Colorado Rocky Mountain Summit 2024
Thanks to our wonderful GMARE sponsor, Marty Hollingshead of Northlake Auto Recyclers, Hammond, Indiana
CARVA at 2023 Rocky Mountain Summit & Expo
Dear CARVA Friends,
2022 was very positive and encouraging Year! In 2022 CARVA attended recycler events from coast to coast to share our two basic goals, which are: 1) to Share Jesus Christ and, 2) to build a fellowship group of industry believers. We would like to thank ARA, Sandy Blalock, the associations, groups, and many industry friends, supporters, and our generous sponsors, for making the following visits possible. And we are very grateful, too, for the free booths and tables that were provided everywhere we went.
Where CARVA went last year
Feb. 4-5- Rocky Mountain Summit, Denver, CO
Apr. 7-9 - URG Training Conference, New Orleans, LA
May 6-7 - Virginia Recycling Summit & Expo, Colonial Heights, VA
May 20-21 – ARM Roadshow, Kalamazoo, MI
July 7-10 - FADRA Convention & Trade Show, Daytona Beach, FL
Aug. 5-6 - Texas Association Annual Conference & Trade Show, Waco, TX
Aug. 26-27 - Tri-State Summit & Expo, Indianapolis, IN
Sep. 21-24 - ARA 79th Annual Convention & Expo, Orlando, FL; Oct. 7-8
AARA 4 Corners Summit, Chandler, AZ
Nov. 11-12 - New York Auto Recyclers Annual Convention & Trade Show, Verona, NY
More prayer meetings are being planned for Recycler events this year
Beginning with the Rocky Mountain Summit & Expo, coming up fast, February 3-5, in Colorado. Please join us!
CARVA to reprint Kennie Anderson’s book: “Recycled by Jesus”
We would like to thank Kennie Anderson’s family for giving CARVA permission to reprint a paperback version of his wonderful book, "Recycled by Jesus". Which will be given away free of charge to recyclers and vendors at recycler events. This project is to be paid for through tax-deductible donations from those who wish to support this project. We’re absolutely sure it will be life changing for many! Please consider making a donation towards this today at www.CARVA.group/donate
Coming soon to CARVA
CARVA is working hard to be more productive and effective in ministry and help to the auto recycling industry. Here are a few things we’re working on for the future.
Free New Testament Bibles to be given away at recycler events. Anyone who wants a Bible will be able to get them free at the CARVA booth/table at industry events, or order one at the CARVA website to be mailed to them without charge. We’re in the process of raising funds to pay for this free Bible’s project. You can designate a donation for this at www.CARVA.group/donate.
Ministry Tools for Recyclers & Vendors who wish to share Christ more effectively in their businesses. Watch for announcement.
Free Bible study resources to help recyclers and vendors grow in the knowledge and grace of Jesus Christ. These will be available for download for free soon at the www.CARVA.group website. Watch for the announcement.
CARVA Ministry Resources
CARVA Facebook Prayer Group – where can you go if you need immediate prayer for something? Thanks to Becky Berube and Theresa Colbert for creating a CARVA Facebook page for people to bring their prayer concerns to (privately or anonymously), to hundreds of Christian recyclers who are there and instantly ready to pray.
Event Prayer Meetings – Early morning prayer meetings held at industry events for attendees to pray for the event and for any other concerns.
16 Page Gospel Booklet, "People Can Be Recycled, Too!" Available at cost from CARVA. Many recyclers place these on their counters, in their show rooms, and in their waiting areas, for customers to pick up. Some recyclers place one in every shipment. A Digital version is available, too, ask for the QR Code you may place on your website, or wherever else. A Spanish version is coming soon.
Mike French - CARVA Director
Mike@carva.group
360-961-7516
www.CARVA.group
Carva Event Booth Display
Many recyclers and vendors have enjoyed participating in the early morning prayer meetings held each year at ARA. Therefore, others and have said they’d like to have them at their recycler events as well.
Kennie Anderson's Book will soon be printed in paperback form for free distribution
The question was asked at the ARA morning prayer meeting, "Who in this room did Kennie Anderson send a copy of his book to?" The show of hands says it all! Kennie is greatly missed!
Many recyclers hand these booklets out and some place them in shipments
CARVA Facebook page is available for people to bring their prayer concerns to.
EVENTS COMING UP
WHY CARVA?
Making Christian Connections in the Automotive Recycling Industry
Why it’s important
THE FOUNDER’S STORY - Mike French
After retiring from nearly 40-years of doing advertising and marketing within the auto recycling industry, I have founded a new non-profit organization, Christian Auto Recyclers & Vendors Association, or simply, CARVA, for short.
WHY CARVA?
There are Christians present in every industry, including ours, and they love to know who each other are and they want to have fellowship with each other. This is not unusual; many industries have Christian associations connected to them. Just to name a few, there is the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (sports), Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (Publishers), Christian Educators Association (educators), Christian Legal Society (lawyers), Christian Organization of Psychiatry (Psychiatrists), and literally thousands more. Just do an internet search of “Christian associations” to see. It is appropriate and timely for our industry to have an industry wide Christian fellowship group, too.
I was in the Christian secret service
For many years I was a member of the Christian Secret Service. What I mean by this is I didn’t do much to let others know I was a believer and follower of Jesus Christ. Oh, I tried to behave well and Christian Like. I didn’t get intoxicated or use foul language. And I tried to treat others very well. But I didn’t do much to share Christ with others in the industry. Then something happened to change that.
Receiving terrible news made me see what’s important
One day I sat down with a young businessman who was excited about getting his business to the next level. For three hours I shared advertising methods and marketing plans with him. He was extremely outgoing and friendly. He was full of life, he was enthusiastic, and he was open to anything I said to him. On his way home after our meeting, he was killed in a head-on collision. When I heard the terrible news, I was heartbroken! I realized I had spent three hours with him and hadn’t mentioned anything about God. He had been so open and friendly that I could have easily spoken to him about spiritual matters, but I didn’t. And I may have been the last person to speak with him. After that, I made a pledge to never let that happen again. Now I always pray for people before I go to meet with them, and I try to find some way to include Christ in our conversation. I am always polite, I’m not pushy, therefore, I have been able to share Christ to some willing listeners on several occasions. One of CARVA’s two purposes is to share Christ with the industry.
Knowing other believers within the industry
CARVA’s second purpose is to connect Christians within the industry to each other. Over the years I have been fortunate to discover many other Christians within the industry and it has been encouraging to me to have fellowship with them at so many industry events. Unfortunately, this is not always the case for many Christians. They become invisible as they blend into the crowd. If you didn’t know they were Christians, you would find it difficult to pick them out of the crowd. That is why one of CARVA’s two purposes is to spotlight awareness of other believers within the industry. Christians can and do encourage and help one another when they are aware of each other. That is why one of CARVA’s purposes is to spotlight awareness of other believers within the industry. Christians can and will encourage and help one another when they are aware of one another.
CARVA’S TWO PURPOSES
CARVA has two simple purposes:
To connect Christians within the Automotive Recycling Industry to each other.
To share Jesus Christ to the Automotive Recycling Industry.
Making Christian Connections in the Automotive Recycling Industry
Visit www.carva.group, and complete the form near the top and please leave your contact information so we can keep you informed about CARVA happenings. And be sure to stop by and visit us at our booth at Industry events.
Mike French, CARVA Founder & President