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INSIDE SOURCE 2008
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8-08
Greetings Dear Friends,
The mission objective of Source Ministries is to proclaim the powerful, liberating, life-transforming message of our new life in Christ: what it is and how to live it. It is our calling and privilege to share this good news through preaching, teaching, counseling, writing and our daily walk. “The gifts and calling of God are irrevocable” (Romans 11:29). God has not changed His mind and we haven’t either. We’re committed to staying true to the calling of God upon our lives, as we have for the past 38 years.
FOREIGN MISSIONS
HONDURAS– April 28-May 5, 2008 – The trip was amazing, fruitful and very rewarding! We conducted 2 minister’s conferences: one in the capital city of Tegucigalpa and the other in a remote mountain village. The ministers stated that they had never had any teaching like this before. One pastor said, “This has turned my world upside down!” Or, as I would say, “Right side up!” I also preached at 4 churches and ministered at a Drug/Alcohol rehab center. It was a blessing to distribute 250 El Cambio Definitivo (The Ultimate Makeover) to the pastors & church leaders. They were delighted and very grateful to get them.
BRAZIL–July 14-28, 2008 – Edmund Spieker, of Churches in Missions, and I conducted 2 minister’s conferences known as Fermatas. A fermata is a musical note meaning to pause or rest. I told the pastors that this conference is “the pause that refreshes!” And that’s exactly what it was, according to the testimony of many after it was over. Another 250 copies of A Transformaco Total (The Ultimate Makeover) were distributed to the leaders at the conferences. Praise God, the message is getting out!
BARADO CORDA, MA BRAZIL: We had the privilege of ministering to 2 Indian tribes in addition to the missionaries and other Brazilian ministers. Some of the missionaries present minister to another tribe in the region, so actually 3 tribes were eventually affected by our conference. One of the Indian pastors said he only came because of one of his friends. He thought it would be just another boring meeting, but he said he was very pleased with the emphasis and was really glad he had come because it helped so much! On the first day, a missionary who had worked with the Indians for over 30 years told us that she really longed to hear more about “Christ in you.” She expressed frustration that so many seemed to do nothing more than teach people how to be little monkeys, because all they knew how to do was run around trying to imitate Christ, yet without any real Life. Afterward she said she had no idea that “Christ in you” was going to be one of the primary themes of the conference. She was so pleased with the teaching and eager to read The New You. Plans are underway to start a one-year Bible School to train the Indian ministers. I suggested they use The New You, along with the Companion Guide, as one of the textbooks. They would need to be translated and printed in Portuguese. So, please pray for this very important project!
LONDRINA, PR BRAZIL: There were about 60 leaders in attendance at the Fermata. They were so hungry for this type of teaching that 2 groups came all the way from 2 neighboring states just to hear it! Since many of the leaders minister to people with addictions, I pointed out that the slogan, “once an alcoholic, always an alcoholic” no longer applies to Christians. Once a person receives Christ, he ceases to be an alcoholic. He has become a new creation in Christ and old things have passed away. Because of our new identity in Christ, our problems, habits, and addictions are not who we are. Therefore, we should not define ourselves by our diagnosis, problem, etc. Of course, we will always be tempted in our greatest areas of weakness and our flesh will certainly gravitate toward those things. However, it is not who we are. We have been changed by the grace of God!
The message was well received and many told me that it was “muito bom” (very good). One of the oldest ministers present said, “These messages on Identity and Victory are extremely important. They are very deep and impossible to understand apart from the Holy Spirit.” Another pastor testified that he had prayed for God to give him understanding in the conference and He did. He added that he now has a greater intimacy with God and others. He then explained that although those in attendance were from several different denominations, he now sensed a common bond among them in the Lord, because the love of Christ was bigger than all their differences. After it was over, one pastor began telling me what the conference meant to him, but when he realized I didn’t understand Portuguese, he just hugged me for a long time and began weeping tears of joy. He did this 3 separate times. Evidently, God had done a significant work in him! The coordinator of the Fermata said it was much more than he had hoped for. He added, “I have been a Christian for almost 30 years, yet I feel like I have been born again all over again!”
The ministers were so impacted by the conference that there have already been requests for 5 more Fermatas! I have been asked to pray about helping out again, so please pray with me regarding this mission opportunity. Several mentioned how helpful A Transformaco Total was, and how grateful they were to have it in their own language for use in their churches!
HOME MISSIONS
PREACHING: Preaching and teaching conferences, seminars, and retreats throughout the United States.
COUNSELING: Counseling pastors, their wives, church leaders and others.
PUBLISHING: The writing ministry is expanding rapidly.
* The Ultimate Makeover in Spanish, El Cambio Definitivo, is continuing to be distributed in the US, as well as in Mexico and Honduras.
* The Ultimate Makeover was printed in Portuguese earlier this year in Brazil. Praise God, it has been very well received there! 250 copies went to Portuguese speaking Angola, Africa in June. It has also been translated and printed in Albanian.
* TGIM! GOOD NEWS, our weekly email devotional, is an ideal way to follow-up on all those to whom we’ve ministered, as well as reach out to many that we’ve never met. If you’re not getting it, send us your email address.
* The final revision of The New You Companion Guide, a one-year study guide for individuals or small groups to use with The New You, is almost finished.
* The Ultimate Makeover Companion Guide, a 6-week study guide for individuals or small groups to use with The Ultimate Makeover, is also being written.
PRAY FOR US
Your prayers and assistance are greatly appreciated. Please pray for us according to Ephesians 6:19 that lives will be transformed in every aspect of our ministry.
PRAY FOR: Guidance for future foreign mission trips (We get several requests almost every week.); preaching ministry in the US; messages for GOOD NEWS; God’s anointing on the translators; finalizing our 2 study guides; financial provisions for the books that we are giving out to ourtroops and people in other countries; Lue’s demanding work schedule as office manger; equipment to upgrade and produce audio messages in digital format; and especially our daily bread(general office expenses and salary), without which we could not do everything else!
Thank you very much for your prayers and financial support of Source Ministries. We need it! We are very grateful to have you standing with us. It means a lot!
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3-08
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INSIDE SOURCE 2007
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12-21-07
No Cross, No Christ, No Christmas
The media has been making a big deal about what appears to be a cross in the background during a recent Christmas greeting from one of the Presidential candidates. I feel compelled to share some thoughts on this matter, and it’s not about politics. It’s all about the sobering reality that without the CROSS there would be NO Christ and therefore NO Christmas. Christmas is only significant because the Christ who was born on Christmas day (whatever time of the year that occurred) is, in fact, the same Christ who died and rose again. And that means He is THE CHRIST—the Messiah, Savior, Redeemer, and Lord of all mankind!!! Praise God for The Christ of the cross, whose sacrificial death and glorious resurrection gave Christmas it’s significance!
Merry Christmas,
Lewis & Lue
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6-07
ON MISSION FOR THE KING
“I have meat to eat that you know not of” (John 4:32).
We may not be constructing buildings, or feeding the masses, but we are providing spiritual nourishment to help build the kingdom of God. We are “equipping the saints for the work of the ministry.” Source ministries is engaged in preaching, teaching, counseling and writing, in order to make known the unsearchable riches of Christ.
Some of the churches where we’ve ministered during the past year include:
Crossroads Community, Sebastian, FL; Calvary Baptist, Wetumpka, AL;
Fellowship Chapel, Jarrettsville, MD; First Baptist Church, Atlanta, GA;
Faith Fellowship, Burdett, KS.
FOREIGN MISSION TRIPS
BRAZIL June 3-16, 2007: I assisted Edmund Spieker of Churches in Missions in conducting 2 Minister's Conferences, one at The Evangelical Seminary of the North in Sao Luis and the other at The Baptist Bible Institute in Belem. I shared 2 sessions on the Believer's Identity in Christ, 2 on Victorious Living, and 1 on Decision Making at each conference.
*At the end of the final session of my part of the minister’s conference in Sao Luis I felt led to give a lengthy prayer, praying them through the cross. God moved on the group in an unusual way. There was a holy hush over the room when we concluded. Our leader noticed the way God was working among the group and suggested that they not do anything to disrupt what the Lord was doing. Several people indicated that the Lord had done a deep work in them. One couple, who speaks some English, shared several details about how the Lord had worked in their lives. A number of people came up to me over the next 2 days to express their appreciation. This was a very precious time for which I thank the Lord.
*Amazing news, actually a miracle right out of the book of Acts. An elderly woman who attended part of our Minister’s Conference at the Seminary in Sao Luis approached me in the cafeteria on campus after our last session. Her sister had worked at the Seminary for years prior to retiring. Therefore, she and her family were allowed to continue to live on the campus. Their brother Manuel, age 73, although not a Christian, decided to come to my final session that morning. Well, while I was eating lunch the sister asked me if I would come to her house to talk to her brother about the Lord. I said I would be glad to but that she would have to check with our leaders first to see if it was OK. They decided it would be fine and Pedro, one of our group, agreed to go. Therefore, I went with him. However, Pedro does not know any English. A student who had attended the conference and understood English agreed to accompany me.
Another young man named Cortez, who knows a little English, was already there watching TV.
At first it was very confusing with a lot of distractions. To make matters worse, due to the delay, my interpreter said he could not stay any longer because he had to get ready for work. So, he left. At that point, I began to pray and thankfully the tide turned!
Manuel soon became very interested. He even got up and came across the room to sit beside me. It was obvious that the Holy Spirit was dealing with him. I told Cortez that he was going to have to translate for me. But he said he couldn’t because he didn’t know enough English. I said just do what you can. Since Spanish is similar to Portugese, I began to talk to Manuel about the Lord in a mix of Spanish and English. Suddenly Cortez began to understand what I was saying. He said, I can understand you and then he started translating for me. At first Manuel expressed some reservations. However, when I explained that I was not here to get him to join a church or become a member of a denomination, but to tell him how he could have a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ the Lord he became very interested. After further sharing, I sensed that Manuel was ready to receive the Lord. Therefore, I reached out my hand in a handshake and he held my hand while I led him in a prayer of Salvation. It was evident that he understood what I meant. He was ready, so he prayed to receive Christ.
Afterward Manuel became very joyful and his whole countenance changed. He even told his family and Pedro who had stepped outside to share with his sister. The sisters thanked me for what I had done in introducing their brother to Christ. When we got back to the cafeteria Cortez realized that he had been able to understand and interpret without actually knowing the language. He explained that when we were talking to Manuel he could understand me but now he couldn’t. In sharing with the leaders what had just happened he called it a miracle. The Seminary director and the others all agreed. Everyone rejoiced at Manuel’s salvation!
Praise the Lord for His goodness and mercy! In 1983 when I went on my first foreign mission trip I ask the Lord to allow me to personally introduce at least one person to Christ in every country where I went. I am delighted to report that this has been the case everywhere I have gone! Thank you Lord! And thanks to each of you who had a part in this through your prayers.
MEXICO November 3-14, 2007: We will be ministering to 2 groups in the Yucatan. The first will be a minister’s conference at a seminary in Merida. Then we will conduct a pastor’s conference in Cancun. We will be taking about 200 of our booklets in Spanish to give away.
TESTIMONIES about TGIM! GOOD NEWS
Thank God It’s Monday
Thanks, Lewis, your “Good New” is a real blessing to meditate on. Blessings to you!
I always enjoy reading your "Good News" each Monday. It is always fresh and brings strength for the week.
These have really been so uplifting and encouraging to me of late. I have
truly been in great need of these words. Bless you.
Thank you for your permission to use your ministry's many wonderful materials. I've been asked to contribute to our Church Bulletin and will include your TGIM's. We have your book--authors' signature and all!
Thank you very much for the messages that you are sending me. They are really helping me. Zimbabwe, Africa
Another great devotional thought!! I may use this in my Sunday School class.
Thank you so much for this word today. God has used it in our lives. It helps to be reminded that God is Faithful, no matter what the circumstance. We enjoy your weekly devotion and appreciate your ministry.
I met Lewis at a “hole-n-the-wall” Diner this past week. He overheard my friend and I having a spiritual conversation and introduced himself. I was encouraged by our brief visit and getting to meet him. Thank you for your Kingdom work that impacts eternity. Please sign me up for the weekly email. Seminary student
Great message Doc. You’re a blessing and source of inspiration. Minister
Wow, this is powerful - thank you for sharing! Counselor
Great word for the holiday! Thanks for your love, friendship, always-caring spirit, and most of all your prayers. Bi-vocational Minister
I am struggling right now, so I thank God for your encouraging messages about the exchanged life and full surrender.
The Monday devotionals are VERY helpful! They’re short enough that I have time to read them & always hit just what I need. Thanks for your book!
Missionary, Philippians
I like receiving your Good News. I've been preaching on Romans and your Good News reinforces it for me. Thanks for your valuable ministry. Pastor
I read Good News every Monday and it makes me smile. So encouraging! Author
I love these!!! This week is especially a Word in Season for me. Thanks for all you do to minister, equip, encourage, and build up the body! Intercessor
I appreciate your messages, especially their consistent Christ-centered content. Thanks for giving consideration to my comments, Lewis. As usual, your spirit is a gracious one, indicative of the Spirit of Christ. Pastor
If you would like TGIM! GOOD NEWS each Monday,
send us your email address.
TESTIMONIES ABOUT THE SOURCE WEB SITE
What an amazing testimony on your web site. My Christian life is one of ups and downs. I long to be at rest in Jesus. Though I know Him as my Savior; there is still turmoil in my life. I pray that just like Lewis, I will come to rest in Him so that He will be my all in all! USA
By the grace of God I visited your web site. I was spiritually charged, moved, and thrilled. My spiritual electricity went stronger to find that you have what we need for spiritual growth. Right now I don't feel like my feet are touching the ground because of the desire that has been ignited in me by prayerfully reading your teachings. We hunger and thirst for your teachings. As a pastor, I humbly pray that the Holy Spirit visit your hearts to be our spiritual mentors. Kenya, Africa
I am a pastor. God spoke to me through your website. Can you help us with resources to train our pastors and church leaders? Most of them have no training. Any help will be a blessing. Uganda, Africa
My name is Susana and I'm handicapped! Last month I had extensive surgery! I can't work, so I don't have money to buy Christian books! If you have printed material, could you send me, please? Portugal
MINISTRY OUTREACH PROJECTS
We are delighted to announce that we have our first foreign translation completed! The Ultimate Makeover/A New You is now in Spanish: El Cambío Defínítívo/Un Nuevo Yo. This is our primary evangelism/discipleship tool designed to introduce someone to Christ and provide a basic foundation for the new life in Christ. If you know some people that can use this material, let them know it is available. Also, if you are aware of those who might want to help fund this mission project please ask them to contact us.
What if SOURCE MINISTRIES earned a penny every time you searched the Internet? GoodSearch.com is a new search engine that donates about a penny per search, to designated charities. It's powered by Yahoo, so you get great results. Just go to http://www.goodsearch.com and enter SOURCE MINISTRIES INTERNATIONAL as the charity you want to support.
HELP OUR TROOPS: Operation Sandbox is now including a copy of our booklet, The New You Preview, in their care packages. This is a great way to encourage our troops that are sacrificing so much for our country. This booklet is an excellent Evangelism/Follow-up tool that can provide our troops with the spiritual reinforcements they so desperately need. Please pray about helping fund this MISSION project on behalf of our American military.
The Macedonian call of our Lord to the Apostle Paul in Acts 16:9 was to the point, “Come and help us!” Likewise we invite you to assist us in these ministry projects. As a faith-based mission ministry we operate on the generous gifts of God’s people. Therefore, your prayers and gifts are very much needed and always greatly appreciated!
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INSIDE SOURCE 2005
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A Great Day on the River!
One day my son Drew and I took a much-needed break and went fishing on the river with some friends from GRF (georgiariverfishing.com). We all had a wonderful time. I managed to catch 14 Bass. My son Drew got a 5lb 15oz Shoal Bass, which is quite large for that type of Bass.
However, a few weeks earlier when we went out on that same river, it was totally different. I caught 6 fish, but Drew didn’t get any (very unusual for him). And to make matters worse my kayak flipped. I fell in the water and lost my fishing rod and reel along with 2 tackle boxes. It was truly a “praise the Lord” moment!
Since we returned to the same stretch where I lost my fishing tackle, I ask the Good Lord to show me where they were. I am pleased to report that I found my rod and reel in 3 feet of water, about 75 feet downstream from where I fell. Drew found my 2 tackle boxes further down stream by the river bank. We found all my stuff in about 30 minutes. Amazing! I estimate that I recovered approximately $400 worth of gear. Thank God for answered prayer! All in all, I think we were doubly blessed: a great catch and the recovery of my fishing tackle! Yeah, God really does care about the small stuff!
We appreciate you caring about us and the ministry God has called us to do. Thanks for your gift and prayers!
The Good Book says the Good Lord created all things for our enjoyment, and I'm glad He did cause I sure do ENJOY FISHING!!!
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A wonderful response to our new web site: The first week that our SOURCE MINISTRIES website was online, December 7, 2005 we got 2600 hits. Praise the Lord! We rejoice at such a strong initial response. Please help spread the word about the teachings, testimonies and other helpful info available at www.sourceministries.net. And be sure to check back often to see what’s in the NEW section.
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Christmas Greetings!
A lot of media attention has been given recently to removing the name “Christmas” from this holiday season. Tragic, and utterly absurd, since Jesus Christ is and forever shall remain the reason for the season. Even if some people elect to use the word holiday, they are still conceding that it is a HOLY day.
And so it is! December 25 is the day set aside to celebrate the birth of the Holy Son of God—our Lord Jesus Christ. Of course, as Christians we should celebrate Christ every day!
Here at Source Ministries we celebrate Him daily by proclaiming the liberating message of our new life in Christ. This year, in addition to our normal ministry of preaching, teaching and counseling, we have added 3 ministry tools: a “Good News” weekly email, the book Introducing The New You, and a website www.sourceministries.net.
Your prayers and financial assistance are greatly needed to get this liberating message of Christ to the world. Please pray about making a Kingdom investment today to Source Ministries. Together we can make a difference for eternity!
Yours for a CHRIST-filled Christmas,
Lewis & Lue Gregory
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INSIDE SOURCE
1999
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MABUHAY (Greetings from the Philippines)
Our Philippine mission trip of July 21-August 3, 1999 is now history. It truly is His story that we want to share with you. The Philippine Christians are continually saying that God is good. He certainly demonstrated His goodness to us on our trip. Not only did God provide the money for our expenses, but also enough to feed approximately 300 youth and 150 leaders, as well as provide transportation for the leaders. God is good!
Edith, age 17, expressed her gratitude for God's goodness in a letter.
I am very thankful to God that He sent such wonderful friends. Thank you for teaching us from God’s word about salvation, being a strong Christian, facing our giants and being prepared for the future. Your teaching was very clear to us. Also, thanks for being a good model of Jesus Christ. In a short time I saw in ya’ll the compassion for others, even children. You have a heart to share the gospel. I especially thank you for praying for the healing of my father.
Edith requested that Andrew pray with her about her father Eddie, who was very ill. He had been sick off and on for 2 years. Recently, he had become extremely ill and the doctors could not help him. He had been bedfast, unable to walk for 3 weeks. They thought he was dying. Yet Edith would not give up. She was very persistent about our praying for her father. Finally, the Lord worked it out for us to go to his house one evening to pray for his healing.
However when we arrived, we realized that there was much more involved than
just a need for physical healing. We spent over an hour counseling and praying with him. During that time, the Lord revealed that his health problems related to a conflict with his neighbor that had occurred 2 years earlier. The neighbor had hired Eddie and 2 of Eddie's friends to work for his company. However, after 2 months of working, they were not paid. They became very angry with the neighbor. Harsh words were exchanged and bitterness set in. Eddie said he had forgiven his neighbor, but his attitude indicated otherwise.
The Lord revealed that this bitterness and unforgiveness was having a major effect on his health. It also became clear that Eddie did not know the Lord, even though he claimed to be a Christian and read his Bible often. Once I shared about salvation with him, he acknowledged that he was a sinner, repented of his sins and received Jesus Christ into his life as his Lord and Savior. Then Eddie truly forgave his neighbor. At that point, his countenance lifted. The dull, depressed, despondent look was replaced with peace and joy. Once the strongholds were broken we were able to pray for his physical healing.
Doug, Drew, Edith, Eddie and Dale
The next morning Eddie got out of bed and went to work! That evening we stopped by to see him. He was sitting with his daughter; both were beaming with joyful exuberance. God is so good!
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INSIDE SOURCE 1993
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DESTINATION: AFRICA
The time is fast approaching for our next mission trip. We leave Atlanta August 3 for western Africa. Our first stop is the country of Burkina Faso. We will be there
from the 5-9 conducting a pastors conference and ministering to believers. From the 9-13 we will stay in Ivory Coast where I am scheduled to speak at a large leaders conference. They are expecting some 4000 ministers from 32 countries to attend. Another 2000 lay-leaders will also be present. This is the same group I shared with 3 years ago.
We are expecting a magnificent work of the Lord! The Lord impressed me with Isaiah 35 for this mission endeavor. Please pray that everywhere we go people will see the glory of the Lord and the excellence of our God.
BACK TO THE PHILIPPINES
Dr. Charles Solomon of Grace Fellowship International gave this very kind recommendation for us regarding a leaders conference in the Philippines.
I have a friend, Dr. Lewis Gregory, who does considerable work in the Philippines. He teaches along the same lines and would be a blessing to your people there.... The Holy Spirit has attended his meetings with great blessing, and I commend him to you.
Pray that the Lord would make His will known about working with Pastor Fernandez in a leaders conference. I also believe the Lord would have us return to the Philippines to assist Pastor Ben Hernandez this winter. Trust the Lord to work out all the details.
KESWICK CONFERENCE
A marvelous door of ministry opportunity has opened to a new audience of spiritually minded believers. Bill Raws, director of America's Keswick in New Jersey, has invited me to conduct the Thanksgiving weekend Singles Retreat November 26-28, 1993. The Keswick ministry has a long and rich spiritual heritage. The ministry began in 1875 at Keswick, England where believers would gather regularly to perpetuate the great awakening, which occurred in the mid 1800's. They have been instrumental in carrying the torch of spiritual awakening ever since. I am very grateful for the privilege of participating with them. Please pray that Christ would be manifest in a mighty way among us (2 Corinthians 2:14).
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