I was talking to some friends the other day who were surprised (and thrilled!) to learn that our July 15-20 VBS was free.

Have you registered yet?  Click here.

A good number of Christ Community women will be part of the 4,000 attendees in Orlando.

Learn about the live-streaming webcast HERE.

This promises to be a wonderful event.

Last-minute planners can consult our FAQ page for details about meals, translation, children, transferring registration, and much more

Joseph Kibewott has been active in Christ Community’s family since December, 2011, and joined as a member in March of this year.  Most of you heard his testimony in the Spring of how God has called him to help his countrymen in Kenya through helping provide clean water for them. He came to UF to pursue a degree in Soil and Water Science with this goal in mind. Last year some scholarship money that was promised to Joseph fell through and he was unable to pay his fall 2011 tuition bill.  Because he is an international student this is non-resident tuition and is pretty high.   Because of this he was unable to register for the spring 2012 semester, and being on a student visa, could not work to earn money either.  Despite this, he worked out with his UF professors to attend classes, take exams, etc. last semester, with the understanding that once he could pay off his past bill he could register and get credit for the spring semester.  In the meantime, he was living with the Eubanks, and Greg Gray established a scholarship fund for him where individuals could contribute toward his tuition.  In April he owed almost $11,000, and currently it is down to around $3000.  Because he was not technically enrolled at UF this spring and is on a student visa, he has unfortunately ran afoul of U.S. Immigration.

In early June, Joseph was unexpectedly removed from the Eubanks home and taken to jail in Baker County.  The Eubanks and I visited him Sunday afternoon and he was in good spirits despite the situation.  On Monday he was relocated to the Broward County Transitional Unit where he will be until he can get a hearing, hopefully next week, but it could take up to 30 days.  We are unable to contact him and he has limited ability to communicate with the Eubanks.  As soon as we can get an address for him, we will share it with you.  Lorall Crow has been in communication with Joseph’s wife Caroline in Kenya and is trying to keep her informed on what is going on.  Some people in CCC are attempting to help get him an immigration lawyer, but at this point we really do not know how things are going to work out.

What can we do?   Pray, Pray, Pray!  Pray for Christ to lift up Joseph spiritually and hold up his faith while he is in detention.  Pray for Caroline and their two boys that Christ would similarly bear them up.  Pray for Larry and Kathleen Eubanks as this has been very hard on them.  Pray for a speedy resolution to this situation and for God’s will to be done in Joseph’s life.  There is a possibility that if Joseph can pay off the remainder of his outstanding debt at UF and get enrolled he might be able to return to Gainesville.  If you would like to contribute to this, you can do so online by going to this link https://www.uff.ufl.edu/OnlineGiving/Campaign/HealthProfessions.asp  and clicking on “Environmental and Global Health Fund.”

June 10 Update: Joseph is in Broward Transitional Center.  He has a meeting with a lawyer we have engaged on Monday and a meeting with the immigration judge on Wednesday.  His formal hearing would follow soon after.  Larry Eubanks, Frank Stankunas, and Greg Gray are working to get him back into UF.  There are quite a few steps.

Plans are for the lawyer to seek to have Joseph released on bond with the understanding that we will seek a reinstatement of his I-20 and visa.  Joseph would appear at a judge in Orlando with proof of visa some months in the future.

Larry spoke to Joseph and he knows we have engaged an immigration lawyer.  Best to pray for the judge to have compassion and to agree.  If we are successful Frank Stankunas says he will pick up Joseph in Miami.

June 19 Update: Joseph’s hearing is set for June 22.

If you would like to be of assistance or learn more, please contact Billy Crow. We’ll continue to share updates on the blog.

This video on our YouTube channel is important for a couple of reasons.

#1. Because of what Mark says about our VBS/local mission week—which is coming up again July 16-20

#2. Because Mark was nominated for elder, has made it through the training, and we’ll be voting regarding this on July 1.

Enjoy the two minute video.