Yet God provided enough books from other sources for the first event in Londrina. With the suitcase arriving prior to the second event, I had more clothes and enough Portuguese Handbook to Happiness for the Fermata in Sao Bento du Sol. We also prepared computer CDs for both groups featuring plenty of follow up resources. I posted some photos at www.KodakGallery.com/gfi and further detail is at the GFI blog. Pastors opened their hearts to the message and ministry of the Cross; three of the wives testified of their burden to transition from psychological counseling to Christ-centered counseling. Thanks so much for the prayer support.
In September we had a visit from a new board member, Will Womble of Woodstock, GA. Will is a Christian businessman who has a burden to help pastors in other nations. He invited me to accompany him and another evangelist to Cameroon, Africa for a mission trip Oct, 27-Nov. 7th. Within 9 days of his invitation, sky miles were donated to purchase my flight, and a designated gift arrived for my in-country expenses! I will be preaching and teaching Nov.1-4. I've gotten my shots and the visa applications are on their way. Let's intercede for the Baptist Bible College and Seminary in Ndu and the 400+ students who are expected to attend the conference there. After returning, we conduct the GFI workshop and Solomon School on Nov. 9-14.
This past week GraceNotebook.com had over 8,000 pages accessed in one day. May the GFI internet resources teach and equip many for God's glory.
We continue to see struggling brothers and sisters find victory in Christ through the counseling ministry. It is an honor to serve them and see the Wonderful Counselor transform lives (Isaiah 9:6,7).
Family Matters
We have asked prayer for Sarah (23) who has suffered with chronic shoulder pain for over 3 years. Since her move back home in June, God has been answering prayer with spiritual growth and a Christian chiropractor who has correctly diagnosed the problems. After four treatments, Sarah is reporting several pain-free hours following each appointment. PTL! The treatments last for 3 months. (Although this is not covered by health insurance, we believe we couldn't afford miss this opportunity after many doctors' and pain specialists' appointments and tests).
As I turn 54 today, I thank the Lord for His faithfulness to me and for our many friends in the faith. We appreciate the prayers and support!
May we each be empowered by the Holy Spirit as ambassadors for Christ in these challenging times.
Love in Christ,
John and Linda
serving with Grace Fellowship International
P.O. Box 368
Pigeon Forge, TN 37868
Supported in Canada through Crossways to Life: 79 Weber St. E. Kitchener, ON. N2H 1C6
Phone: 519-696-2500 http://www.CrossWaystoLife.org .)
Personal site: http://www.gracenotebook.com/
GFI site: http://www.gracefellowshipintl.com / (just revised)
Personal support information: http://www.gracenotebook.com/pg/21 (We are currently at 58%of designated support)
Ministry blog: http://gfiprayer.christianblogsites.com/blog/
Words from the Woodwards
Summer 2009
We have seen God's faithfulness in recent ministry activities. I presented the GFI conference in Marysville, British Columbia on June 19, 20, followed by one in Calgary, Alberta on June 26, 27th. Although the attendance was about twenty four each, God brought groups and leaders who were prepared and open to the message of Christ as Life. Hans and Elly Timmermans, friends from our Ontario years, have been to the GFI training in Tennessee and now pastor in Marysville, B.C. They hosted the B.C. conference. I also spoke at Coleman Christian Assembly morning and evening of the 21st. Crowsnest Lake Bible Camp there reaches hundreds of young people annually. The Wheel and Line presentation was appreciated by leaders and has the potential of impacting the Crowsnest Pass area.
Our friends in Calgary, Camil and Rosemary Morley, sponsored our Canadian trip and organized the conference hosted by 1st Alliance Church. A group from Dynamic Churches International attended this event. Al Middleton, who is Executive Director of DCI, gave a public testimony of how God brought him to the Exchanged Life through Chuck Solomon's GFI ministry about 30 years ago. I met with Al and discussed ways our ministries could cooperate in providing the "new wine" of Christ-centered discipleship/counseling with the "new wineskin" of strategic discipleship multiplication.
On July 17, 18 I presented a conference in Plant City, Florida. It was hosted by Berea Baptist Church and organized by GFI conference alumni Hal and Denise Sexton. Seventy five attended and responded to the teaching through sharing, fellowship, and generous donations to the ministry. Local counselor and GFI alumnus, Dr. Betty Tower, was a great help with invitations, registrations, book table and speaking.
Plant City, Florida group
August 2-14 I am scheduled to present the GFI conference material to Portuguese pastors and their wives at two "Fermatas" in Brazil. Edmund Spieker organizes these events and usually does the interpreting into Portuguese also. The couples will receive Handbook in Portuguese and will have the opportunity to apply this breakthrough and equipping in their spheres of ministry. These "Fermata" retreats will be held in Londrina, PR August 5-7 and Sao Bento do Sul, SC August 10-12. I plan to also give them a data CD that includes sample English/Portuguese audio lectures from the Christ Centered Counseling course I did for ABECAR seminary in Brazil (www.ABECAR.org).
We have revised Chuck Solomon's eight lesson inductive Bible study, For Me to Live is Christ. I recorded brief video segments to introduce each of the lessons. I am teaching this class at 1st Baptist Church, Pigeon Forge, TN on Sunday nights through August 23rd. With a new leader's guide, this package is ready for use in small groups, and classes.
My recently published book, Blessed Reassurance: Finding Security in Christ, is finding its way into churches and homes. May the Lord bless this volume to many hearts.
Grace Notes
We are grateful that on average 2000+ pages of GraceNotebook.com are accessed daily from over seven nations. About 1900 are on the subscription list to receive these email devotionals every Thursday. Here are some comments from readers:
"Thank you John; such lovely timing from the Lord and such grace given after having spent a bit of time in prayer earlier this AM; I am looking forward to more of how He will use Grace Notes in my walk with Him; may He also bless the work of your hands as His workmanship in Christ." Margie (CA)
"We are so often blessed by Grace Notes and by the many choices we find on the Grace Fellowship Intl. web site. This is a real lifeline for us here. May God continue to bless you and your family. We have fond memories of meeting you in Montreal at a Grace conference when we lived there." Mae and David T. (New Brunswick)
"Thanks for always sending these - I pass them on to so many people - it's just wonderful each time... "Beverly, (PA)
"I am so blessed to have received contact once again your free copies of Grace Notes, They always bring me encouragement and direction for my life. I am a handicapped person (emphysema) therefore you will understand me when I tell you that it is a welcome blessing as from the Lord when I find Grace Notes on my e-mail ... I just finished reading all 3 chapters of Hannah Smith's writings of spiritual food... I have had the pleasure of enjoying your messages from life sharing personal letters to Spirit-filled road maps to help keep me on the right track for quite some time. God bless your ministries..." Bob (Ontario)
John & Linda at Banff, Alberta
Family
Linda is still working full time at Dollywood, letting her light shine there. Laura and Matt moved to a two BR apartment in Toronto. Luke had his first birthday July 14th. Laura is back to work at Mount Sinai hospital. Matt is Daddy Daycare for a while. Brad has been laid off for a couple of months, but is to return to work on August 3rd. A doctor has prescribed a beta blocker that seems to have resolved his trouble with high blood pressure. Ketti earned her Associate degree and continues this fall toward her B.A. in education. Brad finished up his high school diploma. Devin and Julia are heading to second and first grades. Ashley has to wait another year for kindergarten. Sarah accompanied Linda and I to Alberta. We enjoyed having more personal time with her and she was glad to see her Morley "cousins" from our Montreal years. We really enjoyed Camil and Rosemary Morley's hospitality in Calgary. Sarah is still dealing with health problems; we appreciate prayer for her. St ephen and Jared have been working at show stores this summer (yes, they also deal with souls...).
Support
We continue to seek the Lord to provide for the GFI budget, missionaries, and staff salary support. As of April 25th, I'm supported from designated gifts, rather than the general budget. (Our designated support so far has been 59% of the budgeted salary and insurance.) Those who are part of our support team, or who feel led to be, can send contributions to GFI designated "Woodwards' support." To become a "shareholder," you can use the automatic bank transfer and send $10.00 per month (or a multiple of 10) to GFI designated to our support fund. The "automatic giving file" can be downloaded from http://www.gracenotebook.com/pg/21 filled out, and mailed to GFI. Donations can also be made online via credit card with PayPal. Considering my lack of support-raising skill, we are amazed and thankful for God's provision. :-)
"For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus' sake" (2 Cor. 4:5).
We thank each of our partners for your love, prayers, and encouragement.
Love in Christ,
John and Linda
December 2008
Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14)
When the Lord gave this prophecy of Christ's birth in about 700 B.C., Judah was experiencing fearful dangers politically, economically, and militarily. As 2008 draws to a close, we find ourselves in similarly stressful times. "We don't know what the future holds, but we know Who holds the future." Thankfully, He holds each of us in His arms as the Good Shepherd.
Ministry News
Grace Fellowship International has also witnessed God's fulfilled promises as many counselees, trainees, and distance ed. students have experienced a greater revelation of the Cross and the potential of living out of their spiritual union with Christ.
One of our GFI Counseling Institute students tells of his spiritual journey:
"At the end of the '80's I left full-time ministry and started to work with young adults with alcohol, drugs and other related problems. I pursued an Institution Residential Care education to become a professional worker in healthcare. Yet, I didn't know Christ as my life. I worked for the Lord and worked till 2004 with different kinds of people with psycho-social problems. Unfortunately, all this work led to a burnout.
"During my sickness I read Stephen Olford's book Not I, but Christ. This book changed my life, vision, and understanding of Scripture. The exchanged life truth as related to Gal. 2:20 became alive to me. He died and was raised for me. But I also died, was buried, was raised and ascended with Him. Watchman Nee's book The Normal Christian Life convinced me that I cannot live the normal Christian life myself, but He can and He will do it.
"The abnormal became normal, because it was new and I can walk in newness of life (Rom. 6:4). I already was a new creation in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17). I never understood that verse, but now my heart and eyes were enlightened through the work of the Holy Spirit.
"Now, in 2008, I am still learning and growing to be found whole in Him. My goal, vision and mission is to know Him and to experience the power of His resurrection. I really want to live the truth that has been worded in Gal. 2:20. It's not an easy life, but a blessed life with many challenges. The ‘I' [in the center of my life] has been changed to a ‘C'. Each day I see progress in my attitude and heart's desire (John. 3:30). Live your Life through me, Lord!" - Lucas (The Netherlands)
In June, Dr. Solomon and I presented a conference in Powell, TN. The church has a good media department, so they recorded the sessions and are producing a new DVD set. This should be available shortly for individuals, small groups, and remote seminars. I refer you to our GFI newsletters for a more complete review of God's blessings this year. They are online at www.GraceFellowshipIntl.com/ Glimpses of Grace. I am grateful for the opportunity to go to Brazil last October to co-teach another Fermata for pastoral couples. These leaders were so appreciative of the teaching, fellowship, and Portuguese resources we distributed to them. I have a standing invitation to minister this way yearly as support funds allow.
I have been preparing two editions of a fifty day church emphasis that promotes dynamic sanctification through a themed and coordinated plan for sermons, weekly small group/ class studies, and daily devotions. Please refer your pastors to our "50 Day Advance" package. Our conference would ideally be included midway through the series to communicate the practical process of knowing and sharing Christ as Life.
My book, Blessed Reassurance: Finding Security in Christ should be sent to the printers before the end of the year. I'll announce it's availability when ready in Grace Notes. I'm also in the process of expanding our MP3 audio testimonies and messages in Podcast format. Keep an eye on our web sites to take advantage of these free downloads.
Another motel has joined our Christian Hospitality Network. We pray God's blessing on the several thousand evangelistic CDs distributed to tourists here again this year.
The economy has affected GFI's support as well. The general budget is no longer able to carry the balance of my support, so I need more prayer partners--churches and individuals--for me to continue this role of counseling and training here full time. Your prayers for this need would be appreciated!
Family News
The twins graduated from the local high school last May. Stephen is working part time and finishing his first semester at Walters State College. Jared is also working and plans to begin his course work there in January. Sarah. is living at home and working part time in Gatlinburg. (Sickness has hindered her from full time work, but we're happy to have her living at home again.) Brad and Ketti are busy; Brad with his manufacturing job, Ketti with her college studies, and both with the three little ones! Laura and Matt became parents on July 14th. Linda and I have each been able to make a trip up to Toronto to see them. And we've used web cam via internet Skype. We are looking forward to their visit here in Tennessee over the Christmas and New Year holidays. Linda has completed another season at Dollywood. During her three month lay off, we appreciate her having more time for homemaking and ministry.
We would love to hear from you. Linda and I wish each of you the fullness of God's love, grace, and peace at Christmas time and through out 2009!
Love in Christ,
John, Linda and family
Serving with
Grace Fellowship International
P.O. Box 368
Pigeon Forge, TN 37868
865-429-0450
In Canada: www.CrosswaystoLife.org
john@gracenotebook.com
865-774-5978
www.GraceNotebook.com
www.GraceFellowshipIntl.com
www.KodakGallery.com/gfi
www.KodakGallery.com/woodwards
