John Blake shares his "Heart for City Kids"

Historical impact from discovering and developing the 10 Keys of the Kingdom:

February 13, 2019 in Ministry Development | Leave a comment

RESTLESSNESS

This is a series exploring and explaining 6 pivot points, which impacted the trajectory of the CEF Durham Area Chapter as well as its growth today.

During the years of 2004-2008 I was captivated by the Scriptures and conversations with other Christians about the reality of authentic revival and spiritual transformation of our city. The discussions were usually filled with passion and restlessness.

Leonard Ravenhill says in Why Revival Tarries, “The two prerequisites to successful Christian living are vision and passion, both of which are born in and maintained by prayer.”

A deep longing for a fresh move of God was evident during many conversations I had with friends and ministry collaborators. I began to intersect with other people from many perspectives and walks of life, which all had passion, vision, and compelling prayer lives. Truly a revolutionary spirit was emerging in Durham, and within me. Chris Rice and Emmanuel Katongole called this a “deep restlessness about what it means to live faithfully in a broken and divided world” in their book, Reconciling All Things. Embracing this reality I began to investigate my ministry history with Child Evangelism Fellowship as well as my own life.

READ MORE: for a deeper understanding
Ekklesia – Changing spiritual atmosphere in society
Spiritual Slavery to Sonship – Facing fear via the Father’s Heart & Embrace
One Blood – Biblical perspective on race and reconciliation
Traction – Developing an eco-system for organizations

Students Bringing Light to Their World

February 6, 2019 in "City Kids", Current Topics | Leave a comment

Most city kids when asked: Is the world getting darker or lighter? They almost unanimously answer: DARKER! Why? They, like you and I, just know that the sadness, despair, crime, economic challenges, and broken families of this world feels dark. It’s discouraging and depressing. Children, youth, and their families are struggling to navigate life in such a world.

When the foundations are being destroyed, what are the righteous to do? Psalm 11

Many students, even parents and teachers, feel helpless or clueless of how to combat the perpetual onslaught of hatred, violence, cyber-bullying, or disrespect, just to mention a few forms of darkness in their world. But this narrative of darkness is changing! Students are hearing and accepting the truth of their immense and incredible value.

They’re rejecting the lies and false labels of words and attitudes thrown towards them like poisonous darts and bringing light to their world (schools) as world changers. Students and teachers, independently and together, are leveraging their God-given value and power to make choices that will make their school better and flourish.

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Ministry Vision for City Kids

January 27, 2019 in "City Kids" | 1 comment

The vision for City Kids is simple – to visit resource-challenged communities and deliver a comprehensive gospel impact. We are faced with many questions in our calling, but it is in our search for the answer that we strive to spread the Gospel to all. Is God powerful enough to keep kids away from gangs? Does the Word of God still accomplish what it says in the current day & age? What if The Church at Durham took seriously its responsibility for taking the Gospel to city kids and youth? What if for 10 years a collaboration of churches and ministries comprehensively served the 10 most physically and spiritually needy communities of Durham?

In our area, we face communities where crime and evil have dominated life for way too long. Communities where kids are not expected to succeed. These are the communities where the words: at-risk, under-resourced, and marginalized are experienced everyday by its residents. These are the communities where God has been rejected, yet screams out to be glorified! This is where the Lord desires that the residents welcome Him back into their lives, homes, and their communities.

We’re about reaching city kids and youth for Christ with the whole Gospel to benefit the whole child and their family throughout the whole year.

CEF Durham along with partnering ministries and local Christians are developing an Urban Missions Network for new strategies and strengthening best efforts, which will focus on these 10 identified communities for the next 10 years. A simple strategy of biblical, holistic discipleship will be used. Our vision is to see city kids and families transformed by the Gospel. Indigenous residents will be enabled to lead their own communities in biblical transformation and Christian community development. This would include, but not limited to, evangelism, discipleship, character development, academic tutoring, creative arts, sports/recreation, medical services, life skills, and economic/job training.

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CEF outdoor ministry trailer and mobile stage needs repairs and detailing (completed 2015)

April 23, 2014 in Current Topics | Tags: CEF, City Kids, ministry, outreach, sports camps | Leave a comment

All repairs and custom wrap were completed back in 2015. Blacknall Presbyterian volunteers clean up and tune up the ministry trailer for another year of outreach events and camps.

After 14 years of use and thousands ministered to at outdoor events, sports camps, and block parties the CEF mobile stage with a thumping sound system is in great need or minor repairs and major detailing. The sound system has already been in/out of the shop. The electrical connections, cabinet repairs, and a complete re-detailing “wrap” of the trailer’s exterior still need to be completed. The retail price tag will be $3,000+. CEF is appreciative of your prayers and gifts for this project. READ MORE

Update on this 2014 ministry project

Back in 2015, all funds and necessary equipment were secured to totally repair and restore the CEF ministry trailer and mobile stage. The trailer exterior displays a new graphics wrap to identify CEF and what it does when visiting communities and city parks. Sports camps, clinics, academies, Good News Clubs, and community events are enhanced by the stage and sound system contained in the trailer. CEF was able to add a second trailer, custom-made, during the same year to carry sturdy 3v3 basketball goals and accessories when conducting basketball sports outreach events. Special thanks to Michael Harley for driving and delivering the trailers and for the volunteers at Blacknall Presbyterian Church in Durham for keeping to trailers and contents clean and repaired.

CEF basketball trailer and 2 goals in the background

Strengthening (y)our grip

January 30, 2014 in Developing a Heart for the City | Tags: Bible, CEF, children, City Kids, urban ministry | Leave a comment

Chuck Swindoll wrote a book back in the 1980s entitled Strengthening Your Grip. It was a huge help to me as a young man whose walk with the Lord was growing rapidly. After 20 years of seeking God’s direction, God led me to direct the mission of CEF in the Durham area which in turn taught me to become a missionary to families as well as kids. As a practitioner of the Gospel, I’ve realized that we hold a tighter grip on the Words and Ways of God some times more than others. I’m also thankful that I’ve learned and trained our mission team to operate in the truth that it is God Himself that maintains the grip and holds us.

Thus, our grip upon reading, studying, memorizing, meditating, and applying the Words of God strengthens our grip on the reality of His power and presence in our lives. When we pray and serve the Lord, there is an outflow, or loosening, of this “grip” which helps to minister God’s love, value, and desire for others to know Him for who He is and what He has done. This is a season in which we are experiencing this truth. CEF’s desire and manifestation of a stronger grip has become apparent as it collaborates weekly with local churches and individual Christ-followers for the sake of children and many local communities. I write today that you can know the heart of the CEF work and to ask, “How is your (our) grip?” CEF is one of many places where you can strengthen your grip.

Merry Christmas 2013 Year-end CEF Ministry Report

December 13, 2013 in Current Topics | Leave a comment

Merry Christmas! Click and see 2013 Year-end CEF Durham Ministry Report

Sponsor city kids for camp in 2014 & fitness/wellness for families

October 30, 2013 in Uncategorized | Tags: camps, children, citykids, fitness, health, life, ministry, sports, urban, youth | Leave a comment

Sponsor city kids for camp

$100 sponsors a city kid to attend a week of sports camp at a More Than Gold camp or academy. These campers then have an opportunity to earn a week of overnight camping outside the city in the mountains near Asheville. To make this happen for 1,000 local city kids, More Than Gold Fitness and Sportsreach has launched a “Sponsor City Kids” campaign. Youth and adult athletic teams, companies, individuals and civic organizations are asked to sponsor city kids throughout 2013. Over 350 city kids have attended various sports camps and 6 city kids will be attending overnight camp at Camp Good News this summer. Thanks for supporting this effort.

Fitness challenge groups

Whether you’re an elite athlete, need to lose 20-50-100 lbs., or somewhere in between… I’ve set up 2 personal fitness sites to help you achieve your fitness and life goals. Message me here for advise, a plan, and free consultations. Visit doc John Blake’s Beachbody site where you can find and ask for resources to improve your health and fitness. I’m here and sites below to help your fitness experience via organized fitness challenge groups.

John ‘doc’ Blake’s passion and the focus of More Than Gold Fitness is to empower poor, disenfranchised, and at-risk city kids through biblical kingdom building of the body, mind, and spirit for sustained fitness and wellness throughout life.John Blake is the CEF Durham Director, More Than Gold founder, and a fitness coach with Team Beachbody where your healthy lifestyle can be fulfilled. Whether you’re looking to lose weight, get fit, or earn money by helping others, we can provide a solution. We help you achieve your goals using a combination of proven home fitness programs, easy-to-follow meal plans and nutrition advice, financial incentives, and a support system like no other.

Bull City Music Awards to benefit CEF Durham and others

August 25, 2013 in Capacity Building, Current Topics | Leave a comment

Durham City and County Officials Cora McFadden and Michael page with John Blake

As CEF continues to serve in Durham and fulfill its Christ-centered mission with children and youth, you are invited to celebrate the past 20 years and believe for greater things in the future. You’re invited to attend the growing list of CEF birthday parties during 2013. The next and biggest party will be at the Bull City Music Awards Sep. 8th 7:00-11:00 PM. Tickets on sale at the Carolina Theater Durham.

Gala options to benefit CEF Durham

Also consider a CEF party gift option of $20 for the 20 years of ministering to city kids in Durham and around the world. $20 gifts will help CEF meet its 2013 budget. Give online or by mail to: CEF Durham P.O. Box 1288

7 Most Important Things in the World

August 25, 2013 in "City Kids", Education | Leave a comment

Check out the “7MIT Song” on YouTube (writers: John & Sean Blake, posted by: Anita McGee) via “7 Most Important Things”, Good News Club song from Child Evangelism Fellowship (www.cefonline.com)

Blessing City Kids via the City Project

August 25, 2013 in "City Kids", Developing a Heart for the City | Leave a comment

2013 summer interns make mark on CEF® urban ministries

Summer can be a great time off for travel and hanging out with friends before returning to school for most college students. CEF Durham enjoyed a dozen college interns with The City Project via the Summit Church this summer as in the past. What did they do? Travel and hang out with friends. While doing so, these 12 students touched the lives of city kids within various neighborhoods of Hillsborough and Durham. The Gospel was the centerpiece for everything attempted and accomplished by these student-interns who allowed John Blake to disciple them for Christian living and inner city ministry. Bible clubs, teen leadership classes, setting up a computer

Gateway Apts in Hillsborough July 3, 2013

lab/library, sports, and other community development tasks were led by these interns. Whether rain or shine, this dynamic dozen were daily dedicated to the Gospel and the city kids they ministered to, like these (below) at the Gateway Apts in Hillsborough.

This was a block party/celebration on their last day with these kids. They stuck it out through rain, lightning, and high winds. Despite being soaked, they never lost their smiles and the party continued after the storm. Over a dozen kids accepted the Lord as Savior. These students also traveled and hung out together in New York City and cities in 5 other regions of the world.