Issue 19 - March 2007
Spring Greetings From
Shannon Ethridge Ministries!
Encouragement Corner
 While the purpose of this section is typically to encourage you, I can’t resist the urge to tell you how encouraged I was by my time in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada last weekend! But if you share my heart for women, men, teens, and families, I believe you’ll be encouraged, too.
For the first time ever, Fred Stoeker (co-author of the Every Man series) and I had the opportunity to speak at the same time in the same city for an intergenerational purity conference. Imagine, fathers and sons at one church being ministered to by Fred with the Every Man’s Battle message… Mothers and daughters at a nearby church being ministered to with the Every Woman’s Battle message… then Fred and I switching mid-stream for one session with the opposite sex audience. It was a conference like no other I’ve ever attended, and I felt so honored to be a part of what God was doing there.
Between the two locations, entire families were represented (even some grandparents attended). Men of all ages discarded their pornography collections in the “porn roast” (bonfire). Women of all ages anonymously confessed their sexual struggles and their past emotional baggage on pieces of paper that went into the trash can, where trash belongs. Homes and hearts were cleansed… forgiveness was offered and received… men and women sought to understand not just their own sexual needs, but those of their spouse as well so their marriage could be strengthened. Families experienced a whole new level of understanding of God’s precious gift of sexuality. They left redeemed of their past, and optimistic about their future with lines of communication wide open.
Conversations about sex are happening far more frequently among strangers in internet chat rooms and over 900# telephone lines than in Christian homes and churches. But we must remember, God is the author of sexuality. Let’s declare the church and the Christian home as the safe havens where healthy conversations take place and lifestyles of sexual and emotional integrity are embraced!
Dear Shannon...
“Our 10-year old daughter is beginning to get interested in boys, especially celebrity boys. Recently she taped a picture of a celebrity guy above her bed, and her father asked her to take it down. She also taped the same pictures on her school notebook, which I had her take off explaining that she should be concentrating on school. We are active in our church and raising our children to love God. Is this something we should be concerned about? Should we make her take the pictures down? I have read Every Woman’s Battle, and we are now reading Preparing Your Daughter for Every Woman’s Battle with our daughter. After reading Every Man’s Battle, my husband noted that for men, they are to bounce their eyes and to train their eyes not to look at women in a disrespectful way. Does this principle apply in this situation as well?” - R.H.
Dear R.H. –
The principle of not looking at others in disrespectful ways applies in all situations. It’s never appropriate for us to make “sex symbols” out of another human being. I completely support your decision to put a gentle nix on that kind of “idolizing” of young men so that your daughter doesn’t grow up with the impression that guys are just “boy toys” for girls to play around with. Not only can you approach this with her from a “bounce your eyes” standpoint, but also an “idolatry” issue. In these days of “American Idol,” kids have lost sight of the meaning of that commandment, but God still wants our attentions and affections primarily focused on HIM and on things that build our character, not weaken our defenses against compromise.
Testimonies Of Praise
“I’m reading your book for the first time and I feel beyond blessed!!! I’m from Puerto Rico, 34 years old, and it seems Every Woman’s Battle is a biography of my life. I still don’t believe how timely God’s power is in putting this book into my hands. I intend to lead other women in this study, so I can share this happiness and freedom with others. I feel so blessed, you have no idea!!!” - G.F.
“Thank you for writing a book on being a godly woman when it comes to sexual and emotional integrity. This has long been on my heart, especially being a military wife. Our husbands go out for a year or more at a time, with very little time at home. Though we deny it, we struggle with remaining faithful in our hearts, minds, and bodies. We pretend that we are stronger than we are, and we have no outlet to talk about it, especially in our Chapels and with our sisters in Christ. I am facilitating a class for military wives using Every Woman’s Battle, and I just want to thank you for showing us how God so faithfully provides the way out of every temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13).” – V.R.
Every Soldier’s Battle Kit
Every Soldier’s Battle is a campaign of New Life Ministries to provide military personnel, both home and abroad, with resources that will help those soldiers who choose to maintain sexual integrity. The goal is to reach 10,000 soldiers with an Every Soldier’s Battle kit, which will include:
For the Men:
Every Man’s Battle
Every Man’s Battle Workbook
Every Man’s Bible
Every Day for Every Man Devotional
Being God’s Man in Tough Times |
For the Women:
Every Woman’s Battle
Every Woman’s Battle Workbook
Life Recovery Bible
Every Woman, Every Day Devotional
Every Woman’s Battle Promise Book |
New Life Ministries is coordinating efforts with military chaplains to distribute the books. It is also seeking both private and corporate sponsors to cover New Life Ministries’ cost to obtain, package, and ship the books to the chaplains. If you are interested in partnering with us to get these kits into the hands of the brave men and women fighting for our freedom, please call 1-800-NEW-LIFE or go to www.newlife.com.
Coming Summer 2007:
The Loving Jesus Without Limits Series: Helping Women Embrace Their Role as the Bride of Christ!
Lead Book
Completely His: Loving Jesus Without Limits
4 Devotionals
Completely Loved: Recognizing God’s Passionate Pursuit of Us
Completely Forgiven: Responding to God’s Transforming Grace
Completely Blessed: Unwrapping God’s Extraordinary Gifts
Completely Irresistible: Drawing Others Toward God’s Extravagant Love
What's Shannon Working On Now?
A new writing project—one that I’d love your help on! This will be a self-help book published by Random House for the secular market called, The Sexually-Confident Wife: Overcoming the Hurdles that Hold Women Back.
We’re currently gathering testimonies and questions from both women and men regarding the issues that rob a wife of her sexual confidence, and how she can regain it to become the sexually-confident, sexually-satisfied woman she deserves to be. If you would like to submit a personal testimony or question you’d like to see addressed in this book, please email Shannon at sethridge@shannonethridge.com. By doing so, you’ll be entered into a drawing to receive one of the 25 free autographed copies we’ll be awarding upon its release in 2008!
"Books For Zimbabwe" Program Update
We continue to experience a tremendous burden for the youth of Zimbabwe after our two-week mission trip this past September. At the invitation of Youth for Christ, we traveled to 16 different high schools, churches, and orphanages and spoke to over 6,000 teen girls and boys. Many approached with tears in their eyes saying, “Both my parents have already died of AIDS, and I assumed my life would end the same way. But you gave me hope that I can choose not to get this disease by saving sex for marriage!” (for our complete update, click here).
Unfortunately, we were only able to get 120 books into the country, but we hope to send hundreds or even thousands more in the coming year. Thanks to the generosity of those who’ve responded to our “matching funds” offer, yet another small shipment of books is already on its way, but would you please pray about helping us send more soon? We will continue to match your donations dollar-for-dollar throughout 2007. Please click here to donate online.
Calendar Of Events
Arlington, Texas – March 29, 2007 – Shannon addresses young single adults with the “Every Single Person’s Battle” message at High Point Church, 2400 E. Arbrook Blvd., Arlington at 7:30 p.m. For more information, email Abel Pena at abel.pena@highpointchurch.com.
Dallas, Texas – April 20, 2007 – Shannon delivers the morning devotional at the
2007 Gathering of Church Bookstores held at Prestonwood Baptist Church. If you are a church bookstore manager, we hope to see you there!
Las Vegas, Nevada - May 26, 2007 – Shannon speaks to men, women, and
teens at Restoration Ministries starting at 7 p.m. For more information, contact Jennifer Thomas at jladyt63@aol.com.
Keller, Texas – September 16, 2007 – Mother/Daughter event at Hillside Community Church (9915 Ray White Road) focusing on sexual purity and forgiveness. 6 – 8 p.m. For more information, contact Jill Bream at jbream@hillsidecommunitychurch.org.
Tyler, TX – February 29 – March 2, 2008 – Mark your calendars now for a “Completely His” Women’s Weekend at Pine Cove Christian Camp, Tyler, TX. More information to come!
Prayer Update
Please pray that God would guide Shannon’s thoughts and words during the following upcoming media appearances & recording sessions and that listeners/watchers would be ministered to in a powerful way:
- April 3 – The Harvest Show on the LeSea Broadcast Network, South Bend, IN
- April 4-6 – Oasis Audio, Chicago, IL
- April 19 – The John Ankerburg Show, Chattanooga, TN
Also pray for her husband Greg, and children, Erin and Matthew, that God would continue to bind their hearts and spirits together as a family.
How Can We Pray for You?
We are so blessed to have a group of prayer warriors who read every request submitted and personally respond via email to those seeking the Lord’s guidance for their unique situations. If you have a prayer request we can lift to God on your behalf, please let us know by clicking here.
You can also click here to post prayer requests or connect with other readers on the Every Woman’s Battle Message Board.
We appreciate your prayers and encouraging support
for the staff and volunteers of Shannon Ethridge Ministries! |
