Greetings from the Mission Field 1-26-2014

From the Field
A lot is happening around the International Office. I have just walked in from traveling to the Fire Rescue East show in Daytona Beach, Florida. Now before you all become jealous, the had a cold spell as well as they only had highs of 50. A big thanks to Randy Lillian and his lovely bride for letting me stay at their house and for everyone who helped at our booth. What a blessing to be able to meet folks and share what God is doing in the fire service. This year the show seemed a little down in numbers, and I pray that this is not a trend for the rest of the shows.

The discipleship ministry is up and running. We have had a lot of difficulties which only leads me to conclude that God is getting ready to do some great things with it. Currently we are conducting Discipleship Tuesday classes on line as we go through the Train the Trainer course that Keith Helms developed. I look forward to the day when we have first responders in every state discipling someone. I feel like we are on the cutting edge, even though Jesus commanded us over two thousand years ago to disciple people as we are going through life. Please pray that FCFInternational would continue to be faithful in doing this ministry and that everyone would ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE to find someone to disciple.

It happened so fast that we are not sure exactly what to do next. We put our house on the market to see if we should move to Virginia. The house sold in seven days and now we will begin to look for a permanent headquarters for FCFInternational. My dream is to have an International Office where we can bring first responders and their families to in order to minister to their needs, especially after a disaster. Please join with us in this prayer. We chose southern Virginia because of their real-estate prices, easy access to highways, and close to our biggest membership. Holly and I hope to be inviting everyone soon. Holly is looking forward to getting back to hospitality, and where better than southern Virginia. We will keep the rocking chairs ready and the tea sweet.

Plans are underway for our missions trip to Mexico in May. Please pray that we would have sufficient funds, plenty of help, and that the hearts of the Mexican firefighters would be prepared to hear the Gospel. Also pray as we organize the event, that God would receive all of the glory and not us.

Family
Seth is now in basic training and Andrew is getting ready to go to Norfolk on a new job. How exciting to see these four boys of ours turn into Godly young men. Christopher and Justin are waiting to see what opens up in Virginia, however Christopher has been praying about starting a hunting and fishing camp. Let's see what the Lord has in store for these two, I am sure it will be awesome. Holly is understandably stressed over the move, and will be happy when we once again settle down. Please pray that we would find just the right church to serve in down there.

Prayer Requests

• Discipleship Ministry, that it would continue to grow changing first responders hearts and minds.
• The location of an International Office.
• Seth and Andrew as they start their new jobs.
• A Chapter in every state and 10,000 members who glorify God.
• Support, we are praying for 100 churches to help us both financially and prayerfully.

Craig Duck

President/Missionary

FCFInternational

www.fellowshipofchristianfirefighters.org 

Greetings from the Mission Field 1-4-2014

From the Field
     There has been so much happening in FCFInternational that it has been awhile since I last updated you. God is on the move in the fire service, and I am so thankful to Him for His many blessings. As we look at 2013 from our rearview mirror, God has once again provided for all of our needs. FCFInternational ended the year owing nobody any money. What a blessing not having to get stressed out over finances. The founders of this ministry always trusted God with the finances and I am so thankful He provided. I am also thankful for the individuals, churches, and businesses that support the ministry. I pray that they will receive as much blessing knowing that first responders are being reached for Christ as I do.
     The history book was finally finished for our ministry. Wayne Detzler did a wonderful job at compiling our history based on the Encourager. God has used the Encourager over the years to change lives and I am thankful that the previous Presidents kept most of them for us to enjoy. Currently we are working on developing several new books for the Fellowship that will help us encourage first responders. Our prayer is that God will use many of our members to assist in writing Bible studies, devotions, and tracts to be used at local departments. We just finished a new design for tracts, hoping to get firefighters to read them. Each tract will contain 3 stories from our members, each telling of how God lead them to salvation.
     This year Holly and I will be applying to ABWE to be missionaries to first responders. Lord willing, this will make the President/Missionary title have an endorsement from a missions board. ABWE has agreed to allow us to continue to serve with FCFInternational as we train North American churches how to minister to first responders. Our prayer is that churches will get connected with local departments and begin to minister to them. We are praying that God would use this to let departments know we exist and that would allow to grow.
    There is so much happening, but I do not want to overload you. I understand that first responders have small attention spans. I am hoping to once again use this format as a tool to better inform our prayer warriors of what's happening in the Fellowship. You can always check the website for the up to date happenings around the Fellowship. www.fellowshipofchristianfirefighters.org

From the Family
     Thank you for all of your prayers for my family. We live in a day and age that is marked with great attacks on the family. Please continue to pray that God would use us and that we would not disqualify ourselves in anyway. The other day we put our house up on the market. Our prayer is that it will sell quickly and we will be able to find a piece of property that could be used as an International Headquarters. I feel led to start a retreat facility for the Fellowship that will minister to first responders after a disaster. This has been very stressful for Holly, but I am thankful to God for her faithfulness to not only me but the ministry as well.
     Seth will be leaving for the army on the 13th of January. I have been praying that his "battle buddy" will be a Christian and that Seth will be a good testimony as he completes basic training. Andrew will be moving out, headed to Norfolk to make parts for ships. Pray that he will get the job he is looking for and a place to live. Christopher and Justin are on hold as we wait to see if our family moves. I am looking forward to retiring in April and begin full time work on the mission field.

Prayer Requests

• Sale of our home and a good location for the International Office
• The Discipleship Ministry which will begin this year
• The sweetheart Dinner in Washington, DC for first responders
• The tract that was developed, that many first responders may be saved.