End-of-Year 2023

Matt Miles • December 20, 2023

     As 2023 comes to a close, we at CTF are extremely blessed. The Lord continues to open doors for us to speak the Truth boldly and to observe false worldviews be torn down. Throughout the year we have focused on Acts 4 where the believers spoke boldly, being filled with the Spirit, and were SHAKEN. This Christmas let’s take a look at another moment in history when the Lord’s SHAKEN proclaimed Him boldly.


     Mary, in Luke 1, is SHAKEN by the proclamation of her pregnancy while still a virgin. Can you imagine a more life-altering revelation? For her to be betrothed to Joseph and now pregnant with the Messiah would absolutely be overwhelming, enough that most of us would probably go hide in a hole rather than proclaim the Lord’s magnificence. Yet later in the chapter, that is exactly what Mary does, proclaiming boldly, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior” (1:46-47). This season may the Lord also shake us out of our usual Christmas busyness to proclaim Him boldly. 


     Let’s also take a moment to remember His blessings of the year. We all have been blessed in some manner or another this past year. Let us rejoice together! Maybe some of you are struggling through tragedy. May the Prince of Peace continue to show His hand of mercy and grace. We must all share His peace with others who need it more now than ever before. Through good and bad, the Lord is faithful!


     Here at CTF we have seen the faithfulness of the Lord with another year of growth with more new churches and opportunities to share the message He has given us. Please don’t miss this in the year-end stats as they reflect His blessings. Your faithfulness in prayer on behalf of this ministry has been evident over and over again. Be it during our programs, safety over the many miles traveled, or during untimely vehicle breakdowns, His provision through prayers are not overlooked. In addition, the Lord’s continued financial faithfulness this year has allowed us to accomplish several things we have been unable to do in previous years, so we also praise the Lord greatly for your faithfulness in this area. As usual, the end of the year brings another opportunity for special giving. We have need of a new trailer, and we would be honored and very thankful if you would consider supporting our end-of-year giving campaign for it. As always, any gifts to CTF are tax deductible.


     We are looking forward to all the Lord has planned for us in 2024. Keep your eyes peeled for news of expansion plans of our Mobile Museum of Earth History fossil collection. May the Lord bless you and your family during this Christmas season!


Signing the Mayflower Compact by Jean Leon Gerome Ferris, 1899
By Ryan Cox March 19, 2026
EACH OF THESE ARTICLES ARE EXCERPTS FROM AMERICA’S EPIC ADVENTURE TM - CTF'S NEWEST VBS CURRICULUM From Lesson 1: The Pilgrims, Walking by Faith in the Lord – Proverbs 3:5-6
model train engine
By Matt Miles March 19, 2026
There are moments in life that we experience the Lord’s Providence, which is the continual guiding and caring of us for His purposes. We may go though trials and suffering now to refine our faith in preparation for eternity. Other times we may see it for the here and now, with the aligning of plans for His purpose in our life, maybe with the opening or closing of a door. Many times we see Providence only in hindsight, looking back on life and seeing His hand working, molding and inspiring us for His plans and to His glory. I can see the Lord’s Providence at many times over the course of my life. Early in my grade school years I developed a love for building models I was recently reminded, along with my father, that we built a train set together in our basement. Following that, I began to build model cars and airplanes. I now know that love of building, tinkering and problem solving was Providence preparing me for this ministry. The Lord taught me early on how to stay focused and pay attention to detail. What I thought was only a hobby at the time is now something I must use on a regular basis in things such as fossil restoration, building crates, trailer and vehicle maintenance for our mobile museum. Later in high school, while active in church, the Lord called me to serve our children’s church ministry. I began to help teach others about Jesus. It seemed insignificant at the time. I remember helping in lesson times and the puppet ministry. I even was cast as “Pastor Rufus” in one of our ongoing puppet skits. My opportunities to share Christ and be an example to those younger than I was tremendous. Again through His Providence, the Lord was guiding me and calling me to ministry. He developed in me the love of teaching His Word to others, priceless to me today. Then in college Providence brought Theresa and I together. The Lord knew exactly who I needed to be my bride for life. She is strong in my weakness and more Christ-like than anyone I know. She is the perfect helpmate and partner for me in ministry as well, which has so far been 34 years, to be exact. Many times the Lord has used her discernment to direct me through a situation that I did not see correctly. I am thankful every day for Providence that brought us together in life and eternal work. As I look back on my life, there are more Providential moments than I have space to write. Most of those times have directly guided me to this specific ministry and my call to preach and teach His Word. Looking back on life and identifying those moments of Providence from the Lord is humbling and awe-inspiring. Please take a moment to remember your own moments when Providence has been evident in your life. This ministry is about identifying Providence from the beginning. His plan from the start is us spending eternity in His presence. Our sin messed some things up, but not His plan. He always has and always will know exactly how to guide and care for us so that we bring Him the glory, now and eternally. There is not a month that goes by that we here at CTF don’t praise the Lord for His Providence through you, our supporters and sustainers. Join with me in thanks for His Providence each day, guiding as only our Creator and Savior could do. Psalms 31:3-5 Blessings.
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