“And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the spirit.” -2 Corinthians 3:18
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Let’s walk down memory lane. Take a moment to think about the most beautiful landscape you’ve ever seen. Was it a sunrise where the sun lit up the sky with the most beautiful colors? Or maybe it was a snowy mountain peak on a blue-sky day? Or was it a gorgeous field of flowers? A sunset at the beach?
Now take a moment to think about what you felt. Did you just gaze at the landscape for 10 seconds and then move on like it was no big deal? Or did you feel moved by the beauty of what you were witnessing? Maybe you even took a few pictures so you could show your friends what an awesome sight you had witnessed! I know for me this kind of scenery moves me, so it is hard to just ignore it and move on! We truly live in a beautiful world of God’s creation, and it is absolutely stunning!
This year our theme for our Bible School is “Behold”. The heart behind this theme is to be a reminder for our students, staff, and guests, to Behold our God. To turn their eyes upon Him, to look at him, to observe him and through that to get to know the one they (we) follow. But…
2 Corinthians 3:18 is not just about beholding the glory of the Lord; there’s a second very important part that tells us what the Spirit does. As we behold our Lord: we are being transformed. You see, just like when you looked at that beautiful landscape and were moved by it, as we look at Him and behold who our God is, something takes place. Paul tells us that the Lord who is the Spirit transforms us more and more into His image. We leave different than when we came.
As we get to behold our God, to turn our eyes upon him and look at him through Scripture, we get to discover more and more who He is, His Heart, His Care, His Justice, His Love. As we behold Him, we are not left unchanged, He makes a difference in our lives.
I will leave you with a few lines from the old Hymn “Turn your eyes upon Jesus”:
"Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in his wonderful face
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His Glory and Grace"
My dear sisters and brothers, let us Behold our God, let us get to know Him more fully and let us praise Him that He is working in us, transforming us more and more into His image for HIS GLORY!
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Thibault Ketterer is originally from France and was a student at Ravencrest 2014-15. He is married to Sarah (the Kitchen Manager) and he's now the Bible School Principal.
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Kruger Rock Fire - Evacuation
Most of this newsletter was written last week and early this week, but before we could send it out on Tuesday, we were surprised with a very quick evacuation from a small wildfire across Hwy 36 from us that started at around 6:50 a.m. that morning from a downed power line. Because of our evacuation last year, we were able to move quickly. We were notified of the mandatory evacuation at approximately 11:35 a.m., and by 12:10 p.m. all of our staff and students were making their way off campus. Rocky Mountain Church hosted us for the afternoon while we got our bearings, and the YMCA graciously offered to house us in one of their large dormitory buildings as well as feed us - not a small feat for a group of 100 people! We were evacuated just over 24 hours - we received the all clear to return home the next day at around noon and returned to campus Wednesday evening. Please pray for the family of the air tanker pilot who died while fighting this fire on Tuesday night - his name was Marc "Thor" Olson. Photo credit: https://www.facebook.com/Brett-Rios-Photography-109164140560897/
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Bible School
As the cold wind of winter has crept in, it hasn’t stopped our students from the great outdoors - whether it be going on a hike or going skiing and snowboarding. Bible school on the hill continues to be encouraging with our students who are eager to ask many questions about understanding God’s Word and getting to know the Lord more and more in their individual lives. Our RAs were able to lead a weekend missions trip to Denver with 45 of our students. They were able to serve a church and its community for that weekend. In this last month of our fall term, we would ask you to pray that our students have a willingness to seek the Lord and have an obedience in all He calls them to walk in.
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LTC Update
It seems that every year God chooses to work in the lives of our LTC students through difficulties and challenges, and this year seems to be following suit. So while there’s been joy and laughter, there’s also been tears and internal turmoil. However, as our LTC students have chosen to seek the Lord and humble themselves before Him, Christ is showing Himself not only to be sufficient, but to be extravagant in the midst of it all.
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Accomplishments
High Speed Internet
Fiber Optic was installed at Ravencrest this week! This means that Ravencrest will be getting higher speed internet! This is a big deal for our staff and students here!
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Chalet Hallway
The Chalet hallway wallpaper is gone! Our maintenance team has stripped the wallpaper and textured the walls. The light color that it has been painted has really brought more light to the hallway!
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Office Update
The office has also been rearranged! Carly has done a wonderful job of rearranging and keeping the office still functional. There is now a seating area for our guests who come to the office. Also, did any of you know there was a fireplace here?
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Frank and Krista Cirone
We are enjoying a full and fruitful season of life as "empty nesters" and with ministry within Torchbearers and among various other opportunities. We are so excited to share that we will be grandparents! As parents we began with twin boys nearly 28 years ago and now both of our daughters-in-law are pregnant and expecting babies in February! Whitley married to Ben is due the beginning of February and Jade married to Andrew is due the end of February. We are thrilled and looking forward to welcoming these "little Cirone babies" into our family!
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Getting Hitched!
Kaalyn Wilson, our female RA is engaged! We are rejoicing with Kaalyn and Owen as they move forward into this season of engagement and all the preparation for marriage that goes along with that.
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Maintenance Interns 2022
This next summer of 2022 we will be needing some maintenance help. For all those who are interested in our yearlong maintenance program, you can apply online by clicking the link below.
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Summer Program Interns 2022
We’re looking for anyone who loves the Lord and wants to share His life with guests to come serve with our Adventure Camps this Summer! Volunteers can expect to be serving in practical ways, sharing about Christ in structured and unstructured times, and leading our guests as they go hiking, biking, climbing, or kayaking, and whatever else the Lord provides the opportunity for. No prior training is necessary, but volunteers must be at least 18 years of age.
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The Gathering
We'll be inviting the community of Estes Park up to Ravencrest again on Friday, December 3rd for our Christmas Program, then on January 28th for a Swing Dancing Beginners Lesson & Open Dance Night! If you're able to join us, we'd love to have you!
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Taste and See
If you would be interested in our Taste and See program, this year we are offering day visits (no overnight stays at this time). Prospective students are invited to join in on classes and all other programming and activities. The cost is $15 dollars a day and prospective students are welcome to come for a few days, up to a week, to get a feel for the Bible school. If you know anyone interested in visiting Ravencrest, please have them call the office or email our Registrar, Brooke Dick at office@ravencrest.org.
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Guest Lodging
We are very full this year with our Bible School program, but occasionally we have a room available if you would like to come visit Ravencrest. If interested, please call the office or contact Olivia, our Hospitality Manager, by emailing her at domestics@ravencrest.org for availability.
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God's Provision
A message from our Director,
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Late last month on October 22nd I was reminded of what we were facing just a year before. 365 days earlier our entire Ravencrest community evacuated from Pole Hill and headed down to the valley for safety from the imposing wildfires that were fast approaching the Estes Valley. What a day! What a time! I can admit that those were some very difficult days, but I can also boldly say that our God was so faithful not just in providing what we needed, but also much more abundantly. Safe travels, shelter, great food, ice cream, warmth, comfort, fellowship, a dance party, teaching, worship, and even a beautifully warm fall day to enjoy the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs. On the 22nd of October this year, my wife and I were leaving Ravencrest around the very same time that we had evacuated a year before. The sky was clear blue, the air was fresh, all the buildings at Ravencrest were still standing, and we couldn’t help but thank the Lord for His wonderful care and provision in all of our lives. Thanks be to God for the wonderful Provider He is, not just in the challenges, but in the blessings of life.
I am so thankful for the great staff family that the Lord has brought here to Ravencrest. They each bring such uniquely special gifting's to bless our body and this place, and it brings so much joy to my heart. To see the way the Lord is using them for renovations, for great food and coffee, for administration, for caring for our students, it is a deep blessing that we can all praise the Lord for.
As we seek to remain faithful stewards of this property, many projects continue and remain as opportunities for God to reveal His great provision. If you would feel led by the Lord to support any of these opportunities, please see below for some different venues of growth where there is need.
Here are some further details on projects we hope to accomplish this year…
- Student Center carpet: $12,000
- Lower Berghaus (Dorms) remodel - flooring and 2 bathrooms: $15,000
- New Gym roof (shop and work-out room section) $30,000
- New decks for Student Center and Berghaus : $40,000
- Window replacements – multiple buildings (approx. 30 windows): $24,000
- Additional projects/needs for consideration
- New 25+ passenger van/bus: $20,000+
- Ridgehaus basement completion – staff apartment + open guest room: $120,000
If you have any questions or would like to talk further on any of these, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me directly (970-372-8831 or erik@ravencrest.org). Thanks for your prayers and support. Peace to you, in Christ.
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Praise:
- For a sound financial audit
- For beautiful fall weather the students have been making the most of
- For an engaged and grateful student body
- For protection from yet another fall wildfire!
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Pray:
- For continued good health
- For students’ health and safety as they travel over Thanksgiving break
- For our body of staff, interns, and students to have humble hearts to walk in the light as He is in the light and have fellowship with each other
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