIDE in CEM’s 24-hour Agony Bicycle Ride.

[ ] I want to send a tax-deductible gift to Christian Encounter Ministries to sponsor my rider _________________________

( ) $1.00 ( ) $.50 ( ) $.25 ( ) $________per mile OR $________flat donation

If you do not specify a rider, your pledge will go to “Team CEM” (John Cox, Suzanne Hartley, Tom Kern, Mary Parro�) We anticipate most riders will go 225-300 miles.

Please make your Agony pledges above and beyond your regular church and mission giving.

Name: ________________________________________________

Address: _____________________________________________

City: ______________________State: ____ Zip: ____________

Phone: _______________________________________________