Body of Christ Church

11/16/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1ATQgjNVkm/?mibextid=wwXIfr

11/02/2025

Folks we are on day two! Church service at the arena this morning 10:30 AM! Worship bands and testimonies 2 pm! Come spend the day with us. Food and drinks available and prayer teams here for anyone who needs them! Free Bibles and kids books!

11/02/2025

10/29/2025

I believe one of the greatest blessings of being given the opportunity to host a revival here in the Verde Valley is the joy of watching the churches unite to make it happen. It is awe-inspiring to see the Holy Spirit moving in Camp Verde, Cottonwood, Flagstaff, Beaver Creek and beyond to bring this Awakening Gospel Revival to life. What began as a simple idea now stands poised to become one of the premier Christian events of the year.

First, thank you to my wife, Tami, for helping me organize my thoughts into a coherent framework, and to her and the Camp Verde Christian Church women’s group — including Carol Pitts and Julia Lessar — for taking on concessions and outreach. Thank you to Mike Ritzenthahler, Neely Lewis, and Chris Donahue of Calvary Chapel Camp Verde for their tireless work in organizing worship, prayer, and evangelism teams. Thank you to Jeff Kennedy of First Missionary Baptist Church in Flagstaff; Thomas Kusner and Steve Moore of Calvary Harvest in Cottonwood; and Aaron Dupuy and Jason Brownell of Parkside Community Church Camp Verde for spreading the word and helping coordinate worship and apologetics efforts.

Thank you to Art Heilman of Time to Revive, and Russ Miller of Creation Ministries. Thank you to the worship teams — Creaky Knees Band, Haywire Gospel Bluegrass, Parkside Worship, and Almost Home. Thank you to all the speakers and teachers, including Tim Roth of Camp Verde Church of Christ, Chaplain Randy Elliott, Joe Dalfonso of the Arizona Capital Project, and so many others. Thank you to Scott Evans of Calvary Church CV for counsel and support, and to Richard Mesa of Parkside Community for lending key resources. Thank you to Buddy Woods, Gary and Vicky Po***ck, Stacey Barker, Chet Teeters, and Lee Gregory of Camp Verde Christian Church — and to the Camp Verde Arena Association. I know there are even more who could be listed!

God is truly moving in the Verde Valley. To see the body of Christ come together like this is deeply encouraging. When the load feels heavy, I draw strength from knowing that so many have linked arms to carry it together.

This is going to be an amazing event, and I cannot wait to see how God uses it to stir the hearts of His people.

10/28/2025

Awakening: A Gospel Revival at the Camp Verde Rodeo Arena November 1 and 2. Gates open 9 AM and main event is 2 PM.

10/03/2025

Marveling at His Words

Key Verse:
“And all were speaking well of Him, and marveling at the gracious words which were coming from His lips; and they were saying, ‘Is this not Joseph’s son?’” — Luke 4:22 (NASB)

When Jesus stood in the synagogue of His hometown and read from Isaiah, announcing that the Scripture was fulfilled in their hearing, the room was filled with amazement. His words were not like the words of the rabbis they had grown up hearing. There was a grace in His speech—truth spoken with authority yet clothed in gentleness and hope. The people marveled because they sensed something divine, something unlike anything they had heard before.

Yet even as they marveled, a question rose in their hearts: “Is this not Joseph’s son?” Their familiarity with Jesus became a barrier to faith. They had known Him as a boy growing up in Nazareth, and the ordinary knowledge of His earthly life blinded them to the extraordinary truth standing before them. Grace was being offered, but it was hard for them to receive it.

This moment reminds us how easy it is to miss God’s voice because of our own assumptions. Sometimes the Lord speaks to us through familiar Scripture, an unexpected friend, or even a simple act of kindness. His words still carry the same gracious power to heal, restore, and set free—if we are willing to listen with open hearts rather than dismiss the messenger.

Reflection:
How often do you pause to marvel at the words of Jesus, allowing their grace to sink deep into your heart? What assumptions or distractions might be keeping you from hearing His voice clearly?

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank You for the grace that flows from every word You speak. Help me to receive Your truth without doubt or distraction. Teach me to listen with a heart ready to marvel and to be transformed by Your voice. Amen.

09/30/2025

AWAKENING: A Revival in the Verde Valley
Camp Verde Equestrian Center
Saturday, November 1 – Sunday, November 2

Something powerful is stirring in the Verde Valley.
Join us for AWAKENING: A Revival in the Verde Valley — a free, two-day outdoor gathering of worship, prayer, and hope.

✨ Saturday, Nov 1: Gates open at 9 AM and we’ll stay as long as people come to seek God.
✨ Sunday, Nov 2: Revival continues all day closing services at 8 PM.

Experience uplifting worship, inspiring messages from local pastors, prayer tents open throughout the day, on-site baptisms, and free Bibles available for anyone in need. (While supplies lasts)

Come as you are — bring your family, invite your neighbors, and be part of what God is doing in our valley!

👉 Location:
Camp Verde Equestrian Center
1495 E Montezuma Castle Hwy, Camp Verde, AZ

🆓 Admission is free • All ages welcome
🌐 Learn more at CampVerdeChristian.org

09/28/2025

Christian Preachers 'Handcuffed and Taken into Custody' in Chicago - Here's Where the Case Stands
9/23/2025 02:56:05 PM Talia Wise
A Chicago court has dropped its charges against three street preachers who were arrested after peacefully sharing the Gospel on a sidewalk near a park.
The American Center for Law and Justice(ACLJ) filed a federal civil rights lawsuit earlier this year against the city of Chicago on behalf of Brett Raio, Reetik Dhamala, and Perez Ndi.
The trio was arrested near Millennium Park for one reason, the legal group claims: "peacefully preaching the Gospel in a public space."
"They weren't causing disruption. They weren't blocking traffic. They weren't threatening anyone. They were simply proclaiming truth – using a small speaker system, reading Scripture, calling people to Christ. And for that, they were handcuffed and taken into custody," Liam R. Harrell, Associate Counsel with the ACLJ, wrote.
According to the lawsuit, last December, the preachers connected a battery-operated microphone to share the Gospel with people passing by. One individual approached and heckled the preachers, who then moved the speaker away from the heckler in an attempt to help appease him.
"The individual continued heckling, so Raio explained that 'This is the best we can do because we still want everyone to hear the Gospel, you know.' Upon information and belief, this individual called the police about their conduct," the lawsuit outlines.
Officers arrived at the scene, demanding that they lower the volume of the microphone and asked for their permit. In response, Raio said, "Officer, there's no permit for the First Amendment."
One of the officers attempted to grab the speaker, but Raio objected. He made it clear to the officers that the group did not have a permit, but they were exercising their First Amendment right to speech. He was then arrested.
Raio later showed video evidence of the interaction during a hearing at the Chicago Department of Administrative Hearings on February 21, 2025.
The charges were subsequently dropped.
However, the next day, when the preachers returned to the same intersection to share the Gospel, they were again arrested by police officers and taken to jail.
Attorneys with the legal group filed a lawsuit against the city of Chicago and officials, claiming the preachers' First Amendment rights were violated because they faced "unwarranted criminal charges for exercising their constitutionally protected right to share their faith in public."
"This alarming development demonstrates a pattern of enforcement that disregards well-established constitutional protections. The fact that more street preachers are being arrested for peacefully expressing their beliefs indicates that the issue is far from resolved. If the city is intent on continuing to silence street preachers through unlawful arrests, this could have broad implications for free speech – not just for religious speakers, but for anyone engaging in public expression," Harrell explained. �

After more than six months of court battles in Chicago, the judge dismissed the case.
"After multiple continuances, forcing these men to come to court multiple times, we finally showed up ready for trial. And at the last possible moment, Chicago was not ready," Harrell explained in a video post to the ACLJ's page.
"Chicago made these young men go through almost six months of court hearings, of trial procedures, pretrial preparations, all for at the last minute for the city of Chicago to be unprepared," he added.
Harrell says that while this is a victory for these young men, the battle is not over.
"They can go back out onto the streets and continue to evangelize and preach, but unfortunately, because our federal case is still pending, their ability to preach, their ability to evangelize is being chilled and threatened by potential further enforcement," he explained.
"They can go home free men, but we still need to fight to make sure this doesn't happen again," Harrell expressed.

09/28/2025

UPDATE: Public School Cancels Weekly School-Wide Witchcraft Video Series Under Pressure
9/23/2025 03:05:48 PM Talia Wise
UPDATE:
Orange County Public Schools (OCPS) in Florida has directed West Orange High School to stop allowing the promotion of witchcraft in a video series that had been airing school-wide.
Liberty Counsel had argued that the student-produced series, which was aired during mid-week morning announcements, provided "religious instruction" on spells, magic, moon worship, and other witchcraft rituals.
CBN News Report from Tuesday:
The OCPS Florida school district had begun exposing its students to a series of "witchcraft rituals", and the non-profit legal group had demanded that the school allow students to opt out of watching the presentation.
Liberty Counsel sent a demand letter to Orange County Public Schools (OCPS) on behalf of local community members, requesting opt-outs for the weekly "Witchy Wednesday" video series, which is aired school-wide at a local high school.
"The series, which is aired during mid-week morning announcements, is produced by students providing 'religious instruction' on spells, magic, moon worship, and other witchcraft rituals," attorneys with the legal group explained.
According to the letter, the first video in the series aired on September 10, and the host greeted students saying, "Good morning, witches," and later gave instructions on how to cast a spell for "Light of Insight." They also advised students on how to do a ritual "cleanse and recharge yourself."
Liberty Counsel pointed out that students with sincere Christian religious beliefs would not be able to endorse this religious instruction nor would they be able to sit through it.
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"According to recent U.S. Supreme Court precedent in Mahmoud v. Taylor, which ruled parents have the right to opt their children out of instruction that undermines their religious beliefs, schools must provide opt-outs to 'Witchy Wednesday' if parents and students wish to abstain," the group writes.
The legal group also pointed to Supreme Court precedent in the cases of Kennedy v. Bremerton School District and Shurtleff v. City of Boston to note that those same students cannot be denied in an open forum where their viewpoints can be expressed.
"Since the school has opened a public forum for expression on witchcraft, if Christian students wanted to present the tenets of their faith in the same manner as 'Witchy Wednesday,' these precedents simply would not permit OCPS to exclude them from its morning announcements forum," attorneys explained.
Liberty Counsel requested a written response from the district by Sept. 30.
Founder and Chairman of Liberty Counsel, Mat Staver, says Christian parents and students have a right to opt out of "Witchy Wednesday."
"The First Amendment does not allow government schools to require this instruction, nor can the school deny differing viewpoints after it has opened its morning announcements forum to student expression," he said.
Staver added, "Orange County Public Schools would be wise to proceed by facilitating opt-outs and including other viewpoints. The U.S. Supreme Court has repeatedly held that public school students do not shed their First Amendment rights at the schoolhouse gates."
CBN News reached out OCPS for comment. At the time of publication, they had not responded to the request.

09/23/2025

From CBN NEWS:

Faith-Based Institutions Face Rising Threats as Division and Disinformation Fuel Violence

9/17/2025 04:43:13 PM Caitlin Burke
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Homeland security experts warn the threat environment in the U.S. today is at an all-time high following the assassination of Charlie Kirk. They point to divisive rhetoric, ranging from social media to politicians, for potentially fueling acts of violence. Add to that, America's enemies spreading disinformation to create even more volatile and dangerous conditions.

It comes as a report from the Family Research Council shows attacks on churches and other institutions have skyrocketed over the last five years, and many share one common thread.

"The vast majority of those instances, we have found people involved in this activity were motivated by content they saw online," said John Cohen with the Center for Internet Security (CIS).

Cohen says religious institutions are frequently targeted by individuals who see violence as their only outlet.

"We are a very divided nation, and it's not just that people tend to disagree with each other, but they are increasingly viewing those that disagree with them, or that they disagree with, as the enemy," he told CBN News.

Mental and behavioral health issues can also play a role.

"We have far too many young people who are, from a behavioral health perspective, struggling. They're struggling with their sense of community. They're struggling with their sense of belonging. They feel like they've been treated unfairly in life, and they gradually develop this intense sense of anger," Cohen explained.

He says this can cause them to believe their only way to feel value is by either committing su***de or mass murder. A CIS threat analysis found this to be a factor in the recent shooting at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis.

PHOTO: Hundreds gathered for the celebration of life for school-shooting victim Harper Moyski at the Lake Harriet Bandshell in Minneapolis, Minn., on Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025 (Richard Tsong-Taatarii/Star Tribune via AP)

Meanwhile, both foreign and domestic adversaries often widen the nation's growing divide through disinformation campaigns encouraging violence.

"In most cases, the content is specifically intended to inflame, to fan the flames, and exploit some of the most divisive issues facing the country," Cohen said.

In the wake of the Kirk assassination, CIS reports that neo-Nazi groups, anarchists, and Russian-state media accounts have all pushed false narratives. While these bad actors often target faith-based institutions, Cohen says this community of believers also has an important role to play.

"You know, as we talk about solutions, potentially, is working to, in a sense, restore a faith within the young people of this country, who, in far too many cases, have come to believe that their life is just not worth living anymore," said Cohen. "Another important role that I think our faith leaders can play is to cool some of the divisive rhetoric that has become so prevalent in our society."

When it comes to prevention and protection, Cohen encourages religious institutions to look beyond just physical attacks, as adversaries are using digital espionage to specifically target systems like their websites, event calendars, and other sensitive data