New Year Update

January, 2023

“I will remain [here] for a wide door for effective service has opened to me…” (1 Cor. 16:8).

We are thankful for the open door of exchanged life discipleship, counseling, and training that the Lord has given us. As we look back on last year we are so encouraged by the ministries that our team has been privileged to carry out.

According to my records, in 2023 we conducted:

• 6 seminars
• 4 workshops
• Hundreds of counseling sessions
• Hundreds of coaching sessions
• 40 online Bible studies
• 6 online certification coaching meetings.

And we are blessed with the counseling carried out by our 8 Guides.

My God continue to bless His Word that has been shared in these contexts. “So will My word be which goes out of My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the purpose for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:11).

This week Mark is at the big Passion Conference in Atlanta. (He has been on their leadership team for years.) We rejoice in the 50 thousand teens and college students gathered there January 3-5.  https://www.passion2024.com/

Today I received an encouraging call from a brother in our Exchanged Life Counseling certification track. He is a recent Luther Rice Seminary graduate and member of the “Church of Eleven 22” based in Florida. (They serve about 20,00 weekly, plus a much larger global online community.)  The Church of Eleven 22 has welcomed him as a team member to receive counseling referrals. And the church wants to list GFI as a referral ministry on their web site https://coe22.com. A BIG door is opening there!

I am scheduled to present our Finding Joy Seminar at a church in Alexandria, Virginia on January 20, and preach there the next morning. Prayers are appreciated for that open door.

Our Monday night zoom Bible study resumes January 8th. (See GFI web site / Resources)

We would appreciate prayer for God’s guidance and provision for someone to work at our office as a receptionist/bookkeeper/administrative assistant. (John Norman and Cathy have been so dedicated, but John may be moving and Cathy’s health problems limit her involvement…)

We received an encouraging note from a sister who received counseling with one of our certified counselors. She testified, “I am writing to let you know that the counseling meetings I had with _____ were so helpful and encouraging .… When I think back to when I was crying out to the Lord to help me during the depression last August, He truly did send me much more help than I realized I needed. I am very thankful that I took a step of faith to contact GFI.”

We appreciate all who support this ministry in prayer and giving. We pray that the Lord will be opening doors for us and for you as we move forward. May you be blessed with a joyful and fruitful new year!

Yours in Christ,

John Woodward

Christmas brunch: John & Pam, Mark & Carrie, John & Linda