We were blessed with a good Exchanged Life Conference in Pigeon Forge last Friday night and Saturday. Thanks to Bob Burney (Cross Power Ministries) who helped with one of the sessions.
The Spirituotherapy Workshop is Monday-Thursday. Prayers are appreciated!
Joe and Cherri Freeman presented a Christ-Centered Addiction Recovery seminar on Saturday, Feb. 24th. Over 180 registered for this Love Them to Life event that provided valuable information, inspirational testimonies and biblical counsel for those struggling with addiction and their families. A big thanks to the leaders and volunteers at First Baptist Church, Proctorville, Ohio and the lead organization—Tri-State Bible College. John Woodward gave a session in the afternoon and John Norman hosted a GFI resource table. Other ministries that were represented included Tri-State Bible College, Drug Prevention Ministries, and RU Recovery. As follow up event, a Recovery Coach Training seminar is planned for April 6,7 at the college.
GFI’s Director in east Africa, Charles Ambaka, is returning to Nepal. Please lift this ministry trip up in prayer. He writes,
“The Lord in His way again has provided family friends here who have committed themselves to facilitate another Training trip to the Himalayas… I have been in communication with a Couple that I met in 2012 and who represent Campus Crusade in Nepal. Their lives have continued to yearn for my return trip there. I have also asked Pastor Timothy Aryal to bring other Churches and Ministries on board so that I can use this trip as a spring board to the neighboring Countries. My travel date is 21st of February to arrive in Kathmandu the following day. It will be a very intensive trip that will involve Trek Evangelism on one of the Himalayas. I plan to be back on the 3rd of May.
We appreciate the ministry endorsement of Dr. Charles Stanley and the opportunity we’ve had to do some networking over the years. In 1980, Dr. Charles Solomon presented the Exchanged Life Conference at First Baptist Church of Atlanta. Charles Stanley promoted the event, and Andy Stanley attended also. In 1981, our associates, Dr. Bill and Anabel Gilliam, presented the Victorious Christian Living conference there. FBA videotaped the event and the recordings have impacted an extended audience.
At InTouch.org Dr. Charles Stanley has a section on 30 Principles that have guided his life and ministry. Several of them are part of the spiritual DNA of the Grace Fellowship’s Discipleship Counseling message (See 1,3,12,15,24):
• Intimacy with God
• Reliability of God’s Word
• Peace through oneness with God
• Brokenness
• To live the Christian life is to allow Jesus to live His life in and through us
GFI’s current audio podcast features a dynamic sermon by Charles Stanley entitled “Good News of Great Joy: Christ Your Life”. It was preached at FBA in the early 1980’s. You can listen online or download it here: http://gfiworld.sermon.net . First Baptist Atlanta developed a pastoral and lay counseling ministry using the Exchanged Life model. (Listen to the two-part interview about this with Dr. Al Scardino here.)
At North Point, Andy Stanley preached a series that addresses some of these vital themes. It’s entitled “NU ME” and is available from their download store. North Point includes these Exchanged Life insights in their Care Network’s “Re:New” one-on-one mentoring ministry. In 2015, their team produced an 8 lesson video-facilitated small group study that incorporates the essentials of this process, titled Renovate.
“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. 3:3,4).
-JBW
Dr. Solomon has just written seven brief Christ Centered Counseling messages intended to be shared on social media. We invite all of our readers to “copy and paste” these paragraphs and share them one at a time on Facebook and others forms of social media. Here’s one on depression, followed by the other recommended postings.
The Church’s Answer to Depression
Since 1970, many have been set free from depression in less than 5 interviews. One businessman had been depressed for 8 years and was scheduled for electroshock therapy (EST). Upon learning and acting on the answer, he was free in two (2) days. Eight years later, he had endured no depression. To learn more, visit
https://gracefellowshipinternational.com/handbook-to-happi…/
THE CHURCH’S ANSWER TO PTSD
A young man returned from deployment in Iraq with a head injury, migraines, and PTSD. He had daily injections for the migraines and considered suicide, the fate of many returning veterans. He studied the materials referred to here and the Spirit of God released him from his PTSD symptomatology. Today, he is pastoring a church and ministering to fellow PTSD sufferers – his name is Mark Miller. To learn more, visit https://gracefellowshipinternational.com/handbook-to-happiness/
THE CHURCH’S ANSWER TO SUICIDAL IDEATION
A man had been abusing his wife and was forced to leave his home. While in a motel, he had a gun to his head, intent upon suicide. As one last gesture at life, he called a counseling center where the subject message was taught and found peace and victory in a single session. He did need to lose his life, but not in the way he had planned. To learn more, visit https://gracefellowshipinternational.com/handbook-to-happiness/
THE CHURCH’S ANSWER TO ANXIETY AND PANIC ATTACKS
An attractive young lady sought counseling for disabling panic attacks. Though she was very talented, she was about to give up on life! She understood and accepted God’s answer and is today a productive wife and mother. To learn more, visit https://gracefellowshipinternational.com/handbook-to-happiness/
A man at 49 had been addicted to alcohol and drugs for 35 years. When the Spirit of God met him, he was instantly freed of all drugs and alcohol, except nicotine, which came two weeks later. To learn more, visit https://gracefellowshipinternational.com/handbook-to-happiness/
THE CHURCH’S ANSWER TO ABUSE
Many have suffered emotional and sexual abuse and carry emotional damage into adulthood, frequently imparting hostility to those in close proximity. It comes as welcome news that they can have a new past, which positively impacts their present! A man had been abusing his family, including two sons, and was ejected from the home. He sought and found spiritual help and was committed to help his family. He unilaterally loved his wife resulting in her surrendering to the Lord and having a unified family. To learn more, visit https://gracefellowshipinternational.com/handbook-to-happiness/
THE CHURCH’S ANSWER TO IDENTITY ISSUES
Almost without exception, Christians and all others live from a human-based identity. Though it may be working well in time, it is worthless in eternity. A transition in identity will have a major impact on the life here and now! To learn more, visit https://gracefellowshipinternational.com/handbook-to-happiness/
The current edition of GFI’s in-print newsletter was mailed out recently. You can download and share a digital edition from the newsletter page here.
The November 6-9 Workshop was a fruitful experience. What a joy to equip– and fellowship with– 18 special brothers and sisters who made it to Pigeon Forge from Nebraska, Utah, Oklahoma, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Georgia and Canada! We will be posting more photos and testimonies.
Sample comment: “So many helpful concepts shared. I always hate role playing, but I got so much from it [the dyad practice sessions]. [The instructor] is a great teacher, very thorough. Thank you for your encouragement from day one. Every moment has been a blessing. ‘Thankful for Grace – GFI.”
We’re so thankful for the 20+ whom God led to attend the conference here in Pigeon Forge, TN. Precious testimonies were shared and Ron Solomon spoke on how to communicate the fuller message of the Cross with children (see CarawaySt.com). Next is the Spirituotherapy Workshop (Nov. 6-9)!
Tyndale House Publishers asked Miriam Jacob to write a book review for Handbook to Happiness.
The full chapter-by-chapter review is online at handbooktohappinessblog.wordpress.com
This was just posted:
Handbook to Happiness – A Biblical Guide to Victorious Living by Dr. Charles R. Solomon is the foundational book for Spirituotherapy, an innovative Bible-based program to integrate the spiritual and psychological dimensions of man. It is the flagship book of the Exchanged Life counseling movement, synonymous with revival.
This approach to discipleship is a strategic, counseling model, applying deeper life sanctification to psychological problems of humanity, in the appropriation of Christ as Savior, Lord, and Life. Termed Spirituotherapy to honor the Holy Spirit, the ultimate Counselor, using the Bible’s truth, wisdom and revelation to resolve the problems of mankind, this program is based on the Holy Spirit’s work of regeneration and the appropriation of the new life in Christ. The believer’s relationship to the cross of Christ is central to its goal. The Holy Spirit is the Therapist who renews the mind and transforms the life – “Be transformed by the renewal of your mind, to prove the good, acceptable and perfect will of God” – (Romans 12:2).
Psychological problems, rooted in spiritual problems, can only be resolved by a faith union with the crucified Christ, risen and reigning in the believer’s life – (Galatians 2:20). This approach to counseling is biblical – “I am the Lord, who heals you” – (Exodus 15:26). God’s healing power comes when we obey His commands and statutes. A miracle happens when the Word of God is taught, applied, and obeyed. “God sent his word, and healed them” (Psalm 107:20). It is a balanced, beneficial approach to counseling of healing people with the living Word of God. People in desperate need are being counseled and internally healed by Spirituotherapy.
Through “the exchanged life” and “the experienced cross,” counseling propagates the truth of freedom through union with Christ in his death and resurrection. Spirituotherapy, a viable integration of counseling and the Word of God, done in the power of the Holy Spirit, meets the deepest needs of man. This proven Biblical approach communicates the truth of our identification with Christ, to resolve life problems and see it honored by the Spirit of God. When we face problems impossible to resolve, we have access to the infallible Word of God and the Counselor, the Holy Spirit. To experience the cross, we must embrace it, with its brokenness and suffering. Like the Master, all must follow the way of the cross to have victory in life. Life issues out of death and victory out of defeat. It is a paradoxical principle. We become in experience what we already are in Christ by position.
