The Blessing of a Life Laid Down

By Nate Danser

If we keep our eyes open as we read the Bible, we observe that since the beginning of time, God has always been trying to steer humans away from the paths of death and onto the paths that lead to life. His words to ancient Israel still echo throughout the ages:“See, I have set before you life and death. Choose life!” (Deut. 30:19b esv)

As we grasp this meta-theme in Scripture, we are able to better understand why God so vehemently warns us about sin—because it keeps us from the paths of life.

Life in 21st-century America is perilous. The sins of lust and pride have become staple elements of our cultural identity. We celebrate them instead of fearing and mourning them.

Pride and lust are the foul fountainhead from which all other sins spring. Examine closely the words of that ancient serpent as he tempted Adam and Eve, and you will see that his words were laced with pride and lust. When they listened to him (and rebelled against God), the deep well of their hearts became a spring of pollution, soon welling up with every other sin.

Presumably with that event in mind, the aged apostle John issued a strong warning to his beloved church, urging them to renounce all forms of lust and pride, for “all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not from the Father.” (1 John 2:16 esv, emphasis mine) Similarly, the apostle Peter traced all of our world’s multitudinous moral woes to the “corruption that is in the world through lust.” (2 Peter 1:4 esv, emphasis mine)

The word lust (Gr. epithumia), used in these two passages, refers broadly to strong, selfish desires—not just sexual ones. As Steve Gallagher has said, “Lustful living is hellish living.”

Yet the Scriptures not only seek to keep us from the paths of death, but to show us how to walk on the path that leads to life!

“One gives freely, yet grows all the richer,” Solomon said. (Proverbs 11:24 esv) “If you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted,” wrote Isaiah, “…the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire.” (Isaiah 58:10–11 esv) And the Lord of Life Himself said, “Whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” (Matthew 16:25 esv)

In these passages, the God of Life is seeking to lead us to the source of spiritual blessedness. If lust breeds misery, a life of mercy develops within us a spiritual atmosphere of blessedness. There are no words to adequately describe the inner joy that comes from a life dominated by humility and unselfishness. As we learn to give of ourselves in order to meet the needs of others, a spring of spiritual life begins to flow from within—satisfying our own needs and flowing outward to others.

Ours is a world that glorifies selfish ambition and indulgence. In such at atmosphere, the call to lay down one’s life can seem utterly foreign—yet it is the very path to true life. The way of Christ is not marked by the pursuit of personal gratification but by a steady surrender to God and sacrificial love for others. As we turn from the dead-end roads of lust and pride and embrace the self-giving way of the cross, we discover a life that is rich, full, and deeply satisfying. This is the blessing of a life laid down:not only do we find life for ourselves, but we become vessels through which the life of God flows into a broken world.

Watch &Pray

Pure Life Ministries 25th Annual Conference

“I have never been to a conference like this before, and I’ve never seen a ministry like this before. I pray that everyone at PLM will continue to keep their eyes on Christ and continue to do His work for His glory alone. Thank you for the eternal impact you’ve made

in my life!” -Yadira

Every year, we invite graduates, friends of the ministry, and those considering applying to our programs to join us in Kentucky for two days of earnestly seeking the Lord. And every year, we have come to expect one thing above all:that God will meet us in power. His presence is what we long for, what we pray for more than anything else—because we know that the greatest need of the human soul is to live in the presence of the Lord and to encounter His power firsthand.

The people who gather with us each year come from very different places in life, but many share a common story. Some arrive bound by sexual sin, desperate for freedom. Others are wives at the end of their strength, searching for hope. Still others are graduates who have continued in the fight of faith, and long to be refreshed again by the Spirit of God. Whatever their story, one thing is sure:the Lord is faithful to meet the brokenhearted, the hungry, and the weary.

This year’s Annual Conference centered on a theme that could not have been timelier:Watch and Pray. As the world grows increasingly dark, this theme reminds us of the very moment Jesus Himself faced the powers of darkness—and how He responded by turning to the Father in desperate, prevailing prayer. In these perilous times, we too must learn where true strength is found.

Each of our speakers ministered with passion around the theme of Watch and Pray.

Steve Gallagher spoke on the ultimate purpose of prayer—intimacy with God. He reminded us that, according to Scripture, the entire point of the universe is to fulfill God’s purpose to claim a bride for His Son.

Dustin Renz issued a wake-up call to the Church, urging us to shake off spiritual slumber and become alert to the battle raging around us.

Nate Danser emphasized prayer as God’s appointed means for frail human beings to access the supernatural strength needed to live the Christian life.

Jeff ColÓn powerfully challenged us to make sure we are storing up oil in our lamps as we await the return of our Bridegroom, Jesus Christ.

We were also blessed during our Alumni &Friends Benefit Banquet, where attendees generously gave toward our general fund. Thanks to the faithfulness of our donors, we not only met, but surpassed our fundraising goal, bringing in over $147,000, well above the target of $120,000. We are deeply grateful. There is simply no way we could do what we do—ministering to the broken and proclaiming God’s truth—without the continued support of those who believe in this work.

To all who attended, prayed, gave, and encouraged us:thank you. You are a vital part of what God is doing through Pure Life Ministries. And as we watch and pray together, may we be found ready when He comes.

“The conference was amazing! I had come feeling weary and worn from the hard things we as a couple have been walking through since my husband came back from the Residential Program a year ago. I appreciate the atmosphere that is present;to come as you are to meet Jesus, the space to worship, to grieve, to praise. God truly was present there and my husband and I both came away refreshed. Thank you staff for all you pour into making this happen. Most of all THANK YOU JESUS!”

Fran

“Kathy’s testimony of finding solidness in the storm through a prayer life stirred something in me. Her reminder that prayer isn’t about feelings but about faithfully meeting with a God who stoops to listen reignited a fresh, burning desire in me to fight for intimacy with Him daily.”

Mandy

A Bittersweet Farewell

By Steve Gallagher

In January of 2002, a distraught man arrived on the campus of Pure Life Ministries. Ed Buch had graduated from seminary and had worked as a counselor in a residential program for drug addicts. Yet indulgence in sexual sin had left his life in ruins.

He came to Pure Life with very little hope. He felt unlovable and practically unredeemable. But God met him one night out on the ridge behind the ministry. It was there, in a completely unexpected way, that God literally put His arm around Ed and told him that He loved him.

Nothing would ever be the same after that night. With a new level of hope and confidence, Ed threw himself into seeking the Lord for the remainder of his program. In the meantime, Karla participated in the Wives Program, which gave her valuable insight into how she could help her husband. Ed soon returned home a completely changed man.

Not long after this, they were invited to enter the Pure Life Ministries intern program. This provided a wonderful opportunity to seek the Lord as never before. Both responded with a quiet passion to learn God’s ways in this new environment.

Ed began working as the customer service representative while Karla managed the books. Over time, Ed’s natural administrative giftings began to emerge, and it wasn’t long before the business side of the organization was placed entirely in their hands.

In 2015, Ed’s role changed when a turnover in staff left the Residential Program without a director. To everyone’s surprise, Ed volunteered to take over this crucial position and spent the following years pouring himself into the lives of the students. Eventually, he became the ministry pastor—a position he has held ever since. And now, after giving the best twenty years of their lives to PLM, the Lord is calling them to relocate to Delaware.

There truly are no words to adequately describe the loss of these two. The value of Karla’s expertise in handling all financial matters has been incalculable. Ed’s broad experience in nearly every facet of running the organization will be an immense loss to the ministry. The one comfort we hold is our confidence that God is leading them. We trust that He will make up for this loss to the ministry and will be with them in this new venture of faith.

An Update to Our Best-Selling Bible Study

Since its first publication in 1993, The Walk of Repentance has been one of the perennial resources of Pure Life Ministries. Through its sometimes challenging and often encouraging readings—paired with in-depth, biblically based studies—students in all of our counseling programs, as well as countless small groups across the country, have experienced deeper spiritual growth while journeying through this daily devotional.

Last year, as part of an initiative to refresh the design of the entire “Walk Series,” we gave The Walk of Repentance a brand-new cover and layout (with updates to the remaining studies coming soon).

This year, we’re excited to announce that it’s also receiving a digital upgrade!

At the start of each week, readers will be able to scan a QR code that links to an introductory video offering context, encouragement, and heart preparation for the week ahead. We believe the thoughtful, Spirit-led insights provided by our speakers will be a great benefit to anyone serious about growing in their relationship with the Lord.

You can access this exclusive content by ordering the book through our online bookstore.

New Life at Pure Life

New life is what this ministry is all about, and we are privileged to witness the Lord imparting it to the men and women we serve, time and time again. But over the past six months, the Lord has blessed us with another kind of new life… babies! That’s right—since November 2024, four (yes, four!) new bundles of joy have been added to our Pure Life family. Meet Josephine Joy, Malachi Joseph, Daniel James, and David Mishael (not pictured). Aren’t they just precious? We certainly think so—though we admit we’re a bit biased.

We’ll confess, our cheeks are getting a little sore from all the smiling, and our arms are a bit tired from holding each of these little ones—but we wouldn’t have it any other way. They truly bring joy to our hearts and a sweetness that can brighten even the toughest day. We’re so grateful to see the Lord expanding our Pure Life family in such a beautiful way.

Ongoing Projects at Pure Life Ministries

In the early 2000s, Pure Life Ministries purchased a building in the heart of Dry Ridge to meet the growing needs of our expanding ministry. For years, this space has housed our administrative staff and outreach team—serving as a vital hub for our daily operations. Now, after decades of faithful service, the building is in need of significant repairs to ensure it remains usable for years to come.

One of the most urgent needs is the front deck, which has sustained considerable structural damage. We are currently exploring options to remove the entire concrete deck and brick façade and replace them with a durable, low-maintenance composite alternative. Additionally, approximately 10% of the brick exterior requires repair to protect the integrity of the structure.

Inside our campus, we began renovations on our Chapel this May—and the transformation is already taking shape! A beautiful new accent wall now highlights the stage area, and fresh paint has brought new life to the walls and ceiling. Over the coming weeks, we’ll install new carpet, reconfigure the sound booth area, and upgrade key audio, video, and lighting systems to better serve both our students and outreach efforts.

Meanwhile, our largest staff house faced an unexpected setback this spring. Heavy rains caused part of the lagoon embankment to erode significantly. We are actively seeking a long-term solution and would deeply appreciate your prayers as we evaluate the best course of action.

We’re also happy to share some completed upgrades to our Student Center. Built 18 years ago, this building had begun to show its age. Thanks to generous support, we were able to install new countertops, sinks, faucets, and lighting in the bathrooms, along with new cabinets and countertops in the main dining area—bringing a fresh, clean look to these much-used spaces