June 2009
Dear Friends and
Family,
As I have sought to improve the level of my recovery and move forward in ministry, I had set a goal to run the Indianapolis Mini-Marathon back in May. I had sent out a request for you be a member of my support team by your prayers and by making a donation to our ministry as I made my run. I am writing to update you on how God worked in that venture.
First of all, I want you to know that I was absolutely thrilled and humbled by the loving, sacrificial, and encouraging responses sent by so many of you. Every week since I first sent out my request, donations and encouraging notes have come in, right up to last Sunday.
Let me share some of the blessing and results of my run. First of all, the run helped me to continue to push forward and improve my physical, emotional, and mental health. It helped me to set a consistent time for exercise in my schedule, which many of you know how difficult that is to establish and to keep. It also helped me in a spiritual way as I ran long distances and while I ran, I prayed and listened for God’s voice and dreamed of what God could have in store in the days ahead. The stamina and passion of running is indeed a metaphor for me as I look to run the real race God has for my life.
One of the greatest benefits of my run was the running team that came alongside me before, during, and after my run. That team consisted of three very special people.
My sister, Louise, flew in from Nevada to spend a week with me and run the mini-marathon.
She
showed her love and support for me throughout my cancer journey and truly went the
extra mile in running with me. I will treasure her love and support forever. Another
teammate was a dear brother in Christ from the Detroit area who came to Kokomo and ran with
me. Eric Gottschling blessed me when he called a few months ago and let me know he was
coming to run with me. He not only ran with me, but he stayed another day to minister to
our church family on Sunday. Eric is a great guy and I count him as a dear friend.
Thanks Louise and Eric! (Louise, me, and Eric together after the
run)
Another blessing I want to mention is the continued outstanding encouragement of my physical therapist. Michelle Nicholson has been my therapist throughout my recovery. She is an expert in her field, a Christian, and volunteered to run the mini-marathon to encourage me in my recovery. And run she did! She really paced me and we ended up running the 13.1 miles in 1 hour, 53 Minutes and 8 seconds. I desired to finish under two hours and she made sure that it happened by setting a pace that was an average of 8 minutes and 39 seconds per mile. I’d say that’s not bad for a 50 year old cancer survivor. Thanks Michelle!
Below is a picture of Michelle and me crossing the finish line along with another post-race
photo.
Another blessing I have gained by the run is the positive response my wife, Donna, has had through all this. Since the run, she has begun an exercise regimen and is preparing herself to join me in next years run. I am very proud of her efforts and her results so far, but more than that, I have seen the spark of life return to her countenance and a spirit of hope and joy arise in her outlook. It has been a tough 5 years and I am rejoicing in the way this event touched her life and helped her begin to move forward from the overwhelming grief, pain, and loss she has experienced. Below is a photo of us together.
I want to thank every one of you who believe in how God is working in our lives, pray for us, and have contributed to the ministry of the New Beginnings Church Family. I believe that our church family is uniquely positioned and now better prepared to reach out to the people in the Kokomo community with the good news of Jesus. With the month of May’s unemployment percentage in Kokomo at 19%, I believe people are more open to God and His voice in their lives. Our desire is to be genuine, passionate witnesses for Christ and help people find Christ as their Savior. Your support and contributions have been a powerful source of encouragement and provision reminding us that God works powerfully through His people.
Let me share one story with you as I close. In May, 2008, after the mini-marathon, I went to get my hair cut. I went to a new place and met a young lady named Melissa. As she cut my hair, we talked about life and I shared with her about all that was happening in my life and how God had helped me. She also shared about how life’s journey was going. I got my hair cut by her a couple more times and in December, she attended one of our worship services. Around the end of April, she began attending again and finally brought her boyfriend, Kurt, with her. I visited them a couple of weeks ago in their home and that evening, both of them placed their faith in Jesus as their Savior. They have attended services faithfully and Melissa has gotten involved in a small group and will be helping in our Vacation Bible School and Kurt is getting involved as well. They have a lot of things to get straight and little by little, we are seeing them make changes based on their love for Jesus Christ. As I write this, my heart is filled with joy in having the privilege of still being alive and being able to be part of seeing sinners receive Christ and see God do a transforming work in their lives from the inside-out.
This is what your support is going to and it is my desire to populate heaven and make it hard for anyone to go to hell that lives in the Kokomo community! Our Lord’s command was for us to make disciples….and we are endeavoring to fulfill the call He has placed on our lives. So with genuine faith, enduring hope, and sweet love, I am gearing up and running the real race God has called me to run, which is to win souls and make disciples who make disciples.
Thank you again for your love, prayers, and support. As of last week, support donations were still coming in and over $7300.00 has come in from friends and family in the U.S and Canada. To God be the glory, honor, and praise.
If you still desire to be a supporter, your donation can still be sent to our new treasurer: Just send a note with your donation saying it is for the Mini-Marathon Fundraiser. Send it to:
New Beginnings Christian Fellowship
C/O Bill Guffey—Treasurer
P.O. Box 309
Kokomo, Indiana 46903-0309
My theme song for my run was a song by Casting Crowns called “All Because of Jesus.” I’d like to invite you to listen to it. Just click on the web address below, worship Him, and celebrate with me!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmaSe3z4_ZA&NR=1
I hope to hear from each of you!
Love in Christ,
Jeff