The following message was sent by one of our customers in Nigeria:

Dear Friends,

On 10th Sept around 10 pm we set off from Abuja to LKagos with the popular Night bus. I had an appointment in Lagos the following money. I went for the first Project management conference in Abuja where I took an exhibition stand to sell my books. These days everty opportunity to sell matters in order to pay our mounting bills to our publishers who we represent.

After 2 hours, the bus broke down at around 12 midnight. We were about 20 mins away from Lokoja. This area was bush and forest! after working on the bus for about 20 mins, the announcement came that we should all get down and hike a ride with any other bus that comes around. 2 busses came and of course people rushed them. I could not be carried because of my luggage. Now, with the benefit of hind sight I should have requested to pay for the load!

About 10 of us were left. Another Ekeson bus came around loaded with pasengers for Onitsha. The driver opted to help his stranded colleague. For about 15 mins they were trying to fix the car when all of a sudden we heard gun shots and we left our luggage and ran into the forest.

The aremed robbers pursued us into the forest and we just kept running until I found a"safe place under a thick coverin of bush and decided to lie down motionless.

After 15 mins, the armed robbers came. I could see them but they could not see me. Aparently because of the bush and maybe God answered my prayers to blind their eyes! I heard them say " they are all gone, captain let us go back to the road". I remained in the forest till 6am when it was daylight and came out to the road. I was met with 4 others.

That was how God delivered us.

Lesson:

1. NEVER travel late. The roads are bad, visibility poor and armed bandits are all over.

2. Plan your journey well ahead of time. No matter the appointment always take safety first.

3. When in Danger dont panic but depend on Gods ability to save and deliver.

 
I will be doing a thanksgiving last sunday of september in my church. Please join me to thank God for deliverance.

Tony Akpokene

Kerusso, the premier producer of Christian apparel, continues in the top 30 of the annual Top-Volume Decorators for 2009 by “Impressions” magazine.  “Impressions,” the nation’s leading publication reporting on the decorated apparel industry, noted Kerusso was one of only 12 companies on this prestigious annual top-50 list that enjoyed more than 10 percent growth of piece volume during the previous 12 months.

 

Check it out here!

We would like to include this exerpt from a blog by Kathy called "Just a thought and another perspective": 

__________________

 

Unbeknown to me, Amy did just a little bit more. She researched and found out that Kerusso made the t-shirts we had seen at "Here comes Treble". She sent them an e-mail with a request and all the links to her blog and Vision Hope and CFL Camp. They contacted her back and said they were interested in the camp and in her request. Here's the kicker,the company is in Arkansas and Amy got that e-mail about two days before I was leaving for camp. Amy didn't hesitate to reply back with the camps address and my name and asked if they could have it there by Thursday July 16th. So off to camp I went, having faith that I would get the shirts. It was Thursday @ 12:25 pm when I saw the Fedex truck pull up to the Lodge. I was as excited as a kid on Christmas. Mind you, Thursday is the "Beauty Shop," "Photo Studio," & "Every Body's Birthday."When the kids get back to their cabins, their Birthday gifts are waiting on their beds. We also had a pile of mail, but what the girls saw, was the big box on my bed. "Who's that for?" What's in it?" Well, I told them that someone in Arkansas had heard about them and our cabin theme and wanted to send them something special. "Open it up" "Please"!!!!!

True to their word, Kerusso delivered not only shirts, but Witness Bands for our cabin. Please visit www.kerusso.com and see what other wonderful t-shirts, gear & jewerly they have. I'd like to thank Jason Anzalone for his help.

Jason,

You made the girls in Cabin #5 very happy!!!! I couldn't believe the scripture on the t-shirt as it was one that we had for our theme. Once again, Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!!!!!!!

__________________

 

Thank you Kathy for being bringing God's light into the lives of those children!

 to read Kathy's whole blog post please go to: http://kathygoldenbogen.blogspot.com/2009/07/happy-heart-lot-of-thanks.html

 

Click here to listen to the latest blogtalkradio interview with Vic Kennett

submitted by Christian Hollenkamp.

My name is Christian Hollenkamp. I am a 35 year old resident of Carlyle, IL. I love to wear your t-shirts. It is great to see people take that "second glance". I am starting to wear them at work. At first, I was hesitant; not because I was afraid of consequences (we promote a christian environment), but because I work in a pretty dirty job. I am starting to wear them anyway, because it lets people know that they are dealing with a christian. If you are an atheist, you still like dealing with someone with a christian attitude. It also doubles the amount of people that I expose to Jesus. Even if it is only a glimpse at a t-shirt, people get exposed. That's what it is all about anyway, right? I look forward to adding more shirts to my collection. Thank you all for not being afraid to stand up for what we believe in. It helps empower me to do the same. God bless you all.

submitted by Vito Sawtell

 

Here around Kerusso headquarters there was a great ice storm that came upon us on the 26th of Jan. 1"-3" of ice - but even more than that in devastation. Pretty much closed us down for a week. Some of my co-workers still do not have electricity. I myself went for 6 days without. God can get your attention whenever He wants. Your priorities can be changed in a heartbeat. I picked the Reborn T-shirt because it refers to the real Resource, an eternal one, one that never runs out. When you are sitting in your living room with no heat, under blankets, no radio, no TV doing nothing but listening to a battery powered clock tick – it is easy to give attention to God. What did it take for Him to get it? What does it take for you in your everyday life? [With electricity and everyday luxuries.] One thought as I sat there, was about the word resource. Electricity was the resource that was no more. My family depended on it. Why would anyone build or be content to have an electric only house?? Could no one predict any problems with this set up?? Some may think they are fine – they have a generator. But as I found out – that resource also fails. Would you invest in a bank that you knew would lose money and deplete what you put in?? What are you investing in here on earth? How about it, what are your true resources on earth? Do you only turn to God when your resources are out? Are you wasting time that you should be growing Spritually with your Lord?? Are you putting off serving? Giving your best for an Eternal cause?? Do you show that an Eternal Source - Lights up your life? I can tell you from recent experience. That light will draw people and attention. They may not have known but now they know they want it!

submitted by Lorri Carter, Vice President of Creative Development

It’s a new year and time to start on a new line!
 
Really – in the Creative Department at Kerusso designers are prayerfully working on new items that you will see online and in stores in June and into 2010. If you’ve ever wondered about or process I’ll give you a little of the skinny. The brand new items that you can buy now on our site are the results of months of brainstorming, Bible study, market research and countless consumer surveys. To create a line of 12 new t-shirts we start out with about 50-60 scripturally sound and culturally relevant ideas. Some of them we come up with and some are submitted by people like you who visit our site’s “Tell us your Idea” tab. (http://www.kerusso.com/ContactUs/Ideas.aspx)
 
From there we will develop as many as 35 of the designs for consumer testing – if you are a part of our survey group I can’t tell you how much we appreciate you! You help us make better products – we look at every single comment and response and give everything a thorough review and chop it down to 10-12 designs that we unleash on the world. We can’t wait to hear how you affect those you encounter with this brand new crop and we realize that all of our prayers and vision for this line now rests on your shoulders. As you summon up the courage to wear your Kerusso Tee as you go forth on your daily errands you are proclaiming the Good News hundreds or even thousands of times – and you look pretty cool doing it! Thanks for doing your part!

submitted by Rusty Dycus, Vice President of Sales

 

If you can’t say Something Nice…. 

 

Why are some people more successful than others?  Why do some people make more money, live happier lives and accomplish much more in the same number of years than the majority of others?  Why are some people successful at witnessing to others or sharing their faith when others are not? 

 

I have spent a lot of time reading books and articles on these questions.  I have listened to sermons and ministers on similar topics.    Most of my best conclusions have come from watching these people as they live.  I listen to what they say and how they say it.  Here is what I have come up with so far…

 

Everything YOU say has an impact on someone!  Really think on this for awhile.

 

So – If EVERYTHING you say will impact someone else… why not make that impact for good?  Why not plant a seed that might inspire someone to do something good, change the world, or who knows what other great things might come from what you say.

 

If you truly have a heart to help other people… consider the words that you speak!  Make a difference!

 

This shirt is a great reminder to everyone, to speak good things… be a world changer by speaking good things instead of “cruel things”

Merry Christmas!

Christ IS Christmas.  While  some may want to disconnect CHRIST from
Christmas and make it just another holiday or day off from work, the truth is
Christ is Christmas. Matthew 1:21 says, She will give birth to a son,
and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from
their sins

When uncertainty and fear seem to make the headlines day after day we can
have complete confidence in the Son who came to earth to give us an abundant
life.

As we reflect on this past year and anticipate a new year, let’s remember who
controls the times and seasons. Let’s fix our eyes on Jesus and know that He
has plans to prosper us with a life overflowing with peace and joy.


Vic Kennett

President – Kerusso

Change Your Shirt. Change The World!

submitted by Vito Sawtell

 Humor me, and let me steer you to some thoughts to ponder.

Especially now, but has always been, we like things to be cost effective.  We want value.  We want to get our moneys worth. If we decide to pay a LOT for something we had better use it.  It had better be worth the sacrifice.  If dad buys a high dollar boat, you can bet mom is calculating just how much it is being used for that "family time together" line dad used in his rationalization to buy it.    Humor me some more---

Lets say you bought a bulldozer.  How much do they cost?? [I have no clue but for A LOT]  How often would you have to use it to feel right in having it??  I would say, a full 40 hour week for sure if not more.  When you did not have it scheduled to be used yourself, I would hope you would rent it to someone else.  Say you wanted to take a trip, would you feel right to take a vacation without someone using it while you were gone?  If at all possible, would you want your dozer to spend any time unused?

Ok, lets say someone bought that dozer for you.  Paid for it in full --- OK,  lets say they paid for it with ---- THE LIFE OF THEIR ONLY SON.   Killed, died, paid for, it's yours now, no payments.   Are you starting to follow me now??  Has the value of that dozer dropped?  Expectations for the dozer being used to be worthwhile changed??

God needs that bulldozer to be used.  He needs roads built that lead to His Kingdom.   You have nothing, but for what God has given you, and Paid dearly for.  You are a tool.  Built by the materials and experiences God has put into you.  A tool is of no use - unused.

Reflect – Give yourself to God.  Allow yourself to be used, worn, 'broken in', scratched, dented, dirty.  Only by the hands of the Master on the tool can anything be accomplished.  You know it --- 'tools make the job'.  Are you an accessible tool for God?  You have been paid for by the shed blood of Christ.   –Think on this some, and may you let God put His hand upon you.