June 2017 ELM Newsletter

 

Ministry Update

Greetings once again in the name of our blessed Savior and Lord Jesus Christ!  While it’s been very rainy this Spring, I’ve enjoyed the lovely flowers and am eager for my vegetables to produce.  My annual war with the deer and groundhogs has begun!

Pastor Ken Keeler is enjoying numerous opportunities to preach on Sundays, he held his first Exchanged Life Conference in May.  That church plans to have him back soon for a Spiritual Gifts seminar.

Ken is always looking for new opportunities, so if your Pastor needs someone to fill in for him while he’s away, please consider contacting Ken at [email protected] to schedule him at your church.  Your Pastor can go to our SPEAKING page to hear Ken’s sermon What’s Going on in Our Heads.

I have been blessed with several new clients, but I have openings for several more, so please consider referring those looking for Biblical counseling to ELM.  Thanks!

The new website is up and running, and we’ve had lots of positive feedback on it and the redesigned blog. So, take a moment a check out our new look and offer us some feedback.

Testimony Time

Sally Mae was stressed out over her family’s dysfunction.  Her sister and adult nephew were struggling financially after her divorce.  So, Sally Mae and her husband offered to let them move in with them until they could find a low income apartment in the area.  What they expected would be a few months stay turned into a two year stint.  Her college age son seemed to be effected the most.  He became withdrawn and non-communicative because his personal space was invaded.  Sally Mae and her husband felt the stress too, but she became really concerned that she was losing her son.

Our time was focused on helping sort through her expectations and learning how to adjust them, so that her emotions could stabilize.  We also spoke at length about how to effectively communicate using some simple, but effective techniques to resolve conflicts.

Once her emotions calmed down, we were able to journey through the truths presented in The Way of the Cross.  She had many ‘Aha’ moments as she learned about her new identity in Christ and how to put off the flesh and build the habit of drawing on Jesus’ strength to do all things through her.

At the end of May, her sister and nephew moved into their new apartment.  There is still one other family member living with them, but she already sees the stress level decreasing.  Her son seems happier, and he almost had a conversation with her!

She has hope that her family members will once again enjoy being together, and she’s rediscovered her passion for art and is enjoying her recently renovated art studio.

Mom (Emma) Update

Thanks for your faithful prayers for mom.  She is still doing reasonably well.

We’ve adjusted to our new nurse who genuinely cares for mom.

This past Friday marked the first time that there was no fluid to drain from her catheter.  I am hoping the nurse has some feedback from the hospice doctor about what this could mean.

Her lungs are clear, and her color is good.  There are no signs of decline.

She enjoyed visits from several family members over her birthday on June 4th.  We are so grateful to have her for her 89th year.

May this be the year of our Lord’s return for His Bride, the church!  Are you ready?  We are!  Soon and very soon, we are going to see the King!

Financial Update

Thank you so much to all of you who made donations this last quarter.  April and May were the first months that I had to take a pay cut.  April’s deficit was triggered by the annual Worker’s Comp Insurance bill as well as a slow down in counseling hours.

Donations of any amount are such an encouragement to me as I try to juggle all the needs of the ministry while caring for my mom. Please pray that counseling revenue and donations increase this next quarter.

Please consider making your tax deductible donation to ELM.  You can do so directly on our website by clicking on the Donation tab or by sending in a check to our address.  Simply, make your check payable to ELM.

 

 Praise and Prayer – June 2017

Prayer:

  1. For donations to be consistent each month to keep ELM into the ‘black.’
  2. For new client referrals.
  3. For Mom to continue to be stable in her oxygen levels.
  4. For wisdom in each counseling session.
  5. For me to stay focused on the Lord and His love for me, and for my faith to be strong in Him.
  6. For Pastor Ken Keeler to be invited into churches to teach the EL truths.
  7. For ELM’s social media following to grow exponentially.

Praise:

  1. For a few new clients.
  2. For several speaking engagements for Ken Keeler this quarter.
  3. For my clients’ growth in Christ and their emotional/spiritual healing.
  4. For positive feedback on our redesigned website www.elmphilly.com.
  5. For sufficient funds to keep the ministry going.
  6. That Mom is stable and comfortable.
  7. For a great team of Hospice workers.

Blessings!

Robyn Henning, President