Thursday, September 10, 2020

Monthly Update : August 2020

Making a difference update, from the recovery field – August 2020 edition… Below are some bullet points of the highlights that happened in the Life Issues ministry over the last month:

· We just donated another box of Bibles to the inmates at the Cass County Jail on 9-4, but because of Covid we can’t minister in there right now (it’s been nearly a year). So, before I give my update, I also wanted to share this data from Bill Corum, regarding prisons in the USA: As of September 1, 2020, there have been at least 115,106 inmates test positive for coronavirus. Also there has been at least 973 deaths among inmates. There have been at least 25,267 positive cases among prison staff, and at least 74 deaths from coronavirus. I do not believe we will get back inside the walls this year. If you would like to help the incarcerated receive good books and literature, please go to Bill Corum’s website and donate to them: https://www.prisonpowerministries.org/

· Angie and I celebrated 38 years of marriage on 8-14, and we’re still madly in love! Linda and Kinley celebrated 46 years of marriage in August, and they’re still in love too!

· HBF held its annual men’s retreat on 8-14 & 8-15, and 3 of us attended the Saturday conference, it was great!

· Zach is almost finished with his pay-it-forward project for the Drug Court; he made a raised flower bed / garden and donated it to our church!

· Zach and Connie both finished HBF’s D1 course (1 on 1 Bible lessons) in August.

· Brian has helped in the sound booth for a few of months now and is taking ownership of it by learning all aspects of it, which really assists with ministering to our group!

· Brian and a group of our students and leaders (8 folks) just started HBF’s D2 class, which is a 9-10-month Bible course, so we have a great crop of folks who have kicked the habit and are involved in serving the Lord.

· Another D2 student is Angie, she was 2 years clean on 8-21, we’re so proud of her!

· Kevin bought a house and closed on it on 8-25 and was granted that his 13-year-old daughter to stay with him for the school year!

· Rich and Cole finished installing plywood in HBF’s armory on 8-29, and Rich just bought a car and is in the process of getting it legal and his license reinstated, etc. These are huge steps for this man, and we couldn’t be prouder of him. He’s so thankful too, here are some of his words to us: 

"…I want to thank you and Mrs. Angie, HBF, Life Issues for believing in me and having faith in me that I would do it GOD'S way to find a new way of LIFE cause I was getting nowhere my way and probably wouldn't have ever gotten anywhere. So, it's all of you and my loved ones that I am still alive. So, my most respect and love go to all of you!! You are my walking Angels!!! …Love ya all with all my HEART!!! Dang it my brother this text got my eyes full of tears. But tears of joy. "

· We’re really proud of our leaders too, here’s an interview that Lily’s House did with Kelly Tally recently:

· We are proud to start introducing our amazing staff, board members, volunteers, and women that are involved in Lily’s House! Up first is Kelly Talley, an amazing staff member who has done so much for the ladies and families at Lily’s House.

· In what capacity are you involved with Lily’s House and for how long have you been involved? 

"I have volunteered and been on staff at Lily’s House from the beginning. I help drive the Lily House Moms and their kids where they need to go church, Life Issues Recovery Ministry, I work alongside them at the Lily Pad Thrift Store, Dr. appointments, groceries, daycare, court dates, etc. We spend time in Bible study together. I help support them in their day to day activities at the shelter as they learn to live a life in recovery and support them through the process of reunification with their children. "

· What great things have you seen accomplished at Lily’s House since you’ve been involved?

"I have watched the Moms learn to trust us. That moment when they realize that we care and that they are safe is a beautiful thing to witness. Our relationship with the ladies allows us to introduce them to God and the freedom they can have in Christ. "

· How has serving at Lily’s House changed your life?

"I like to say that working at Lily’s House has given me a front row seat to see the power of God at work. God has given me great compassion to help women walk in truth and peace. I get to be a part of a group of women that give our best efforts to lift each other up, cheer each other on, and support each other. "

· Can you give a specific example of a time when you saw something amazing happen in the life of one of our moms?

"I had the privilege of taking Ashley (now our 1st graduate) to the hospital to deliver her baby and I was present when she reunited with her daughter, Haylie, after 5 years of being apart. What a privilege it has been! Ashley is making a difference on staff at Lily’s House now and has become a dear friend. "

· Lastly, on behalf of our Life Issues group, I want to sincerely thank all of you for helping make this year's Recovery Walk a huge success! Many of you volunteered in one or more ways, many of you gave financially to us, many of you prayed for us, but God gave the increase! We had great weather and a great turn out of people, and we raised a little over $14,500 this year (the most ever) which exceeded our goal of $12,000, PTL!

· The post Recovery Walk was great, and Sarah and Kevin gave great testimonies, and Ed finished the night by singing “Victory in Jesus”, it was amazing!

· Much more could be said, please see our Life Issues Facebook page for some pics; we should have a video by this time next month, so that you can see more of what went on at the event.

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




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