Sending
/Serving Across Nations
This year has been a testament to the transformative impact of our outreach and mission efforts. From serving 130 children through CarePortal and hosting transformative art therapy sessions for trafficking survivors to sending teams across the globe for hands-on missions, we have witnessed God’s grace at work in powerful ways. The commitment and compassion of our church family have driven incredible growth and outreach, reflecting our dedication to making a difference in our community and beyond.
ESL: We averaged 50-60 students in regular attendance, supported by 40 dedicated volunteers. Our ESL program became a vibrant tapestry of 18 countries represented between students and the volunteers.
Foster and Care and Adoption Advocates: At our Connection event, 38 volunteers rallied to support 47 families, impacting 195 lives with care and community. We also provided wrap-around support to 7 families celebrating new adoptions, delivering care packages, and providing resources to families in crises. Additionally, we created a nurturing multi-sensory room for children with special needs and joined a nationwide network of churches across America that seek to support vulnerable children in their communities.
Life Task Force
Trafficking Survivor Advocates: We hosted an Art Therapy Class bringing together 12 survivors and 4 staff members from two stabilization homes, along with two CATC volunteers. 100% of participants reported a reduction in PTSD symptoms following this class. At the Rescue Hill stabilization home, our Young Adults transformed the space with a flower garden, three volunteers decorated the home for Christmas, and another started a Bible Study. At Valiant Hearts, nine volunteers hosted monthly birthday parties, participated in a club outreach program, helped with administrative duties, and organized a Thanksgiving dinner.
This summer, six dedicated volunteers started a sewing class for survivors from three community organizations, and one survivor was baptized in the Spring.
Our New Life Advocates: 7 teachers and volunteers hosted a monthly breakfast and devotional at the Health for Her Women’s clinic. A team of seven women committed to pray for needs of the clinic’s 20 staff members.
CarePortal: Since last fall, our CarePortal has responded to 75 requests, touching the lives of 130 children with over $42,000 in economic impact. Each response has been a step toward meeting urgent needs and making a meaningful difference in their lives.
TRIPS
CATC members have been all over the globe in this past year! In the fall of 2023, we sent a small crew of young adults to check out our partner, Radius International. This trip gave them a greater perspective on what the Lord might be leading them into in long-term missions.
We also took a group of young adults to a missions conference in Louisville, KY. At this conference, they were challenged by speakers to consider the needs of the global Church to be sent to the least reached peoples of the world. In February, a small group was able to visit our partners, S&C, in the Middle East. While there, our partners were encouraged and trip members were inspired to long-term commitments. In the lead up and during this trip, Nathaniel and Aine Ortiz committed to attending Radius International.
A large team of CATC families traveled out to El Paso in May to partner once again with two churches there to reach their communities. This trip has become such a critical part of CATC’s growth in becoming a sending church. We are prayerfully casting a vision to the youngest generation at CATC of how their lives can be used for the mission of God!
Our high school students took a long-awaited trip to Japan over the summer. Long-awaited since we had hoped to take a similar trip in 2020. It was so encouraging to see this trip finally occur so that our students could catch a glimpse of one of the largest unreached people groups in the world. The need for the gospel in places like Japan is so significant. We trust that the Lord spoke to many of our students’ hearts through this experience.
We sent a team of 10 to serve with our long-term partner, Send Relief Puerto Rico in June. This team served the people of PR by rebuilding homes and making inroads into the community for churches to have a witness. Finally, we mobilized a team of young adults to go back to Radius in late July to clean and prepare the campus for the incoming class of missionary candidates. This time had added significance since our team was literally preparing the apartment that Nathaniel and Aine are now living in.
We take trips for two reasons; 1) To serve our long-term partners that are ministering around the globe and 2) to give CATC members a vision for their life leveraged for the sake of God’s mission to the nations. We trust that the Lord accomplished both of these objectives this year!
Church Plants
We saw considerable growth in our two established church plants this year and announced official plans to send Casey Schutza out to plant Renewal City Church in 2025. It’s been so encouraging to see the multiplication of Church at the Cross into these three church plants.
Cross and Crown is in the process of merging with First Baptist Church of Roanoke and will inherit that historical church’s membership and property. This should help the church continue to grow and establish them for years to come!
King’s Cross in Farmington, UT is growing at a significant rate and baptizing many who have come out of the Mormon faith. Like Cross and Crown, King’s Cross is also in conversation with a church in their area about a merger that will bless the church with a building and more members. Praise God for his faithfulness and kindness in sustaining these works!
As mentioned, Renewal City Church is slated to launch in the fall of 2025 in Celina, TX. Casey Schutza, along with his family, and 14 members (at the time of this writeup) have committed to moving to this explosively growing city and plant a Jesus-centered, grace-driven church. Please continue to pray that God would lead the team and more CATC members to answer the call for this new work.