Ministry Update

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Subject: Ministry Update

Vinny's Testimony

I grew up hearing the truth of God’s Word and was taught the way of salvation through Jesus Christ alone. However, at an early age I found some magazines with sensual images. Although I did not fully understand what I saw, I knew it was wrong and said nothing about it. This began a pattern of secret sin that would continue to grow for the next twenty years. By the time I was in high school, I was fully given over to the party lifestyle and had a secret addiction to pornography, which only grew more and more depraved. I tried counteracting my sin with a “nice guy” image but by my mid-twenties, this double life had made me miserable inside and too proud to tell anyone about it. I knew something had to change and so I slowly started turning back to God.

After about two years of “getting back into church,” God started showing me my hypocrisy. I still had this unconfessed sexual sin habit that I was trying to fight on my own. The Lord drastically changed the direction of my life when, after a few hours of battling temptation one night, I gave in and immediately felt a heavy conviction—unlike anything I had ever experienced before. I made a desperate internet search and eventually found Pure Life Ministries’ 20 Truths series on YouTube. After hours of watching those videos, I finally turned to the Word, opening to John 8. When I got to verse 44, He showed me that I was not the good guy who had no enemies, but I was, in fact, an enemy of God. I confessed my sin the next day and quickly found myself enrolled in the Residential Program.

Once I arrived on campus, God immediately went after the comfortable life that I had fallen in love with. I was surrounded by people I did not know and could no longer rely on the image that I had built up when I was home. God started confronting me on how selfish I was. He showed me that almost all my thoughts were about me and how consumed I was in my mind with fantasy. I can see now that He did not reveal this to punish me, but to free me and teach me how to fight against the natural tendencies of my sinful heart. The focus was on my lack of relationship with Jesus and what I needed to do to cultivate it.

I am so grateful for what God did for me in the Residential Program, and that He also called me to come on staff here. Through daily devoted time in the Word and in prayer, God continues to give me a heart that is more willing to surrender my desires and find joy in seeing His will being accomplished. The past two years of submitting to Him have been far more fulfilling than the twenty-nine years I spent living for myself!

When Jesus Returns, What Will He Find?

Once again, we are hosting our Annual Conference at the Ark Encounter—the top-rated Christian attraction which happens to be located only minutes away from our ministry. Our staff have been praying and planning for months and we are excited to see what the Lord will do in each soul that attends. We encourage you to register now as we anticipate hearing fervent messages compelling us to seek the Lord and continue fighting for a deeper life in God.

A new aspect this year is our Preconference Call to Purity event, which is especially intended for those who want real answers to help them resist the increasingly sexualized culture we are living in. We will hear from Jeff and Rose Colón on how to be pure in passion, pure in purpose, and most of all, pure in heart. Have you considered inviting a friend or your small group to attend the Preconference on Thursday, April 21st? We pray this will be a powerful, encouraging and lifechanging evening.

We look forward to seeing everyone April 22nd-23rd at the 22nd Pure Life Ministries Annual Conference!

Answers to Prayer

Updating our Video Studio

When the Lord led us to purchase our administration building back in 2003, no one was imagining that the strange addition on the back of the original building would one day become our video studio. We made that happen over 10 years ago, and we’ve seen nothing but increases in the number and variety of our productions, the platforms we can be found on, and, most importantly, in the number of souls we’ve been able to influence.

But now it’s time to rework that space to provide more flexibility and more creative looks to our videos. We have several projects on the horizon that will incorporate these changes, and we couldn’t be more excited!

The goal for the video department has never been to gain followers or “likes.” Our desire has always been to share that there is victory from sexual sin through Jesus Christ, and to point the hopeless and broken to the Word of God. Though we may be improving the quality of our video production, we will never move away from that essential message.

God Answers Prayer

Like many residential programs, we experienced a drop in students due to the COVID pandemic. It was much slower to develop here at Pure Life, but eventually we went from operating at capacity (75 students) with a waiting list, to housing just 55 men on campus.

Knowing there are countless souls who desperately need the help Pure Life offers, some of our staff initiated a campaign to change this situation. It wasn’t better graphics, a social media blast, or some marketing ploy… it was PRAYER. During our Friday prayer meetings, staff led the students to diligently pray for new applicants, and follow-through for those who had already applied. The student body flooded the throne of grace with these requests and our merciful God swiftly answered. Within a month we had 15 students arrive and now anticipate a short waiting list!

Over and over, we have seen that an impactful ministry is not based on techniques, better skills, or nicer facilities, but it is simply our faithful Father inclining His ear and answering our cries! Praise the Lord!

Staff Talks and Special Meetings

Recently, our leadership team sensed the Lord calling some of our younger staff to step up and minister in a greater capacity. Pastor Steve held a sermon preparation class for those who believed the Lord might be calling them to preach. Since then, we were blessed to see God use several of our staff to impact the students. Josh talked about the importance of repentance and the great love of the Father from the story of the prodigal son, while Trey exhorted the men to be transformed by beholding the face of Jesus. And most recently, Josh B. shared on the need for transformation and a renewed mind. He encouraged the men to believe that it is the Lord’s desire to accomplish this in their lives while they are here.

We also had the privilege to hear a series of messages from our dear friend, Dave Leopold from the Faith Homes in Zion, Illinois, who was able to come down at the end of February and speak for four straight days. It has been a couple years since we held special meetings on campus, and we are so grateful that the students and staff were able to experience these wonderful, reviving services.

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Subject: Ministry Update