Monday, August 03, 2015

AUGUST 2015 Letter LIVING WELL

Several years ago, a local news station was interviewing me about marriage while I (Donna) was at the courthouse delivering gift baskets to couples getting married on Valentine’s Day. The reporter called me a “marriage activist.”

That was an interesting nomenclature, not one that I would use. When I think of an activist, I think of someone who is engaged in protesting something that they see wrong in our culture. We consider ourselves “advocates” more than “activists.”

In our culture, support is more easily acquired by being against something than by being for something. We could dedicate our ministry to being against divorce, cohabitation, or same-sex marriage. We could raise more money and gain more attention by picking one of those causes. We choose to be FOR strong marriages, FOR the well-being of children, and FOR healthy families that honor God and demonstrate His love.

YOU are part of the advocacy team. With YOUR support, we can continue to strengthen marriages, prepare couples for marriage, protect children against the dissolution of their families, and work with churches to build marriage/family ministries. (Donate Now)

Many Christians are disheartened by the role of our government and leaders in marriage issues. We want to encourage YOU to use this time as an opportunity to let the light of Christ shine. God admonishes us NOT to trust in our government but to trust in Him. Do not trust in princes, in mortal man, in whom there is no salvation…. How blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God. (Psalm 146:3,5)

As part of our ministry to YOU, we include a marriage/family strengthening teaching with most of our monthly letters. We are doing a series that focuses on a particular problem and its solution. Most topics apply to any kind of relationship.

This month’s topic is about apologizing. On the national scene, we see politicians insulting each other and being unwilling to apologize for their attacks. In our homes, we see parents screaming at their children and being unwilling to apologize for their outbursts. We see husbands and wives saying hurtful words and not apologizing for the hurt they caused. Pride stands between apologies and healing. [link to blog "Apologize or not?", link to blog Defiance, Pride, and Humility]

Our Mission Zambia team will share at a mission night at our church* on Wednesday, August 12. The evening will start at 6:00 with pizza and salad. Two other teams will report before us. Our part should start around 7:00. YOU are welcome to attend any or all of it. We will also share about our trip this fall at our annual dinner.

Thank YOU for YOUR support and care for our mission and us.

Our love in Christ,
Donna and Ed Edwards

P.S. Please pray for the general budget support for LIVING WELL during the slow summer months and for our mission report on August 12.

*Putnam City Baptist Church, 11401 N Rockwell Ave

The water that I will give him will become in him 
a well of water springing up to eternal life. 
John 4:14b 
LIVING WELL is a life source, not a life style.