Making Time with God a Priority

At the end of each year, many people begin to talk about New Year’s resolutions or goals for the year to come. Getting in physical shape tends to be the hot topic for resolutions, but what about spiritual shape? Or even emotional shape?

In the Living Free study, A Passionate Pursuit of God, Dr. Mike Chapman explains that life has a way of slowly separating us from God. He explains it as “Life is a wild goose chase without the goose.” We all have our “to do” lists, but do they include spending time with God? Not just time, but quality time with Him. We have a hard enough time relating to people we can physically see. How much more effort should we put into a relationship with our Creator whom we cannot see? Then we will sense and know He is with us through His Word, His Spirit, and His people.

Living Free Ministry Reunites a Couple

Something special happened recently in the Living Free ministry at James River Assembly (JRA) in Ozark, Missouri. According to Aleta Nichols, Living Free coordinator for James River, a woman drove by James River Assembly and noticed “Alcohol Recovery” on the sign and started coming to the groups a week later. At the same time, the woman’s ex-husband had a co-worker who suggested that he check out the Living Free groups; he started attending a separate Living Free group at JRA. This man and woman had had a 29-year marriage, but alcohol abuse had torn their family to pieces. Each one knew that they needed help but didn’t know where to turn.

While participating in their individual classes, the couple began restoring their relationship. Twelve months later they decided to remarry and Aleta suggested they have the ceremony at the Tuesday evening Living Free ministry. On December 7, 2010, the couple reunited in holy matrimony in the witness of more than two hundred Living Free participants and family. It was such a testimony to the power of God working through the Living Free groups.

Helping the Homeless through Living Free

Living Free ministry takes on a life of its own in many communities and ministries. One such place is Dayspring Worship Center in Springfield, Missouri.

Rev. Kay Mark is the Director of Hand Extended Outreach for Dayspring. Every week, Dayspring ministers to the homeless and destitute of Springfield. At first glance Springfield would be considered an average mid-western town, but looking deeper one would find out that Springfield is a transient town. With the geographic location along Interstate 44, people from all walks of life have plans to make Springfield a stopping point on a journey farther west only to find themselves in a county with people struggling with meth abuse and domestic violence.

LifeLine Connection brings hope and healing to a Kentucky community.

In the rural community of Manchester, Kentucky, more than 400 people have participated in Living Free groups through the ministry of Lifeline Connection. A community has been transformed through the Word of God, the Spirit of God, and the people of God.

Clay County Kentucky had a 200-year history of violence and corruption, and corruption opened the door to substance abuse. Moonshine stills in the mountains of Eastern Kentucky supplied alcohol to the community. Bootleg whiskey defied prohibition.

Russian Living Free Associate Fulfilling the Call

We just received a ministry report from Lena Kulagova, our Living Free (LF) trainer in Central Siberia, Russia. Hear about the doors God is opening up in the former Soviet Union in her own words:

"On Oct. 19, in Perm, we had a meeting of Teen Challenge Russia regional representatives with Bishop Vasily Evchik about the perspectives of cooperation and support from the side of Russian church of the rehabilitation ministry and the LF ministry. The atmosphere of the meeting was very friendly. As for the LF, Bishop Vasily suggested I introduced the ministry to the federal bishops for further work in the churches where the federal bishops will see the need.