New Year 2025

We trust everyone had a merry and meaningful Christmas season. In December, here at GFI, we had a reunion Christmas lunch with Cathy, Ron, and Chris Solomon along with John and Pam Norman. We also had a staff brunch — Mark, Kristy, and I and our spouses. We’re thankful for some additional year-end donations that came in. God has been so faithful.

We were delighted that Mark‘s book arrived in time to start distributing some before Christmas. We trust that Who Do You Think You Are? Understanding Your Identity in Christ will be a blessing to many. Mark and his family are at the big Passion Conferences in Atlanta, January 2–4, 6–8. He has been on the leadership team with that ministry for many years. May God use these big events to impact thousands of lives of young people.

Looking Back at 2024

At the end of the year, we count up some statistics. They don’t give a full description of what takes place but convey something about ministry activities and resource use.

• GFI Guides had 713 appointments.
• I had 465 counseling sessions, plus coaching conversations.
• Mark had many counseling and life coaching appointments.
• Events: Three seminars in Tennessee and four in other states
• Three workshops in Tennessee and one online
• Mission trips to Nicaragua (John) and South Africa (Mark)
• Launching the Chaplaincy track and GFI exhibit at the IFOC.org Conference
• Two completed their GFI certification and six Luther Rice Seminary students completed their practicum with us.
• Episodes 27-52 of our Glimpses of Grace podcast were published.
• Two video-based courses were added at GraceStudyHall.org.
• Three books were published.
• Online stats: ELCmatters.org 3,825 visitors, 21,583 page views
• RevitalizingPastors.org: 1,783 visitors, 2,435 page views
• GraceNotebook.com 82,800 visitors, 434,432 page views YouTube.com/gracefellowshipinternational: 12,697 views
• YouTube.com/@aaronkim1074 25 new videos averaging 2,600 views each
• Vimeo.com hosted videos: 3,956 views
• GFIworld.sermon.net audio: 4,575 listens

The New Year

One of our new developments is to make the studio-produced videos that accompany some of our books to be available online for free (instead of for purchase). Everyone can now freely access the videos for For Me to Live is Christ, The New Life, How to Exchange Your Life for a New One, and Jesus of Nazareth. They are at GraceFellowshipInternational.com under Resources / Small Group Kits. We trust that this change will increase the use of the videos as well as the acquisition and use of the books that go with them.

God bless and guide us in this new year as we abide in the One who is the same yesterday today and forever.

Yours in Christ,

John Woodward

“This was a wonderful and timely e-letter filled with much encouragement for me. I trust as you wrap up 2024 and look into 2025 that you are smiling….this was an incredible ministry year for GFI. I rejoice and celebrate with you. This was an incredible year for our family, as well. I am so thankful for God’s grace and the many ways He is evidenced to me daily. I am leaning into Him more than ever…. Praying for GFI and all of those who will receive guidance thru ministries… Blessings!

J. – Tennessee”

           

GRACE FELLOWSHIP INTERNATIONAL

P. O. Box 368 | Pigeon Forge, TN  37868 | (865) 429-0450

www.GraceFellowshipInternational.com