· One of our graduates, Dennis Bell, died on 2-5 due to a heart attack. Dennis was my age and we’ve known each other for over 20 years, so this was difficult, but he was a strong believer and he’s with the Lord and now healed of his cancer! Dennis’ funeral was well attended, and his son gave the message and God was glorified.
· On 2-5 we wrote reference letter and report for one of our leaders, Sara, to assist her in getting her Missouri Recovery Support Specialist - counsellor’s certificate!
· On 2-7 we sent TJH (recovery program) to a lady inmate.
· In January we began having childcare on Friday nights again, to help facilitate the Lily’s House girls. Mickie is in charge of this and she’s prepared a schedule and is working in different mom’s, so it’s a blessing to many!
· My email got email hacked on 2-7, which caused us a lot of difficulty, but after changing my password a couple of times, I sent a heart felt email to an unknown address which must have resonated with the hacker, because he responded to me with a broken and contrite spirit for causing me confusion. The hacker reset all the damaged he did and promised not to cause trouble again. I convinced him to call me and over the course of our conversation, my wife and I led him in a prayer of salvation, and I’m still in contact with him nearly daily, PTL.
· We helped a homeless couple with emergency housing on 2-10 & 2-11
· HBF updated our donation button on our website (www.lifeissuesonline.org) for simplicity, so try it out:-)
· A young lady, Heidi, prayed to be saved on 2-11 at our Tuesday night meeting, and a man and his girlfriend prayed to be saved on 2-14 after a Friday night message on “hope”!
· A couple of us helped a man and wife move their items out of a storage unit 2-17, to keep from losing them.
· I took a man from Jail to the Salvation Army on 2-19 for the Public Defenders Office, he had gotten saved in jail!
· We helped Hannah get her car licensed on 2-19, see attached picture.
· Sam celebrated 9 years sober on 2-21, he has attended Life Issues faithfully since our start / his start!
· Brian and Angie completed discipleship on 2-27, kudos to them and their disciplers (Mark and Laura).
· I transported a man from the Salvation Army to court and back on 2-26.
· Pat attended a Journey Pure workshop on 2-26, and one of their leaders, Brandy McCool attended LIM on 3-3-20. Brandy is a veteran and military liaison to the addicted and those suffering from PTSD.
· Pastor Vincent Barrea gave a great testimony on 2-25, and Mickie gave a great testimony on 2-28 (see pic); we also had a Christian comedian / fellow recovering addict (Bradley) give a great message on 2-28 (see pic)
· Life Issues will be taking its annual group picture on 3-27, so try to come out that night and be in it!
· Following is a testimony of a great young man that’s on a good path now, I hope you enjoy it…
"Born in the year of 1994. My childhood was not your typical. However, in earlier years my Grandmother had sat me down at her bedside and we prayed an important prayer. A prayer I’ll never forget to this day. I was not at an age to comprehend exactly what it was I was doing but I wanted it. We prayed for Jesus to come into my heart I do remember that. Now, 15 years of age, I felt lost but now filled with rage from deep hurt inside. I was in high school and we know how that is, high school that is. Had found an outlet in sports like wrestling in fact and football. Inside, however, I was spiraling out control at Mach speeds. Progressing forward I had now become a flunkie, junkie, and bottom of the bottle metaphorically and literally (drunkard)(Addict). Now, I've sped up and I'm living a criminal lifestyle including couch to couch and house to house. This of course led me to which the behavior includes, and I too was no different, Incarceration. The unfurnished cold 4 walled box in which I knew most. Not only my prison I lived in my head and homes but a jail cell.
· God was not a thought since the special moment I kneeled with my grandmother I stated previously. Many years had passed and now I sit with a Class B felony above my head inside of jail. 3 days I had sat in complete solitary. The same place I heard of individuals picking up that Bible. Okay I had said to myself. Well you ain't got anything in here and you've been denied everything since your arrival. I bet they'll give ya one of those. I extended my arm and pushed on the silver button and out of a box comes the deputies voice and I in return send off my request for a Bible. I have to say, this is the only thing that moved quickly cause in about 2 min I had a paperback KJV heartland Baptist fellowship Bible. Couple pages in I found what my grandmother had done with me. A way in which to have salvation. The greatest decision I've made in 26 years of life. May of 2015 engulfed in darkness, violence, shackled in addiction, sin none the least, and oh so broken. I buckled to my knees weeping and confessing. Truly wanting and needing. Ultimately giving the Lord in a soppy mushy handful of tattered pieces which you couldn't recognize as a heart.... What I took from everything I read for my short stint from my cell was Jeremiah 1:5 and 1:19. I really was loved. Someone who didn't want to hurt me and who I thought was so heavy handed was everything but that. He set me apart and isolated me until I made the right choice. He handpicked me from even the womb. Wanted me so bad as too watching me kill myself in order to obtain me. (Imagine having to watch your child do this to themselves and patiently watch and wait until they listen in order to deliver them from deep anguish). Just the beginning to what is to come but that is my testimony… One simple prayer, one broken soul, and a heart. 3 simple ingredients. The only things i possessed. So, on two knees with a face wet I confessed the sinner I was and asked the Lord into my heart and to change and guide my ways. Through the very bible in which I see by my knees every Sunday @ HBF ..."
Sincerely, Steve Fleshman – Life Issues pastor and founder, Proverbs 4:23…
· God was not a thought since the special moment I kneeled with my grandmother I stated previously. Many years had passed and now I sit with a Class B felony above my head inside of jail. 3 days I had sat in complete solitary. The same place I heard of individuals picking up that Bible. Okay I had said to myself. Well you ain't got anything in here and you've been denied everything since your arrival. I bet they'll give ya one of those. I extended my arm and pushed on the silver button and out of a box comes the deputies voice and I in return send off my request for a Bible. I have to say, this is the only thing that moved quickly cause in about 2 min I had a paperback KJV heartland Baptist fellowship Bible. Couple pages in I found what my grandmother had done with me. A way in which to have salvation. The greatest decision I've made in 26 years of life. May of 2015 engulfed in darkness, violence, shackled in addiction, sin none the least, and oh so broken. I buckled to my knees weeping and confessing. Truly wanting and needing. Ultimately giving the Lord in a soppy mushy handful of tattered pieces which you couldn't recognize as a heart.... What I took from everything I read for my short stint from my cell was Jeremiah 1:5 and 1:19. I really was loved. Someone who didn't want to hurt me and who I thought was so heavy handed was everything but that. He set me apart and isolated me until I made the right choice. He handpicked me from even the womb. Wanted me so bad as too watching me kill myself in order to obtain me. (Imagine having to watch your child do this to themselves and patiently watch and wait until they listen in order to deliver them from deep anguish). Just the beginning to what is to come but that is my testimony… One simple prayer, one broken soul, and a heart. 3 simple ingredients. The only things i possessed. So, on two knees with a face wet I confessed the sinner I was and asked the Lord into my heart and to change and guide my ways. Through the very bible in which I see by my knees every Sunday @ HBF ..."
Sincerely, Steve Fleshman – Life Issues pastor and founder, Proverbs 4:23…
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