More than ever, we need your help for 2010
Training Minds Ministry's end-of-year letter from Chris Jeub, founder and president
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, friends. We have much to be thankful for this year, praise God! We trained more students and coaches than any previous year. Allow me to run through and recap some of our achievements of 2009:
- Success at Nationals.
We launched our first-ever Nationals Intensive Training Camp (NITC) where 49 students were trained by our coaches for the week. The result? One-third of out-rounds were our NITC attendees, and 25% of quarter-finals at that! While we recognize that winning isn't our central goal, we certainly are impressed by how "training minds for action" brings fantastic results in competition. - First Colorado Speech & Debate Conference.
We flew in all our coaches (quadrupling our staff this year) to Colorado to train 227 students and coaches for two weeks in August. We launched our new Apologetics program, expanded our extemp program, and launched a week-long Team-Policy Research Camp. - Three Debate Camps.
An additional 218 students and coaches were trained in three other states: New Hampshire, California and Florida. What a fantastic group of people to coach, and they are revved up for the competitive season just around the corner!
How great it is to serve a God who wants us to think, speak and persuade--to "train the mind for action." It's a lot of work, but it sure is fun.
But let me be vulnerably honest: Though I can point to great things accomplished in 2009, economically it was incredibly difficult. We took several phone calls from families trying to make it to camp, but were struggling to make it work financially. We launched quite a few fundraising campaigns with high hopes for raising funds for our camps and programs, but even the fundraising was difficult to bear fruit.
Needless to say, 2009 was tough. And 2010 doesn't look any easier.
I try to get registration open for our 2010 events by January 1. Many elements need to come into play to make it happen, including down payments and other financial commitments. I hate to say it, but we feel the need to cut back on our 2010 events. As it stands right now, we will have only the Colorado Conference and one other Camp.
This breaks my heart. The commitment families will have to make to travel out to these events is great. I have made several cutbacks already (like downsizing the office to save money), trying my hardest to keep from cutting back on the true ministry we do.
Would you consider donating to Training Minds Ministry this year? The donations we collect by January 1 drop directly into our cost strategies for our camps and conference. This is the best time of the year to ensure that your generosity will directly tie to students. Besides, 100% of your donation is tax deductible in 2009.
Thank you for your consideration. God bless your Christmas season!
Chris Jeub, President
Training Minds Ministry
Or send your check to:
Training Minds Ministry
18725 Monument Hill Rd. #13
Monument, CO 80132
