One of the people he interviewed said that his reason for volunteering was, “I wanted to go on a mission trip, but couldn’t afford it. I decided that volunteering locally could be a mission trip in itself. I can volunteer anytime and it’s just a drive across town.”

How can we convey to our neighbors that there is a rich and fertile mission field within driving distance of their homes? How can we convey to the mission-minded that Uganda and Puerto Rico and Mexico are honorable mission destinations but that the needs of people nearby are just as significant and just as rewarding to minister to?

There are many people in our churches and neighborhoods who would like to invest in the lives of others through mission work, yet they either don’t know the local opportunities or aren’t sure about how to get involved.

There are mission opportunities galore at SAFE Family Ministries and we would like to make those known. We also would like to help prepare visiting missionaries to work among our “indigenous people group” by providing them an orientation and training event.

On Saturday, October 29th, SAFE Family Ministries is again hosting a “Mentor and Volunteer Training” day at our location on Lewis Highway in Chehalis, Washington. The times are 8:30AM to 4:30PM, and our Residents provide a delightful array of food, refreshments, and snacks.

Perhaps you or someone you know has considered and talked about how nice it would be to have the chance to do even a little mission trip somewhere. Perhaps you or someone you know has a heart for missions but has no idea how to go about being involved.

Perhaps you or someone you know has been on mission trips in the past and can be part of encouraging and helping others discover the amazing blessings that flow from investing in the lives of others who either don’t know Jesus Christ or don’t know Him very well.

Get in touch with us; have a friend, neighbor, or fellow church member get in touch. Give us a call, drop us an email, come by the House. Fill out the online “Volunteer Survey” form and send it to us or drop it by. The message of Christ’s love and mercy are needed right down the road and there are ears ready to hear.

Yours in the Master’s Service,
Warren

We do not ascribe to the medical model of drug and alcohol addiction. God’s Word is not a medical cure. We ascribe to a fallen humanity model of drug and alcohol addiction. God’s Word is the sufficient and fruitful answer to human falleness and sinfulness.

In God’s Word, He does not identify us by our sin behaviors. As an example, examine Ephesians 4:28: “He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need.”

Notice that this admonition is not to a “thief”, but to one “who steals”. This is also an admonition to not just stop unrighteous behavior, but to also replace it with the opposite righteous behavior. This is the principle of “put off/put on” that we will discuss in future lessons.

If we cannot be separated from our sin, then forgiveness is unattainable and freedom is impossible. However, if Jesus Christ can truly set us free from our sin choices and our sinful behaviors, then forgiveness is full and rich, and freedom is ours indeed.

In Week 1 we learn about how God has hard-wired our mind. We learn how it functions—especially as it applies to memory and forming habits—and we learn how to use that knowledge to cooperate with God’s plan for us to be “transformed by the renewing of your mind.” (See Romans 12:2)

In Week 1 we also learn to establish the pattern of Scripture saturation for that “renewed mind” we speak so often about. We will discuss this practice in future posts.

For now our prayer is that everyone who is interested in being part of this journey to freedom will join us in person or via the internet. If you are in the area and would like to attend, or if you are interested in listening to the weekly lesson, send an email to us through our contact page. We will contact you to make arrangements for you to attend a session or we will send you the link to find the audio on line.

We pray that God will richly bless our endeavor to discover His nature and character more fully and more richly so we may learn to love Him and serve Him well.

Always Yours in the Master’s Service,
Warren

Their backgrounds are diverse yet similar, broad yet narrow, divergent yet parallel: all come from different backgrounds and families of origin, yet all have traveled a path of emotional, spiritual, familial, and physical brokenness. All have left a great deal of wreckage in their wake. All have wept the hot tears of regret and the cleansing tears of forgiveness.

But the good news is: Jesus Christ has set them free! Listen to their stories; look into their eyes; watch how they carry themselves as they pass through life today. They are noble – noble women of God. They have compassion and understanding, dignity and grace, poise and humor. They are brands that have been snatched from the fire and made radiant by the healing power of Jesus Christ.

They have the confidence that comes from knowing that their history does not determine their destiny, and that their new identity in Christ has set them on a path none could have dreamed of twelve short months ago.

Praise God along with us as we celebrate His victory in these young lives. Keep them and us lifted up in prayer. Listen to God’s voice as He prompts you to support the ones these are leaving behind as they take the next step on this bright and amazing journey of freedom.

We hope to see you Saturday at 1:00PM at our facility for the festivities. If you are unable to attend, come by at another time and visit. We would love to share with you the blessings of discipling these young women.

Always Yours in the Master’s Service,
Warren