Skyline Baptist Church
The first Cry In The Dark visit... Steve spoke from Romans 8:28 - that each person has a purpose in Jesus, God has a plan for each person's life, and the Cry In The Dark story was just one example of how God can use the life of an individual...such as Steve, or Albert - the young boy who sadly died of Aids in 2004, but whose life has impacted many others as a result of his strong and inspirational faith. We'd like to thank Pastor Mark Hill, Associate Pastor Brian Kelly, and the Youth Pastor, Josh Humphrey.
Left: Dave led worship on guitar, with Zoe on guitar, Josh on bass (hidden behind Zoe) and Abby on cello. Right: Steve speaking.
Monday 16th October
First Baptist Academy
On Monday the Cry In The Dark team visited First Baptist school. Firstly they took the assembley which every grade attended. Then the team went round each of the classrooms, playing a praise song, speaking about the work in Romania, and answering any of the children's questions. With thanks to Jan Richards and Mrs.McMichael
Left: Zoe and Dave on guitars. Right: Abby on the cello. All playing a praise song in the Kindergarten class
The Cry In The Dark team, with Mrs Davenport and her 5th & 6th grade class
Steve Cooper, Director of Cry In The Dark, by some of the 'hugs' that were used to raise funds for Cry In The Dark by the school pupils.
Tuesday 17th October
Veritas School
Steve and the team visited Veritas school on Tuesday morning, to take their assembley, lead some fun children's praise songs, and explain the work of Cry In The Dark. We also updated the group about the progress on our most recent project, Casa Albert. We'd like to thank Karen Bolton for her continuing support and encouragement and for arranging the visit.
Steve speaking to the children
Dave, Zoe and Abby leading a worship time
The young people, with the blankets they had made which would be donated to Cry In The Dark.
First Baptist: Women on Mission group
Steve did a presentation to the Women on Mission group, who were very welcoming and provided a delicious potluck lunch. Dave also led some praise songs with Zoe and Abby at the begining. We'd like to thank Charlene McMahon for organising the visit and the group's support.
Christian Challenge group, on campus of University of Arizona
In the evening the team travelled to Tucson to do a presentation to the students at Christian Challenge. Steve spoke to the students from Genesis 12 & John 15, about Abraham and the four key elements to being on mission; pruning from the Father, remaining in Jesus (the vine), praying in Jesus name & the will of God, and a love for fellow disciples. We'd like to thank Eddie Pearson for organising our visit and all his support, past and present.
Wednesday 18th October
Shiloh School & Shiloh Church
The team took the Shiloh school assembley, and led some children praise songs, and then Steve spoke about the work of Cry In The Dark. In the evening, the team (below: Abby, Josh, Zoe and Dave) led the worship. Steve then spoke on Matthew 25:31-46, and Isaiah 58:6-12. We'd like to thank Pastor Joseph Tumpkin for his continuing support and his invitation for us to speak.
Thursday 19th October
Berean School
We'd like to thank the Principal of Berean school for allowing us to speak at the school and meet the students, who were a very attentive audience.
Buena High School CSO
At 2pm the team visited the Christian Student Organisation at Buena High School, led some worship and spoke about the work of Cry In The Dark. Steve also spoke about Peter walking on water, and how Jesus always meets us in the storms of life and reaches out his hand, no matter how dark the circumstances are. We'd like to thank Josh Richards for helping us organise the visit and for his commitment through our 2 week trip in Arizona.
Sunday 22nd October
Country Estates Church
The Cry In The Dark team took both morning services at Country Estates - Dave led the worship with Abby, Josh and Zoe. Then Steve spoke from 1 John 3:16-24, speaking on the importance of our actions and outliving our faith and love for God. We'd like to thank Pastor Mike Bergman for inviting us again to speak, and for his continuing support and friendship.
Steve speaking to the 11am service
Left: One of the young boys presents Steve with the money he had raised himself by cleaning out dog kennels. Right: The children sang some praise songs as part of the service.
Huachuca youth group
In the afternoon Dave made a surprise visit to his old youth group on the Huachuca fort army post, and performed a couple of songs to the group. Steve then spoke about Cry In The Dark and showed the DVD footage to the young people. We'd like to thank Bob and Jacque Patton for allowing us to visit.
Monday 23rd October
The Cry In The Dark team were guests at a bible study group hosted by Jan and Jeff Richards. The group had organised a pot luck dinner, and then Steve did a presentation on the history of Cry In The Dark, and took the group through all the charity's work to present day. We'd like to thank Jan and Jeff Richards, our host family, for all their hard work and service.
Tuesday 24th October
PWOC, Fort Huachuca
The team did a presentation to the Protestant Women of the Chapel group on Fort Huachuca to update them with our news since their last visit. Steve spoke from 1 John 3 and talked about the link between our faith and our actions. He also encouraged the women to be preachers of the gospel, and to spread the good news, in the same way that Jesus appeared after his resurrection first to the women at the tomb, and entrusted them with the good news of his risen life. We thank the ladies again for inviting us to the group and for their ongoing support.
Left: Steve speaking to the PWOC group.
Wednesday 25th October
Calvary Chapel, Casa Grande
It was a pleasure to return to our friends in Casa Grande, where we shared a meal before beginning the evening meeting. Dave Robson led the worship and Steve spoke, sharing the story of Cry In The Dark and our new updates, but also passionately communicating the gospel and the importance of real faith in our lives, again from 1 John 3:16-24. We'd like to thank David Landry and his wife Tot, for their friendship, support and hospitality.
Left: Dave leading the worship with Zoe and Abby. Right: Steve speaking
Thursday 26th October
Campus Crusade, Casa Grande
The team visited two groups on the University Campus - midday and evening. At the lunchtime meeting Steve took the students through the history of Cry In The Dark and the story of the children from Casa Lumina. In the evening there was a time of worship followed by a presentation by Steve on our latest updates, and Steve also spoke from 1 John 3, challenging the students to be active with their faith. We're grateful to Assistant Pastor Rob Castro for inviting us to the groups, and for him and his wife Bertha's hospitality.
Left: Dave, Zoe and Abby performing a praise song to the lunchtime group. Right: Dave, Zoe, Steve, Rob, Bertha, Abby
Saturday 28th October
Calvary Christian Fellowship, Tucson
The team led the worship and spoke at the Saturday evening group at Tucson Calvary Christian Fellowship, before enjoying a potluck dinner with the congregation. Steve gave an overview of the work, and explained the upcoming project. Despite some technical difficulties, he also showed a couple of short DVD clips. We'd like to thank Associate Pastor Mark Stone for his help and welcome.
From left: Abby on cello, Zoe on guitar, Dave on guitar, Josh on bass
Left: Associate Pastor Mark Stone. Right: Steve speaking to the group
Sunday 29th October
10am: Thunder Mountain Community Church
The team were privileged to serve this church by taking the whole service for the Thunder Mountain congregation. Dave and the band led a time of worship, then Steve took the church through communion together. Dave and Zoe then invited the children up to take part in a children's praise song with actions - which the team got the entire church to join in with - and they picked it up very quickly! Then Steve spoke from the 1 John 3:16-25 passage, and explained the ministry of Cry In The Dark. We're very grateful to Pastor Randy Youngblood, Tim Fiorello, and everyone at TMCC, for their help, the welcome we recieved, and the ongoing support of Thunder Mountain Community Church.
Steve speaking at TMCC
6:30pm: Worship/Celebration Concert, St.Andrew's Church Hall
To end our two week tour, the team put on a celebration service. This consisted of worship led by Dave and the band, a talk and presentation by Steve, and some original songs performed by Dave.
Left: Steve speaking to the people at the concert. Right: Dave leading worship, with (from left) Ryan on Djembe, Abby on cello, Josh on bass and Zoe on guitar.
Cry In The Dark would like to thank the Richards' family for their friendship and hospitality, and British Airways for their generous support and sponsorship. Cry In The Dark would also like to thank everyone who came to hear about the work of our ministry and all our supporters who keep us able to do the work we do.