NCS New Canaan

Founding Chapter

Lighthouses in the Middle East (Mohammad Yamout – 12/17/21 – NCS New Canaan)

by Leave a Comment

In our “Keepin’ It Real”, Pastor Mohammad Yamout brought an update on the turmoil in Lebanon and the amazing progress of his ministry to share the Gospel by loving Muslims and refugees in the name of Jesus.

In addition to a Christian church in Tyre, Lebanon (the headquarters of Hezbollah), Pastor Mohammad explains other ministries that include:

  • The Tyre Center for the Proclamation of the Gospel & Humanitarian Aid
  • Family care and care for widows and orphans
  • Currently rebuilding an old hospital as the River of Healing Medical Center
  • Jacob’s Farm, raising dairy cows, sheep, goats and chickens both to supply their ministries and sell.
  • The Father’s Storehouse
  • The Joy of Music School
  • The Good Shepherd School
  • Camp K-Love & Camp Refuge
  • A vision for King’s Kids Family Homes
  • A Food Court and Grocery Store

You may support the work of Pastor Mohammad at this link: https://1000lighthouses.givingfuel.com/1000-lighthouses

Following Jesus (One Less Sin at a Time) (David Montoya – 10/22/21 – NCS New Canaan)

by 1 Comment

With unbelievable honesty and humility, David Montoya shares a life and faith journey that brings to life the promise in Ezekiel 36:26: “And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.”  

David vulnerably shares difficult and pivotal moments of his early years, including the time his fiancé died in his arms on the way to the hospital–events that he says changed the course of his life. At that time, a therapist told David he had the greatest fear of death the therapist had ever seen.

With tremendous transparency, Montoya tells about his later years as a lawyer and a venture capitalist, describing himself as “evil”–having no regard to the carnage left behind on the road to “winning”. He explains how that heart of stone began to transform when a friend invited him to a New Canaan Society event in San Francisco.

While David’s heart transformation has been ongoing since he first began attending NCS in 2015, David reveals a recent and extraordinary near-death experience that had a profound impact on his fear of death–he says it is gone.

Think About Noble Things (Kevin Mackay – 10/8/21 – NCS New Canaan)

by Leave a Comment

Kevin Mackay served as a Corporal in the U.S. Marine Corps and for 17 years as a Stamford Police officer. With tremendous humility and vulnerability, he shares about the “moral injury” he experienced and the miraculous healing that came through his new-found faith in Jesus.

Kevin explains that the most debilitating “moral injury” came when he was a computer forensic expert with the Stamford Police investigating cases of child pornography. With amazing transparency, he reveals how having to examine unspeakable images and incomprehensible search terms drove him to a mental break. Although he began self-medicating, Kevin shares how he turned to the Stamford Police Chaplain for support. Kevin explains that he was an atheist not interested in hearing about God or Jesus, but he believed he could trust the Chaplain (NCS brudder John Revell of Life Line Chaplaincy) to listen confidentially.

Mackay explains how Revell shared with him Philippians 4, particularly verse 4:8: “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” He describes how shifting his mind to the “noble” took his focus off the images of evil he had experienced. It also led Kevin to begin exploring the idea of God in various faiths. Ultimately, applying his analytical mind to Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis and The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel, Mackay knew that what was missing from his life was Jesus Christ.

Although a reluctant convert just like C.S. Lewis, Kevin goes on to share how his new-found faith has both healed him and given him a new perspective on life. It has transformed him from someone always trying to control his circumstances to someone able to look through circumstances and see the hand of a loving God with a wonderful plan. He tells how anxiety and anxiety drugs have been replaced by the healing peace promised in Philippians.

Philippians 4:6-7: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Living Life in the Midst of Storms (P. D. – 9/24/21 – NCS New Canaan)

by 1 Comment

With remarkable transparency and humility and unbelievable gratitude and faith, NCS brudder P. D. shares the extraordinary “storms” that have descended on his journey and the more extraordinary ways in which he has persevered and even given thanks, maintaining his ever-present smile.

He talks openly about losing his father in a tragic accident, losing a child to cancer, charitably taking in three children from one of the poorest countries in Europe, losing all his savings in a bad investment and having to sell his home, losing his marriage (and practically all his material possessions) in a divorce, going through several career transitions that required “starting over”, and battling and beating cancer twice.

Although even a few of his “storms” could lead some people to abandon hope and their faith in God, he explains how he has weathered them and not allowed them to define his life, shake his faith or rob his hope.

  • Faith, family and friends have been his rocks. He talks about the three sons he adores, his first NCS retreat and the impact of having NCS brothers who just “show up”.
  • He shares that no matter how bad things got, he reminded himself that there are people who have it worse and gave thanks for all he had been given.
  • He explains how he stopped asking “Why?” and focused on how he could use his remaining days, however many there are, to live fully–serving others to the glory of God.

His story is not a story of “storms”–it is a story of the power of faith, family, friendship and gratitude to bring resilience, hope and purpose.

The Bible says God does not allow us to face storms without adequately equipping us.  His inspiring resilience and courageous testimony may be part of his calling–helping prepare us for storms we are in or those just down the road.  God made him to be a resilient warrior–for the benefit of others who take the time to listen.

Life at the End of the Rainbow (Terry Wilcox – 9/10/21 – NCS New Canaan)

by Leave a Comment

As he approaches his 75th birthday and his 54th wedding anniversary, Terry Wilcox shares the extraordinary adventure of a life spent saying “YES” to God–a life spent following the God’s rainbow by surrendering to His assignments.

From a humble upbringing, Terry chronicles a journey that has included working for various rescue missions (including 18 years leading the Bridgeport Rescue Mission) from Washington to Connecticut, starting or rehabilitating churches across the United States, being part owner of an excavating business until God called him back into rescue mission work, ministering in various African countries, and at the age of 73 being called away from Connecticut to a new assignment as senior pastor of a church in Florida.

Terry then uses the story of Joseph to offer advice on handling the “death of a vision”–that time in life when our plans or visions are shattered, blocked or interrupted. He explains why that is precisely the time to invite God into your life, surrendering to His plan and vision and watching with amazement at what God can do, regardless of your age. He urges us not to say “NO” or “NOT NOW” when God calls, but instead to say “YES” and ride the rainbow.

Stay Connected

Sign up to receive news and updates about local events and happenings.