Issue 23 - August 2007
Greetings From
Shannon Ethridge Ministries!
Calling All Teens In The East Texas/Dallas/Shreveport Area!
You’re invited to join us for the BEST SEX Youth Conference – where you’ll learn how to have the BEST sex… by waiting until marriage! Hosted by local area churches and organizations, the event will be held at Van Jr. High School, 630 S. Oaks, Van, Texas on September 15th from 9AM-9PM. For more information, contact Becky DeGroat at bdegroat@gardenvalleybible.org, or go online to register at www.shannonethridge.com. Registration fee is $25 per participant, which includes lunch, dinner, and conference materials Hurry – space is limited!
You're Invited To Attend Our Completely His Women's Event!
Dallas, TX – October 12-13, 2007
Crowne Plaza Hotel, Galleria |
Atlanta, GA – March 28-29, 2008
Hyatt Regency Suites |
Are you looking for a unique women’s retreat? One that will provide an extraordinary experience for women of all ages? One that will drive home the encouraging principles presented in the Loving Jesus Without Limits series about how we can fully embrace our role as the beloved bride of Christ?
Consider attending a Completely His Women’s Event so that you can experience the joy of committing your “bridal love” to Jesus Christ, your heavenly Bridegroom. Because a bride doesn’t feel like a bride until she walks down the aisle wearing white, this event resembles a wedding ceremony in many ways… a wedding unlike any other you’ve ever attended… a wedding that will provide a sweet foretaste of the great wedding supper of the Lamb that is yet to come someday!
Click here to see an overview of the event schedule and to access registration forms for our Dallas or Atlanta events.
Other Completely His Women’s Event Host Churches
Using our newly released Completely His DVDs and ancillary products, churches everywhere can host their own Completely His Women’s Event! And YOU might be able to attend one in your own back yard, such as this one…
Grove City , Ohio – October 14, 2007 - Grove City First Church of the Nazarene, 4770 Hoover Road. Contact Carrie Wisehart at carrielane@yahoo.com for more information about how you can attend this event as well!
Or, if you’d like to consider hosting an event at your own church, go to www.shannonethridge.com to download more information on how you can do just that!
Now Available - The Loving Jesus Without Limits Series
The Loving Jesus Without Limits Series: Helping Women Embrace Their Role as the Bride of Christ! Click here to watch an 8-minute video message from Shannon explaining how and why this series was created and what it can do for you!
Lead Book
Completely His: Loving Jesus Without Limits
Shannon reveals for the first time in print the details of her dramatic, face-to-face encounter with the Lover of her soul, inspiring you to embrace your role as the beloved bride of Christ. Completely His combines Biblical insights and powerful personal stories showing how you can nurture a satisfying, vibrant relationship with the God who loves you lavishly, passionately, and irrevocably.
[Click here to order your autographed copy]
4 Devotionals
Completely Loved: Recognizing God’s Passionate Pursuit of Us
This 30-day devotional examines God’s relationships with Old Testament characters to help you hear the Creator calling you to a deeper level of intimacy with Him.
[Click here to order your autographed copy]
Completely Forgiven: Responding to God’s Transforming Grace
You’ll gain a deeper understanding of God’s goodness through the biblical insights in this 30-day devotional, which reveals His eagerness to create beauty out of ashes.
[Click here to order your autographed copy]
Completely Blessed: Discovering God’s Extraordinary Gifts
Discover the amazing gifts Jesus has prepared just for you! This uplifting 30-day devotional for women reveals how the love of Christ meets your every need.
[Click here to Pre-order your autographed copy – ships October 16th]
Completely Irresistible: Drawing Others Toward God’s Extravagant Love
This 30-day devotional encourages and equips you to live a life of irresistible attraction, inspiring others to experience God’s love for themselves.
[Click here to Pre-order your autographed copy – ships October 16th]
Encouragement Corner - When You Least Expect It...
Matthew (my 12 year-old son) and I were visiting my elderly grandmother in an Alabama nursing home a few weeks ago. I was surprised to meet Granny’s new roommate, Sheila. Sheila is only 39 years old (we were born only a few days apart), is somewhat mentally challenged, and is mending in the nursing home after a bad car accident earlier this year. Sheila’s sweet smile and sparkling eyes captured my attention, and I felt supernaturally drawn in her direction.
After we’d rubbed lotion on my grandmother’s hands and feet, I asked Sheila if she’d like some lotion too. She sweetly said, “No, thank you.”
“Is there anything we can do for you before we leave?” I inquired.
Her eyes lit up and she replied, “You can sing me a song!”
I looked at Matthew and asked what he’d like to sing. We decided to give “Blessed be the Name of the Lord” (by Tree 63) a try. After a few verses and choruses, we ended our serenade. For some reason, however, I sensed that our business wasn’t finished. I felt prompted to ask, “Sheila, do you know the Lord? Do you know Jesus Christ?”
“No,” she responded matter-of-factly. Surprised, Matthew and I proceeded to tell her about Jesus, how He’s the Son of God, and how He loves us so much that he chose to die for our sins so that we could spend eternity in Heaven with Him. After our brief explanation, I asked, “Would you like to know Jesus as your personal Savior, Sheila?”
“Yes!” she responded enthusiastically, reaching for my hand as if she instinctively knew the next step. Together, we prayed the prayer of salvation, then I asked if she owned a Bible so she could learn more about Jesus. She replied negatively and explained that she didn’t read.
The next day, Matthew and I drove to Wal-Mart to purchase a personal CD player, an audio Bible, and the WOW! CD that has “Blessed be the Name of the Lord” on it. Sheila was delighted to receive it, but not nearly as delighted as we were to give it to her.
When we made the stop in Alabama, I didn’t have “evangelism” on my mind. We were on vacation, and I was simply visiting my grandmother that afternoon. But God reminded me that He doesn’t necessarily need me to be writing or speaking or counseling to be “on duty” for Him. We’re on duty for God every moment of our existence when we are Completely His! We simply never know when the Holy Spirit is going to move in someone’s heart, but we must be forever ready to seize that moment and “seal the deal” if you’ll pardon the expression. That’s what the bride of Christ does – serves as a holy Helpmate to our Heavenly Bridegroom, who longs to experience a love relationship with each one of us!
If someone expresses interest in knowing the Lord when YOU least expect it, are you prepared to tell them about Jesus Christ, lead them in the prayer of salvation, and usher them into the gates of Heaven? If not, get ready, girlfriend! The fields are RIPE for harvest (John 4:35), so embrace your role as the beloved bride of Christ, and encourage others to do the same!
Dearest Lord Jesus,
Thank You for unexpected opportunities to share
your lavish love with others. Draw people into our paths
who are ripe to hear the gospel message, and give us
the words to represent You well. Amen.
Special Thanks
- James & Betty Robison & the LIFE Today show staff for the two television interviews aired August 14 & 16th (go to www.lifetoday.org and click on television/archives/August 14 & 16 to watch online).
- Anita Lustrea and the Moody Broadcast Network staff for the Midday Connection Interview on August 16th.
- Oasis Audio outside of Chicago, IL for producing all of the Loving Jesus Without Limits series onto Audio Books! (available now in local Christian bookstores).
- B&B Media Group for arranging the plethora of other interviews conducted over the past several weeks.
We so appreciate everyone’s partnership in ministry!
Shannon Is Coming To...
Van, TX – September 15, 2007 – BEST SEX Youth Conference for East Texas Jr. High & High School Students - 9AM-9PM, Van Jr. High School Cafetorium, 630 S. Oaks, Van, TX. For more information, contact Becky DeGroat at bdegroat@gardenvalleybible.org.
REGISTER ONLINE FOR THIS EVENT NOW
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.
Garden Valley, TX – October 5, 2007 – Shannon speaks to youth pastors and volunteer youth leaders at Teen Mania’s 2007 Emerging Leaders’ Summit. For more information, contact Jodi Dickens at jodi.dickens@teenmania.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. For registration information, go to www.shannonethridge.com/completelyhis.shtml.
John Maxwell / INJOY’s THRiVE! Women’s Conference – November 3, 2007 – offered via satellite at churches across the nation! Host city & church to be announced soon.
Atlanta, GA – January 3-5, 2008 – Shannon speaks multiple times at the Church of Christ’s National Conference for Youth Ministries. For more information, contact Melissa Kitchens at mkitchens@cablelynx.com.
Collierville, TN – February 1-2, 2008 – Women’s Retreat for Central Church of Collierville. Contact Carol Anderson for more information at carolanderson@centralchurch.com.
Tyler, TX – February 29 – March 2, 2008 – Completely His Women’s Event at Pine Cove Christian Camp, Tyler, TX. More information to come soon!
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada – March 7-8, 2008 – Join us for the second annual “Harness the River” Conference – an intergenerational purity conference for men, women, and teens. For more information, contact Wayne Wald at wwald@shaw.ca.
Langley, British Columbia – March 10-11, 2008 – Shannon addresses the student body of Trinity Western University at their chapel services.
Atlanta, GA – March 28-29, 2008 - Completely His Women’s Event at Hyatt Regency Suites in Atlanta. For registration information, go to www.shannonethridge.com/completelyhis.shtml.
London, Ontario, Canada – May 3, 2008 – Girls’ Heart Point Ministry Conference at the University of Waterloo, 9 am – 4 pm. For more information, contact Mike Mitchell at ghp@girlsheartpoint.ca.
Colorado Springs, CO – May 16-18, 2008 - Join Shannon and husband, Greg, for their “Taking Your Marriage Over the Top” conference at the magnificent Gleneyrie Conference Center. For more information, contact Hannah Larson at hannah.larson@navigators.com.
Big Bear, CA – May 30 – June 1, 2008 - Shannon will be speaking at a Ladies’ Retreat at Pine Summit Christian Conference Center for the Church at Rocky Peak Women’s Group. For more information visit www.rockypeak.org.
Testimonies Of Praise
“I am in the process of reading Completely His and I love it. I have just finished reading the letter you wrote to yourself from Jesus. It was as if Jesus was speaking to me Himself, because I have done some pretty bad stuff in my life that I am very ashamed of, but that particular letter allowed me to know that God loves me in spite of me. The lavish love of Jesus is now creating an all new way of living for me. If I am the bride of Christ then I should act like the bride of Christ and quit feeling guilty and ashamed all the time and start accepting His great love and forgiveness. So, I just wanted to say thank you for opening my eyes to how much my Lord and Savior really does love me and really does want only the best for His beloved bride.” - B.M.
“I just finished reading Every Woman’s Marriage and I just want to say THANK YOU! I was so amazed that there was another woman on this planet who felt and acted as I did but was able to find a way out! As I read the book my own actual words would sometimes jump right out at me. It was such a blessing to my marriage to know that YES, other women do feel and react this way, and NO, it’s not the right way. Your book was filled with all the tools I needed to effectively show love and respect to my husband. I am looking forward to your next book, The Sexually Confident Wife. Thank you for allowing God to use you in the lives and marriages of millions of women. I am blessed to be one of them.” - C.O.
“Thank you for the godly wisdom and counsel offered in Every Woman’s Battle. I have been married for 16 years and I guess I have been living under a rock or something. Not until very recently could I really relate to the issues you dealt with regarding emotional affairs and the danger of not guarding my heart and mind concerning other men I may be drawn to. I know the Lord wanted me to read this book and the timing could not have been better. It is so helpful to know that what I think and feel is so normal. It helps me to get over my guilt and get busy (with God’s help) dealing with solutions that will strengthen my life and marriage.” - B.C.
"Books For Zimbabwe" Program Update - Only 4 Months Left!
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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.
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! |
