June, 2026 Update

“We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers  beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth … Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word” (2 Thess. 2:13-17).

We are rejoicing as we see God working in the lives of counselees and trainees, granting deliverance “through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.”

I give thanks for a trip to Bellefontaine Ohio, where a supporting church hosted a Finding Peace Seminar. (Several leaders there have been to GFI’s Workshop.) On the way back I visited with GFI Associate, Stephen Ranz and his wife, Patricia who live in Cincinnati. Steve’s ministry has been donating cases of Bibles to a prison in London, Ohio where the chaplain is eager to distribute God’s Word. Last week a case of the How to Be a Child of God booklets were sent there as well.

Recently we welcomed three more helpers who completed the Exchanged Life Counselor certification and have been accepted to serve as Guides: Donna (Virginia), Anita (Ontario), and Janet (Arizona). Yeah! We now have 15 to whom we can refer many clients who call GFI weekly, inquiring about counseling resources and sessions.

Mark and I produced two more Glimpses of Grace podcast episodes in May: one on the Egypt to Promised Land journey and the other is an interview with Exchanged Life media producer, Linda King (www.ChristianVideos.net).

Mark, Liz and Scott report how the Lord worked in a mighty way at youth camp in Ocoee, Tennessee June 1-5. Praise the Lord!

We would appreciate prayer for ministry events next month:

• Victorious Daily – A 4-Week Summer Series for Students. Mark will be the keynote speaker on Wednesdays, July 8, 15, 22, 29, 6:30-8:00pm (eastern). It will be hosted in Knoxville, Tennessee and live-streamed at www.youtube.com/@GraceFellowshipIntl/streams

• A Finding Joy Seminar will be presented in Knoxville on July 25th, and an Exchanged Life Counseling Workshop will be July 27-30 in Pigeon Forge.

Our Monday night online Bible study completed a series based on the book Live a Praying Life. The videos of the lessons with PowerPoints are now on our Videos & Combos page on the GFI web site and as a new course at www.GraceStudyHall.org.

On June 7th  Linda and I led a half hour worship service for guests at a local resort. We concluded with the song, “The Goodness of God.” (See the YouTube version be CeCe Winans.) The chorus declares,

All my life You have been faithful,
All my life You have been so so good,
With every breath that I am able,
Oh I will sing of the goodness of God.

Amen! The Lord has been so faithful to this ministry for 56 years. We greatly value the prayers and contributions of our supporters.

Yours in Christ,

John Woodward
Director of Counseling and Training