Our Annual Champaign County Friends of CTO Banquet Marks 8 years of CTO in Illinois. We were joined by over 150 Friends as we gathered to learn more about Cross Trail Outfitters as a Ministry and how God has used this ministry to reach the lives of boys throughout the state of Illinois.
We were joined by Travis T-Bone Turner as our Host/MC. He did a fantastic job of keeping the night moving and on time. Our main Speaker was Cynthia Girdler. She spoke to us about her son’s love for hunting and fishing. She shared how it is still a spirited discussion between her and her husband over which, hunting or fishing was loved more by Jason. She then shared about Jason’s tragic death one evening from drunk driving. She shared with us, and especially the CTO Youth in the room, about how decisions have consequences and that we all need to make sure we make good decisions with our lives. Many of the people that were in attendance were moved by Cyndi’s story about Jason. I know because they came to me throughout the night to share with me how much it touched them. The Jason Smitley Memorial Scholarship program has granted just under $3000.00 in scholarships to the CTO youth in 2017 with more to come in 2018.
We also discussed how CTO in Illinois has grown from a small ministry that met in a back yard with a handful of ragtag boys looking for some adventure to a multi-location ministry with God continuing to bless us with future locations. Currently we have launched both our Sangamon & LaSalle County Chapters and have plans to bring CTO to Vermillion County before the end of the year. With our Champaign County Chapter and our presence in JoDaviess County this will bring us to 5 CTO Chapters in Illinois. A great start on our way to our gaol of CTO in all 102 counties of Illinois.
One of the greatest joys I have is being able to share the successes of CTO with the people around me. I get excited as God continues to grow our footprint here in Illinois and He calls people to serve within this ministry. It is humbling to be used by Him in the capacity he has blessed me and allowing me to serve His called ministers in CTO continues to give me hope that our harvest will be plenty even with a few laborers.
