Greetings from the Mission Field 7-8-2013

From the Field
Just wanted to take some time to say thank you to everyone who has been praying for the ministry. As I reflect back it is amazing to me what God has accomplished in FCFInternational in a small amount of time. I thank God for all He has done. Through your prayers we have a new web site that is blessing people everyday. We also provide daily devotions through several of our members which encourage us to stay focused on Him. The encourager continues to bless first responders all over the country. Our members continue to share articles which God uses to lift up souls of first responders all over the country. Wayne and Keith continue to work on the Discipleship ministry and it is almost ready to share with local chapters. Keith has already begun the ministry with his folks and has seen fruit from the labor. Keith's local chapter is refocusing their efforts on faithfully serving God in their department. God has also seen fit to bring us new chapters with promises for more to start. Again, what a blessing to see how God is working. It hasn't all been easy, but God has always been faithful, amen.

There is still so much work to be done and I covet your continued prayers for the ministry. May your prayers be a sweat aroma that rises up to God for the fire service. This has been a bad year for the fire service. Many multiple line of duty deaths have occurred and there are many suffering. This has strengthened my resolve to begin an emergency response team. My prayer is to continue what Rick Barton has been doing for years and that is to provide a chapel. I look forward to the day when we can provide a mobile chapel, resources to local chaplains, and resources to first responders who are hurting. Please join me in this prayer. Thank you for standing tall next to us, I am truly grateful.

The Family
Many of you are aware that Holly's brother was in a motorcycle accident. We praise God for his mercy and grace that He has poured out to the family. Heith is back home and is slowly healing, but praise God he is getting better. Andrew's girlfriend had emergency appendix surgery. We praise God for her healing as she is home from the hospital. Seth is waiting to hear from a church he has been working with for a position as an assistant pastor. Please pray that God would use Seth and that Seth would continue to seek God's will for his life. Christopher and Justin are waiting to see what Holly and I do once we retire. We are praying that God would open a door to start a retreat center for first responders and chaplains who need defusing after major incidents. If God opens that door Christopher and Justin would be a big part in that.

Prayer Requests

• That God would raise up Godly leaders for our ministry. We need folks who are serious about serving the Lord in the fire service. I am thankful to God for those He has sent us, but we could use more in the coming months and years.
• Pray for the Discipleship Ministry that God would use it to change the fire service for His honor and glory. As we seek to be obedient to Matthew 28 may God change hearts and minds.
• Emergency Response Team would go from paper to ministering. That God would provide good leadership and faithful members to serve.
• First Responder Retreat Center that God would show His power and might in finding a location and providing the means to accomplish His will for this dream.
• Please pray that FCFInternational would reach first responders in all 50 states by way of a local chapter in each state.
• Pray for our international outreach to glorify God and He would open doors in other countries.

Mission
To encourage one another to share the vision with the fire service community through Witnessing, Praying, Teaching the Word, and Walking worthy.

Greetings from the Missions Field 6-08-2013

From the Field
     The Fellowship of Christian Firefighters International has been busy ministering to first responders. God has been opening many doors in the fire service, and I have been very busy just trying to keep up. I have recently come back from Canada. God recently reopened a door for FCFInternational to meet with the New Brunswick Fire Chiefs Association. What a blessing to meet fire chiefs, chaplains, and fellow Christian first responders up north. As quickly as God set this up it appears that He is opening up a door in Mexico as well. For many years George has been ministering to Mexico and it appears that I will be able to attend a chiefs conference down there in November. Please join us in prayer as we desire to minister in these areas.
     Here in the states FCFInternational has been working on reestablishing a discipleship ministry. I thank God for Keith and Wayne who have been working very hard on creating this ministry for first responders. Our prayer is that God would use this to grow first responders closer to God. I desire to see firefighters regularly reading and studying their Bibles. Here in Washington, DC at firehouses all over the city we love to play "stump the chump". Someone will start with a question from one of our department manuals and the next thing you know everyone is trying to ask a question that stumps those who are participating. I look forward to the day when FCFInternational members play "stump the chump" with Biblical questions.
     The International Office have been receiving calls on starting new chapters. What a blessing to be able to talk with firefighters all over the country who desire to start a chapter. Recently I put a map of the United States on my desk top and I have been praying for each State. My prayer is that God would raise up a chapter in each State. I look forward to the day when God provides a chapter in each State and I have to visit each one. The International Board has developed a document outlining the three types of local chapters. The idea is to meet the needs of local first responders through one of three local chapters. The chapters are the Tail Board Talk Group (designed for groups of 2 or 3 first responders), the small group (designed for larger groups who desire to be less formal and do not have a checking account), and the local chapter (designed as a formal group with a bank account). Check out the web site, www.fellowshipofchristianfirefighters.org, for all of the details.
     FCFInternational continues to offer monthly on-line Bible studies. Attendance has begone to drop of in recent months. Please pray with us as we desire to have at least 100 first responders attending these studies. What a blessing to be able to study God's Word the Bible with firefighters from all over the country.

The Family
     Holly continues to work for a Bible book store near our home. As I move closer to retirement we have been talking about where we would like to live. The cost of living is very high in Maryland and we would like to move somewhere more cost effective to live. My prayer is that we would be able to start a retreat center for first responders and chaplains in order to minister to their spiritual needs, especially after disasters. Pray for Holly as this idea of moving is very stressful for her. The boys are well and I appreciate your prayers for their spiritual growth. Seth is still trying to find a position as an Assistant Pastor of church. He is finding it rather difficult as a lot of churches do not want a single young man to work with the youth of the church. Andrew has been talking about marriage. What a joy to be able to help walk him through that potential. Christopher and Justin are both working and seam to be waiting on where we are going to live before making any major decisions in life.

Prayer Requests

• For the completion of the Discipleship Ministry. Pray that God would use this in a mighty way to reach first responders for Him.
• Family Camp is next week. Pray that Wayne would be enpowered to teach us about discipleship within our families.
• Families of first responders who recently lost their lives. Houston firefighters, Helicopter crash that killed 3, and the ambulance accident that killed 2. Pray that God would grant much grace to the families and coworkers.
• Pray for a chapter in each State.
• Pray that God would save 2 million first responders world wide.

Consider This
    Blogs are designed to be a way for people to exchange information. Besides informing those who would like to know what is happening in FCFInternational I would like the blog to be used to have a dialog on Biblical subjects. The idea would be "iron sharpening iron". So consider II Timothy 2:2 which states; "And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also." How does this apply to the Fellowship of Christian Firefighters? I see 3 major talking points in this verse, what do you think they are?

Craig W. Duck
President/Missionary
FCFInternational

Greetings from the Missions Field 4-01-2013

From the Field
Greetings from the International Office here in Arnold, Maryland. I was going to start out this blog and tell you that I resigned. My wife thought that it would not be funny, since we just started this ministry. In case you have no clue what I am talking about, it is April 1st or April Fools day. I do love a good joke every now and then. The Bible does say that laughter is good for you. Proverbs 17:22 tells us; "A merry heart does good, like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones." In my devotions I have been reading the Gospels. I love to read how Jesus walked when He was here on earth. We can learn so much from how He ministered. I was intrigued the other day of Jesus's leadership style. He was the first servant leader that we no of, and He perfected that style. Some times he worked with a small group of Disciples, at other times he taught parables to the hundreds, and occasionally He preached to the thousands. As the leader of FCFInternational I pray that I would lead like Jesus taught us in the Gospels.

Jesus was good at building relationships. I think today more than ever this is important. FCFInternational has a vision statement which talks about building relationships with first responders. Building relationships isn't easy. If you want to be successful at building relationships it takes time, effort, resources, and a willing spirit. In the process you might get hurt, emotionally, spiritually, and physically. Jesus was willing to do that, it cost Him His life. The question is, are we willing to do that? Recently I began to disciple two young firefighters. I am no expert when it comes to making disciples, I just want to be obedient to Christ. In the process I am learning so much about the Bible, through their eyes, that I never new. So I challenge you to find some young first responders and make a difference in their lives. When you pray please pray for Isaac and Cliff. Pray that God would fill them with His understanding and His wisdom.

Modern technology still amazes me. With it I am able to learn more and do more in the ministry to first responders. The other day I received a membership application from a firefighter in Venezuela. What a blessing to know that God is working in that country. I pray that we would have an impact, through Christ, in that department. God is able to accomplish anything and I look forward to see what He will do. Let's pray for a revival in Venezuela, especially in the fire department.

The Family
I continue to be blessed to have the family that God has given me. Seth continues to be a tremendous help in the FCFInternational ministry. He is helping me with editing, graphic art, and just plain old fashion encouragement. I pray that God would bless him and provide him with a family of his own. Seth is currently helping with a local youth group and an assistant pastor. Andrew continues to work at night and is hoping to go back to days. Pray for Andrew and his girlfriend that they would make Godly choices. Christopher and Justin continue to work part time. I have been praying that God would supply them with full time jobs where they can minister to people. Holly and I continue to be blessed by each other. I am so thankful that God has given me a true help mate. She continues to work hard in the ministry, and I thank God for her.

Prayer Requests

• The Discipleship ministry will begin in May. Pray that God would raise up leaders within FCFInternational who are capable and willing to be disciple makers. Pray that God would receive full glory on this ministry and that many first responders would be saved and would draw closer to God.
• Pray for our annual meeting and our Encouragement and Awards diner. Pray that we would have a spirit of unity within FCFInternational.
• Continue to pray for a local chapter in every state and chapters throughout the world.
• Pray that I might have wisdom as I continue to learn how to minister to first responders through FCFInternational
• Pray as we organize a disaster response team. My prayer is that we would be able to minister to first responders on disasters. I am praying for a mobile chapel and that local churches would be involved.
• Pray for an International Office. I pray that God would provide land and resources in order to minister to chaplains, fire chiefs, those with PTSD, and first reponder families. I am praying b ig on this one as only God could make it happen at this point in time.

II Timothy 2:2 - "And the things you heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also."

Greetings from the Mission Field 3-24-2013

From the Filed
I thank God for all He is doing with FCFInternational. What a blessing to be working alongside some good firefighters from around the nation. Keith Helms and Wayne Detzler have been working on developing a discipleship ministry. We have been praying diligently about this ministry and how God will use it in the fire service. Our desire is to have a ministry where first responders will disciple other first responders who will in turn disciple more first responders. By God's grace we will be faithful to being obedient to Matthew 28 and God will change the hearts and minds of first responders. We want to reproduce our faith in other firefighters and start a revival in the fire service. Pray with us as we seek to glorify God with this ministry.

I am pleased with the progress of the online Bible studies. God is using these Bible studies to help firefighters have a deeper understanding of Him and His Word. The mission of FCFInternational is to encourage one another to share the vision with the fire service community through Witnessing, Praying, Teaching the Word, and Walking worthy. My prayer is the online Bible studies will help first responders to walk worthy and that eventually I can find other members who will be able to teach these classes and fulfill the teaching the Word part of the mission statement. We have a lot of members that are sound with their knowledge of doctrine. There are others who still are on milk and need to be encouraged to grow in their faith. My prayer is that FCFInternational will be known for how much our members love to study and memorize God's Word. Pray with us as we work toward that goal.

The other day I put a map of the United States on my desk top. Every time I work on my computer I pray for another State. I pray that God would open doors in fire stations for us to minister to first responders and that local chapters would be started. There are 1.4 million firefighters and I pray that God would reach everyone with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. What a privilege for our members to be able to share in that vision.

Family
The family is doing well. I think Holly is getting a little nervous because I keep talking about moving. One of my dreams is to have an International Headquarters that is on a good piece of land. I look forward to the day when FCFInternational will have a retreat center that first responders can go to in order to get closer to God. Please join me in prayer as I am confident God can give us the perfect piece of property. Pray for Holly and the boys to also catch the vision.

Prayer Requests

• A facility for an International Office
• A local chapter in every state
• Local chapters in other countries
• Discipleship Ministry to begin
• The annual encouragement and awards banquet

Greetings from the Mission Field 3-10-2013

From the Field
God has been working on my life. I am so thankful to Him to be able to serve first responders throughout the world. The more I pour myself into the ministry the more God pours Himself into my life. Recently I have been going through our Command Staff program. The program is designed to encourage members to read their Bible everyday, pray for an hour a day, memorize Bible verses once a week, share their faith once a month, and disciple one person in a year. What a blessing to go through this program, I am learning so much about God as if it were the first time I read. Please pray for me as I attempt to lead the ministry through example. Currently I am trying to memorize the entire book of Philippians. The pace is slow but the benefits are eternal. I am learning so much about Paul's leadership style and how he imitated Christ's leadership style. Please also pray that I would have boldness when it comes to sharing my faith and what God has done in my life. Pray also that FCFInternational would have 25 members who are serious about a commitment like this. I am confident that God would be glorified if we do.

Recently, I have been able to talk with members in our ministry. What a blessing to have so many members who are willing to serve God and share the good news of Jesus Christ. Keith and Wayne are working diligently on a discipleship ministry. They are coming along with developing material for first responders. First responders love to look at fire pictures and have fire stories that they can relate to. Once the discipleship ministry is developed we fully intend to begin to imlament it. The goal is that we would be able to multiply ourselves by sharing Christ and discipling those who are saved. The more members we can have that will commit to being serious about discipling, the more that God can glorify His name. My prayer is that our ministry would be a II Timothy 2:2 ministry. As you recall II Timothy 2:2 states; "and the things you have heard from me amoung many witnesses comit to faithful men who able to teach others also." I hope that was correct as I wrote it from memory. I am trying to encourage others to memorize God's Word. For some of us it has been awhile since we committed to that. Pray that first responders in our ministry would be serious about that.

Holly and I recently returned from San Diego where we were representing FCFInternational at the Firehouse World expo. As we filled out the forms that help us keep track of our expenses we realized that San Diego is expensive for our ministry. Please pray with us as Holly and I seek God's wisdom on whether to continue ministering at this show. We were able to hand out over a case of New Testaments and talk with a lot of first responders. We just need to see if the expense justifies the trip. Our prayer is that we would be able to hand out many Bibles and that we would spend God's money wisely.

Currently Holly and I are working on straightening out the problem with the IRS. This has been an ongoing problem and Lord willing we will be able to put it to rest once and for all. Almost all of our chapters have been kicked out of the system because they have not filled out their 991N or post card. The law changed in 2007 and our chapters didn't understand what they needed to do. Please pray that God would intervene because the IRS wants us to pay $400.00 per chapter to reinstate them. God is able to answer our prayers so please join with us. The blessing in this whole process is being able to identify our local chapters and to talk to each one of them.

Family
Seth is doing well, although he has not been able to find a ministry that will hire him. Most churches want married couples to work with their youth and that limits him greatly as he is not married. I am thankful to God that he has found a ministry to help out with close to our house. What a blessing to see him being used by God with those young people. Andrew is working nights, which he would rather not. Pray that God would be able switch him back to days. Christopher and Justin still have part time jobs and I am praying that they would begin to seek full time employment. Like you, I am praying that God would use these men in a mighty way as they serve Him.

Prayer Requsts

• Pray for our members to be serious about serving God. I pray that all of our members would regularly study their Bibles and pray for wisdom.
• Pray that God would supply 25 members for the Command Staff Ministry.
• That the IRS would reinstate our local chapters without any cost to us.
• That God would provide the necessary funds to be able to minister to first responders.
• God would be glorified in the fire service.

Greetings From the Mission Field 2-23-2013

From The Field
The Firehouse World Expo is finished and Holly and I are doing a little site seeing. It is always fun to explore new areas of the country with Holly. San Diego is a wonderfull place and God has given us two sunny warm days to hang out together. The fire show went very well and we were able to talk to many people. God is working on me during this time of transition for me. I want to be able to clearly tell people what we do and how we minister to first responders. It is becoming clear to me that we need to be a ministry that helps first responders know God better. I pray that we would be the type of ministry that focuses on the Bible. I want us to give out Bibles and help firefighters to understand God's Word. That means we have to get to work on creating more Bible studies for first responders. Currently we have three. The latest, The Ephesians Project, is starting to get great reviews. I would like to get this resource in the hands of many firefighters. Keith and Wayne are working on a discipleship program. I can't wait to see what God gives them. All of us on the board feel like it will be a good tool to help first responders to know the Bible better. Pray with us that God would raise up more workers for us to create Bible studies and to be willing to disciple young firefighters. We need to be able to reach the younger generation with the gospel (good news) of Jesus Christ, equipping them to take our place as we grow older. We have not even scratched the surface of firefighters. I believe that the fields are ready for harvest, we need more Godly folks to help us effectively reach firefighters. As Holly and I were talking about next years show in San Diego, we have a lot of ideas to reach some of those folks. Please pray that FCFInternational would be able to financially support those ideas. Also, pray for us as we get ready for the FDIC show in Indianapolis in April. There will be a lot of work for us to do, as this is our biggest show. Pray that we would begin to build relationships with key folks in the fire service.

Prayer

• God would be glorified in the fire service
• A revival would sweep through the fire service
• Wisdom for Keith and Wayne as they develop our discipleship program
• God would give us 25 members to participate in the Command Staff Program
• God would continue to provide for our financial needs
• Land would be given to FCFInternational in order to house the International Office
• Holly and I would remain faithful to God

Greetings From the Missions Field 2-20-2013

From the Field
Greetings from San Diego, California. Holly and I are blessed to be at the Firehouse World Expo at the convention center. The set up went well yesterday and we are thankful that everything arrived well. The set up was easy and we had expected many chiefs for the special opening last night. We were dissapointed that not many chiefs were present for the event. The ones that did come were more interested in the free beer than the free Bibles we were handing out. I praise God that we could at least be there to plant some seeds, even though they were small. California has a lot of first responders and I am praying that God would do a great work here. The fields are definately ripe for the harvest, pray for God to give us laboreres to help. I am praying that God would establish some local chapters in California so we can minister to first responders and challenge them to have an active relationship with God.

The web site is now active. What a blessing to be able to forth the Word of God, worldwide. Now I am praying that we would get more people involved in writing Bible studies and resources for first responders. Please pray that we would be able to get our paypal put back on the site. People will be able to donate if they want to help with the ministry. One thing I am learning is that it takes money in order to make resources available. I am thankful to God that he has always been faithful in providing for this ministry. I look forward to how He will answer prayers in that area.

Please pray for the rest of the convention here in California. I am praying that God would open doors for us to be able to build relationships with first responders. We want to be obedient to Matthew 28 and disciple folks in the fire service. We have two days left and I trust that God would send folks to our booth who need to hear of God's amazing grace.

Prayer Requests

• Revival in the Fire Service
• Holly and I would be a blessing to first responders in California
• New First Responder Bible studies by our members
• God would supply for the ministries needs
• God would raise up young leaders in our ministry

Greetings From the Mission Field 2-13-2013

From the Field
Well I am excited about the new web site. God has provided us with a new web site that is interactive and is capable of posting videos. My prayer is that God will use this site to reach young first responders world wide. Scott Nasby, who has done a remarkable job on the website, decided to resign about a month or so ago. I was saddened as Scott has been such a blessing to the ministry by designing and maintaining this site. When I started looking for a new host a guy at work showed me our unions web site. He explained how easy it was for folks to maintain it. The web site also had a lot of really cool features. The web site was a little pricey, but I thought it was well worth the money; approximately $1,600.00 for the first year and $500.00 every year. After praying about the matter I contacted Mike from Union Centrics and was blessed beyond measure. Mike told me how he to is a believer and was willing to set up the site for free and we would only pay $12.00 a month for maintenance fee. What a blessing, only God can do things like that.

Holly and I are preparing for our next show which is in California. Our prayer is that we would be able to share the gospel with firefighters and minister to some. Please pray with us that God would allow us to minister to first responders in California more. God has been answering prayer for our ministry and I am so thankful for His leading in my life. Holly and I are excited that we have three people signed up for our Command Staff position. Our goal is to have 25 go through the program. This program is for those in the fire service who are serious about serving God. Command Staff folks commit to reading their Bible everyday, praying an hour a day, memorizing a Bible verse a week, mentoring one person a year, and sharing their faith once a month. Please pray that God would give us 25 faithful firefighters.

We continue to meet with our board once a month. What a blessing to meet through GoToMeeting and share what is on our hearts for the ministry. Please continue to pray that God would continue to work on the hearts and minds of our board members. They do a lot for the ministry and I am thankful for each one. What a blessing to get to know each one and how God is working on their lives.

I am thankful for each of our local chapters. I have included some pictures of the Pennsylvania chapter that I went to the other day. What a blessing that they are trying to minister to firefighters. There were some who were not believers, but came for the breakfast. I praise God for their ministry. Let's pray together that God would save firefighters in that department.

Family
The family is doing well. It is exciting to watch Holly get more and more interested in helping out. We will be able to accomplish so much more together than I could by myself. We are planning on retiring next year and together working God's ministry to first responders. Please pray for Seth as he is getting frustrated with the search for an assistant Pastors position. It is tough on young folks who want to serve but are unable to find a ministry. Most say he does not have enough experience. I know God has something special for him and he will do great. Seth has a good heart for the ministry. Andrew is going to begin working nights. He is not looking forward to that, but praise God he does have a job. Christopher and Justin have part time jobs and I have been praying that they will find a career that they love.

Prayer Requests

• God would start a revival among firefighters.
• Ken Henry who's wife recently went home to be with the Lord.
• Several of our members have been sick during this flu season.
• God would provide land for an International Office and potentially a conference center. I have been praying that God would provide a church camp that nobody wants anymore.
• That FCFInternational would fill vacancies in ministry areas (see web site for details on vacancies)
• God would provide a Regional Director for every state in the union.

Greetings From the Mission Field 1-27-2013

From the Field
We have completed our first fire show as President/Missionary. What a blessing to be able to meet great folks during this time and share Christ with them. We met some new Christian firefighters that were excited that such a ministry as FCFInternational exists. They were excited to get the new Ephesians Project Bible study, they couldn't hardly wait to get home and look it over. We also gave out about 20 of Matt's video. We already had one email back saying they watched the video and thought it was great. This short 10 minute video clearly has the Gospel message and we are excited about sharing it with first responders. A special thanks to the whole gang for helping to set this show up for us. From Trevor to Randy, Tommy and his friend, it was a blessing to have you all help out. We were able to share the ministry with so many first responders. We even talked to a Hindu firefighter, and another person who only believed in prayer not in anything else. Please pray for these two individuals who need to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. I was so impressed with how Randy was able to bring up conversations with all types of first responders. He has a gift from God and it was awesome watching him minister to firefighters.

Before getting to Daytona Beach I was able to make a couple of stops along the way. I was able to visit with Rob Hitt from South Carolina. This man of God truly has a heart and passion to share Christ with first responders. I loved hearing how the Lord has been working in Rob's life and how God brought him through a wilderness experience. I was then able to stop and see Gerald Brock from Darlington County, South Carolina. Gerald is a special member who tirelessly promotes God in the fire service. What a blessing to be able to share in his ministry. Gerald's brother provided the lunch and Gerald made sure that there was plenty of firefighters around. I was able to share what the Lord is doing through FCFInternational.

Tomorrow I get to visit the Charlotte, North Carolina chapter. I look forward to meeting some new friends and sharing what God is doing in my life and with FCFInternational. We will also be heading to meet with some of the Billy Graham folks and talk about a disaster response team. We might be able to partner with them in order to minister to first responders. Please pray about that meeting. God is opening up new doors for FCFInternational. I want to be faithful in following God's ways and seeking His will in ministering to first responders.

The Family
The family has been braving through the cold spell with snow on the ground at the International Office in Maryland while I have been off playing in 74 degree weather. As I am traveling further north it is beginning to get colder. Thank you for your prayers for my family as I have been away. My prayer is that they would continue to walk with God and read His Word faithfully everyday.

Prayer Requests

• I received an email from a firefighter who is going through a difficult time in his marriage. This breaks my heart. There are way too many divorces in the fire service. This firefighter is asking for help and I will be working with him.
• Continue to pray that God would work in the hearts and minds of first responders. I have been praying for a revival, please join me in that. I have been praying that God would save a million first responders worldwide.
• Pray that members would desire to hold a prayer event at their firehouse on May 1. This is International Day of Prayer for first responders.
• Pray that FCFInternational would be faithful in producing Bible studies for first responders.

Vision - To glorify God in the fire service by building relationships that turn the heart and mind of first responders to Christ (Philippians 2:11), equipping them to serve Him (Ephesians 4:12)

Mission - To encourage one another to share the vision with the fire service community through Witnessing, Praying, Teaching the Word, and Walking worthy

Greetings From the Missions Field 1-17-2013

From the Field
God is good all the time!! I hope you said all the time God is good!! We do serve a faithfull God. I am excited that I get to see what He is doing in the fire service. I have been praying for more local groups to get started and I see answers to those prayers. Without me trying to influence things, which I always try to do, God is moving in the hearts and minds of first responders to meet together. The fire service can be such a hard enviroment for Christians to serve in, but God is faithfull and will help us to endure. Endurance was the topic for today's daily devotion on facebook. Check out our page, Fellowship of Christian Firefighters International. God's people in the fire service are encouraging one another through prayer, devotions, and sharing life in the fire service.

The International Office has been abuzz the past week. We are getting ready for our first show as President/Missionary. Holly wanted to know when our house became a work room. Everywhere you turned I was working on projects. We built a new display table, had everything out of the boxes in order to organize, and Seth and I where working on computer things for the show. Finally, late last night I began to package everything up. I am excited about seeing groups along the way and hope to encourage them to keep the faith. Pray for this journey, that God would be magnified in the areas I visit. Not because of me but because of God's great love for the fire service.

We are about 1 week from unvailing the new web site. I thank God that He has provided for us. This new web site will help to attract young firefighters. Our prayer is to reach the young firefighters for Jesus Christ. Those will be the next leaders of the fire service and of our organization if the Lord tarries in coming back.

I am excited about our new Bible study. It has been three years in the making, with many dissapointments, but praise God it is finally finished. God's timing is best and I believe it is way better now than it would have been three years ago. It is on the book of Ephesians and it includes fire pictures, stories, and videos. It cost us about $1.00 to produce a copy and we are excited about sharing it with the world. The study will be free on our new web site.

Family
I thank God for my family. God has provided me with a great wife, one who loves the Lord and one who is faithfull. I pray that first responders would be as blessed as I am when it comes to a spouse. I am also thankful for my children who love God. They have been going to a different church than Holly and I lately, but I thank God that they researched the churches statement of faith first and the church faithfully preaches the Word of God. Seth has been putting in applications for ministry work as an Assistant Pastor. Pray that he would be directed by God to the best place for him.

Prayer Requests
- The trip to Florida that I will be taking next week
- The Board members will be looking at the best way to organize our ministry. Pray that God would give us wisdome.
- The finances of the International. It takes finances to maintain a ministry. Pray that folks would be faithful in supporting us and that we would be wise in spending God's money. Pray that we would find 100 churches to support us.
- Revival in the fire service. Pray that God's people would be stirred up to serve Him.

Vision - To glorify God in the fire service by building relationships that turn the heart and mind of first responders to Christ (Philippians 2:11), equiping them to serve Him (Ephesians 4:12)

Mission - To encourage one another to share the vision with the fire service community through Witnessing, Praying, Teaching the Word, and Walking worthy.

Greetings from the Missions Field 1-8-2013

From the Field
This has been a short time, but a lot has been happening. I thank God how He is working through FCFInternational. As I learn more about my responsibilities as the President/Missionary one thing has become very clear, it is much more than I can Handle. I thank God that with Him all thing are possible (Matthew 19:26). In fact the verse reminds us that "with man this is impossible", but not with God. This is God's ministry and it is exciting to see where He is leeding us. Last night we had a great International Board meeting. These great men of God (and Holly) really have a heart for Him and want to serve Him. We were able to discuss where we think God is leading this ministry. I am excited to see how this will all come together, in God's timing. We are working on the Operations Plan (OP). Lord willing this should be finished by next week and we can begin to follow it. An OP will keep me focused in the ministry and ensure that I don't go on any rabbit trails.

The new web site is 70% complete. I thank God for His provisions. The new web host is a believer and retired firefighter. He has set everything up for us and is only going to charge us $12.00 a month. The web site is easy for me to put all the information in. The monthly on-line Bible studies are already in the site and it makes it easy for members to sign up. I think God is going to use this site in a mighty way to reach young firefighters. Praise God!!

Here are the local events we are working on. FCFInternational once had great outings where Christian firefighters could go and encourage one another. Pray for each of these events. Our desire is that God would bring both saved and unsaved first responders to these events. Our prayer is that other regions of the country would step up and host regional events.

- March 22-24, First Responders weekend retreat in Mercersburg, PA
- April 23-24, Leadership Conference in Indianapolis, IN at FDIC
- May 1, International Day of Prayer for the fire service.
June 17-21, Family Camp in Black Mountain, NC

Family
Not much to report from the family this week. We are thankful to God that so far we have avoided the flu that is going around. Some folks in our church have come down with the flu and it has knocked them out of comission for several days.

Prayer Requests
- Dan Clegg is traveling with Donna to visit and witness to family members. The have a young family member who is on life support and the family is not saved.
- Isaac has a friend who is not walking with the Lord. They serve together in their local fire department.
- The OP would be completed.
- The upcoming show that we would glorify God.

Craig Duck
President/Missionary
FCFInternational

Greetings from the Missions Field 1-4-2013

From the Field
Well 2013 is finally here, and amazingly we are all still here. God has not called us home, and the rapture has not taken place. I do thank God that Jesus Christ will one day come back for His own and make all things new. I can't wait for that day, maybe it will be today. I have been praying a lot about FCFInternational and where God will be taking us. I urge all of you to make 2013 the year of prayer for FCFInternational. I have been praying that God would bring to salvation 2 million first responders and grow our ministry to 10,000 members. Some may say that is too big a number. I am reminded that with God all thing are possible. Please join with me in that prayer. 10,000 members is less than 1% of the fire service (1.4 million firefighters). I have read two books, one of Hudson Taylors life and one of Dawson Trotman (founder of the Navigators), and they have inspired me to pray for the fire service like they prayed for their mission fields. Would you join me in that prayer.

I am excited about our upcoming board meeting. How exciting that we are able to meet once a month via the internet. The last one was great and I thank God for our Godly leaders. This month meeting we will be crafting an Operations Plan (OP). Our OP will help us to organize our ministry in order to be efficient and keep us focused on God. Pray with me that our OP will be glorifying to God and help us to grow the ministry. We will be discussing how our Board members should function, how we can achieve our goal of a Regional Director in every State, and how we can finance all of the ministry. I am thankful that past President/Missionaries have kept this ministry debt free, and I intend to do the same.

FCFInternational started a new program this year called "The Command Staff". Fashioned after the Navigators "Minutemen" program of the late 30's and 40's. The idea is to find committed people who will read their Bibles everyday, pray for the fire service for 1 hour a day, memorize 1 Bible verse a week, share their faith with someone in the fire service once a month, and disciple 1 person in the fire service this year. I am praying for 25 Command Staff Personnel. Please pray that we would find those people. The program is a one year program form the date of application.

The Family
The family is doing great. Seth has once again started to look for a ministry. He would like to be an assistant pastor in youth or worship leader type position. Pray that God would open up a door for him. Andrew is working hard at his machine shop. I praise God that he is a faithful employee and I pray that God would use him at his shop. Andrew's girl friend Tiffany is getting ready to go back to college this weekend. Christopher is working at a Bible store. Pray for Christopher that he would begin to look for a career. Justin is working at Kohls department store, and I echo the same prayer for him as for Christopher. I am thankful for my boys and there love for God and faithfulness to Him. Holly has one job now, the Bible store, and is beginning to do more FCFInternational things for me. I thank God that she is a faithful wife and loves God.

Prayer Requests

• Pray that we would have 25 folks join the Command Staff
• Pray that God would place it on the hearts of people to become Regional Directors. We currently have many states with no directors.
• Pray that God would start a revival in the fire service. Pray that Christian firefighters would be "stirred up" just like our key verse in Hebrews. Pray for 2 million first responders to be saved and 10,000 to join FCFInternational
• Pray for our finances. I am praying that in 2013 God would direct 100 new churches to support us for $1,600.00 a year.
• Pray for our Widows and Orphans Fund, that we would find a director for that program and be able to help those in need.
• Pray for our disaster response team. We are also looking for a director of that program.

I thank you so much for being a faithful steward in prayer for our ministry. There is no way we could ever do this ministry on our own strength. God is faithfull, and I am confident that He will do a great work in the fire service. Thanks for partnering with us in prayer.



Craig W. Duck
President/Missionary
FCFInternational