Ministry News
Greetings once again in the name of our blessed Savior and Lord Jesus Christ! The Christmas season is upon us as we once again turn our focus to marveling at the incarnation of our Creator. This has been such a hectic month that I am no where near ready for the festivities of the holiday.
The Lord saw fit for Donny Godsey to make a trip up to Perkasie to meet with alumni and other area ministries. I picked him up from the airport Tuesday morning, Dec. 7th, and we hit the ground running….with an introductory stop at Wawa. He now understands why we talk so glowingly about eating ‘gas station’ food. He has converted to the wonders of Wawa. He is even scouting for possible locations in Greenwood.
We made a solid contact with a local funeral home that wants to refer to Journey Tools. Also, we had a great meeting with a church in Lansdale, PA that wants to partner with us, and their Spanish pastor is ready to dub our videos in Spanish. We are currently fund-raising for that project. On the heels of a great meeting with my pastor, we rolled into our teaching time for alumni and guests. Everyone was thrilled to meet Donny in person, and he so enjoyed hearing their Journey Tools testimonies.
I’ve been blessed with several new clients this quarter, but there is always room for more. Thank you for your prayers as I gear up to move to SC to partner with Donny in teaching Journey Tools and the Exchanged Life truths to groups and individuals. God is on the move!
Testimony Time
Susie was so happy in her marriage to her true love, Stan. He took such good care of her. Then, came the dreaded diagnosis: Cancer. They did their best to make the most of the time they had together until the Lord took him home last Spring. She and her adult children were devastated, but she rejoiced that his suffering was over. She did not wish him back; she loved him too much to want him to leave heaven.
That said, her life was turned upside down. She relied on him for so many things. Sorting out the finances, getting passwords, maintaining the house and lawn… all were things she had to learn. Fortunately, she had a great support system of friends to teach her and help her along the way.
A mutual friend referred her to me, and we hit it off from the first session. We immediately rolled into Part 6 of the Way of the Cross workbook to show her the connection between thoughts and emotions. Learning to take her thoughts captive was key to stabilizing her emotional roller coaster ride. As she started to dialogue with the Lord about her thoughts and emotions, she found that the dips of grief lessened and processing the grief by giving it over to the Lord became more efficient.
She has started her Journey through Grief in our latest group. After completing Grief Share, she knew she needed something more, and she is finding that the Journey Tools program is just the thing she needs. I am amazed at how the Lord is already giving her the opportunity to come alongside others grieving the loss of a spouse to encourage them and cry with them.
She is living proof that God can heal our broken hearts and then use us to help others heal too!
Pastor Ken’s Corner
From Pastor Ken Keeler: I have been preaching through the book of Philippians in the Sunday Evening Service at my church. It is a great opportunity to teach how to live Christ’ s Life through us.
I am also having a great time teaching the Men’s Group each week on a study that I put together called: Discovering God’s Plan for Transcending Law by Grace. The men are really interacting and learning how to live by grace.
Also, I have filled the pulpit at a local church in York several times this past quarter. So, please pray for these preaching and teaching opportunities and for more opportunities to preach in churches.
Linda and I are looking forward to being with our sons’ families this Christmas. It is a blessing to be with them and our grandkids. Merry Christmas to all of you!
ELM Finances
Thank you so much to all of you who made donations this quarter. Year end giving is critical in enabling us to finish in the black. Please ask God if He wants you to make a year end donation, and if He says, ‘Yes,’ ask Him how much and then give cheerfully.
Investing in the Kingdom of God is the best kind of long term retirement investing you can do. It is the only kind of investing that you can take with you to glory! Invest wisely in eternal treasure! Blessings!
Your tax deductible donation can be made to ELM and you can do so by check or by going to the Donation page of our website at www.elmphilly.com/donate.
Praise and Prayer
Praise:
- For a safe first trip down to Greenwood, SC.
- For Pastor Ken’s opportunities to teach the EL truths.
- For my clients’ growth in Christ and their emotional/spiritual healing.
- For a growing social media following and online counseling platform.
- For new connections with a church in Lansdale that will help us translate the Journey Tools into Spanish.
- For a great time of ministry to churches and alumni during Donny’s first trip North.
- For lives that are being transformed in our Journey Tools groups.
Prayer:
- For effective follow up with everyone we met with during Donny’s time in Perkasie.
- For more experienced Exchanged Life counselors to join the JT team.
- For new clients and speaking engagements.
- For wisdom in each counseling session and Journey Tools group.
- For Ken to effectively preach God’s Word and teach his workbook material.
- For wisdom in partnering ELM with Cross Care Ministries.
- For a safe trip at the end of December to Greenwood as I scout out apartment options for a possible late Spring move.
“Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”
Matthew 1:20-21