Amanda testifies at Florida Conference
Amanda attended the GFI Conference, Workshop and Solomon Lecture Series as the practicum requirement for her Luther Rice University degree in Biblical Counseling. She attended this conference as a refresher. Amanda will be going as a short term missionary to Bolivia where she will offer Christian counseling to university students with El Alfarero (“The Potter”).
Bob and Joan Galasso attended the GFI training week in Tennessee a number of years ago.
They have found that their most important relationship is a living and growing relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. Bob and Joan spent their first four years of ministry in Youth For Christ followed by twenty-four years in pastoral ministry with The Christian and Missionary Alliance before starting Alive In Christ Ministries, Inc. in 2002. They desire to share God’s love through evangelism, leadership development, and coming alongside Christian workers providing a safe place for God to heal, equip and restore His servants.
One of their popular presentations is titled, “Have You Died Lately?” (based on Luke 9:23 and Galatians 2:20).
This month they write:
We rejoice in the Lord and we share with you our praises: God has brought healing to hearts and souls with His hope and love! He continues to shine Light into people’s lives, revealing Truth and dispelling lies! He is the Way, the Truth and the Light! We ask that you cover us in prayer for our Pastoral Care Ministry in Spain during September 24 – October 13.Our theme for the retreat (Oct. 2-4) is “Come To The Waters.” Pray for hearts to be refreshed and God will bless each one with His Presence!
A GFI trainee just shared this news of God’s blessing on the new biblical counseling ministry at the local church. [Identifying information deleted for anonymity]
Thank you so much for responding so quickly when I reached out to you [for mentoring]… I appreciate your sending such a comprehensive list of follow-up materials – just what I was looking for, and a good reminder of where to find what I should have realized I already had!
My first counselees at _____ Church: a couple in their ___’s considering marriage – she, a long-time Christian, but held down by past trauma, memories, regrets, doubts; he, a product of a strong [nominal religious] family, thinking he had a relationship with God, but not knowing the only way to truly have that relationship was through the work of Jesus Christ. Long story short…beginning with the Wheel and Line, and eventually taking her through Neil Anderson’s Steps to Freedom…she wanted to be baptized again to celebrate her new-found freedom, and he made the decision to follow Christ. Both were baptized recently and are moving forward with wedding plans – now equally yoked!
What an awesome experience, and what a blessing God allowed me to have, witnessing the work of the Holy Spirit in each of their lives in such individual ways. Truly an encouraging, exhilarating experience!
Back in the year 2000 R.N., Gina, sensed God calling her to care not only for her patients’ physical needs, but also their emotional and spiritual needs as well. On her new web site she recalls,
“Over the next decade, I struggled trying to determine what it was I was to do with this call. Often times asking Him to take it back as it had become such a burden. Feeling so ill-equipped, desperate to know His will, yet too stubborn to surrender to it. Sometimes the truth is difficult to accept, but I knew that though as a child I had accepted Christ as my Savior , I still had not allowed Him to become my Lord… I began to diligently pray and ask God how was I to do that which He had called me to do, “for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find” (Romans 8:18).
“During this time of searching, a friend who is a retired nurse and a missionary, suggested I contact Grace Fellowship International in Pigeon Forge where they teach the Exchanged Life model (Gal. 2:20). I attended a conference and the teachings I received there confirmed the insights God had given me through the reading of His Word. I continued to study and completed the required classes to become certified and enrolled in the diploma program in Biblical Counseling. From this journey of trials and triumphs, Eternal Life Support Group came to be. ELSG was registered as a non profit in Tennessee in January of 2014 and has applied for 501c3 status. The Eternal Life Support Group is not about ‘religion’, it is about relationships and allowing the presence of God in me and others associated with ELSG to minister to the holistic needs of people; for we are admonished to neither judge nor condemn but we have been commanded to love…”
Let’s pray for God’s blessing on this new venture. Read more about Gina’s testimony and ministry at http://www.eternallifesupportgroup.org
Exchanged Life Counseling Matters 