Issue 20 - April 2007
Greetings From
Shannon Ethridge Ministries!
Join Us in Dallas on May 8th!
 You're invited to be in the studio audience when Shannon makes a guest appearance on the LIFE Today show with James Robison Tuesday, May 8th at 7 pm in Euless, Texas. Tickets are free, but you must reserve your seat. To do that, call 817-354-3655 or e-mail audience@loi.org. The studios are just minutes from DFW International Airport at 1801 West Euless Boulevard, Euless, Texas 76040.
Encouragement Corner
Recently a woman approached me just before an interview saying, “Our church is about to study your book, and I’m so excited!” Feeling quite honored, I expressed my sincere thanks. If the conversation had stopped there, maybe my ego would have remained in tact. But she continued, “I’ve read all of your husband’s books, and they are fantastic!”
Since my husband has only co-written one book with me, I knew it was yet another case of mistaken identity. It seems like everywhere I go, people assume that I’m the wife of John Eldredge (author of Wild at Heart) rather than the wife of Greg Ethridge. I’ve learned to take it in stride and giggle at the sheepish looks on people’s faces when I explain that I’m Shannon Ethridge, not Staci Eldredge.
I wonder if Jesus ever felt the same way. Seems like everywhere He went, He was having to explain to people who He really was, and even then they called His identity into question. Over and over, people would ask, “How can Mary and Joseph’s kid claim to be the Son of God? King of kings? Lord of lords? No way!” Yet, people’s misconceptions about Jesus’ identity didn’t change who He really was.
Sometimes we also mistake Jesus’ true identity. We tend to look at God as some distant disciplinarian who gets really impatient with how spiritually immature we are, and turns His back toward us in disgust every time we blow it. Bzzzzt. Incorrect answer. You’ve got the wrong god. We assume that Jesus is a tireless task master who’s always expecting more out of us than we could possibly deliver. Another case of mistaken identity. And when we view our Creator and Redeemer through these tainted lenses, no wonder we often feel the overwhelming temptation to run into the arms of some inappropriate man for solace. But that’s where the real identity mistake takes place. No man, not even a good husband, can love and comfort us like Jesus Christ can. His true identity is that of our heavenly Bridegroom, and our true identity is that of His beloved bride.
So don’t look to a pre-marital or extra-marital relationship to medicate your emotional pain or make you feel better about yourself. Instead, recognize Christ’s identity as the true source of satisfaction. Then recognize your own identity as the recipient of His wonderfully lavish love.
Coming June 19, 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
Dear Shannon...
“I had a job three years ago which brought great financial gain for my family. I left because I began sneaking around and sleeping with another man that I worked with. My husband has asked me to go back to that job on several occasions due to the financial strain we are currently under. What should I do?” - R.W.
Dear R.W. –
If you have any doubt whatsoever about your emotional sobriety and ability to act with the utmost of sexual integrity, I recommend you not even consider going back to that job under any circumstances. Your marriage is worth far more than any paycheck, and your family must remain the most important priority in your life. Even if you think you are standing firm, I encourage you to look for a new job to avoid any potential of this affair resurfacing. However, just because you won’t run into this particular man at your new job doesn’t exempt you from falling into the same pit with someone else. Seek counseling to help you understand WHY you engaged in that affair in the first place, and seek an accountability partner who will help you avoid repeating the same mistake.
Testimonies Of Praise
“THANK YOU for your message and your ministry! I heard you speak in Edmonton in March and I shed tears when I logged onto your website. To a divorced father of a ten year-old daughter, this is the best, most valuable ministry I’ve ever encountered. I am planning to use your books and DVDs to help guide her into womanhood. I’m also going to share them with my girlfriend who has been raped and abused, as I sense these materials could be the answer to years of prayer for her. Thank you, thank you, thank you!” - Al
“I'm sixteen and although I'm committed to purity, it's been a tough struggle for me. I found your book Every Young Woman's Battle this morning and immediately read it from start to finish, and I cannot get over how well it addresses so many of the temptations and confusions I've had in my life. You really confirmed a lot of things I've always thought and gave me insights into things I didn't even think about. Thank you so much for being so honest and frank about everything. I've never had anyone I could ask all the questions I've had about sex and purity and relationships over the last few years. Everyone always talks vaguely about ‘saving yourself’ and being pure, but what I needed were the facts, the specifics, the reasons, and the Scripture references. You gave me the whole package, and you nailed so many shady areas of my life on the head. It was awesome. It had never even occurred to me to pursue a love relationship with Jesus to find fulfillment and healing, rather than with guys. I'm a Christian and I have a living relationship with Jesus, but I've been compartmentalizing my life. I think this could be a turning point for me, and I'm excited. Thank you so much for giving me the truth straight and clear, like I needed to hear it. You've truly been an instrument of God in my life.” - Rachel
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.
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
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.
Dallas, Texas – October 12-13, 2007 – You, your friends, and your ladies’ church group are invited to attend our first Completely His Women’s Event, held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, near the Galleria Mall. Watch for more registration information to come soon!
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!
Atlanta, GA – March 28-29, 2008 - Completely His Women’s Event at Crowne Plaza Hotel in Atlanta. More information to come soon!
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:
- May 8 – The Life Today Show with James & Betty Robison, Dallas, TX
- July 8 – 13th – The International Christian Retailer’s in Atlanta, GA, where WaterBrook Press will kick off the new Loving Jesus Without Limits series with several media interviews.
Also please pray for her family as they’ll soon be embarking on a 3-week camping excursion from east Texas through the Southwest states California coastline! Pray for travel safety and quality family time together.
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! |
