Sixteen-year-old Geoffrey and his mother, Kathleen, are heavily involved with Christian Cross Cultural Ministries (CCCM), which Kathleen started 16 years ago. This ministry is dedicated to helping build bridges that facilitate presentation of the gospel to Jews and Arabs. It also focuses on educating those in the U.S. about people living in the Holy Land and their cultures.

CCCM team members traveled to Jordan and Israel November 3-19 as Geoffrey led an art outreach program with materials Geoffrey designed entitled, "The Bible Through Origami." The use of Origami - the Japanese art of paper folding - has allowed the team to go to schools and orphanages more easily and the teaching materials have been translated in English, Arabic and Hebrew.

In Jordan, Geoffrey interviewed the country's Minister of Trade for High Adventure-Voice of Hope Radio, based in Jerusalem (see accompanying photo). He and the group also had the opportunity to travel to a remote area in Jordan, reachable only by a two-hour camel ride. And their trip, which occurred during the Ramadan religious holiday, also gave them an opportunity to learn more about the unique culture in the Middle East. Geoffrey (who is home schooled) has been to the Middle East nearly two dozen times, his mother says, and he is fluent in Hebrew. He has been working with origami and other art programs since age 14.

"I have always thought that God had a special purpose for Geoffrey, although I didn't know what it was until recently," said Kathleen. "Geoffrey has a very distinct program and kids love it. We (CCCM) have been taking trips three or four times per year to different countries. Origami is a non-threatening medium and Geoffrey leads the whole program, either in English or Hebrew. He'll work with the children and introduce the New Testament and then I talk to the parents. We also have access to kids who are kind of left out in the Christian loop, particularly in Palestine."

Before heading back to the Middle East this spring to lead a Passover outreach education program, Geoffrey and his mother are headed to Thailand to teach contextualized evangelism (Kathleen is an adjunct professor at Citrus College in Glendora). CCCM also does regular outreach programs in southern California along with service projects with the Pasadena Homeless Shelter. Pasadena Covenant Church has provided some assistance to CCCM, including aid with a delivery of Christian books to the first public library in Palestine.

To learn more about Geoffrey's work and the efforts of CCCM, call 323-340-1551 or email the Arai family at araiisrael@yahoo.com.

A review of the more than 200 local Covenant church newsletters received by the Department of Communication highlights other activities on the part of young people throughout the Evangelical Covenant Church. The following information is grouped by conference.

CANADA

• Erickson, British Columbia: A number of children at Erickson Covenant Church participated in a Sunday school musical "Live From the Streets of Bethlehem." Ten of the junior high students also participated in an extensive Bible study format called The Journey (the Covenant's new confirmation materials) with pastor Doug and Korleen Stapleton. High school students have been busy fundraising for CHIC2K3, the Covenant's triennial high school conference, using a talent show and coffeehouse as catalysts. A total of 33 performers shared their talents at the talent show, including piano, ballet, recitation, singing and storytelling.

GREAT LAKES

• Jamestown, New York: Rich Morton of First Covenant Church was recently inducted into the Alpha Chi National College Honor Society at the State College of Brockport, New York.

MIDWEST

• Topeka, Kansas: Brookwood Covenant Church college student Tulora Roeckers of Washburn University in Topeka is the recipient of a 2002-2003 Psi Chi Undergraduate Research Grant Award. She will study "Effects of Hair Length, Hair Color and Facial Symmetry on Perceived Attractiveness." Psi, a national psychology honor society, was founded in 1929 for the purpose of encouraging excellence in scholarship and advancing the science of psychology.

NORTH PACIFIC

• Helena, Montana: Evangelical Covenant Church of Helena young adults Jordan Ippilito, Seth Bazacas and Anna Fitzgerald had roles in the Grand Street Theater's rendition of "Pinocchio" in December. Ippilito played the part of Pinocchio. On the athletic field, Justin Wigen and Tyler Emmert were on the roster of the Helena-based Carroll College football team, which won the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics title in December. Emmert, a freshman quarterback, was an All-Conference pick and completed 153 of 234 passes for 1,978 yards and 16 touchdowns before suffering a separated shoulder late in the season. Wigen, a sophomore wide receiver, caught 12 passes for 193 yards and one touchdown last fall.

NORTHWEST

• Brandon, South Dakota: Living Springs Covenant Church high school students Andrea Larson, Kara Brown, Matt Hubbell, Rose Knudson, Kelly Pokett and Jordan and Marnie Graham participated as marching band members for Brandon Valley High School in the Fiesta Bowl Parade in Phoenix recently. The band placed third in their division.

PACIFIC SOUTHWEST

• Santa Barbara, California: Josh Bryant of Montecito Covenant Church, a senior at Cal State-Northridge, is one of the top age group powerlifters in the United States, based on recent results at the American Powerlifting Federation (APF) West Coast Open in Newport, Oregon. During that meet, Bryant broke the junior American record by lifting 2,154 pounds in a combination of bench press, dead lift and squat events. His effort would have set a world record, but the proper international judges were not present. He will compete in the California State Powerlifting Championships in March and has qualified for the APF Senior Nationals, in Los Angeles in June. Later this summer, Bryant will compete in the Mountaineer Cup, a professional meet that will be televised on ESPN.