SUMMER, 2018 GRACE FELLOWSHIP INTERNATIONAL 3914 Nellie Street | P. O. Box 368 | Pigeon Forge, TN 37868 | (865) 429-0450 www.GraceFellowshipInternational.com HOW TO EXCHANGE YOUR LIFE FOR A NEW ONE Sessions 1, 2: Verify Your Salvation by Dr. Phil Young Sessions 3, 4: New Life in Christ by Dr. Dan Riley Sessions 5, 6: The Spirit-Filled Life & Victory by Dr. Phil Jones These speakers are respected church leaders in Tennessee. Phil Young serves as Director of Knox County Baptist Association and Dan Riley is Senior Pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Knoxville. We pray that many small groups and churches will discover the strategic value of this outreach/initial discipleship kit. Sample video sessions can be previewed at the How to Exchange Your Life for a New One at GFI web site's Resource section. Through this study, believers may receive a corrective that will enable them to gain victory and freedom. The Holy Spirit can use this book and DVD album to give you a new lease on life and ministry that will bring glory to the Lord Jesus. You may have heard the expression, "Get a life!" God's grace offers something beer—we can have a new, exchanged life! As the Apostle Paul put it, "...It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me..." (Gal. 2:20 ESV). This Bible study by Dr. Phil Jones is designed to be used one-to-one, with a couple, or class. The goal is to ensure the person has a saving relationship with Jesus Christ and then to lay a basic foundation for grace-based discipleship. It combines an evangelistic introduction (adapted from Ray Comfort's evangelism approach) with some basic Christ-centered discipleship lessons (adapted from Chuck Solomon's Wheel diagram). Dr. Jones merges basic evangelism and discipleship into a single message so that a new believer might walk out of a new identity from the moment he/ she is born again. Phil Jones serves as Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church in Powell, Tennessee. The church uses this material to reach and teach visitors and is foundational for membership. A teacher’s edition is also available to equip disciplers to more effectively use these lessons. How to Exchange Your Life for a New One is part of a curriculum called T.E.L.L.–Teaching Exchanged Life Living. We are glad to announce the publication of a new DVD album to accompany this booklet. These videos average about 15 minutes in length: The DVD album is on sale for $39.95. The workbooks are $6.95 each. Church orders, placed by calling the GFI office, will receive a 20% discount.
Transcript
SUMMER, 2018
GRACE FELLOWSHIP INTERNATIONAL
GRACE FELLOWSHIP INTERNATIONAL3914 Nellie Street | P. O. Box 368 | Pigeon Forge, TN 37868 | (865) 429-0450
www.GraceFellowshipInternational.com
HOW TO EXCHANGE YOUR LIFE FOR A NEW ONE
Sessions 1, 2: Verify Your Salvation by Dr. Phil Young
Sessions 3, 4: New Life in Christ by Dr. Dan Riley
Sessions 5, 6: The Spirit-Filled Life & Victory by Dr. Phil Jones
These speakers are respected church leaders in Tennessee. Phil Young serves as Director of Knox County Baptist Association and Dan Riley is Senior Pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Knoxville.
We pray that many small groups and churches will discover the strategic value of this outreach/initial discipleship kit. Sample video sessions can be previewed at the How to Exchange Your Life for a New One at GFI web site's Resource section.
Through this study, believers may receive a corrective that will enable them to gain victory and freedom. The Holy Spirit can use this book and DVD album to give you a new lease on life and ministry that will bring glory to the Lord Jesus.
You may have heard the expression, "Get a life!" God's grace offers something better—we can have a new, exchanged life! As the Apostle Paul put it,
"...It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me..." (Gal. 2:20 ESV).
This Bible study by Dr. Phil Jones is designed to be used one-to-one, with a couple, or class. The goal is to ensure the person has a saving relationship with Jesus Christ and then to lay a basic foundation for grace-based discipleship. It combines an evangelistic introduction (adapted from Ray Comfort's evangelism approach) with some basic Christ-centered discipleship lessons (adapted from Chuck Solomon's Wheel diagram). Dr. Jones merges basic evangelism and discipleship into a single message so that a new believer might walk out of a new identity from the moment he/she is born again.
Phil Jones serves as Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church in Powell, Tennessee. The church uses this material to reach and teach visitors and is foundational for membership. A teacher’s edition is also available to equip disciplers to more effectively use these lessons. How to Exchange Your Life for a New One is part of a curriculum called T.E.L.L.–Teaching Exchanged Life Living.
We are glad to announce the publication of a new DVD album to accompany this booklet. These videos average about 15 minutes in length:
The DVD album is on sale for $39.95. The workbooks are $6.95 each. Church orders, placed by calling the GFI office, will receive a 20% discount.
Page 2 Glimpses of Gracewww.GraceFellowshipInternational.com
Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (Ephesians 3:20-21)
These words were penned by the Apostle Paul from prison, a place that often leaves one in a state of hopelessness and despair without a positive outlook for the future or concern for another’s well-being. This was not so for the Apostle Paul. His assurance and confidence was rooted in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Paul explains God’s plans for Him and how his imprisonment was being used as an opportunity to share the good news of the Gospel. He made it clear: God had positioned him at this specific place, under these specific circumstances, for a specific reason. That reason was to preach the unfathomable riches that come from knowing Christ as one’s Lord and Savior!
My name is Curtis Fahrlender. I am currently a youth pastor in Central Iowa and finishing up a Master of Science in Counseling from Clarks Summit University in Clarks Summit, PA. As I was nearing the end of my counseling degree, I needed to find a ministry where I could complete my practicum and internship requirements. As I was praying and searching for possible locations, I remembered a counseling ministry that focuses on remedial discipleship under the guidance of the Holy Spirit—Grace Fellowship International (GFI). Dr. John Woodward graciously agreed to allow GFI to be my supervision and practicum site. I have been able to meet with Dr. Woodward every other week to discuss counseling and ministry
situations, and he has guided me in applying the Exchanged Life Model to my current ministry settings. This has been extremely helpful, and I have seen great results.
2 Corinthians chapter 1 is sometimes referred to as the soul care passage. Paul teaches us important attributes of God. He is the God of all comfort and Father of mercies (2 Corinthians 1:1-7). He then moves from theological to personal testimony. In verses 8-11 we are invited to the apostle’s personal struggle and affliction. The climax of his testimony is found in verse 9:
Indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead.
This verse summarizes the impact GFI has had on my counseling methodology. The struggles, afflictions, aspects of rejection, unmet expectations, frustrations, and so on all happen in our life, as Paul says, to teach us something extremely important. They teach us reliance. We can rely either on ourselves to get through the difficult journey or on God who raises the dead.
This is summed up in the wheel and line diagrams which—along with the other significant contributions GFI has made to the field of biblical counseling—have been so valuable to me. I desire to come alongside the local church and to train and equip the saints for the work of ministry (Eph. 4:12). As I continue to embrace this Christ-centered message in my own life, I look forward with great excitement to see how the Lord will use my training at GFI. I’m excited to see the Exchanged Life message be used in bringing about hope in a world that desperately needs it.
TESTIMONY Curtis Fahrlender
John and Linda Woodward with leaders at Lily House (see Missions
article, page 5)
Training Seminar at SCORE(See Missions article, page 5)
Chuck Solomon’s 88th birthday party with Phillip and Jeanette Puckett
Page 3Glimpses of Grace www.GraceFellowshipInternational.com
TRUSTING CHRIST AS LIFE John Woodward
Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect [complete] in Christ Jesus. To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily (Col. 1:28,29).
This testimony from a mother discipled through a sister Exchanged Life Counseling ministry illustrates the joy of trusting Christ as our Life.
With Jesus in me, I look forward to what the day is going to bring. It is awesome to watch Jesus work. Even when I don't know what is happening, I can trust Jesus in me. And that is rest. Life is not always harmonious. Even though evil surrounds you, Jesus the conqueror lives inside. Everything doesn't have to be rosy in order for Jesus to move. He is there all the time, moving all the time. Jesus is always with us whether we feel it or not. It is the consciousness of His presence. Christ's life in us is one of humility, service, worship, sacrifice... The cry of my heart has been for Jesus to have full reign of His life in me. I humbly bow before Our Heavenly Father, for His hand of mercy upon my life. Because now it is no longer my life—but Christ's life living through me. praise God!" (from CrosswaystoLife.org newsletter).
We can persevere in our trials by depending upon our union with Christ.
If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. (Col. 3:1-4).
Our Father, we rejoice in your matchless grace that has caused us to pass from death into life. Illumine us to surren-der and trust You fully, that your gracious Holy Spirit may reveal Christ's life in and through us. Amen.
As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him (Col 2:6).
In Handbook to Happiness, our Dr. Charles Solomon notes the parallel between salvation by grace and abundant living by grace:
We entered into salvation by grace through faith; we enter into identification (with Christ) in precisely the same manner. Our salvation in all its states is grace at the beginning, grace at the end, and grace all the way through. We are not worthy to be saved from sin; neither are we worthy to be saved from self. But God, in His infinite mercy, deigns to have fellowship with us as redeemed sinners and to fill us with His life, love, and power in order that He may be glorified (chapter 4).
It seems too common that we receive this wonderful salvation as a gift of God, but then try (perhaps unconsciously) to live the Christian life by our own efforts. The Galatian Christians got sidetracked in the same way. The apostle Paul corrected them:
O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified? This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?" (Gal. 3:1-3).
The world constantly promotes self-reliance instead of Holy Spirit-reliance. Knowing Christ as Life is based on His victorious indwelling:
…which is Christ in you, the hope of glory (Col. 1:27).
This motivates the Spirit-filled believer to active cooperation with the Lord in ministry. The apostle Paul testified:
Christ is Life
Page 4 Glimpses of Gracewww.GraceFellowshipInternational.com
DISCIPLING FOR REVIVAL Charles R. SolomonAs you no doubt know, if you have read recent
newsletters, I am burdened to get the message of the Cross to the Church. To that end, I have written a small book addressing revival in the Church: Discipling for Revival, Hope for the Church.
Revivals in past years have involved several people coming together after much prayer and believing God to send revival. And, there were people with prepared hearts who responded on several occasions. The most noted revival was in Wales around 1900. Many lives were changed with much blessing in the UK and beyond!
While God could send revival in that manner again, it is unlikely with such group gatherings for the transformation of believers for such a purpose. With the emphasis on individualism and the accessing of the internet, and the ubiquitous cell phone, it is necessary to adapt ministry to access believers where they are.
With this in mind, this small book details our individualized approach to revival which God has blessed for the past 50 years. Though we did not term it revival, that is what the Holy Spirit did as we ministered the Cross, primarily in a one on one setting; and revival was the usual outcome!
Transformed lives have been in abundance as the power of the cross was manifested around the world to God’s glory. There is every reason to believe that the Spirit will do the same in churches, given such an emphasis on the cross!
However, the Church as a whole is not privy to God’s working in this manner. Therefore, it is
necessary to take the task of informing them of 50 years of recent history that they might profit thereby. And this is the purpose and plan for the new book.
And this is where you come in! We need many people around the country informing churches what they could be seeing God do!
The book shares at once the simplicity and the profundity of its use in ministry with revival in individual lives, the results the Holy Spirit gives! Please ask God what you could do to get this message to the Church.
Our freedom to exercise our faith could depend upon the Church as it is empowered by the Spirit through the message of the cross!! A weakened Church must be awakened to its
birthright and preach the Cross, the power of God, to be a force with which to be reckoned.
NEW MATERIALS Para Mi el Vivir es Cristo is the Spanish translation
of For Me to Live is Christ by Charles Solomon. This eight lesson fill-in-the-blank workbook is based on Handbook to Happiness and The Ins and Out of Rejection. (Both of these are also published in Spanish: Hacia la Felicidad and Del Rechazo a la Aceptación.) In July, we published this Spanish edition with the prayer that many will use it in personal study, one-to-one mentoring, and home Bible studies.
There is a Spanish video series by Jim Herndon that corresponds to this Para Mi el Vivir es Cristo workbook. A preview of these videos is online at the GFI web site Resource area, and the DVD album for small group use is available from our GFI store.
Jesus of Nazareth: The True and Living Way by John Woodward
After teaching a seminar to believers from a
middle eastern background, we decided to make this teaching available to others, also. The eight half hour video lessons are a blend of evangelism, apologetics, and Exchanged Life discipleship. This summer, we published a printed edition of the study guide that corresponds to these DVDs.
Sessions address these topics: The Identity of Jesus as Messiah, “I Am” Statements in the Gospel of John, The Way of Redemption, Confirmed by Miracles, The Truth, Has the Bible Been Changed? The Life, and Jesus—The True and Living Way Exclusively. These lessons are presented through an inductive Bible study approach.
May many seekers explore the radiant message of John 14:6 and find Christ as the true and living way!
Page 5Glimpses of Grace www.GraceFellowshipInternational.com
MISSION REPORTS Piet DuToit reports from South Africa: We
are at home in Cape Town for the Winter School Holidays. Enjoying our rest between our children and grandchildren!
During the second quarter of this year we had the privilege to present six seminars.
So far, we have recorded two seminars at Baruch Media in Johannesburg. They are still busy with the editing and then they will start to do DVDs & CDs.
We will be doing another six seminars during the third quarter. From September 9-12, we will minister How to Exchange Your Life for a New One to a Zulu congregation, in English, through the assistance of a Zulu language interpreter. We are so excited to present this seminar for the first time!
Charles Ambaka had another strategic mission trip to Nepal this year. Here is a summary of his report:
The Lord granted me the opportunity of doing my fourth Training and Ministry Program in Nepal. I flew from Kenya to Kathmandu Feb. 21/22. I was warmly received by my host with a lot of excitement; they believe that the Lord has given me to them as a gift and instrument to bring revival in the Himalayas.
I first spoke at both the English and Nepali services at Abundant Life Church in Kathmandu. Next, we had a week of training at Abundant Life College. Most of the students were professionals in different fields; the Lord did amazing work in their lives.
A renowned script and song writer in Nepal has given his life to Jesus Christ. A former Hindu Priest and, now a Christian, had traveled to Kathmandu to see a heart specialist because of a long time heart condition. In one of the sessions he testified with tears, saying that he and his family members knew he was soon going to die. He met Dr. Timothy Aryal who invited him to the Leaders Training, telling him that he could see the doctor after the program. He testified that, as I taught, it dawned on him that he had a new life in Christ, that it was not a changed life he received but an Exchanged Life. He then suddenly realized that pain he had been experiencing for a long time had disappeared. There was so much joy and thanksgiving to the Lord. He plans to invite me to his region in the future.
Later I did a ministry program in Dhapakel in Kathmandu. The Church there was begun in 2015 after the Earthquake. The Believers there have fully embraced the message of the Cross and eagerly await my return. One exciting testimony is from a family with four daughters. Because of the caste system, it was difficult for any of them to get married. They attended
the Exchanged Life Conference that I conducted in 2016, and I later visited and counseled with them. They understood that the Cross broke all the barriers. The good news is that the first born daughter got married recently, and the wedding was a confirmation of the radical transformation the message of the Cross brings into individuals and cultures...
For the full, exciting Nepal report, please visit the GFI web site’s blog.
In April, we had two short term mission trips to Latin America. Our board member, Hans Haun (with pastor Mark McKeehan and Matt Paradis) went to Nicaragua to teach a pastors’ conference. The local missionary said of the attendees, “They want to be effective to prepare leaders to counsel, reach and teach the people of their communities to change their country for God’s glory.” During the same week, John and Linda Woodward went to Dominican Republic. SCORE Mission there hosted a two day Conference and one day Workshop for about 30 of their missionaries. Some of the workers serve at Lily House, a residential ministry that disciples and assists women who are redeemed from sex trafficking.
For details and photos of these trips, see the GFI blog and GFIworld.shutterly.com gallery site.
Here is an excerpt from an update from Grace Counseling India. John Zachariah writes: We have needed a Program Coordinator and Counselor staying at the GFI Centre. God has opened a door for us in bringing Johnson Thottathil and his wife, Susan, to join the ministry. Johnson is a retired teacher and Physical Education Director in schools. They attended our basic ELS and training two years back. After preliminary meetings, we have decided to appoint this couple beginning August 1, 2018 to stay at the Centre and do the ministry.
Also, we desire to develop a few people in key cities across the country to form Regional Centers of GCI within the next three years.
We plan to create a Post Graduate Diploma program (affiliated to some suitable University) and Post Graduate Degree courses in Counseling with the status of awarding accreditation of the candidates as Counselors...(For the full report, visit them at GraceCounselor.org).
To contribute to GFI missions, check that category on the enclosed remittance envelope or the online
giving page.
Page 6 Glimpses of Gracewww.GraceFellowshipInternational.com
GRACE FELLOWSHIPINTERNATIONAL3914 Nellie StreetP. O. Box 368Pigeon Forge, TN 37868
Exchanged Life Conference August 3-4, 2018 Pigeon Forge, TN
November 2-3. 2018Pigeon Forge, TN
March 1-2, 2019Pigeon Forge, TN
CREATIVE COMBINATIONSAren’t you glad our Creator combined two atoms
of hydrogen with one of oxygen? Without “H2O” (water), we’d all be really thirsty!
Another creative combination is grace and truth:
The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have beheld His glory, the glory of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth (John 1:14).
Grace without truth would be mercy without a message; truth without grace would be reality without relationship. Both are essential.
After Chuck Solomon was brought to freedom through the Cross, he was led of the Lord to pioneer a strategic approach to Discipleship Counseling. Spirituotherapy® creatively combines the victorious life message of the New Testament with a practical counseling model. Many thousands have been
impacted and equipped around the world since he and Sue launched GFI in 1970.
In order for this counseling, training, and equipping ministry to continue and thrive, there is a need for another creative combination: supporters and staff. Those of you who partner with Grace Fellowship through prayer and financial support have a vital role in extending Discipleship Counseling to more churches and countries. We staff members are so grateful for you supporters.
So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work (2 Cor. 9:7,8).
Thank you!
Spirituotherapy® Workshop August 6-9, 2018Pigeon Forge, TN
