2012.10 Middle East Training - Session 2

2012.10 Middle East Training - Session 2, photos on Facebook

Here's a link to photos from our training session that has just been completed in Turkey! Please keep these ladies in your prayers.

My Interview with Laurie Wallin

Hello friends!

Thought I'd give you a heads up that Laurie Wallin (pictured below) from the blog "Living Power - Life Coaching" interviewed me and has posted it on her blog yesterday here.

If you have a few minutes, please check it out.

Thank you for your prayers as we continue to raise funds for our upcoming training session for women in the Middle East.  We're just a few short weeks away from leaving.  Your prayers, encouragement and financial support are priceless!

Have a great week!

New Class taught by Lyn Fish!

Our very own Lyn Fish started teaching a 10-week identity class based on Kristin's book "Who Do You Think You Are?" at Scottsdale Bible Church on Tuesday and we're up in the clouds with excitement!

Women are already sharing their “aha” moments as they begin to discover how their self-view is different from God’s loving view of them. Hope is already rising! 

Please keep us and them in prayer as we help these women discover their purpose so they can impact their world for Christ by living out their unique design for His kingdom purpose. 

We realize the enemy is prowling around and would like to thwart God’s plan. We’ve been sensitive to his evil schemes and rejoice that our God is on the throne—He who is in us is far greater than he who is in the world!

May our Lord do a great work in each of them as they ponder His truths… may they embrace His truths… may the shackles that have bound in lies about their identity fall off!

Have you attended one of these classes or read Kristin's book?  We'd love to see your comments about what you learned in the process.

Or if you would be interested in attending a class like this so you can discover your purpose and impact your world, please send us an email at info@gtiw.org or sign up for our newsletter (in the right column) where we announce upcoming events.  You can also find us on Facebook!  We hope to hear from you soon.

Help Us Help Prisoners and Ex-Offenders Change Their Worldview with the Truth About Who They Are

Our mission is to bring a message of hope to women that inspires and equips them to be all God made them to be. We have a wonderful opportunity to assist women leaders at Along Side Ministries in the discovery of their unique identity in Christ, so they can be even more effective in their ministry to women in prison and ex-offenders. Imagine the powerful testimony of hope these leaders could have by living out their unique calling and embracing the rich truths about their freedom in Christ and value to God as they mentor women in prison and ex-offenders.
Will you help us bring the message of hope that will make a difference for them, the prisoners and ex-offenders? Training and equipping begins January 6, 2012. We have received $100 toward our goal of $500 to cover the cost for materials.
If you want to help us unleash these women to live their potential for Christ, please send a check to Greater Reach Ministries, 8283 N. Hayden Rd. #258, Scottsdale, AZ 85258. Or donate on-line and write “prison ministry training.” Funds exceeding our budget will be re-directed to the general fund for Greater Reach Ministries.

Jesus Defies Culture: The Woman at the Well (excerpt 4 of 5)

You are joining in the middle of a series of posts with excerpts from my book, “Who Do You Think You Are?” focusing on Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman at the water well (John 4:1-30).

Post #1

Post#2

Post#3

Buy the book

We also know that Jewish leaders of the day considered a woman incapable of a religious education. Jesus engaged her on a deep spiritual level of conversation almost immediately, challenging her understanding of religious teachings. She tried to keep the conversation at the surface, asking about the proper place for worship. Jesus let her ask, then gently guided her back to a level where He could engage her heart. He taught her that what was really important was not where you worship, but whether you worship in spirit and in truth. That was pretty deep for a conversation at a well.

Not only did Jewish leaders consider a woman incapable of a religious education, they saw her as UNWORTHY. Jesus deemed her capable AND worthy of learning … worthy enough to offer her salvation. He tells her that if she knew the gift of God and who it was asking her for a drink, she would have asked Him and He would have given her living water. Jesus invited her into God’s eternal plan.

Finally, women were not considered reliable witnesses in Israel. If Jesus had wanted to spread His Good News through a “respectable” method, He would have had such an encounter with a man. Instead, He chose a Samaritan woman who so changed by their interaction that the first thing she does is witness to her community. She runs and shouts throughout the village, “Come, and see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?” (verse 29). The Samaritan woman goes from avoiding people in the morning to seeking them out in the afternoon! What happened to her? Do you think her view of herself was changed? What happened to the shame she surely must have felt earlier that same day?

On so many levels Jesus defied tradition and culture in this encounter. Before they met this woman felt alienated, used, and abused. But in this one brief conversation she is given a profound message about her true value—one she had likely never heard in all her years. Through their encounter she became both a member and a messenger of God’s Kingdom. Jesus changed her life! She was liberated, His redeemed image-bearer. She received and responded to His unconditional acceptance of her. This is how Jesus Christ wants to change you today.Stay tuned for the next post with more from "Who Do You Think You Are?"