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Our work is to minister to ministers, clergy spouses, widows and orphans, to empower, equip, encourage and
educate.
100% of your gift goes to the work
of the ministry.
The Mission of Lydia
Ministries International
The
mission of Lydia Ministries International is to encourage, empower and equip pastors and their families as they serve God.
Lydia Ministries International has heart, and at the heart of LMI are the pastors we minister to around the world-- from India,
to Ghana West Africa, to Kenya and Tanzania, to the Middle East, to Israel, and of course, across the United States of America.
We love pastors and their families.
It is our "heart" to reach out to pastors and to churches, to encourage, empower, educate, and equip pastors for
the ministries they are called to by God.
In the seven years since LMI was founded by Rev. Susan Walker
(Ferrell), we have ministered to thousands of pastors around the world. We have discovered that-from the slums of Nairobi
to the mud villages of India to the refugee camps of Ghana to the settlements of Israel-- pastors everywhere have a common
need and desire, to be better equipped to serve God and to meet the needs of their appointed "flocks".
It is this need that drives Lydia Ministries International
to reach out to pastors around the world, to remind them that God knows where He has planted each pastor, and that God has
not forgotten even one of them-no, not one. Join us in reminding pastors everywhere that God loves them, too!
You may ask, what buisness is it of ours to minister to the pastors in other countries and cultures and denominations? Surely
these are not our parish! John Wesley said, “If you ask on what principle
I acted, it was this: ‘A desire to be a Christian; and a conviction that whatever I judge conducive thereto that I am
bound to do; wherever I judge I can best answer this end, thither it is my duty to go.’ On this principle I set out
for America; on this I visited the Moravian church; and on the same am I ready now (God being my helper) to go to Abyssinia
or China, or whithersoever it shall please God, by this conviction, to call me. ------ “But, in the meantime, you think I ought to sit still; because otherwise I should
invade another’s office, if I interfered with other people’s business and intermeddled with souls that did not
belong to me. You accordingly ask, ‘How is it that I assemble Christians who are none of my charge, to sing psalms,
and pray, and hear the Scriptures expounded?’ and think it hard to justify doing this in other men’s parishes,
upon catholic principles? “Permit me to speak plainly. If by catholic principles
you mean any other than scriptural, they weigh nothing with me; I allow no other rule, whether of faith or practice, than
the holy Scriptures. but on scriptural principles, I do not think it hard to justify whatever I do. God in Scripture commands
me, according to my power, to instruct the ignorant, reform the wicked, confirm the virtuous. Man forbids me to do this in
another’s parish; that is, in effect, to do it at all, seeing I have now no parish of my own, nor probably ever shall.
Whom then shall I hear, God or man? ---- “I look
upon all the world as my parish; thus far I mean, that, in whatever part of it I am, I judge it meet, right, and my bounden
duty to declare unto all that are willing to hear, the glad tidings of salvation. This is the work which I know God has called
me to; and sure I am that His blessing attends it. Great encouragement have I, therefore, to be faithful in fulfilling
the work He hath given me to do. His servant I am, and, as such, am employed according to the plain direction of His Word,
‘As I have opportunity, doing good unto all men’; and His providence clearly concurs with his Word; which has
disengaged me from all things else, that I might singly attend on this very thing, ‘and go about doing good." Journal of John Wesley by Wesley, John (1703-1791) Yes, the world is our parish, to minister to
ministers of the Gospel, to their spouses and children, and to widows and orphans (because according
to the Bible this is true religion, to minister to widows and orphans!) We invite you to join us
in this ministry and mission. Please contact us TODAY to find our how YOU can strengthen the Body of Christ through Lydia Ministries International! While we are always greatful for finanical donations
(and 100% of your donation goes to the ministry of LMI), there are many ways to get involved, just take the first step and
ask!
Pastors Leaving the Ministry!
Studies Report:
Over 1600 ministers leave the ministry each MONTH.
90% of the participants surveyed knew of a pastor who had been forced out. These are pastors who are leaving the ministry,
some never return to any form of ministry.
35% of the pastors had followed a pastor who had been forced out. These are pastors are broken and hurting, many will
never return to the ministry.
23% of the particpants had been forced out themselves. These ministers now are working from wounded healers experience.
10% of participants in one survey followed pastors who had abandoned their ministries altogether! This is our loss! The
church can not afford to lose ministers. We need every minister that God sends to us.
According to one survey, the average stay was 18 months or less for pastors. From experience, and research backs this
up, it takes the third year of ministry that a pastor is in a church before he/she can really began to impact your church.
Look at the great loss the church is suffering because we aren't taking care of our pastors. We must support our pastors!
Pastors often suffer from isolation due to a lack of close friends. They also suffer from low self-esteem, strained and
broken family relationships, financial failings, and
spiritual fatigue and burnout. This in an "organization" whose commandments include the following:
"The man who is being taught the Christian message should share all the good things he has with his teacher."Gal.
6:6
"It was he (Jesus) who "gave gifts to mankind" he appointed some to be apostles, others to be prophets,
others to be evangelists, others to be pastors and teachers." Eph. 4:11-12
1 Timothy 5:17-18, "Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in
the word and doctrine. Scripture says, 'You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain,' and 'The laborer is worthy
of his wages."
Let's stop the "Exodus" of ministers from leaving the ministry! Let's minister to the pastors, caring for them
and their families.
Susan speaks with the authenticity that comes from experiencing the life of ministry. Her story will have you laughing
and weeping, rejoicing and reflecting. Susan proclaims the Biblical mandates for caring for your pastor(s) and she gives you
practical ways in which to follow those mandates.
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Lydia Ministries International is a Non-profit organization.
Your Gifts of any amount are greatly appreciated. The work of Lydia Ministries International is made possible
through YOUR gifts. 100% of your gift goes to the work of the ministry! |
Susan's Calendar is now being scheduled for 2013. Please email or write now to engage her
for your next ministry event: email her at lydiaministriesinternational@gmail.com
Please put in the heading: Scheduling: Lydia Ministries International
Please take time to enjoy this music,
the Prayer of Jabez. As
you listen, please ask God to increase the "tent pegs" -- the ministry -- of Lydia Ministries International as we reach out to pastors, their families, and churches around
the world. Please
take a moment to pray for your pastor, too.
Lydiaministriesinternational@gmail.com
Lydia Ministries International
290 Half Timber Drive Marion
NC 28752 USA
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