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CCC Family,
We will be having our Annual Meeting during the worship services on January 29, 2023.
We will highlight our mission and vision and our Elder-approved budget for 2023.
Additionally, our partners will be voting to confirm the following Elders for another year of service: Chris Lent, Paul Podraza, Ricardo Rivera, Kevin Squires, Richard Starr, and Robert Wood.
Prior to this weekend, all partners will be notified by email to complete a ballot. If you do not receive an electronic ballot by that weekend, please contact Ileana Roman at ileana.roman@44life.com.
We will also have paper ballots in the back of the chapel on that weekend for those partners who were not able to vote online.
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Chris Lent
Discipleship
FAMILY: I have been married to my beautiful bride, Amanda, for 11 years, and we have two amazing girls, Audrey (10) and Vivian (almost 8).
OCCUPATION: Associate Pastor (since 2006)
MINISTRIES: Having been at CCC since our relaunch in 2006, I have had the opportunity to serve in almost every area of ministry. After a couple of building campaigns, I am now seeking to focus my time on teaching ministries, discipleship, leadership development, and executive pastor responsibilities. Along with the rest of the pastoral staff, I share in care, counseling, and equipping.
THOUGHTS FOR CCC IN 2023: I believe that in 2023 we will want to give even more attention and effort toward equipping and encouraging our singles and families toward godly living in every aspect of their lives (relationships, vocations, finances, cultural engagement, marriage, parenting, etc.), especially as our western culture drifts further from a biblical social and moral order.
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Paul Podraza
C+A, CCA
FAMILY: I have been married to Tracy for 23 years, and we have one son, Jon (19), who is a junior at Florida Atlantic University, majoring in Audio Recording.
OCCUPATION: Founder and President of the non-profit Community+Athletics. We point people to Jesus through community and sports, and we do this primarily in Celebration by reaching elementary and middle school students through basketball, cheer, flag football, volleyball, and camps. We are grateful to partner with CCC in connecting families to Jesus with hopes of having them attend a local church.
MINISTRIES: I serve on the Connections Team and help out anywhere else on campus when needed.
THOUGHTS FOR CCC IN 2023: I am excited to see the growth in numbers of individuals, families, and people being baptized, and the opportunities to grow in the faith through programs like Established Households. I look forward to having even more families make church attendance and spiritual growth a priority this year.
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Ricardo Rivera
M25, Pursuit
FAMILY: I am married to Katia for 27 years and we have 2 daughters; Tania has 3 children, Landen, Noah and Isabella and all 3 have been dedicated by Pastor Gregg here at CCC; Angelique is an ICU nurse and is currently traveling as a contract nurse where needed. When she is in town, she attends CCC.
OCCUPATION: I am the General Manager for a physical security integration company in Lakeland called Dynamic Security of Florida. The company opened in 2015 but I have been in this industry since 2002.
MINISTRIES: I am responsible for M25, our outreach ministry that provides food and fellowship to communities within a 5-mile radius of our Celebration Campus. I also teach a class on Evangelism and how to share your testimony with family, friends and strangers. I am one of the leaders for High School boys youth group and have been in involved in youth ministries for just over 25 years. I also participate in the connections ministry and serve as a greater on Sunday mornings, typically during the 11AM service but have been know to float around as needed.
THOUGHTS FOR CCC IN 2023: While I do not presume to ever be comfortable with elder duties, I am less hesitant now that it has been two years and I have gotten to know more of the partners of CCC. I am really praying that our debt load for the building would be paid and that we would own the property free and clear moving forward. This will give us the opportunity to fund projects in the community that will enable us to continue making more and better disciples of Jesus Christ together. I am also praying for an explosion in the number of baptisms of new believers this coming year. I love attending those events and can be seen heartily cheering those that have taken the step of obedience in their lives.
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Robert Wood
True North Academy
FAMILY: I have been married to Fredrica 25 years this coming May. We have one boy Robert Jr., and four daughters Trinity, Samyra, Gabriella and Alexa.
OCCUPATION: Event Setup Supervisor (since December 2012)
My responsibilities cover managing department budget and 60+ staff members as we meet client demands at the now 3rd largest convention center in the US. It is a great opportunity to let the light of Christ shine.
MINISTRIES: Freddi and I lead a LifeGroup that meets the 2nd and 4th Sundays that meets right here after the last service. We are the Co-True Founders of True North Academy which is a Home School Co-op assisting parents in raising young men and women of biblical character. If there are other needs at church that pop-up, we will jump in to lend a helping hand.
THOUGHTS FOR CCC IN 2023: There are so many crises in the home; from unstable marriages to kids walking away from the faith before they even get to college. It would be exciting to see the Household ministry grow into topical classes dealing with these current issues that attacks our families. I would also like to see CCC's continued support in growing the next generation of resilient Christ-Followers.
Hebrews 10:24-25 - Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.
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Kevin Squires
Young Adults, Missions
FAMILY: Married to my wife, Cassi, and together we have two sons, Grant & Jackson
OCCUPATION: Senior Executive at World Orphans
MINISTRIES: Young Adults, Missions Team, Kids44, Established Households
THOUGHTS FOR CCC IN 2023: Excited for the continued expansion of Established Households and for the continued growth in our Young Adults ministry that we started during the summer of '22. Also, I'm looking forward to increasing the number of classes in Kids44 as God continues to bless us with new families at CCC in addition to a number of babies being born in early '23. Finally, I'm excited to see what missional opportunities we have as our Missions Team continues to grow and our impact around the world continues to widen.
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Richard Starr
Prayer
FAMILY: We have 3 children, 5 Grandchildren, 2 Great-grandchildren.
OCCUPATION: Retired, has served 7 years as missionaries in Ecuador, S.A. Served as pastor of English speaking churches for 10 years. Served in Spanish speaking ministry for 20+ years in central Florida. Cast member at Disney 17 years.
MINISTRIES: Currently involved in prayer ministry and life group.
THOUGHTS FOR CCC IN 2023: Growth in understanding and participation in prayer as an essential part of our Christian walk with God. Revival in our own hearts, greater influence in our community, and the world. Planting of new daughter churches which are true to the Scripture.
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