I. Benevolence
· We helped transport a couple and their belongings from Harrisonville to Butler on 7-24.
· We provided emergency housing for a lady on 7-25 and gave emergency housing to another lady on 8-12 and also to a man on 8-20.
· We paid to have a man’s bicycle tire / wheel fixed on 8-9, so that he could get to and from work.
· We purchased hearing aids for a man on 8-23, he was born nearly deaf and struggled with communicating with anyone.
· We purchased a phone card for homeless man to help him with employment on 9-1.
II. Jail update
· One of the people that we correspond with should be getting out of prison in September, he plans to go into the Salvation Army, into their 6-month program.
· A man in Bates County jail has been reaching out to us recently, who has attended our meetings in the past, please pray for him to be broken.
· We mailed a box of Bibles to the Chaplin at the Saint Joseph Mo prison on 7-31.
· We put money into the accounts of 3 different inmate’s books in mid-August, so that we could keep in communication with them.
· I mailed an inmate on 8-5.
· Larry C. and another man visited an inmate in Butler jail on 9-6; we’re trying to support this man. Larry talked to one of the deputies who goes to our church and he will be taking a box of Bible with him to the jail next week, PTL!
III. Church
· Several of our students and leaders are involved in discipleship:
o D1: These folks are in our one-on-one continue discipleship material – Julie N. is with Bobbie W. (lesson #1), Alana M. completed discipleship with Betty A., Larry O. is working with Brady B. (lesson #14), and Dean L. completed discipleship with Dale N.
o HBI: Pam J., and Mary W. are both taking a full load of classes in HBI.
o TJH (The Journey Home): Ted H. is with Steve F. (lesson #5).
· Brian R. received his “How to disciple” certificate on 7-26 – see pic.
· Our church worked at the Harrisonville food pantry on 8-2, with several of our students and leaders helping there, I’m thankful for Cammie S. heading up this effort.
IV. Recovery
· Charlotte H. just celebrated her 1-year sobriety on 7-26 – see pic.
· We’ve been helping to transport a man to his probation officer appointment each month.
· We are working with a church in Blue Springs to help them start up a Life Issues group, I plan to go up there and speak on October 9th, please pray for them and the new work of God.
V. Events
· We had a church workday on 8-17 and several of our Life Issues folks helped with that
· Homecoming praises – we had over 75 people present and raised nearly $13,000 for our ministry and heard great testimonies from several students and leaders, and a powerful message from Mike Blake, and I think that 3 people received Christ as savior!
o I failed to get many pics of the homecoming, but I did get one of Brian R. and his moving testimony, as well as Mike Blake as he preached – see pics.
o Les B. graduated from our program @ homecoming on 8-30-24, and Tracy W. and Dana M. got some milestone tags for being born again!
o Linda Jones received our first ever “Compassion Award” for her years of service and devotion to Life Issues – see pic of award.
o We also rolled out our “Storyboard” image at our Homecoming, this is the culmination of many hours of work for Chris Coen over the last year or more. The attached pic tells the story of what Life Issues does in a picture form.
VI. People
· Cheryl’s testimony:
· Cheryl’s testimony:
"I was "unfortunate", or should I say "fortunate" enough to meet a man that claimed he was a "pastor" because he would quote from the Bible. I wondered about those quotes; he gave me the incentive to read the Bible and learn more. I have been a believer all my life, but not a Christian. After reading the Bible, I asked God to walk with me, repented of my sins, told God how I believed in his son and that he died for us. I was reborn and was saved in May 2024 while I was in jail, and I was "baptized" by the so-called pastor in jail; that was not a true baptism. So, here I am on July 14th, 2024, getting baptized Biblically and ready and willing to have God completely in control of my life. Cheryl S."
· Dana M. has been coming to meetings for a couple of months now as we as church and on 8-25, she accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior and just got baptized this morning, see pic.
· Brian R. rejoices that his 2 daughters accepted Christ on 8-25 after a church service.
· 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…
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