The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, as it is written in Isaiah the prophet:
“I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way a voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’”
Mark 1:1-3

On the eve of Thanksgiving this year CBC was blessed in a way that we could have never imagined. After over a year and a half of very limited personal contact with the parents of our students, we were able to hold our first post-pandemic parents meeting. In preparation we had set aside several planning meetings to organize the information we wanted to communicate for the upcoming year.

We also held specific prayer meetings prior to the event. We discussed our strengths and weaknesses and the personal and professional scars that the pandemic has left on our lives. We realized that we are broken vessels, but we are also driven by faith that God is restoring us as individuals and as a team. We talked about positioning ourselves again with the Word of God as a lamp to our feet in an increasingly dark and confusing world.

In faith we set out 50 chairs hoping that the parents would arrive as scheduled at 4pm. It was at this time that the little
miracles began to happen. We greeted the parents at the gate and accompanied them to the chapel where we had to
quickly arrange more seating. In total 125 parents arrived, excited to step inside the grounds and eager to hear about
our program for the new year.

As we opened in prayer a spiritual battle began. Our microphones failed and someone from outside the walls began to
throw stones on the roof of the gymnasium making a terrible noise. However, we were so firm in our message that
these distractions did not deter us. Marc spoke about words of hope and he distributed them on cards to parents who
wanted these promises for their children. When he showed how damaging negative words are to our families, the Holy
Spirit began to minister powerfully.

As I write this Christmas message, we are unashamedly rejoicing in the victory of our successful meeting, praising God
for his faithfulness and for encouraging us with such a tremendous turnout. We know that God has been working
beyond our expectations even during a terrible pandemic. We didn’t know it but all our work behind computers and
phones for the last 18 months has taken seed and borne fruit. Our parents are on board with CBC’s mission to transform the lives of their children with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

As we enter this period of Advent, let’s continue to prepare the way for our Savior, clearing the clutter of modern life
from our walk with Him. Please don’t forget the millions of children in our world who will wake up this Christmas
morning, in poverty, on hard floors and, in overcrowded slums experiencing hunger and fear.

We wish you and your family a joyful and refreshing Christmas season. May you be blessed and encouraged with hope
and faith as we celebrate the arrival of our Savior Jesus Christ.

We hope you enjoy our CBC poster and wall calendar on your refrigerator or office wall in 2022.

A very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year,
Marc and Ruth Marques