Our Christmas Pics

Our Christmas Update

When the calendar flips to November 1st the celebration of Jesus’ birth begins! Town is covered with lights, trees, décor & more from the streetlights to the treetops. It’s been a festive place for our growing family to celebrate our Savior’s arrival. We hope the last few months have been as full of blessings and excitement for you as it has for us! On the home front we found out baby #2 due April 10th, whom we affectionately call “babybaby,” is a precious little girl! Evie is now a true toddler walking, babbling, taking care of her baby dolls, and going, going, going. She loves getting lovin’ from all the students and is coined the “mascot” of the Institute (being the only baby around the Institute gets you a whole lot of sweet treats & affection!). This time away has been an experience to remember and a unique benefit as we’ve grown closer as a couple and family. It’s been a humbling experience continually learning and growing to rely fully on Him for ALL and through ALL as He directs us through His will for us. We’ve been stretched and grown in ways we expected, and definitely in ways we did not, but see God’s grace and love in our lives.

A little update on our time out here so far…
The past 3 months have been full force and packed out at the Kanakuk Institute. Not only have we met some amazing people and made lifetime friends, had the fellowship and accountability that comes in an intensive residential community, but we have learned so many Truths from our Lord and His Word, and have had opportunity after opportunity to serve the community around us. A typical week for KC and the Cook family includes classroom from 8am-noon with presentations, student talks, worship & chapel, and the afternoons and evenings laced with internships, KI campus job responsibilities, studying, inductive Bible Study, small groups, accountability time, and more. KC also has his John Brown University classes and schoolwork to tend to from electing the dual enrollment with JBU & KI to pursue his Masters. In the classroom KC has done a complete overview of the Bible including a paper & presentation to a panel (check out his project on our blog!) as well as studied under seminary professors, preachers, authors, and experts from all over the US in the fields of marriage & relationships, parenting, biblical archeology, church history, communication, leadership, apologetics, eschatology, intelligent design, and evangelism. Through KC’s internship we are plugged into the youth ministry First Baptist of Branson pouring into middle and high school students on a weekly basis through Sunday School, youth group, small group, youth retreats, and going out to Branson High (Go Pirates!) to support the student base.

Upon graduating from the Institute in April, we currently plan for KC to finish up a graduate degree from JBU via a couple of remaining Internet classes (Masters of Ministry or MBA) or transfer to another graduate program. While we are still praying over what we will do after the Institute, we are confident we will be equipped and ready to disciple others, as we have been discipled these last few months (“Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations…in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.” Matthew 28:19). This program is truly unique in the sense that each and every nugget of Truth we learn is immediately applicable to daily life and is equipping us for a lifetime of ministry.

We want to thank you once again for ALL your prayers and support. Without, these experiences would not be possible and it’s because of folks like you that we get to have our lives changed forever! We are truly humbled by your generosity and pray “the Lord repays you for what you have done” Ruth 2:12. Please continue to pray for our time here, personal growth & discipline, growth as a couple, financial provision, our hearts to be moldable, the health of our growing family, direction for KC’s career post Institute, and His peace. We will keep y’all updated on our Spring Semester and pray you experience the goodness of all God’s gifts this Christmas Season and in the New Year!

“Therefore God has exalted Him & bestowed on Him the Name that is above every other name.” Philippians 2:9

MERRY CHRISTMAS!


Lots of Love from The Cook Family!

Evie Being a Cowgirl