Boatman Retirement Reception

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Please join us in the CEM Dining Room for a dessert reception
hosted by the CEM Board of Directors 
as we celebrate Chuck and Barbara's retirement.

Sunday, October 15 @ 3pm

17183 Retrac Way
Grass Valley, CA

You are invited to bring a card for the Boatman's and a dessert to share!
Questions: Call the CEM office @ 530.268.0877

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The following article appeared in CEM's October 2017 Newsletter:

A Timely Farewell

BY: Chuck Boatman

CEM Executive Director, 2016-2017

God gave us seasons in the natural world. As we all discover at some point— usually as we get older—there are seasons to our lives, as well. Youth is sometimes described as springtime, summer as early adulthood, autumn as our later adult years, and winter as those years when the end of our earthly lives becomes ever more imminent. With more than eight decades of life behind me, I can’t deny that “winter” is coming

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Barbara and I recently spent an enjoyable two weeks vacationing in Oregon and Washington. We visited family, personal friends, and friends of CEM. We made some new friends for CEM, as well. During that time, I mused frequently about the changes that the aging process brings to us. I began to focus on my growing awareness that lately I have not been responding as positively as I once did to the challenges of administrative work.

Over and over again, I have observed people for whom their work became “work,” rather than a source of joy. This is especially tragic when the work that no longer brings joy is the Lord’s work. I haven’t reached that point; I began praying long ago that God would prevent me from doing so. I think the Lord spoke to me about the matter on our vacation. Toward the end of our trip, I asked Barbara for her perspective on what I was considering. She responded by saying, “You are more relaxed now than at any time since we have known each other.” That was the confirmation I needed.

I have decided that it is time for me to retire and open the doors to younger, more vigorous leaders. Two years ago, the CEM Board called me to lead this ministry. From then to now, I have seen this call as a privilege. This relatively short season of my life has enabled me to close out my formal life of service in a ministry that is more vital and important than any other in which I have served in the past 60 years.

CEM is a powerful ministry with a nearly half-century-long history of rescuing God’s hurting children. It is indeed “God’s family” for many whose earthly families have failed them. Barbara and I have been blessed to share in this family relationship. She joins with me in saying, “CEM is worthy of your strong support.”