April 2025 Update

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is  from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.” James 1:17,18 NKJV

We give thanks for God’s many blessings and 55 years of His faithful intervention.

The Lord granted traveling mercies and a fruitful series of meetings in Cairo, Egypt March 19–24. We have been providing video and printed materials for Sudanese leaders in Cairo since January. This trip was to give an in-person conclusion for the class of trainees, and to conduct other meetings that the planning team arranged. I had the privilege of presenting a two-part bilingual seminar with interpretation into Arabic. There were also small group meetings for pastors and teachers. The concluding afternoon of teaching for the “Lifeline Caregiving” class culminated with a graduation ceremony with music, testimonies and the presentation of the certificates. There’s already an invitation for GFI to present the Christ centered counseling and care message to 100 of the Sudanese pastors. I posted a page of the Cairo recordings and materials at ELCmatters.org.

There are millions of refugees from Northern Sudan in Egypt that have been traumatized by civil war and persecution. They also find themselves in a very hard situation in Egypt where they are oppressed with economic limitations and social injustice. May God grow His church there with comfort and resources.

The last two weeks of March were challenging here at the GFI office. Kristy gave her notice that she had found employment closer to home with a more flexible schedule. Mark has done double duty to learn the bookkeeping and administrative procedures so that the office can continue to operate until we find a replacement. Please pray for extra grace for Mark, and for the Lord to provide the right team member to fill this role.

April 1st was Mark’s third anniversary as Executive Director of GFI. We’re so thankful for his fellowship, ministry, and leadership.

By now you probably heard that the 55th anniversary plans have changed (but not cancelled). We will still have the anniversary program but it will be done from another location as a livestream event at 7:00pm, Friday, April 25th on the GFI YouTube.com channel (Unfortunately, we will not gather to have the meal together this time.) Instead of the Saturday morning seminar (which was primarily intended for those who would be coming from out of town) we are making Dr. Solomon’s classic Exchanged Life Conference videos available for free in April and May. Visit ELCmatters.org/ media / conference video access.

Our Guides, Mark, and I continue to actively provide counseling and life coaching.

As we observe Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday this month, may the Lord encourage us with His glorious redemption and indwelling Life.

-John Woodward

Director of Counseling and Training