Passing the Mantle
In November, 1990, Nathan & Lori returned to CCI to serve as associate pastor. Over the next several years he served in many capacities – as youth pastor, worship leader, office manager, children’s worker, missions director, School for Christian Workers director, etc.
God blessed Christian Challenge and it continued to reach out to the Central Louisiana community. New ministries sprouted, Christian workers were trained and many lives were touched. During this time CCI built a parsonage, completely debt free, all the while continuing its ministry of “making disciples.” CCI also has had a strong presence in the community, providing leadership in many multi-church efforts, such as March for Jesus, Promise Keepers and the Franklin Graham Crusade. We believe the body of Christ is much bigger than our local fellowship and it has been our honor to promote Jesus, not CCI!
In 2006, after 30 years of leading CCI, Bro. Buddy was diagnosed with Lymphoma. In the fall of that year he began taking chemotherapy and he turned over the practical leadership of the church to Nathan. In December of 2006 Nathan was installed as Senior Pastor and Bro. Buddy took on the role of “Founding Pastor” to allow him to focus on his treatment and to transition CCI into the future that the Lord had been planning.
In 2007 Bro. Buddy completed his treatment. Then, three months later in a routine follow-up he was informed that the cancer was back and was now in his bone marrow. He was referred to M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX for a bone marrow transplant as it was beyond the capacity of the local hospital to deal with.
Expect the Unexpected
Obviously this dealt the entire church quite an emotional blow. However, during this time during one of his regular morning devotionals the Lord spoke to Bro. Buddy’s heart to “expect the unexpected.” Not completely sure what that meant, he shared it by faith with the entire congregation and urged them to continue believing God for His perfect will to be done and for God to be glorified in whatever happened. Then the unexpected happened! M.D. Anderson ran a complete set of tests to determine their course of action and the outcome of every test showed no signs of cancer!!! God had performed a verifiable miracle to bring glory to Himself! Thus the phrase “Expect the Unexpected” became part of the DNA of Christian Challenge.
Bro. Buddy continues to minister by writing and mentoring. He has a passion to reach out to those caught in religious bondage to legalism as he was previously. In addition to his in-person ministries at Christian Challenge, he is the author of a teaching blog and leads two active online discussion forums. He also provides numerous Bible studies that have blessed countless people all over the world. He frequently says that Nathan’s role is to “pastor the flock” and his role is to “pastor the pastor.”
Bro. Nathan continues to guide Christian Challenge into its new future. Since his installation as Senior Pastor several new ministries have been developed including the CARE Team (water outreaches, yard care for widows, etc). He has also expanded our emphasis on missions, evangelism, and discipleship. He is recognized as a community leader who loves body of Christ and is all about expanding the Kingdom of God. His passion for what God is doing and will do through Christian Challenge is infectious. Truly he expects the unexpected!