Monthly Update - March & April 2023

Making a difference update, from the recovery field – March / April 2023 edition. Below are the highlights that happened in the Life Issues ministry over the last couple of months (new format):

I. Benevolence

· Gave a box of food to lady on 3-27, and another box to a man on 5-4.

· Helped a man and his wife pay for their meds while husband was in jail.

· HBF helped a Casey's worker with they’re electric bill on 4-20.



II. Jail update

· We’re still writing to Ted while he’s incarcerated and sending him lesson #2 of discipleship soon. Ted is set to be released in September and he has a job lined up, so he will need help with lodging and transportation, etc.

· We sent a Bible to an inmate on 3-29.

· We sent a box of Bibles to a Chaplin in women's prison in Vandalia on 4-4-23, and another box to a Chaplin at Tipton Correctional Center on 4-17-23!

· We have also worked out a plan with an officer at the Cass County Jail in Harrisonville MO, to hand deliver a box of Bibles to them every other month and we began on 5-9, hallelujah!



III. Church

· Our recovery group cleaned the church on 3-31 & again on 5-12!

· Two folks joined HBF from our recovery group 4-16, Nichole and Kayla (and husband, Justin) – see pic. Nicole’s daughter, Mia, prayed to be saved on 3-31 with us!

 

· Several of our students and leaders are involved in discipleship:

o D1: These folks are in our one-on-one continue discipleship material – Krystal W. is with Kelly T.; Chuck H. with Dave B., Ed M. with Chris C., Brian R. with Pat L., Kalee R with Linda J.; Sarah J. with Pam J.

o D2: Suzanne R. and Pam A. are in D2 and are about a third of the way through this 9-month class!

o HBI: One of our lady leaders, Pam J., is taking all 4 classes, so pray for her to press towards the mark.

o TJH (The Journey Home): Kayla C. is on lesson #8 with Pam J., and Nichole D. is on lesson #1 with Suzanne R. , and Conner F is on lesson #5 with Pat L.!



IV. Recovery

· We just ordered 8 new Wounded Spirits books (PTSD) on 5-9, to use as a resource for veterans; we are currently in contact with a man who is in the VA getting treatment.

· One of our former leaders is getting married this summer and is planning to adopt his finance’s son and is petitioning the governor for a pardon for his past offenses; I wrote him a reference letter on 4-25 to assist, please pray that his request is granted.

· Heather became a “Certified Peer Specialist” on 4-12 (see pic) and she also graduated from the Drug Court (DC) on 5-9, we are so proud of her!

 

· Heartland Baptist Fellowship received an online testimony on 3-22-23 that I wanted to share:

"It was good for me to hear your story. I had a similar struggle. The thing that hurt me the most was the doubt that drinking created about my faith. I would think... How can I continue to live in sin if I truly have faith and truly have the Holy Spirit? It would have been good if I could have heard you speak about your struggle a long time ago. I have since thought of my experience as being caught in a trap. When God says that the Devil is roaming like a roaring lion seeking those that he can devour... to me I get the sense that we (Christians) take it lightly that there are real traps out there and if we are not diligent in our faith, we could find ourselves caught in a serious trap that some never escape. God rescued me from the trap in 2015. I want to encourage you to continue to share your experience. If there is anything I could do to help you, I would be happy to help. David D."



V. Events

· We had a Life Issues leadership meeting at our house on 3-13 – pic.

 

· HBF had a workday on March 18th, and some of our folks helped in the effort – pic.

 

· Life Issues took our annual group picture on 3-31, see attached picture of the whole group as well as a couple of smaller groups of our superstar students – see 2 small group pics.

VI. People

· Two of our leaders were installed as deacons at our church on 5-7 – pic.

 

· Debbie Corum's post: Glimpses of Greatness (debbiecorum.com) Debbie is Bill’s wife, and both of these folks are prolific speakers and friends of our ministry (Bill will be at Life Issues on July 28th, 2023), and we are trying to enlarge Debbie’s reader base, so feel free to pull up her blog and subscribe to it!

- My dad got his left knee replaced on 5-10 and is doing as well as can be expected for an elderly gentleman – see pic.

· Here’s another great testimony from one of our students, Conner F.

"My Journey of Recovery: I started going to Life Issues at the beginning of this year when I was at one of the lowest points of my life. Coming to Life Issues regularly has been a game-changing experience that has changed the trajectory of my life. I was able to see for maybe the first time that I am not the only person that struggles with similar addictions. Both Pat and Steve have invested a lot in me over the past few months, and it’s been very profitable to receive some of their wisdom every week in small groups, which I can then apply to my journey of recovery.

About a month ago I started going through The Journey Home (TJH) program with Pat Lee. Going through this program has given me an abundance of wisdom in how to strengthen my faith, and in the process allow Jesus to transform my life from the inside out. It is very helpful because each week’s lesson gives you some scriptures which are chosen to help address different aspects of recovery. So far, I have been learning about how to be honest with myself, and others, about my addiction; how to use Godly Judgement to set biblical boundaries as guardrails for my recovery. I learned about the power that leads to recovery without relapse that happens in a real relationship with Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. It hasn’t been an instant change in my life, as recovery usually isn’t at first, but it’s been a fruitful process. I have been faithfully going through (TJH) day by day which is helping me make progress in my journey to recovery. God has truly blessed the ministry of Life Issues as there is no other local ministry that has been accomplishing such life-changing work that transforms lives to such a visible extent. I strive to see myself fully recover from my addiction through the power of Christ by the end of this year. If you could keep me in your prayers that would be greatly appreciated. Stay Strong, Conner F.!  "



· Please pray for God to use us mightily in 2023, 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…

Monthly Update - January & February 2023

Making a difference update, from the recovery field – January / February 2023 edition. Below are the highlights that happened in the Life Issues ministry over the last couple of months (new format):

I. Benevolence

· Took a box of food to a mother and her son on 1-9-23.
· Joined with HBF to pay rent for lady and her son on 2-26-23.
· Gave a former student 2 night's emergency motel on 2-27 & 2-28
· We restocked our Morsel’s For Many food pantry in late February (thanks Theresa and Pam)!


II. Jail update

· Our church was contacted by a former student (Ted) who’s now in prison again, but he has finally given his life wholly to the Lord. We sent Ted lesson #1 of discipleship and he’s already sent it back to us along with his testimony, please pray for this young man.
· We also started sending discipleship lessons to another man in prison, who got one of our Bibles while he was incarcerated in Saint Joseph MO, so we’re excited that he’s walking with the Lord and desiring the word of God too!
· We gave a box of Bibles to CCJ on 2-5, and we gave some of our tracts and another box of Bibles to the Butler jail group on 2-10, His truth is marching on!


III. Church

· Our recovery group cleaned the church on 1-6 & again on 2-17, see attached pic of Tracy helping!

 

· I wrote a reference letter for one of our lady students for her court case on 2-6-23, she is doing great! Her and her husband and son have been attending our church faithfully, this is the Lord’s doing and it’s marvelous in our eyes – Psalm 118:23
· Several of our students and leaders are involved in discipleship:

o D1: These folks are in our one-on-one continue discipleship material – Krystal W. is with Kelly T.; Chuck H. with Dave B., Ed M. with Chris C., Brian R. with Pat L., Kalee R with Linda J.; Sarah J. with Pam J.
o D2: Suzanne R. and Pam A. are in D2 and are about a third of the way through this 9-month class!
o HBI: One of our lady leaders, Pam J., taking all 4 classes, so pray for her to press towards the mark.
o TJH (The Journey Home): We had a new lady (Kayla C.) start TJH with Pam J. in December! Dominick and I have also started meeting again and we’re on lesson #5 (halfway thru)!


IV. Recovery

· We gave a Wounded Spirits book (PTSD) to a man the week of 1-9, this is someone that one of our leaders in trying to minister to.

· We gave a lady a ride to our recovery meeting on 1-6-23, and she made a profession in our pickup when we took her home after the meeting, halleluiah!

· Ed gave a good testimony on 1-27, and Amy gave a good one on 2-24 – see pic.

 

· We gave a stack of trifolds to Compass Health on 2-12, so that they can refer people our way.
· We just placed an order for 5000 gospel tracts on 2-20-23, so we’ll be excited to get them soon.
· Rebecca Wilber just completed the Drug Court program in Jackson County – pic of certificate attached.

 

V. Events

· Nine (9) of our Life Issues ladies went to HBF’s Ladies Retreat on 1-21, and we helped pay for some of their registration fees, so that everyone who wanted to go could, PTL!
· LIM turned 12 years old on February 4th (we had our first meeting on 2-4-2011)!
· We took a group of 9 folks to Kansas City’s Winter Jam on 3-3, it was quite a show, see attached pic.

 
VI. People

· Pat Lee worked as a counsellor last Summer at the Faith and Family Day at the “K” (Royals Stadium) and led a man to Christ named M. Well, it just so happened that M came to Life Issues with a group from “Reach KC” on 12-30! We’re thrilled to see him plugged in and serving the Lord, see attached pic.

· Heather Haddad passed her online Certified Peer Specialist exam on 1-18-23 – see attached pics.

· Debbie Corum's post: Say What? A Hired Servant? (debbiecorum.com) Debbie is Bill’s wife, and both of these folks are prolific speakers and friends of our ministry (Bill will be at Life Issues on July 28th, 2023), and we are trying to enlarge Debbie’s reader base, so feel free to pull up her blog and subscribe to it!

· Below is Kayla’s testimony, she is such an encouragement to us and a trophy of God’s grace…

"My name is Kayla C. and I’d like to share my testimony on how I have a relationship with the Lord, and I’ve been born again. When I was growing up my family did not go to church nor read the Bible. I knew of God but had no relationship or knowledge of his word. When I was little, I attended church with my Aunt Vicki and I remember we would sing all the time (worship), she loved Jesus so much and let everyone know it. My early teens I went to youth group events with my good friend Kellie, but I still was not a believer at the time.

My brother and I spent a lot of time at our Grammy and grandma’s we basically grew up at their houses, they too did not go to church. I had a traumatic moment in my life when I was 5 years old, I was at Grammys staying the night and I fell asleep on the couch. I woke up in the middle of the night and the TV was on, it was porn. I had no idea what it was doing nor what it meant. I have never talked about this until now and I recently told my mother, she had no idea. As I got older, I always thought I needed a lover to make me happy, so I looked for love in all the wrong places since I was 16 years till about 27 years old. I had multiple partners and dated liars, cheaters and they never loved me for me. I started smoking pot and cigarette’s when I was 16 and after I graduated high school all I did was party and work. My early 20’s turned into drinking heavily and experiencing with other drugs. My last relationship before I met my husband was when my addiction’s started becoming an addiction. I abused pain pills and drank all the time and tried Meth for the first time. Thankfully I realized that wasn’t for me and I liked my sleep. At this point in my life, I rejected God and was told all Christians are hypocrites and you got to see it to believe it. That was my mindset, and I was completely lost!

January 2017, I met my husband, good ole country boy and I fell in love instantly. I knew in my heart I was going to marry him someday. He told me he is a Christian and honestly it didn’t bother me. I truly believe God sent Justin to me for a reason and that reason is because he has saved my life. We had a break in the beginning of our relationship, and it was extremely hard for me. I thought no one could love me and I was worthless. I drank heavily one night and sat on my bed with a gun in my hand and I even pointed it at my head. I looked over to my dog Ava and I realized she needs me. Justin came over and took away the gun and I stormed out the door to go for a walk. Justin followed me, as we were walking at that moment something inside of me was telling me I need to find God and know him. I told Justin I wanted a relationship with the Lord, and he held my hands to pray, and I repeated after him saying I accept Jesus Christ as my savior.

We started to attend church and Justin bought me a bible, I read some scripture, but I didn’t quite understand it all. I got baptized in 2017 and at the time it felt amazing! As time passes, we ended up not going to church that much and I can honestly say that I did not go all in with my faith. I knew in my heart that God loves me, but I was still lost, and the enemy kept taking control in every area of my life.

Justin and I were drinking more and more but pretty much having a good time together. It started to get worse for me after we got married in 2020. I was drinking every day and even sneaking it around so I could drink earlier in the day. We found out I was pregnant in January of 2021 and Zander was born August 23rd, 2021. I had some trauma from his birth and ended up having an emergency C-section. That was hard on me, and I was miserable. Zander was born healthy and the most perfect baby boy.

By November I started to have some deep depression and I started to drink again. Months and months go by I was drinking almost every single day. I was drinking and driving with my son, multiple blackouts, quit my job, hated my husband. Drinking consumed me 24/7 and that was all I thought about. By summer 2022 I was creating chaos for my family because of my drinking. Justin and my family didn’t know what to do. Justin asked me one night that it’s going to be Zander or alcohol and I told him I chose death.

I went to cottonwood springs and detoxed for 7 days and went to the Aviary recovery center for 21 days. I tried to reconnect with the Lord and read my Bible every day. At the time I knew God forgave me, but I did not confess my sins. I was sober for about 4 months, and I completely threw out all the tools I learned and started to drink again. I relapsed because I had to make the decision to put down my dog Ava. It was very hard for me because we went through a lot together. She was the best dog I’ve ever had!

I thought to myself I can have one drink I’ll be fine, that’s not the case for an alcoholic. I went on major binges and would leave and not tell anyone where I was or what I was doing. On November 29th, 2022 was when I hit my rock bottom. I was black out drunk, driving with Zander from Belton and somehow ended up at the Chinese restaurant in Butler. I remember cop lights everywhere and Zander sitting in the back seat bawling his eyes out. I got arrested and luckily didn’t have to stay in jail overnight. Child services were called, and I ended up having restrictions with me not being alone with Zander.

 I broke trust with everyone and hurt everyone. I knew I needed help, and I wanted my family to be together. A Child services lady told me about Life issues, and I thought I’d check it out. I absolutely loved it and felt like I was at home. That night I cried out to God to help me, I surrendered and confessed all my sins. I’ve been praying every single day since then and I feel it in my heart that I truly believe Jesus died on the cross for our sins. The only way for me to recover is through God’s word. I feel like a different person now and at peace, knowing I have eternal life with God and my family keeps me going everyday now.

I signed up for Life Issues’ program (The Journey Home) soon after attending meetings, and they assigned Pam J. to me, she is such a wonderful sponsor and we’re most of the way finished with it already. Going to Life issues, CCR and seeing my therapist every week is what will keep me accountable and a reminder that God does love me no matter what. He loves you too! I truly believe God placed Pam and my therapist in my life for a reason because they are amazing and Godly women. Justin and I attend Heartland Baptist fellowship and we feel like we are at home, I feel so blessed to know we have found our church home and all the love and kindness everyone gives. I hope someday I can give that back to someone who needs it as much as I did."



· Please pray for God to use us mightily in 2023, 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…

Monthly Update - November & December 2022

Making a difference update, from the recovery field – November / December 2022 edition. Below are the highlights that happened in the Life Issues ministry over the last couple of months (new format):



I. BENEVOLENCE

· We purchased some food and restocked our pantry on 11-12

· Life Issues gave away 4 boxes of food in December, and more than 22 boxes for the year, from our Morsels for Many food pantry; Pam J. and Theresa G. are doing a great work with this outreach!

· Our church made up 26 Christmas boxes of food, including a turkey and all the fixing’s for a nice family meal, for families in our church as well as those in recovery that we’re trying to help, it was a blessing for all involved.

· We gave a gas card to a faithful couple on 11-11 & purchased some clothes for them from the Lily Pad on 11-15

· We donated some money to help a former student with her children on 11-11.

· I helped distribute anonymous gifts to 5 different students around Christmas time, from 3 benevolent Christian families, what a blessing that was for me! One lady wept openly when she saw what was given to her and a man said he didn’t know how he was going to pay next month’s phone bill till now!

II. JAIL UPDATE

· We’ve written to several letters to inmates over the last 2 months, and several have written back! The man I’m writing to has completed the discipleship course that we were on, and now he’s starting a new study with me!

· We sent nearly 20 Christmas cards to inmate right before Christmas, thanks to Pam Jackson!

· A man (CB) was released from prison around Christmas time & will be @ Life Issues this Friday night!



III. CHURCH

· Our recovery group cleaned the church on 11-25!

· Cammie S. has agreed to oversee our church’s efforts with Harrisonville’s Shepherd’s Staff Food Pantry (managed by the Ministerial Alliance), see a pic of her and the group from 12-9!

 

· Sarah W. completed discipleship on 12-1-22

· Dottie B. had surgery in early November, several from our group took meals to her. Kelly T. also had surgery (late November I believe), and we also took some meals to this dear sister.

· Several of our students and leaders are involved in discipleship:

o D1: These folks are in our one-on-one continue discipleship material – Krystal W. is with Kelly T.; Chuck H. with Dave B., Ed M. with Chris C., Brian R. with Pat L., Kalee R with Linda J.

o D2: Suzanne R. and Pam A. are in D2 and are about a third of the way through this 9-month class!

o HBI: One of our lady leaders, Pam J., taking all 4 classes, so pray for her to press towards the mark.

o TJH (The Journey Home): We had a new lady (Kayla C.) start TJH with Pam J. in December!



IV. RECOVERY

· The Lily's House girls came back to Life Issues on 10-21, they have 2 residents there now and we’re thrilled to have them and the Lily House staff attending our meetings again now!

· Rebecca got full custody of Tayton on 11-9 – (pic below) and she has 2 years clean on 1-1-23

· Brian and Angie P. are now both 4 years clean – (pic below)

· Theresa G is now 3 years clean, as of 1-1-23

· A lady in a nursing program audited our meeting on 11-11 as partial fulfillment of her studies!

· We helped a man (SK) get into detox on 12-27, he is a friend of Sarah F.

· We lost a couple of former students in the last month; 

John DeHues died 12-5

We lost Mary Wolfe (Sara Jack-Bidondo’s younger sister) too, she died on 1-1-23

V.  EVENTS

· Our group supplied 3 volunteers for KLOVE’s Christmas tour on 12-4. Pam J. headed up this effort, below is her testimony:

"Last Sunday was a great time at the KLove Christmas concert. Frannie and I met Belinda at Sheffield Family Life Center (see pic below) and was trained in our role as a Child fund advocate. 

There was a total of 40 volunteers for this particular task. It was very easy, and we got to smile and interact with all the people in our section-approximately 100. 

We were able to watch the whole concert, sitting in some great seats that were offered no charge for the volunteers. The music so great by Natalie Grant, Danny Gokey, Brandon Heath, Tasha Layton, and Jon Reddick. 

The best part of the evening was Danny Gokey giving a devotion to 50 individuals that included Frannie and myself. It was a powerful devotion about Jesus feeding the 5,000. Danny compared that story with how he feeds us the Word of God during his concerts, praying that all men should be saved. 

I will definitely go back again if there is an opportunity. We met several people who have volunteered many times. It was beautiful and Christ Jesus was honored that night!"

· Tommy McGee's testimony on 12-30 was outstanding and he brought about 15 folks with him - (pic below)

VI.  PEOPLE

· Debbie Corum's post: Happy New Year 2023 (debbiecorum.com) Debbie is Bill’s wife and both of these folks are prolific speakers and friends of our ministry (we hope to hear from Bill in July 2023), and we are trying to enlarge Debbie’s reader base, so feel free to pull up her blog and subscribe to it!

· Bill F. went to India at the end of December and returned on 1-3-23, we hope to get some pics from him and hear a good report from his mission trip!

· Kalee R. and her husband, Brian R., are special folks to our ministry, Kalee got saved at one of our meetings and Brian received Christ will incarcerated. Both of these folks are several months clean; below is a brief testimony from her.

"The Lord has blessed my life in so many ways! I was saved in March of 2020 (at Life Issues) and although life hasn't always been easy; knowing and trusting in the Lord is how I've been able to overcome the trials. I am so truly grateful for all the amazing blessings.

When I was first saved my life was a bit messy to say the least. Over the last two years the Lord has helped me clean it all up! He has paved the way for my husband and I to get married in November of 2021. We are both blessed that the Lord has put our toxic past far behind us, and I was baptized @ HBF on Easter Sunday 2021.

Our two youngest children are in our full custody which was not the case at first because Elijah was put in DFS custody when he was born and not long after he was born, I became pregnant with Noah out of wedlock. With that being said we have since been married, regained custody of Elijah, got to bring Noah home from the hospital with no issues. I have also got shared custody of my three-year-old back!

We have a house to call home that will be all ours one day! We still have some goals we're working towards and with the help of God everything is possible! So, in conclusion the Lord is blessing our family so much! Brian and I are both in discipleship 1 and are learning and growing in our faith so that we can teach our children the way God wants us to. God is so good, and I'm reminded by everything I see every single day."


Please pray for God to use us mightily in 2023, 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…