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