Blog - Christ's American Baptist Church

DR 2019 – Day 1

Posted on Feb 24, 2019 by Joshua Trojak in DR Mission Trip 2019 |

Day 1 is coming to a close in the DR. We are here, alive and well, and for that I give thanks to God. As you read that you may think, “oh what happened?!” To ease minds, all in all the trip was uneventful. It never ceases to amaze me how beautiful God’s creation is. It is hard to deny God’s amazing design when you get to see the waters, clouds and terrain from such a high vantage point. When I see how little the people are zoomed out, it reminds me how thankful I am that God works through little people like us in his grand design.

The interesting part of our trip came when we entered the DR and went through customs. Long story short our bags of things we donated have been taken into a further process of scrutiny by the authorities. We hope to have the bags early this week, and would appreciate your prayers as we rearrange some of our plans and prayers that we are able to distribute the things that many of you helped to collect and donate.

I don’t write this to cause fear or anger. For me it is a reminder of God’s sovereignty in all of our circumstances. We don’t completely know what God has in store for us the week, or even what He has planed for this bump in our plans. But I do know God is in control.

As God’s timing would have it, I shared this verse with the middle schoolers at Spring Grove just 2 days ago. Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” We don’t know what tomorrow brings here in the DR, but we are putting our trust in the Lord for what we do this week.

I would encourage and challenge you as we step out in faith this week, that you too can step out in faith wherever you are. God has great things in store this week for all of us. The question is, will you be a part?

In Christ,

Pastor Josh

Feb '19

DR Mission Trip 2019

Posted on Feb 22, 2019 by Joshua Trojak in DR Mission Trip 2019 |

Feb '19

So it is that time again! I can’t believe it’s been a year since our team boarded a plane to partner in ministry with our Dominican Republic family, but as we all know time moves quickly. This post will be short, but I wanted to let you know where you can hear about our journey during the upcoming days.

Throughout our week in the DR, myself (along with help from our team) will be posting daily updates (internet provided) as we serve. My hope is that it is uplifting to follow our journey and pray along with us as experience what God has in store for us. Feel free to share this page with others so that they can follow along too. Also keep an eye on our CABC Facebook Page to see regular updates of pictures throughout the week.

My encouragement to you is also to serve God faithfully where you will be this week. Whether we are in the DR, US, or anywhere else around the world, let us put on the Armor of God and be fully prepared to do what we each have been called to do this week!

^“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.” – Ephesians 6:10

-Pastor Josh

Jun '18

Annual Report

Posted on Jun 10, 2018 by admin in General |

Jun '18

Annual Report – 2017-2018

As we look forward to the year ahead for CABC, it is good to look back and see what God has done in our family. Download this past year’s Annual Report to see a glimpse of what happened.

Annual Report 17-18

CABC Annual Meeting is June 24th, 6:30pm

May '18

2018 Graduates

Posted on May 20, 2018 by admin in General |

May '18

On Sunday, May 20th, we recognized the graduates from our CABC family.

Congratulations to the Class of 2018.

University Graduates:

Jordan Hisey — Penn State York — May 4, 2018
Earned Degree in Social Work
Plans are: Financial Advisor with Prudential

Amy Myers — Millersville University — May 11, 2018
Plans are: Nurse Practitioner

Jonathan Schumacher — West Chester University — May 13, 2018
Plans are: Pursuing Master’s Degree in Communication at West Chester

Damian Walters — Lancaster Bible College — May 11, 2018
Plans are: Doing the will of God; then starting a men’s ministry for those who are broken and down and out—offering housing and job training in the trades

High School Graduates:

Zach Hisey — Spring Grove High School — June 1, 2018
Plans are: Penn State University — Pursuing Degree in Chemical Engineering

Tyler Lepley — Dover High School — June 2, 2018
Plans are: Majoring in Landscaping, Lawn, Groundskeeper Management

Jonah Miller — Dallastown Area High School — June 8, 2018
Plans are: Slippery Rock University — Majoring in Marketing and playing football

Tori Weaver — Spring Grove High School — June 1, 2018
Plans are: Bethany Global University — Missionary School — Studying Intercultural Ministry and Bible Studies. For sixteen months, I will be on a mission trip as part of the curriculum

Miriam Kay Worley — Home School — March 20, 2018
Plans are: Continue working at Jim & Nena’s in Spring Grove (I love it). I’m also interested in missions and would like to continue that journey, as well.

CABC Preschool Graduates:

Savannah Nicole Bair

Zephaniah Gregory Barshinger

Egypt Elijah Boykin

David Michael Carbaugh

Mark Robert Enslen

Sage Olivia Freed

Jose Alejandro Gonzalez

Bentley Orion Hill

Westin James Laughman

Kane Michael Markle

Liam Jonas Martin

Ky-Mani Lee Melbourne

Autumn Grace Pallone

Liam Xavier Pichardo

Nylah Phoebe Robertson

Eliana Elizabeth Sanders

Addison Olivia Seibert

Judson Turner Trojak

Mar '18

Victory!

Posted on Mar 31, 2018 by admin in 2018 Lenten Devotional |

Mar '18

As a good staff member, I wrote my devotionals after the due date. So I had the pleasure of watching the Eagles battle to win their first every Super Bowl trophy. Many had come to talk about the clash between the Eagles and the Patriots as a “David vs. Goliath” game. And boy was it a battle to the very end. I enjoy watching football games that are back and forth, down to the wire, and where the last play could change everything. That kind of competition is fun to witness. (Especially when the team I am rooting for wins!)

Another comparison was to “Rocky vs. Apollo Creed.” Great movie. This movie had the underdog vs. the experienced in which the first meeting Rocky just couldn’t do it. But he battles back to take the victory over his opponent eventually. This underdog story line is one that we love to see. I mean seriously, unless you are a fan of the giant, we like to see the little guy win. Even in life we like to see the small business succeed over the monopoly. We like to see the unlikely, picked on kid become something greater than their detractors might have guessed. It is an ideal that anybody can beat anything they put their mind to; no matter how big or far fetched the obstacle might be.

This underdog mentality and the search for that elusive Victory always brings me back to the story of Jesus. The Israelites were searching and waiting for their messiah, their king, to come and win the battle and be victorious over their Roman oppressors. They were the underdogs and wanted saved. The hoped for this even longer than Eagle fans have been hoping for a Lombardi trophy. Yet, Jesus didn’t come back as the conquering king they had hoped for. He came in an unassuming way as a child, walked the earth in a way that was not like royalty, and willing submitted to death on the cross for the people He came to save. This was not the ending they had hoped for. From their perspective Jesus lost the battle.

But we have the knowledge to know the story didn’t stop there. That defeated underdog wasn’t really and underdog at all. He had control the whole time. Yes, he willing submitted to death on the cross, but only so that he could have the Victory over sin and death in a way no one else could. He rose from the dead on the third day. And in doing so, saved us from defeat we all had coming at the end of our lives. It is because of His Victory that we have victory too. We aren’t just spectators watching someone else get the trophy. If we choose to believe and follow him we share that victory with Him.

I enjoy a hard fought football game. I enjoy good movies like Rocky. Because of my enjoyment in those things I like to talk about them. I couldn’t hold in my excitement when the Eagles won the game. But my final challenge is taken from the many of the players and coaches of that team. They just won the highest achievement in the NFL and yet the first things out of many of their mouths on national television was a gratefulness and thankful heart towards their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Our earthly victories are great, but our focus is out of whack if we are not putting our heavenly victory first. Jesus is far greater than any prize we could win on this earth. Do those around you know about Him? What can you do to change that?

“But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

1 Corinthians 15:57

– Pastor Josh Trojak

Join us for Easter Sunday services at CABC tomorrow, April 1st at 8:30am & 10:15am. For you early risers, we also have a special sunrise service at 6:45am followed by breakfast before our normal worship services in the sanctuary. We hope to see you here!

Mar '18

At Calvary – Day 40

Posted on Mar 30, 2018 by admin in 2018 Lenten Devotional |

Mar '18

“Oh , the love that drew salvation’s plan! Oh, the grace that brought it down to man!

Oh, the mighty gulf that God did span at Calvary!

Mercy there was great, and grace was free; Pardon there was multiplied to me;

There my burdened soul found liberty, at Calvary!

Do these words sound familiar to you? No doubt you have sung them many times over the years. They are from the hymn “At Calvary” written by William R. Newell in 1895. There are many truths to be found in this beautiful song, and they are as real today as they were they day they were first written down.

History records Calvary as an event of some 2,000 years ago, but to those of us who know the peace and pardon of God, Calvary is ever present. While historical events fade from books as newer events take their place, we still talk of Calvary from which both the history of man and the plan and purpose of God revolve.

For the life that seems empty, Calvary gives purpose!
For the heart darkened with failure, Calvary means forgiveness!
For the body that will one day die, Calvary means deliverance!

Only at Calvary, where the once-for-all payment for sin was made, can the cleansing from sin be found. Only in our Savior’s death, burial, resurrection, and the promise to one-day return, can a purpose be found for life.

May we remember Calvary, not only during this preparation for Easter, but every day as we strive to become better disciples of Jesus Christ.

– Pastor Bob Coddington