Monthly Update - January & February 2025

Making a difference update, from the recovery field – January / February 2025 edition. Below are the highlights that happened in the Life Issues ministry over the last couple of months.


I. Benevolence

· We paid for emergency housing for man and woman for 4 nights in early January

· We put up a man for 1 night on 1-13 and the same man another night in February

· We gave mom and daughter 2 night's stay on 2-16 and 2-17

· We gave 5 gas cards away in February

· We gave another lady a night's stay on 2-20

· We helped a lady get a phone card on 3-5, to keep her phone active



II. Jail update

· Justin W. got saved with the Chaplin in Saint Joseph prison on Dec. 19th with one of our Bibles, and wrote us to tell us, and is now going through discipleship with me!

· I visited an inmate who’s a friend of a friend, to encourage, witness, and pray with him on 3-5

· I also took a case of Bibles to Cass County Jail on 3-5, as well as a couple of Spanish Bibles.



III. Church

· Word First – Bible publishing ministry @ HBF, assembled 300 more Life Issues Bibles for us in February!

· Several of our students and leaders are involved in discipleship:

o D1: These folks are in our one-on-one discipleship material – Julie N. is with Bobbie W. (lesson #2)., Larry O. is with Brady B. (lesson #14), Tracy W. is with Pam J. (lesson #6), Kevin W. is with Pat L. (lesson #2), and Julie S. is with Mary W. (lesson #1)

o D2: Alana M., Brian R. Kelly T., and the Horton girls are going through D2 this year!

o HBI: Pam J., and Mary W. are both taking classes in our 4-year Bible Institute – HBI.

o TJH (The Journey Home): Ted H. is with Steve F. (completed - December 2024), Tom M. is with Pat L. (lesson #7), Dane O. is with Brian R. (lesson #3), and Camille R. is with Linda J. (lesson #4), and Dana M. is with Mary W. (lesson #5)

· Midtown Baptist Temple started a Life Issues group in February and a drug dealer got saved at their first meeting.



IV. Recovery

· We gave 2 cases of Bibles to Tommy McGee on 9-12, to distribute at his “Recovery Auto” car dealership in Independence MO, see pic.

· One of our folks got to stay on probation on 1-16, rather than jail / prison, he is going through The Journey Home now!

· We gave 44 hours Community service to a lady over the last 2 months

· Sent off copyright paperwork for The Journey Home on 1-15, and hope to get approval this month (March), so that we can send our material electronically to others.

· Several of our students and leaders qualified for “Alumni” status and were awarded as such on 2-28 

– Carol T. also achieved “Alumni” status on 3-7  

V. Events

· 2025 plans:

- Leadership meeting on February 22nd – see pic.

- Pat and Pam to lead group – trauma recovery in June and July

- Inmate gets released from prison on June 3rd.

- Bowling in July – group outing to Raymore MO.

- Homecoming / Fundraiser event will be August 29th, 2025

· We may have an opportunity to start another Life Issues group in Texas.



VI. People

· Two men (brothers) got saved after our meeting on 1-24 – PTL!

· Dottie B. shared an article with the group on 2-28 – see pic.

· Julie's testimony – 

" It's been close to 5 months since I lost my husband to cancer. I knew I'd need help getting thru the pain without drugs or alcohol. I knew I needed to be around other Christians that could help me grow my relationship with God. So, I came to Life Issues and started attending Sunday School and church services at Heartland Baptist Fellowship. Right away I felt seen and cared about. It strengthens my faith and fills me with hope and peace. I'm grateful someone took my hand and is leading me through discipleship. I'm just beginning but I'm getting excited about doing my part for the Lord and to be there for others as well. Thank you, Julie… "

· I got to go on a mission trip to Egypt and South Sudan in January, I’ve attached some pictures:

o Me on a camel @ the pyramids – see pic.

o Me with a dear lady who’s trying to work with the addicted in Cairo Egypt – see pic.

o Some pics of some dear saints in South Sudan – see pics.

VII. Miscellaneous

- Check out a couple new videos posted to our Life Issues YouTube Channel:

Life Issues Video : 2024 year in review

Introduction to Life Issues - Sullivan, MO

· Revised chart showing some Life Issus stats for 2024:

2024 Volunteer of the year	Linda Jones
Salvations in 2024	10
Baptisms in 2024	4
Life Issues graduates in 2024	2
LIM members involved in D1 in 2024	10
LIM members involved in D2 in 2024	5
LIM members involved in HBI in 2024	2
# of emergency nights provided	10
# of people benevolence help was given	20
# of people we’ve helped with rehab/detox	4
Morsels for Many – food boxes distributed in 2024	16
# of cases of bibles LIM has delivered to jails & prisons & shelters	16 (336 Bibles)
# of incarcerated folks LIM corresponded with	8
2024 - 12th annual fundraiser – Money raised	$13,000+
Average meeting attendance – 2024	26

Please pray for God to use us mightily in 2025, for without him we can do nothing, but through Him we can do all things! Sincerely, Steve Fleshman – Life Issues pastor and founder, Proverbs 4:23

Monthly Update - November & December 2024

Making a difference update, from the recovery field – November / December 2024 edition. Below are the highlights that happened in the Life Issues ministry over the last couple of months.


I. Benevolence

· Gave gas card to men on 11-24, and 12-5

· Paid car insurance for a lady on 11-26

· Life Issues paid to have a man’s furnace fixed on 12-2




II. Jail update

· Sent letters to 2 inmates on 12-2-24

· Jim dropped off a case of Bibles on 12-17 to CCJ

· I’m attaching Ted Harper’s testimony to the end of this update ..




III. Church

· We ordered 300 more Bibles in January 2025 from the Word First publishing ministry @ HBF, in hopes of getting them by Summer.

· Several of our students and leaders are involved in discipleship:

o D1: These folks are in our one-on-one discipleship material – Julie N. is with Bobbie W. (lesson #2)., Larry O. is with Brady B. (lesson #14), Tracy W. is with Pam J. (lesson #4), Cheryl S. started D1 with Paula G. (lesson #1), Kevin W. is with Pat L. (lesson #1), and Kalee R. is working with Linda J.

o D2: Alana M., Dave and Shannon B., Brian R., and Kelly T., are going through D2 this year, and we’re very proud of them!

o HBI: Pam J., and Mary W. are both taking classes in our 4-year Bible Institute – HBI.

o TJH (The Journey Home): Ted H. finished with Steve F. on 12-5, Tom M. is with Pat L. (lesson #4), Dana M. is with Mary W. (lesson #1), and Camille is with Linda J. (lesson #1).

· Tracy W. got baptized on 12-7  - see pic

V. Recovery

· The man who led me to Christ in 1992 gave his testimony on 11-22, which was special to me and helpful to all who heard it – see pic!

· We had a lady from Minnesota contact us after reading one of our testimonies online, here is her feedback… "I was blessed to read David's testimony online. I live in Minnesota and have struggled so much with nicotine addiction. I realize also it is not a matter of prayer and Bible study, but surrender. I came to that point about a month ago when I was three weeks quit and started to smoke a little again. I needed to hear David's testimony to remind me again of what helped me. Thank you, and God bless you, David! "

· Dana M. received her 6-month sobriety tag on 12-27, see pic of her and Ryan.

· The Blue Springs Life Issues group is hoping to start their next 8-week outreach soon.

· The Monmouth Illinois church has had a couple of leadership meetings and have a key man to lead the Life Issues group there, in hopes of starting their outreach meetings in March 2025!



V. Events

· Life Issues fed about 50 people for Thanksgiving (11-22), and gave 3 awards – We have 2 ladies that are 1 year clean / sober, and another lady who recently got saved – pic

· Our church collected food from its members and distributed 20 Christmas boxes / bags to families in need on 12-22; many of them went to our Life Issues students and families.

VI. People

· Angel S. got a job on 11-14 and is working diligently, we’re very proud of her!

· We helped donate a Thanksgiving Day meal to a lady's sober living house on 11-26.

· I had 2 anonymous donors who gave Life Issues cash that we distributed to 3 different families to help at the end of the year (almost $700), it is always special for me to help in these types of gifts and to help those in need!




VII. Miscellaneous

· 2024 stats – chart:

	2024 Statistic	Comment
2024 Volunteer of the year	Linda Jones	Pam J. 2023, and Kelly T. 2022
Salvations in 2024	10
Baptisms in 2024	5	1 or 2 others transferred by letter
LIM members who complete TJH in 2024	2
# of emergency nights provided	6
# of people benevolence help was given	20+
# of people we’ve helped with rehab/detox	4
Morsels for Many – boxes distributed in 2024	16	Our average is ~21 boxes per year
Average meeting attendance in 2024	26-27
Average number of visitors per week	4-5	210 for the year
# of cases of bibles LIM has delivered to jails & prisons & shelters	16	16x21=336 bibles!
# of incarcerated folks LIM corresponded with	8
2024 - 12th annual fundraiser raised	$13,000+	75 people in attendance, 1 salvation
# of new Life Issues groups started in 2024	2	Sullivan MO & Blue Springs MO

· Please pray for God to use us mightily in 2025, for without him we can do nothing, but through Him we can do all things! Sincerely, Steve Fleshman – Life Issues pastor and founder, Proverbs 4:23…

---- Ted H. Testimony -------

Monthly Update : September & October 2024

Making a difference update, from the recovery field – September / October 2024 edition. Below are the highlights that happened in the Life Issues ministry over the last couple of months.

I. Benevolence

· Helped a lady get some furniture on 9-20.

· Helped a lady get her electric turned back on 9-29.

· Helped a lady with her doctor appointment fees on 10-16.

· Helped man pay for alignment on his vehicle on 10-13.



II. Jail update

· We picked up a man from the jail in Butler MO on 9-10 and took him home. He is now working a job and going through a separate program than ours but doing good – see pic.

· Jim S. drops off Bibles at the Cass County Jail faithfully every couple of months, as he did on 10-10 – see pic.

· Chuck R. got out of prison and is now in the Salvation Army men’s home and is going through their ARC program.

III. Church

· We ordered 500 more Bibles in October from the Word First publishing ministry @ HBF, in hopes of getting them by next Summer.

· Several of our students and leaders are involved in discipleship:

o D1: These folks are in our one-on-one discipleship material – Julie N. is with Bobbie W. (lesson #1)., Larry O. is with Brady B. (lesson #14), Tracy W. is with Pam J. (lesson #4), Cheryl S. started D1 with Paula G. (lesson #1), and Kalee R. is working with Linda J.

o D2: Alana M. is going through D2 this year, we’re very proud of her!

o HBI: Pam J., and Mary W. are both taking classes in our 4-year Bible Institute – HBI.

o TJH (The Journey Home): Ted H. is with Steve F. (lesson #8), Tom M. is with Pat L. (lesson #2).

· Angel S. got saved at our Homecoming event and baptized on 10-13 – see pic.

IV. Recovery

· Gave 2 cases of Bibles to Tommy McGee on 9-12, to distribute at his “Recovery Auto” car dealership in Independence MO.

· We heard a great testimony on 9-20 from KJ, she has been coming to our group for a few months and is a blessing and an example of how God brings people through trials – see pic.

 

















· Eric Y gave a great testimony on 11-8 - see pic.

· Our missionaries to the Dominican Republic (Lee and Heather Carter) led out group on 10-18 – see men’s small group pic.

· We’re excited that the Blue Springs church is now meeting weekly to reach the addicted in that part of Kansas City and look forward

· We’re also excited to announce that Pat L. & Brian R. went to Monmouth Illinois on 11-9 to help start yet another LIM group! There will be more to come about this group, but Pat said that God showed up and that the pastor’s house was packed out with people interested in starting a Life Issues group there, and that the testimonies given were spirit led the 4–5-hour meeting!


V. Events

· Larry and Belinda maned a Life Issues booth @ Hallelujah Palooza in Butler MO on 9-28, hosted by the Cowboy Church there - see pic.

· Our Life Issues group helped with HBF set up for its annual Bible conference, see pics of our tent crew and of Kevin F. getting stacks of Bible signatures prepped.

· We will be hosting a Thanksgiving feast on 11-22 for whosoever will 

VI. People

· Kevin F. got his license back on 9-13, and got a vehicle in early October, PTL!

· Tom M. got a job on 9-25 and a vehicle in early October, here is Tom’s testimony: 

"My name is Thomas M., and I am nothing without Christ. Let me tell you why….

I came back to Heartland Baptist 5 months ago after repeating the same mistake for what seems to be the hundredth time. I had lost my job, my house, my car, broken over another woman who I thought meant the world to me.

God showing me an amazing abundance of mercy and grace!

I never went without the basic necessities. I now have a job and am back to work. I have a pretty decent car to get me back and forth to that job. I have a roof over my head just when my time ran out at my mother’s place. I never had to worry about whether or not I would eat, or drink.

It goes even further than taking care of my basic needs. God has even blessed me by answering my prayers in ways that you couldn’t deny his presence. He has also been doing work in me that is also undeniable. Like how all sin is connected, sin is sin. I also feel completely different both inside and when it comes to making decisions that I would normally make that would lead me into bad situations like before. Now I’m more open and vocal about a savior that loves me and has been pulling me out of the wreckage that was my past but has tossed all of those sins and mistakes as far as the east is from the west. All praise and glory be to God Amen!"


VII. Miscellaneous

· We ordered 500 ink pens on 10-22 for guest bags, they look great! We’re trying to order more literature about recovery, but it isn’t in stock right now.

· We sent out 51 Thank You cards on 10-18, to businesses that donated to our Homecoming event! It thrills me that we have over 50 businesses that support us in combating addiction in our community!

· We had a couple of men make professions of faith in October and one lady accept Christ after church on 11-10, please pray for these new converts.



· Please pray for God to use us mightily in 2024, for without him we can do nothing, but through Him we can do all things! Sincerely, Steve Fleshman – Life Issues pastor and founder, Proverbs 4:23…