Recovery Walk - THANK YOU to our sponsors !!!

 The 2021 Recovery Walk was held on Friday September 3rd - it was a huge success !!!

We had a great turnout and raised enough funds to support the Life Issues Addiction Recovery Program for another year.  

Life Issues would like to thank our business sponsors who generously supported us at the GOLD Tier level.   

The following business sponsors generously supported Life Issues at the SILVER and BRONZE Tier level

Life Issues would like to thank our supporters who had informational booths at our Recovery Walk.  These supporters offer resources and assistance to our Life Issues students.

Monthly Update : July & August 2021

Making a difference update, from the recovery field – July / August 2021 edition. Below are the highlights that happened in the Life Issues ministry over the last couple of months (and some upcoming items):

· Angie and I celebrated 39 years of marriage on 8-14; we’re still very happy and deeply in love!

· Chris C. has been leading meetings every other week since April, it’s great have this young man exercising his gifts and abilities in helping to lead our group! Chris is evidence that addicts can be made free and aren’t perpetually addicted; he comes from a life of addiction but is now a leader in our ministry and our church and recently led a 4-man mission trip to Boston from 8-24 thru 8-31 (see attached pic).

 

· Two men started our TJH program during this season, we’re excited for both them and their sponsors.

· Rebecca W. court went good on 7-13, next one on 9-8, she’s doing good @ Healing House (HH) and came down and gave a great testimony at our Recovery Walk, we’re very proud of her!

· Life Issues paid for one of our lady’s personal property taxes on 7-14, to get her vehicle licensed!

· Went to Alicia H’s graduation from Lily’s house on 7/16 (see pics), we’re so proud of this young lady!

 

· Life Issues had several folks attend the Royal’s Faith and Family Day @ The “K” on 7-17, where we stayed afterwards for the Zach Williams concert and gospel presentation by Scott Dawson, and each of us got to counsel a person with the plan of salvation (see pic of Pat and I).

 

Some of our benevolence given the last couple of months (in addition to several bags of food):

• We helped Nathan (homeless man) replace his stolen phone and gave him a one-month plan on 7/16. 
• We took a student from jail to treatment on 7-20. Helped homeless man with emergency housing on 7-25. 
• Took food to two homeless couples on 8-8-21. 
• Helped homeless lady with 3 nights in motel on 8-25. 
• Helped inmate / former student with money on his books so that he could write and call out, in August. 
• We helped a lady with emergency housing and into Lily’s House on 8-29. 
• Helped lady with electric bill on 8-26 and have taken her water and food and trying to get her into treatment. 
• Lastly, we picked up a man from jail and took him to probation / parole in Belton, where Chris and Pat got to lead him to Christ, before buying him a bus ticket to Burlington Iowa, just 20 minutes from Mike Blake’s church!

· HBF helped one of our ladies, who had suffered a financial setback, with her car insurance around the middle of August.

· HBF helped Josh N. with his pay-it-forward Baby diaper drive project for the Drug Court Program, from June 25th thru July 11th, and he collected 7059 diapers and 24332 wipes (see attached FB pic)!

 

· Molessa A. completed her peer counselling certificate, and mental health first aid (see attachments).

 

· Helped friend get his alcoholic son into a detox facility in early August, this was a huge praise that may have saved his life.

· Pat led Marcy’s uncle to Christ after church on 8-22, halleluiah! Marcy and her husband Matt started discipleship with the Bonnesen’s in late August and will give their testimony on 9-24.

· The Parrotts got custody of their son, Conor, at court on 8-25, this took over 3 years, and we rejoice!

· I got to perform a wedding on 8-28 for a couple from church, James and Laurie (see attached pic).

 

I got diagnosed with Covid on 8-29 and missed the walk, but it was a huge success without me. My symptoms were mild, and I didn’t give it to anyone, and I’ve made a full recovery, all glory to God!

• We only had 33 walkers this year, but we had dozens of volunteers and guests.
• We had great door prizes and raffle prizes that were given to us!
• It rained the morning of the walk and the morning after the walk, but the ski’s cleared just for us.
• One of our lady students and one of our lady leaders gave stirring testimonies that night!
• One of our volunteers had just gotten out of jail that day and prayed with Chris to be saved that night after hearing the testimonies. We also had a 10-year-old guest that night that prayed with one of our church member’s children to be saved, so 2 salvations at our event, PTL!
• I don’t have the exact total yet, but Life Issues raised a little over $14,000 for the addicted!!! Attached is a picture of the back of our t-shirts with the gold level sponsors on it, thank you all!

We are gathering pictures from the walk and will make a video from them for the next update.

· Lastly, here is Pam J’s testimonies, she is one of our leaders / counselors: 

"Steve has asked me to give an update on what God is doing in my life now.

· I could list the things I am involved in, the works I accomplish in the ministry. I stay busy every day and watch for new opportunities to minister to my church family, in children’s ministries, with Life Issues meetings, and short-term mission trips. There was a time in my life that I would be pleased with reporting all this busywork in my life. But there is so much more going on than this busywork I want to brag on… I am learning that my successes are not measured by what God is doing THROUGH me, but what He is doing IN me. So, I would like to report what God is doing IN me today:

· God is teaching me how to love him with my WHOLE heart, speaking daily to me through his word. I am finding genuine rest and contentment in the things I am learning. God is giving me opportunities to practice seeing people through HIS eyes, to provide compassionate care through discipling and prayer rather than worldly care/things. God is teaching me how to listen better, judge less, and share His Bible promises instead of “my promises/ideas.” I am learning how to access the peace of God, which gives me more confidence and security. I am learning to give HIM all the cares, burdens, and worries that the enemy would want me to be distracted with. God has helped me understand that I am of no value without the touch of His hand on my life, and that He truly does reward obedience as He has promised.

· There is not enough room in this update to list all the things God is teaching me, as I make myself available to his instruction. If you want to hear more, I would love to meet with you to talk about all the blessings God gives his children if we would allow him to. Blessing, Pam"



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

Monthly Update : May & June 2021

Making a difference update, from the recovery field – May / June 2021 edition. Below are the highlights that happened in the Life Issues ministry over the last couple of months (and some upcoming items):

· Chris C. has been leading meetings every other week since April, it’s great have this young man exercising his gifts and abilities in helping to lead our group!

· Rebecca W. was blessed in court in early May and was allowed to home plan out to Healing House, where she is thriving; she has another court appearance next week. Laura C. is also back at Healing House and we’re thankful she’s being cared for and getting help.

· Tom M. became an HBF member recently and is helping with mowing HBF’s grass and other things!

· We gave a gas card to multiple people during this season, to help them get to work and meetings.

· We sent Bibles and TJH workbook curriculum to a church in Monmouth Illinois and had a good talk with the pastor as they started a jail ministry on 5-24 and go in every Monday to preach to inmates!

· Ashley S. went to court for the last time on 5-17, she’s now a free woman!

· A young man that we took to the Salvation Army a few months ago, left on 5-16, his mother and I are heartbroken and concerned about his welfare.

· We had a couple of folks help work at the Shepherd’s Staff Food Pantry on 5-21, and again on 7-9!

· Alicia H. got a car and is successful at her job, we’re so proud of her and her accomplishments! Alicia will also graduate from the Lily’s House program on 7-16, hallelujah!

· We gave food to man on 5-27 and a couple of other folks during this season, from our Morsels for Many food pantry.

· We learned of the needs of an inmate at Cass County Jail and were able to drop off some medical supplies to her on 5–26 as well as a box of Bibles for the deputies to distribute!

· We’re writing to over 5 inmates currently and taking a couple of them through The Journey Home (TJH) via correspondence; our jail ministry has been very fruitful and I’m thankful to those writing!

· A couple of us went to court with Ed on 5-24 to support him as he seeks visitation rights with children.

· We were able to lead Luke B. to Christ on 5-29 and Joe T. on 6-27! Joe went to treatment on 7-8 and we’re praying for him to be successful with breaking the cycle of decades of substance abuse!

· Brian & Angie P., Theresa G., & Connie M., completed HBF’s D2 9-month series on 6-2 (see attached picture), we’re very proud of these folks!

· Our group cleaned the church on 5-28 and again on 7-9.

· We helped get Heather L’s friend, Mike, into a 30-day treatment at the end of May. We helped get a couple of girls into a lady’s shelter in Sedilia MO in late April / early May.

· HBF’s Church in the Park went well on 6-6 and a dozen or more of our folks attended and helped out

· Pam A started discipleship with Sharon in May!

· Sarah W. is in training to be a manager at Culver’s, we’re very proud of her, see attached picture

 · James and Laurie have started attending meetings and will also be meeting with Angie and I for pre-marital counselling in preparation for their wedding on 8-28.

· We’re supporting Josh N. with his Pat-It-Forward project for the Drug Court program; he’s organizing a baby supply drive and collecting all things for babies from June 25th thru July 9th; HBF has a drop-off box in the lobby. All donations go through Baby Grace organization in Pleasant Hill, MO.

- Lynzee completed "The Journey Home" curriculum
and is doing GREAT.  She earned the VICTORY tag in June

  

· We hosted a lady’s recovery group from Springfield MO on 6-30 at HBF, called Adult and Teen Challenge of the Greater South. This group ministered to us in song and in testimony, it was a powerful night and we hope to send people to them when the need arises (see attached pic).

· As some of you know, we’re starting our fundraising season, leading up to our Recovery Walk on 9-3, these next 2 months are critical for us raising support for the upcoming year. Here are some detes:

o The board of Aldermen approved of our permit on 6-21.

o The attached cover letter describes what we’re doing

 

o We have pledge forms available for anyone who wants to help raise funds, this is what we need help with the most!

o You can donate directly / electronically to Life Issues by going to www.lifeissuesonline.org and clicking on our red “Donation Button” on the right side, and following the prompts.

Thanks for reading this update and for supporting us, I’ll leave you with a testimony from Pat Lee concerning a former student… 

" Deonna R. was talking to me about her Journey and reminded me (with tears) how she never would have thought to go to a faith base recovery until we met at C.C.P.S. and I invited her to a meeting. She talked about (with more tears) how she prayed to give her life to Christ that night and how much she appreciated us and what we do! I needed to be reminded of that—that was about 5 years ago and she was telling me all about how the Lord has blessed her since (again with tears!!). I don’t know if you remember this Steve, but we actually met in 2013 when you asked me to go with you to talk to her and another guy at the Worship Center in Harrisonville. I remember that she had all kinds of warrants out for her and she had been cut in the face by her boyfriend. She told me that her husband Corey is now studying to be a Pastor (they have a couple of children together now and are established in a local church and involved in ministry there)! I have to say that God’s grace is truly AMAZING! I have been so cut-off and weak and depressed that God really needed to remind me that we really do have a big impact on people’s lives. We seem to be experiencing good success working together all in one accord on Friday night and out of the Journey ABF. This has really strengthened our people’s transition into the Christian life and the body of Christ. God is truly doing some amazing things among us and before our eyes… in these perilous times! "



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