Ministry Testimonials

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of (Jesus) Christ, 
for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes" 
Romans 1:16 (NKJV)

David Haltom Gives Up Aerospace Career To Mobilize Christians For Spiritual Battles
By Tom Creech
2/25/00

Concord, N.C.--Rev. David Haltom had fulfilled a childhood dream in 1989, when he graduated from N.C. State University with a degree in aerospace engineering (BSAE) and again, when he became a lead aerospace engineer at the Naval Aviation Depot at Cherry Point, N.C.

But God had other plans for Haltom, plans which involved a career redirection and a return to his native Concord with his wife Traci in late 1995.

As often happens, a single incident can be the impetus for God's redirection of a life for the furtherance of His Kingdom. In Reverend Haltom's case, it was a Community Impact Seminar, sponsored by Focus on the Family, in Raleigh in the winter of 1993, a seminar attended by Haltom and his wife.

According to Haltom, "the seminar dealt with the need to educate Christians on the moral issues of the day." Returning to their local church in New Bern, N.C., the Haltoms were led by the Lord to begin a Community Impact Committee, which quickly developed into a Community Impact Ministry in 1994. A monthly newsletter, "Salt and Light," quickly followed and was distributed to numerous churches throughout eastern North Carolina.

Little did the Haltoms know that God would test them spiritually, physically, and emotionally at the beginning of this new venture. Traci, just prior to their attending the Community Impact Seminar, was unexpectedly diagnosed with Hodgkins Disease and had just completed radiation treatments before attending the seminar.

Despite receiving an "all clear" from her doctors, Traci's Hodgkins Disease returned with greater severity in late 1993. However, according to Haltom, "God graciously worked a healing in her," and Traci once again received an "all clear." She has been in remission for five and one-half years, as of January 2000.

Haltom feels that this period of testing in their lives had a two-pronged impact on their lives and future ministry. First of all, due to the radiation treatments, Traci was unable to naturally bear children, a consequence which led to the Haltoms' passion for the sanctity of life and the option of adoption for young, unwed mothers.

Secondly, the testing prepared them for the redirection of Haltom's career and a big move. In the late spring of 1995, God led Haltom to resign from his position as a lead aerospace engineer with the U.S. Navy at the Naval Aviation Depot in Cherry Point to pursue the work of "impacting communities for Christ" full time. At the end of '95, the Lord led the Haltoms to relocate to the Concord-Kannapolis area where they both grew up, to pursue the ministry that God had given them.

Christian Impact Ministries (CIM) began operation in January, 1996. According to Haltom, the Bible-based, non-denominational ministry "seeks to educate the Christian community across North Carolina and abroad to the moral and social ills facing families today."

Through their monthly newsletter, Savior's Seasonings, and E-mail alerts, CIM equips families, local churches, and pro-Christian organizations with God's Word to apply to the current events of the day.

CIM networks with local (Crisis Pregnancy Centers, Racetrack Ministries, etc.), state (Christian Action League of North Carolina), and national organizations and ministries (Family Research Council, Focus on the Family, Family News in Focus, etc.) in researching current events, relating Scripture to them, and providing biblically-based opportunities by which Christians can engage their faith.

The Haltoms also evangelize at community festivals such as Share Cabarrus in Concord N.C., the Cotton Stock Festival in Kannapolis, N.C. and the Chrysanthemum Festival in New Bern, N.C. They set up booths at the festivals, pass out Christian evangelism literature and minister as the Lord so leads to visitors to their booth.

There's also Racetrack Ministries. At a spring race last year at Lowe's Motor Speedway, Haltom and his associate passed out ~900 evangelism tracts to race fans. Other ventures that the ministry has been involved in include disaster relief (Haltom has been on two flood relief trips to eastern North Carolina with Hurricane Floyd efforts was involved in the recovery work in the Stoneville, N.C. tornado disaster). Rev. Haltom also networks with local Crisis Pregnancy Centers in encouraging young, unwed mothers to consider placement of their unborn babies up for adoption in lieu of them choosing abortion.

Tentative plans for CIM for this year include involvement in a couple of new community festivals and counseling, especially in the area of marital reconciliation.

Haltom is an enthusiastic, passionate advocate for the ministry he feels God has lead him into. "I so much want to see more churches catch the vision (of reaching the mission fields right around them)," he says. He has other aims as well. "We want to speak God's truth in love," Haltom states. And, "we're trying to turn folks back to God's Word."

Haltom admits that "this ministry is a long-term process--we may not ever see the fruits of some of our efforts." However, Haltom believes that when God gives a believer a vision, he's in it for the long run, until God calls him home.

CIM Ministry Office: 704-795-SALT

http://www.impactforchrist.org