Conference 2012 ‘The Lamb has Overcome’ Skit Cast Photos

A special thanks to all the cast who made the Conference 2012 Skit possible; they put lots of hard work into the production, and it certainly drove the message home. It  was absolutely awesome! If you enjoyed it, MAKE A COMMENT, check some amen or blessing boxes, share it, click LIKE, do something! I’ll soon be publishing more details about the Conference, and information about the video of the entire skit too. If you are interested in the video, let me know it right here with your comment. You can easily post anonymously if you prefer not to register. Thanks everyone!

M. C. Kekel

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Cool Cue! by M. C. Kekel

Well, the Pavilion is officially ready!  Here’s just a few last minute pics for you, and what a cool cue! The BBQ has been tested, the picnic tables are in place and there’s power for whatever. We’ll see you in a few days, Lord willing, and we will let the fun begin! God bless you!

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Good News for Trumpet Subscribers

NTCC’s monthly magazine, TheTrumpet, was first published in April 1983 as a simple two-page newsletter to keep NTCC members informed and to share good reports. This simplistic publication was created using very primitive means and corner-stapled. It was a blessing in its time, but was only meant to be a Newsletter. For a time it was unpublished, but then the Newsletter idea was revived and, as a result, we have enjoyed The Trumpet for many years and watched it get better. It isn’t coming to an end, it’s really just beginning.

After the recent Conference and board meetings, the plan was clear; The Trumpet would be discontinued after the December 2011 issue; it would then be published online and integrated with the existing NTCC Good News website (ntccgoodnews.org). Things have now evolved into something even greater than we ever imagined! Let me explain.

Part of the decision was based on the fact that it cost appx. $3.00 per magazine to publish. That would be $36.00 per year for a subscription, just to break even. That’s right; it cost money, it never made money for the Printshop. The only thing that doesn’t run in the red is the business cards. As always, proceeds were to go to the Printshop, but there weren’t any. There are many man-hours involved to produce the magazine, and we weren’t really publishing much news or relevant articles in the magazine. Putting out the same information by email Newsletter will give us much more flexibility, save enormous amounts of overhead costs and labor and really gets the content to you faster.

For the Trumpet magazine alone, it takes two men about a month (a stressful month) collecting the material, proofreading, situating the columns, formatting, etc.; add to that trimming each magazine, doing the mailing paperwork, separating them all by zip code, bagging separately just like the Post Office demands, and taking it in for bulk mailing, which means waiting in line for an hour, plus the time to go through it with them. Pay them for the mailing, then go back and do the email part, and the first class mailings overseas,..sigh.

So we’re totally reworking everything, to give you MUCH MORE for NO COST to you, in addition to offering new products available in smaller quantities and bulk discounts, plus a fully functional new Online myPrintshop Store, where you can browse products, create your own products from templates, add them to your cart and checkout /pay so your order goes right to production.

A year ago we embarked on a journey into the 21st century, by changing the entire structure of both NTCCA and NTCS, which now enjoy state-of-the-art Online Admissions and Administrative systems with many new features. This moved accounting from Quickbooks for small businesses to an online-hosted, Oracle-based system with much more capability than ever. The Admissions portion however, focuses primarily on the Seminary.

Seminary Teachers post class assignments and grades to their online grade books, distribute files and class materials, and receive written assignments from the students, in an online drop box with just a few clicks. Students login to access their classes, transcripts, assignments, download outlines and files, view class schedules, trimester breaks and announcements, to name just a few. All this, is already in place and being used. Over the next few months however, the websites are going to explode with even more new features!

*Overhaul of the NTCCA and NTCS website design, and integration with database directories with customized access for ministers, choir members, etc.

*A new website for every church, created, uploaded and maintained by each Pastor

*Online registration and payment for Campmeetings, special events, etc

*Online Minister’s License renewal

*Online subscriptions available to various Email Newsletters

*A monthly Trumpet Email Newsletter loaded with extras, links, resources and of course, news and updates about NTCCA and NTCS; featured articles and contributions from people you know, and searchable archives of past issues over two decades

*An NTCS Newsletter with NTCS Campus news, and contributions by students and alumni.

*Fund raising Newsletters for special projects

*A World Missions Newsletter with contributions from missionaries and online donation, pledge and payment capability. You can login, track your giving, check your pledge balance and print your own receipts.

*Secure logins for ministers to upload their own websites, update their address and phone information. This direct feeds databases and directories available in optional ways (like mobile phones, etc.)

*Online Admissions for potential NTCS students to apply to the college, receive information, maps, contact info., prerequisites, be notified of acceptance and more!

*Online Virtual tours of the NTCS Campus

*Online Virtual tours of the Campground

*Online payment processing including credit cards, paypal, or auto-deduction.

I have been working toward this goal for many years, and it’s a blessing to see it coming to pass. I’m thankful for my Team mates who have been great resources for ideas and development, and have stood by my side through all the pioneering involved. My prayer and earnest desire is, that it will free me to do many other things, including traveling to churches, fellowship meetings, etc. One beautiful thing about the new setup is, we don’t have to worry about backups, security, an IT man on staff, etc., because the Content Management System (CMS) will allow the Office Personnel to upload the content using a “Wizard” type approach. Not to mention, you won’t have to wait on many things that you will be able to do yourself. Truly, God is good!

In His service, Mike Kekel

(Read the 1983 issue of the Trumpet)
http://www.ntccgoodnews.org/trump-news.html

R.W. Davis donates 40-acres to NTCS

The New Testament Christian Seminary Campus just got bigger! Today, R. W. Davis, founder of New Testament Christian Churches of America, Inc., donated a 40-acre parcel of land for the expansion of the New Testament Christian Seminary Campus in Graham, WA.  The land is located just south of the NTCS Campus along Orting-Kapowsin Hwy., and is earmarked for construction of additional housing for Seminary students and ministers. Title was conveyed to New Testament Christian Churches of America, Inc. this morning and, with the help of Leroy Surveyors and Engineers,  the project has received final approval from the Graham Advisory Commission and the Pierce Country Hearings Examiner.

In the 1990’s the land was listed for sale by a company called Herbrand-McGowan Timber, but only after they harvested and sold the timber. Apparently, that was their reason for buying it. Though unsure what the future needs of NTCS would be, Pastor seized the opportunity to purchase it and, though he retained personal ownership, titled it to NTCCA. He has since personally paid all related expenses of development including applicable taxes and fees, labor and materials.

The State Dept. of Ecology placed a 6 year moratorium (temporary prohibition) on development of the property to allow recovery from the logging, and to protect the wetlands that cannot be used. The moratorium however, wasn’t the only obstacle; the properties between the 40 acres and the NTCS campus were acquired and developed by parties not connected with the Seminary, effectively ending any hope of having frontage all the way south along OK highway.

In addition, when attempting to acquire permits to build on properties adjoining the 40 acres, Pierce County demanded that the title first be transferred out of NTCCA’s name. In light of these circumstances, Pastor decided to retain ownership and financial responsibility for the land, and placed it in my name, even though it technically remained his. Legal counsel advised that, even if the land had been a gift to me, I had fulfilled any tax liability resulting from the change of title.

The project will add 8 lots to the existing 35 rental properties on Campus. The only tax-exempt properties are main church grounds, (no parsonages or housing allowances exist) and are approved by the State of Washington and the Dept. of Revenue. In accordance with the law, the properties are used strictly for the purpose of the mission of the non-profit organization and Seminary, and therefore generate no business related (outside) income nor personal benefit. Cost of rentals is kept way below market rental value, to provide affordable options for students and ministers.

Single students pay $65.00 per week for dorm residences, comparable to the 1979 price of $20.00! Seminary classes that cost $20.00 then, now average about $60.00 each. Not bad for 32 years inflation! Tuition is also kept very low, to make it affordable for students, especially in this economy.

It has been determined that the 40 acres will indeed be used for Seminary housing, which represents a giant leap forward for the work of God at the New Testament Christian Seminary, and we are excited about all that God is doing! I am thankful for the wisdom of Pastor Davis through the years, who has tried to teach all of us how to take care of ourselves financially and spiritually; the income from these properties is used solely for the Seminary and greatly helps to keep the work of God in motion.

God bless you,

M.C. Kekel