Pastoral marriage conference, San Carlos, Costa Rica

San Carlos host pastor’s “faith warehouse”

Guatemala pastoral conference highlights

Signs and wonders followed!

CANOPI expansion opportunities

Noe arrives in time for CANOPI gratitude dinner!

More multiplication in Tucson!

Prophetic training in Tucson

Time with Landon in Virginia

Chris’ live worship album, Microworship Vol I

“Therefore, brothers, whom we love and long for, our joy and our crown, stand firm thus in the Lord.”
Philippians 4:1

As fall mellows towards the closing of the year, the Apostle Paul’s words resound in our hearts as we consider you, our faithful friends and family. We love and long for time with each of you! In spite of the challenges which this year has presented, God’s goodness is worth celebrating, and His faithfulness is trustworthy to keep us standing firm thus in the Lord. Hallelujah!

The past six months have presented unique and painful challenges for our hearts due to circumstances which have hugely impacted our family. However, in spite of the very real difficulties, the Lord has blessed us with the joy of partnering with Him in new ways as He has called us to continue to “expand our tent pegs” in multiple ways.

CANOPI News

CANOPI continues to expand! In the last 6 months we’ve held 3 pastoral training conferences, increased our team and taken new territory. Thanks to your generosity in 2023, CANOPI experienced its biggest fundraising year ever which opened the door to many of these areas of increase.

In June we held a pastoral training conference in San Carlos, Costa Rica, which was our second conference in this region. In spite of Chris suffering a badly sprained ankle just hours before the conference, it was a blessed time of training and equipping. Watch pastoral testimonials here.

October featured two back-to-back conferences in one trip, beginning in Guatemala and concluding in Mexico.

While this was our second conference in Guatemala, it was our first in Tecpan, Guatemala, a mountainous region near Lake Atitlan with a relative mix of Latinos and indigenous people. At this intimate gathering, we had the privilege of pouring into about 24 pastors in a round-table setting, which led to greater relationship building and trust.

We then journeyed to Tabasco, Mexico, where we brought CANOPI’s first conference to that nation. The conference was hosted in the seemingly inconsequential town of Macuspana, with nothing but dirt roads and tiny shacks and shanties spread out across the semi-tropical landscape. Much to our surprise, however, the event drew nearly 500 pastors and ministry leaders from all over the state of Tabasco! They came with hunger, expectation and teachable hearts, and it was a joy to connect with them and hear some of their stories of faith in service to Jesus. We were even more thrilled about the signs and wonders in the wake of the conference, as pastor Eric witnessed lame women walking, a radical healing of a knee with no cartilage, and a 25-year headache ending. The man with the 25-year headache came back the next day with his entire family, and every member got saved! Praise Jesus!

Joining us in Mexico were two new CANOPI team members, Joe Villegas and Jeff Erickson, who brought tremendous contributions through their gifts, talents and servants’ hearts. For the first time, our interpretors, Amy Huerta and Noe Erickson, taught one of the sessions instead of interpreting it, which was a highlight in every way! Shortly after our return home, Mitch Marmelstein also joined forces with CANOPI, lending his pastoral and administrative skills to bring much needed assistance to Chris during this season of expansion.

Despite the growth of the team, opportunity continues to dwarf manpower, as CANOPI prayerfully considers requests for pastoral conferences throughout Latin America and beyond, including the nations of Kenya and Nepal.

In August, CANOPI enjoyed a stunning night under the stars in San Juan Capistrano as we hosted our second annual Gratitude Dinner. Thanks to the generosity of numerous local vendors and merchants, CANOPI was able to give tangible gifts of gratitude to all those attending the dinner. If you were not able to attend, we look forward to greeting you at next year’s celebration.

On August 5, CANOPI’s founder and pioneer, Steve Hertzog, surfed straight into heaven on the stunning beach in Pilon de Pavones, Costa Rica. We were able to quickly join Judi, who has found herself abruptly without her husband of 33 years. Steve’s massive personality, heart and love for Jesus made his big frame appear even larger, leaving a huge hole in our hearts which we cannot adequately express. Please pray for Judi and the family members who are now learning to cope with that tremendous vacancy. In lieu of flowers and gifts, Judi has asked that donations be made to CANOPI in memory of Steve.

NewSong News

Newsong is also experiencing a season of expansion, for which we are grateful. A third new Tucson house church was added in September, pastored by Luis and Blanca Hernandez. It’s such a joy to see God stirring up gifts of evangelism within house church communities, which is resulting in numerous salvations, baptisms and discipleship. As house churches grow and multiply, so does the need for training and equipping, which makes up the bulk of our travel schedule. To keep pace with the expansion, we’re thrilled that Mitch Marmelstein has recently come on board to help Chris with everything from administrative duties to equipping and shepherding.

Family News

We are so grateful for the love and care which many of you showered upon Chris’ father, Verne, with the passing of his beautiful wife in February. While time has helped to remove the shock of the loss, he is daily struggling to find a new normal without his beloved of 65 years. Please continue to keep him in your prayers.

We suffered a second tremendous loss just months after Diane’s passing with the homegoing of our precious niece, Brianna LaRue. Wheelchair bound and challenged with innumerable health concerns, Brianna was an inspiration to everyone who was privileged to know her. Her love of life, of people, and of Jesus touched all who came into her world. She will always be tremendously missed. Please keep her parents, Paul and Carolynne LaRue, in your prayers as they wrestle to find their way after 38 years of intensive caregiving.

Publishing News

Shortly after our last newsletter, we completed a few major projects:

• Tiffany published Into the Wilderness Study Guide, a companion guide to the book she released in March.
• She also completed the audiobook version of Into the Wilderness.
• Chris released Microworship Vol I, a live recording, and his first worship album since 2007.

Prayer requests:

• Please pray for Judi Hertzog, Verne Nesbitt, and Carolynne & Paul LaRue, in the face of the loss of Steve, Diane and Brianna.
• Pray for us as we discern where to focus CANOPI’s expansion.
• Pray for NewSong’s pastors and newly added house church leaders.
• Pray for an increase of harvest workers.

Ways that you can help:

• Please prayerfully consider partnering with CANOPI:
  • A monthly pledge of $100 has a huge footprint, as CANOPI is a 100% volunteer organization.
  • Support us with a one-time donation by including CANOPI in your year-end, tax-deductible giving.
• If you feel called to ministry but are unsure as to how/where to serve, we would love to chat with you.
• Purchase one of Tiffany’s new books or the new album from Chris, and spread the word.
• Partner with us personally.