Monthly Update - January 2016

Making a difference update, from the recovery field – January 2016 edition…

Can you believe that 2016 is here?! 

Our church (Heartland Baptist Fellowship) assembled 25 Christmas boxes of food to help those in need, and our Bible Hour class got to fill and distribute them. I was blessed personally to deliver some to our Life Issues students, knowing that they met a real need in people’s lives. It is humbling to know and to minister to people who lack, and to share the love of God, who is able to meet all our “need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19b).

Our New Year’s Eve event was a blast, we had about 40 adults and 15 children present, but we had enough food for another 40! Brother Worthington grilled some burgers, and many others pitched in to create a feast, so thanks to all! Our video, Recovery Without Relapse” was very informative and edifying, and several stayed to watch it and to hear Jerry’s testimony. Jerry gave a beautiful testimony of God’s grace in his life, and gave us all a challenge of what we will do and what we won’t do in 2016!

Below is Life Issues’ calendar of events for 2016, but we may amend it as time goes on.

2-1 Life Issues’ – Super Bowl Party

5-6 & 5-7 Life Issues’ garage sale – fundraiser

7-31 Life Issues’ drama during Sunday morning church services

9-3 Life Issues’ Recovery Walk – fundraiser

10-7 & 10-8 Burnt district Festival – Life Issues booth

12-31 Life Issues’ New Year’s Eve party

We are putting the finishing touches on our child care and snack schedule for the first half of the year, but there’s still time to get your name on the list. As you know, we provide childcare for those desiring to attend our recovery meetings, as well as snacks during the midpoint of our meetings, and this is primarily done via volunteers and the resources of those committed to our ministry. Please let me or Jim Stovall know if you feel led to be involved in either or both childcare and snacks, on either a Tuesday or Friday evening meeting; the commitment level is only once every 5-6 weeks, so it’s not too much of a burden on anyone. 

On the people front, Carolyn and Angie and I got to lead a lady to Christ in December. Jim and Brenda were invited to counsel some people in downtown KC, and Brenda got to lead a young lady to Christ. I was blessed to have some extra time off of work at the end of the year, so I was able to attend court with one of our students and visit a couple of folks that we know, who are incarcerated. From my perspective, many of the stories sound the same, but one man said something that I don’t hear very often. As I was listening to this man’s story of a difficult home life, drug use, women, and incarceration, he stated “I just need to know that someone out there cares about me”. Maybe I’m a sucker or naive or easily deceived (or maybe all of the above), but those words draw me to want to help that individual. Even though most people may not frame those exact words, I believe that there are multitudes in our society who simply need to know that someone cares about them, and ultimately that God cares about them. I’m so thankful to be a part of a ministry that is making a difference, and one that lets people know that God cares about them. Maybe you’re one that needed to hear those words right now, please read God’s words for yourself and cast “ALL” your care upon him, 
 “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” (1 Peter 5:7).

Sincerely, Steve Fleshman – Life Issues pastor and founder, Proverbs 4:23…