OCTOBER 2014 Letter LIVING WELL

Because of YOUR support and encouragement, we can continue to go to trainings for strengthening marriages and building marriage and family ministries in churches. We just got back from the D6 Conference (name comes from Deuteronomy 6).

While there, we received a booklet 11 Ways to Give Your Kids a Heart for the Nations. We were intrigued by the ideas. Then, we began to realize that if the parents don’t have a heart for the nations, it is unlikely that their children will either.

Do YOU have a heart for the nations? 

Do YOU want a heart for the nations?

Frankly, we did not when we were young parents. And some people have already quit reading this letter because of the topic. Having a heart for the nations begins by having a heart for YOUR nation and YOUR neighbor. That is where the LORD started with us.

What can YOU do right now to respond to God’s call for the nations? 

YOU can educate a child in Africa. When you do that, your involvement becomes very personal. 

YOU can teach your children/grandchildren about another culture - where they live (geography), what their conditions are (gratitude for what we have), what they eat, how they play, and about their religions. YOU can teach them to pray specifically for needs there, not just globally “for all the starving children in Africa.”

Right now we have a great need to add another teacher at the school. We raise 100% of the funds to operate the school. The school needs to add one more grade; the school needs a teacher who has training with older kids. WE NEED YOUR HELP!

To learn more about educating a child at WISDOM Community School, please go to the school website. For $25/month or $300/year, YOU can educate one child. For $225/month or $2700/year, YOU can sponsor one teacher.

Thank YOU for YOUR continued support! We love and appreciate YOU and YOUR support of what God is doing!
Our love in Christ,

Donna and Ed Edwards

P.S. Please pray for our dinner and the needs of WCS.

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.

February 2011 Living Well Letter

 “I have loved you with an everlasting love” Jeremiah 31:3

And what are you planning for the one you love?

If you are married, consider giving your marriage a gift of love. We encourage all married couples to do something to maintain and strengthen their marriage at least once a year. What have you done for your marriage this year?

February is the busiest month of the year for marriage educators and advocates. We have many events coming up. Please pray for us as we seek to speak into the lives of many couples. Events:

• Jan 28-29, Friday night/Saturday “Energize” retreat, Caddo Baptist Assoc.
• Feb 4-5, Fri night/Sat “Marriage Tune-up” retreat, 1st Baptist Church, McAlester, at Falls Creek
• Feb 7, 7-8:30pm, Mondays, “Preparing for Marriage” class, our office
• Feb 8, 7-8:30pm Tuesdays, “Living Well in Marriage” class, our office
• Feb 11-12, Fri nigh/Sat morning, “Dream Marriage” live simulcast by Jimmy Evans, regional event, sponsored by Marriage Network OK at Putnam City Bapt (we coordinate and host this event)
• Feb 24, Thursday, 10-3, “Building a Comprehensive Marriage Ministry” workshop, Southwood Baptist Church, Tulsa (regional training for church leaders)
• Feb 27, Sundays, 5-6:30, “Managing Money” class, Putnam City Baptist Church

Wow! The list even scares us! How do we do it? Because the Spirit of God compels us. He has given us a passion and equips and enables us to do it! We value your prayers and support.

Our schedule reflects the different avenues of ministry, which we believe are essential, to reach different couples. We do individual/couple guidance every week. We teach small groups such as the one which starts February 8th at our office. We teach church groups, such as the retreats. We sponsor regional events (Dream Marriage simulcast). We train leaders who can go back to their churches and teach or lead marriage ministries.

Families today are under more stress than ever before. According to an American Psychological Association study, in 2007, stress impacts lives in a dramatic way:

• About 1/2 say that stress has a negative impact on both their personal and professional lives.
• About 1/3 of employed adults have difficulty managing work and family responsibilities.
• Over 1/3 cite jobs interfering with their family or personal time as a source of stress.
• Stress causes more than half of Americans (54%) to fight with people close to them.

To overcome these stresses, couple must take an intentional approach to strengthening their marriages and their families. They will not be able to hold their families together without a plan!

We love and appreciate you and your support of the work God is doing through Living Well!

May the Lord bless you in your relationship to him and in your marriage.

Our love in Christ,
Donna and Ed Edwards
P.S. Please pray that the Lord will give us wisdom and rest.