Issue 25 - November 2007
Fall Greetings From
Shannon Ethridge Ministries!
Encouragement Corner - “Sowing Seeds & Reaping a Harvest”
With the beautiful fall colors catching my eye at every turn these days, I’m reminded of how much I love harvest time. But there’s another kind of harvest taking place on the other side of the world right now – one I’d like to tell you more about with hopes that you’ll be as encouraged by it as we are.
It’s been fourteen months since our family made the 28-hour trek to Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, hoping to sow spiritual seeds into the lives of teenagers in local schools, churches, and the Youth for Christ orphanage called Samkele (an African word meaning “welcome”). Thabbeth Cotton, the orphanage’s director, is the incredible woman who invited us into her home and community, opening the door for us to minister to over 6,200 teenagers in 16 different schools and churches. Many of these children approached us afterward with tears in their eyes saying, “Both my parents have already died of AIDS, and I assumed I would die the same way someday. No one ever told me that if I just save sex until marriage, I don’t have to worry about AIDS. Your talk gave me hope.”
A year later, those spiritual seeds God allowed us to sow are flourishing! The following report is excerpted from Thabbeth’s most recent email. We want to share it with you since many of you have financially supported this missions effort by donating toward our “Books for Bulawayo” matching funds program.
Your family has indeed made an impact in our lives and I find that whenever I teach young people, I quote you or your books. I praise the Lord for putting you in our path and I pray for you often. Thank you very much for the books you have kindly donated to us over the past year. I’ve sold a lot of them in the city for whatever price the young people can afford. The money was then used to run a camp for 80 teenagers plus twelve leaders (92 people). We’ve also been able to buy food, stationery, fuel, and many other useful items for the orphanage. We all ate better at camp than we’re able to at home, thanks to your ministry.
Some of the boys and girls at the August camp came all the way from Matopo, some from the city of Bulawayo and some from the Samkele orphanage. August was a very difficult time in Zimbabwe. The shortage of fuel, bread, meat and many basic things was very acute. We had only one car to ferry people to the camp. At one stage I was discouraged and thought that we had to cancel. God however had better plans and with the help of volunteers, the camp was a great success. We had enough food and fuel to last us until the end. We based most of our talks on your books. We divided the young people into groups according to ages, and we used your books as rewards for exemplary behavior.
We found that three days of teaching was not enough for the young people. There was so much they were hungry to know, and frustrated that we could not give more time to the purity subject. At the end it was agreed that in December, we will do a follow up camp and try to go even deeper into this subject. This means that for a full year our camps will be based on your books, for which we are so grateful.
I therefore write to thank you and your donors for all of these books, as well as for the DVDs you kindly sent which are being circulated in local churches. They give leaders a teaching direction and give the young people many answers to their questions. I also want to ask you to pray for our camp in December. Do please ask your friends to pray for us. Pray that the leaders will be anointed and teach what would be pleasing to the Lord and that the young people will not only enjoy the camp but find wisdom from our teaching. Please pray that those who receive your books will use them not only for themselves but to teach their peers as well.
 |
What a euphoric feeling to hear that God continues to multiply our ministry efforts exponentially in this part of the world! And we want to encourage you to experience this euphoric feeling as well. How? By sowing even more seeds into this fruitful harvest field. Our 2007 “Books for Bulawayo” matching funds program has only two months remaining. If you haven’t already, would you please consider making a donation of any amount this month so that we can make Samkele’s upcoming December camp a life-transforming experience for all of the youth in attendance? We’d love to see every camper be able to receive an Every Young Man’s Battle or Every Young Woman’s Battle book to take home with them, plus perhaps make a monetary donation to the Youth for Christ orphanage as well. However, to make that possible, we need your help. Please click here to read our full report from our mission trip to Zimbabwe, or click here to donate online toward the “Books for Bulaway” program. “I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.
Even now the reaper draws his wages, even now he harvests the crop for eternal life,
so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together.”
—John 4:35-36 (NIV)
Special Thanks To...
- All of the youth pastors that attended Teen Mania’s SOAR Conference last month—what a pleasure to meet you and minister to those who are on the front lines of battle doing ministry themselves!
- The Crowne Plaza Hotel, Global Event Services, and all of those who attended the Completely His Women’s Event! What an extraordinarily unforgettable experience!
- Ted Griffin at KGFT Radio in Colorado Springs – you do a dynamic show, my friend, and I’m honored by your enthusiasm for this new series!
- The 700 Club production staff for the incredible job they did bringing the “story behind the story” of Completely His to life. Click here to watch the 5-minute interview segment with Shannon & Gary Jarstfer.
All 5 Books In Stores Now - 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 order your autographed copy]
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 order your autographed copy]
NEW For Group Leaders!
Are you interested in leading a group of women through Shannon’s newest book, Completely His? Click here for our free gift to you – a list of Group Discussion Questions for each of the twelve chapters in the book! Enjoy! And let us know how your groups are enjoying the experience!
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 one of this one...
Blue Springs, Mississippi – November 10, 2007 – Blue Springs Baptist Church, 1053 CR 198. Contact Melinda Hill at hilldouglas4@aol.com for more information.
If you’d like to consider hosting an event at your own church using our new Completely His DVD, go to www.shannonethridge.com to download more information on how you can do just that. And let us know if you’d like some help advertising your event through our monthly e-newsletter! Or, if you’re interested in having Shannon speak live at your Completely His Women’s Event, click here to request more information.
Mark Your Calendars - Shannon Is Coming To...
John Maxwell / INJOY’s THRiVE! Women’s Conference – November 3, 2007 – offered via satellite at churches across the nation! Hosted by Gary Smalley’s Church in Branson, Missouri. For more information, go to www.ccn.tv.
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.
Sulphur Springs, TX – January 12, 2008 – Join us for a Mother/Daughter event from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. at Dixon Road Baptist Church. More info. to come!
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!
Langley, British Columbia – March 10-11, 2008 – Shannon addresses the student body of Trinity Western University at their chapel services.
Red Deer, Alberta, Canada – March 14-16, 2008 – Sunnyside Christian Retreat Center, Shannon speaks at a women’s retreat Friday evening – Sunday morning. For more information, contact Kendra LaPorte at kendralaporte@shaw.ca.
Wichita Falls, TX – April 11-12, 2008 - Shannon address military wives Friday evening – Saturday afternoon at Camp Chaparral Baptist Center. For more info. contact Mimi Barr at gal4god@aol.com.
Tyler, TX – Green Acres Baptist Church – April 14, 2008 – Shannon speaks at the Celebrate Recovery Support Group. Contact Marty at martyK64@aol.com for more information.
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada – May 2-3, 2008 – Girls’ Heart Point Ministry Conference at the University of Waterloo, 7-10 p.m. Friday, 9 am – 4 pm Saturday. 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.
“Land Down Under” Speaking Tour – August 1 – 15, 2008 - Shannon and family will be touring the Sydney, Melbourne, Gold Coast area on a mission to impact Australian teens and adults! If you are interested in having her speak at your church or school, please contact John & Judy Bradford at jjbradford@westnet.com.au.
Testimonies Of Praise
“I just wanted to thank you & bless you for allowing the Lord to use your life & experiences to bring insight & the love that JESUS has for me into my life in a greater way. I've read Completely His and I have to tell you how anointed that book is. From the moment I opened it I knew it was a ‘God moment.’ Before I read a word I could feel His presence. The book was incredibly impacting to me. I've ordered & received all the follow up 30-day devotionals. I am half way through the first one. His love for me through your insights is helping me see His & my relationship in a new light. For my birthday I plan to invite 7 of my friends over & have a Completely His event at my home using your DVD. Instead of birthday cake we'll share a small wedding cake to celebrate our “bridal love” for our Heavenly Bridegroom. Please join me in praying that my friends will be as impacted through your teachings as I have been. Thank you again for showing this new glimpse into God’s lavish love for me.” – T.P.
“I just finished Every Young Woman’s Battle and wanted to write and thank you personally for the immense help it has given me. My friends and I are studying it in a Bible study, but I wanted to finish it as fast as possible because of the wealth of information I found there. It was so moving and life changing I cannot even describe how I feel. The one line in particular has stuck in my heart, “a boyfriend may say you are pretty, but God says He is enthralled by your beauty.” You have been used by God to bring one more of His daughters closer to Him, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.” - S.H.
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! |
