Giving Thanks for Ministry Opportunties

In America, November marks a time when cooler weather sets in, leaves begin to fall off trees, and a holiday is set aside to give thanks. Thanksgiving is a time of giving thanks for all God has done for us. I Thessalonians 5:18 says, “In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” NKJV. What are you thankful for?

We at Living Free are thankful for the thousands of people who have acted upon the calling of God to lead a Living Free small group. There is an estimated 1 million people who have participated in Living Free small groups over the last twenty-four years. That means more than 120,000 people have been facilitators of these small groups. Wow! Thank you to the thousands who have answered the call and discipled people all over the world to become free in Christ.

Providing Help and Hope to the former Soviet Union

In September, Dan Strickland, President of Living Free, had the opportunity to train eight leaders in Novosibirsk, Siberia, Russia, with a Living Free leadership seminar on September 21-24. According to Elena Kulogova, Living Free associate in Barnaul, there are more than eighty Living Free small groups going with more to come.

Accompanying Dan on the trip to Novosibirsk were Jerry and Aleta Nichols, who lead a Living Free ministry at James River Assembly in Ozark, Missouri. Jerry and Aleta made many new friends and were blessed by seeing the work of Living Free expanding in Russia.

While the training was going on in Russia, Greg Keylon trained thirty-five people in Kiev, Ukraine, with the Living Free seminar. There were more than 12 ministries represented, including Teen Challenge Ukraine, Coffee House ministries, and several churches. The people of Ukraine were so hungry for training and appreciated the opportunity.

One pastor witnessed of 130 people being added to his church as a result of using Living Free. Watch his testimony by clicking here.

How to Respond When People Hurt You

We generally live in a society that is easily offended. Just read today's newspaper and you will see many articles focused on someone being offended or hurt. That old saying, "sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me", is a lie.

Sure, pain comes in different ways and in differing degrees, but pain is pain. The pain can be physical or emotional. Often physical hurts heal much faster than emotional damage. The question that must be asked is how do we protect ourselves against the bitterness and rage that can follow the hurt? In the following article, Dave Batty with Global Teen Challenge shows us what Jesus recommends to us when we suffer hurts.

What comes to your mind in response to the questions, "Who has hurt you? Who has offended you? Who has lied about you? Who has betrayed you?"

How quickly can you make a short list of people who have caused you pain? And who were these people who hurt you? Family members? Your wife? Your husband? One of your parents? Your children? Or was it a person at work? Or a friend from church- perhaps better labeled "a former friend."

How many friendships have been shattered because their cruel words or actions left you feeling betrayed?

Hollywood makes blockbuster movies with a simple story line-the hero of the movie is hurt or a victim of injustice, and throughout the movie seeks to recover what is rightfully his or hers. And when they finally get to the end, we cheer the hero's revenge, "All right, go for it, that evil person deserves it!"

But how does God want us to respond to people who hurt us? Whether that person is a family member or an enemy, how should we react?