Ecclesiastes 3:1 declares,
“To everything there is a season,
A time for every purpose under heaven:”.
As dark and frightening as the wildfires were this past year we saw that the generosity of people in our community, the caring and aid provided by so many for those who had faced such devastation, we knew that more than ever it was God’s clarion call to minister to our neighbors. Because so many rallied to the aid of Set Free we were able to go out into the community and distribute food, help clean up fire damaged homes and pray with and witness to those seeking help from governmental agencies.
And just as that dark season of fire gave way to opportunity for ministry, it also left long term damage in it’s wake as well, with more than 6,800 fire related Unemployment Insurance claims, the struggles to replace homes, jobs and vehicles as well as the recovery from the lives lost and given throughout the fighting of the wildfires. Just as the previously scorched earth has sprouted new life from it’s soil, so too is God providing new life and hope through these events.
The destruction left in the wake of these fires would have been as meaningless as Christ’s death on the cross would have been without His rising from death three days later, but we know that as God works all things for the good of His people, so too does the season of death and devastation give way for rebirth and the powerful hope born of God’s promises fulfilled.
Unfortunately though with so much need in southern California the amount of resources have needed to be spread quite thin, and the support which sustained us through the wildfires has, in many cases, been followed by desire on the part of our supporters to help but a lack of immediate ability to do so. The “one, two, three” punches of the fires, Christmas and the year’s end have left many people and organizations lacking the time, treasure and talent to donate to God’s cause through Set Free.
The New Year is here though, and we come to the season when we celebrate the rising of the Living God. Resurrection is not just an event in the life of Christ though; it’s the promise of God for all His people that we would be able to die to our selves and rise again in new life. For 25 years this has been the purpose of Set Free Ministries, to reach out to the hopeless and helpless, those who most other ministries are not equipped to help and who society has judged as afflicted beyond repair, and rather than institutionalize them God directs us to minister the Gospel to them.
In the past month alone we have had 38 man and 12 women dedicate their lives to developing a proper relationship with God by going to our Discipleship Training Facilities in Dulzura and Flynn Springs, 16 people advanced from the first phase at the Ranches to second phase at the Fabulous 7 motel and 6 people received their “Gold Seals”, having completed a full year in the program. Maintaining this type of ministry at this pace would be impossible if not for God’s abundant Grace.
As we approach Easter we are reminded through the sacrifice of Christ and God’s generosity in going to such lengths to reconcile us with him. All around us we observe the results of God’s generosity in forgiveness, patience and Love. We know too that the generosity of people such as you is important, and that blessings fall on those who assist God’s people in ministering to people in need. This is why we hope and pray that you might take advantage of the opportunity to help us with your Time, Treasure or Talent in continuing to provide a sound and stable environment in which people seeking a relationship with God can find refuge, support, encouragement and an education in the application of The Bible in their lives.
To find out how you might help Set Free Ministries please call (619) 447-4498
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