Christian Family Retreat, services, bible study and Christian summer camp for kids

There were over 100 participants in the Run/Walk For Jesus on May 30, 2009. We want to sincerely thank all those who participated in representing Jesus Christ. We want to thank Dick Thompson who made this race possible, and helped in every way, and basically put the course and race together. We want to thank all the helpers who assisted Kathy Callahan, John Brueckner, and Allison ONeil at registration. Also a special thanks to Gary Thompson, David Mott, and Tom Chevalier who were the ones who took times at the finish line. Thanks to Mike Hunter as a marker man at the halfway point of the run. Thanks for everybody being soldiers for Christ walking and running through the rain. Shari Bashaw had the best time for female runners, and John Brueckner had the best time for male runners. For other winners of age brackets and pictures click here. The Congregations that had the most representatives were Church of The Rock, First Baptist of St. Albans, First Baptist of Richford, New Life Christian Church of Enosburg, and Trinity Presbyterian. We really thank them, and appreciate their support for the event. We probably shouldn’t mention this, but one person who won’t be in those winning brackets is Dave Southwick who finished in last place with his dog Baloo. They ran with perseverance, never giving up. We encourage everybody to wear their Run For Jesus t-shirts in public to get his name out.

We want to thank everyone who attended and helped put together the first Godfest. It was held on April 4, 2009 to bring together the local community for igniting Christian Revival in Franklin county.

If you would be interested in having a Christian Radio station in Franklin County, please read this letter from Mars Hill Network.

17 local Christian leaders attended the first ever Godfest. Leaders in attendance included:

Lyle Willey and Ernest Jones from First Baptist of Richford, Dan Brueckner of Swanton Christian Church, Bill Simmons of First Baptist of St. Albans, Jason McConnell of Franklin United Church, Chuck Kuthe of Georgia Plain Baptist, Tim Stetson of New Life Christian Church of Enosburgh, Roland Ludlum, Mike Oldham, and Gary Cooper of Church of the Rock, Seth Anderson of Trinity Presbyterian of St. Albans, Ray and Deborah Mann of Champlain Valley Church of the Nazarene, Judy Steger Kennedy of The First Congregational, United Church of Christ of St. Albans, Elaine Mayhew of Island Bible Fellowship of Grand Isle, Andrew Chrysler of The Little Brown Church of Alburg. Ray Landis of the City Light Worship Center of St. Albans spoke, along with Sherri Carlson of Church of the Rock. Ed Richardson Vermont’s Director of Child Evangelism Fellowship also spoke. The special guest speaker was James Parker of Sovereign Grace from Syracuse, NY. Shannon Peters and Eli Chevalier opened up the event with great music. Rich Ballard and Ken Johnson led in Worship.

I have been to each of these "GODSTOCK" meetings and if you haven't been, you are missing out on a wonderful work of God right here in Franklin County. I would encourage all of you to make plans to take part this August. There will be more info coming later as to location and times. Our own pastor Lyle Willey has taken a major part each year. Lyle was a member of our church of the Rock for several years until he had a CALL to pastor the Baptist church in Richford,Vt.

Matt Luneau and his wile Ilze have transformed a large piece of property dedicated to the Lord, into a wonderful and beautiful place to take the kids for a picnic and see what they have done for the Lord. This was Matt's idea to start a "GODSTOCK"

a meeting place where people of all churches are welcome. If you go,you'll go again, that's a promise.

In Christ's love,

Chuck Drinkwater

Church of the Rock

Shari Bashaw and John Brueckner finished the Crossing With The Cross event.

The event consisted of 25 runners passing along the Cross across every town in Franklin County, and including Milton. The run covered 108 miles. It finished with a lighting of a big torch and started off Godstock on August 14, which was a part of Franklin County Christian Week. Here are all the runners who took part in the run: Josh Brueckner, Matt Luneau, Ilze Luneau, Steve Martell, Artur Martell, Bill Simmons, Julian Desnoyer, Lisa Clark, Robin Smith, Dave Southwick, Kevin King, Shari Bashaw, Rich Ballard, Jacob Ballard, Pete Magnant, Kevin Fleming, Adrienne Fleming, Nora Fleming, Lyle Willey, Lynne Airaldi, Jaye Lundborg, Zach Lundborg, Luke Willey, Scott LaFountaine, Jerimiah Elkins, George Moskovitz, Deb Moskovitz, Laura Cramer, Joanne Foote, Melissa the mystery runner (thanks for the help), and John Brueckner.

Franklin County Christian Week had events every night from Monday, August 10 through Godstock V which went from August 14-16. Keynote speaker this year at Godstock was Charlotte Smith, former WNBA Player, University of N. Carolina standout and current Assistant Coach at the University of North Carolina. A crowd gathered under the tent to hear her speak about God’s power throughout her basketball career and life in general. Another new addition at this year’s Godstock was Teen Challenge – the men shared how God helped them overcome drug and alcohol addictions and have a new life in Jesus Christ. Pastors who appeared and supported were Lyle Willey of First Baptist of Richford, Tim Stetson of New Life Christian Church of Enosburgh, Andrew Chrysler of Little Brown Church of Alburg, Larry Weeks of Community Baptist Church of Montgomery, Heidi Reinker of Methodist Church of Richford, Ellen Ravelin of Binghamville Methodist Church, Jeff Cornwell of United Church of Milton, and Paul Maffin of Redeeming Grace of Milton, Dan Brueckner of Swanton Christian Church, Chuck Kuthe of Georgia Plain Baptist, and Seth Anderson of Trinity Presbyterian of St. Albans.

The next planned to encourage Franklin County Christian Revival will be December 22, 2009 at 7:00pm at First Baptist Church of Saint Albans. Pastor Bill Simmons of First Baptist of St. Albans will be directing the event of the Birth of Jesus. Other pastor’s from the area will be participating in the event as well. Teen Challenge will be singing Christmas songs. Hope to see you there

If you would like to receive monthly e-mail updates through "The Franklin County Area Revival Newsletter", please email us your email at theluneaus@earthlink.net.