One of the many trees Melodie decorates for the Christmas season!

One of my favorite accounts in the Christmas narrative is the announcement of the Angel to the Shepherds:

And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Luke 2.10

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. Luke 2.11

And after seeing the Christ Child the Shepherds were overwhelmed in seeing God in the flesh.

And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. Luke 2.20

The announcement of the Angel and the response of the Shepherds never becomes old or so apathetically familiar.  For me it is the heart of Christmas … God presents himself to us and we get to respond to his revelation in our lives.  It’s like this Camellia Tree on the side of my house.

It blooms in late November when all other vegetation is no longer flowering.  It gives me such great joy in a barren time of the year.  Like the Shepherds, the star lit heavens and being the first to see the divine life in Bethlehem, filled their hearts with such exceeding joy.  It was uncontainable!

We trust that this Christmas, your hearts will be also be filled with great joy as we commemorate and celebrate Emmanuel — God with us!

We want to share with you a few of the joys from our Intersect ministry.

LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

KENYA 2024!

This is one of my core Kenyan leadership teams that will be hosting one of three Leadership Events we call Lifeworkx.  Each event will be 3 days in length from February 9-21, in Nakuru and Nanjuki Kenya, north of Nairobi.

My leadership teams there are preparing for 550 to 600 pastors and leaders who will attend the events … some traveling a great distance.  These pastors are hungry to grow in their calling, wanting to be equipped for greater kingdom impact.  My long time mentor of 53 years, and founder of Lifeworkx, Steve Aldrich, will be joining me for these trainings.  Last year, God brought 375 pastors together for growth and encouragement.

Lifeworkx is a self discovery experience of our true identity in Christ that exposes the lies of the enemy and embraces the truth.  Lifeworkx will reveal our personal preferences of leading and how to flow in our strengths to make the greatest kingdom impact through Spirit led transformation.

I am told that one of the trainings is to be broadcast on a Kenyan national TV station.  Steve and I are truly humbled by what we sense God may want to do in the lives of these spiritual leaders and beyond.

None of this is possible without prayer and fasting.  My Kenyan teams are already deeply committed to seeking the LORD in these ways.  We invite you to step into this spiritual preparation with us through prayer.

The cost of these 3 events is $15,000.  The Kenyans are doing as much as they can, and Steve and I are trusting the LORD for his faithful provision.  Would you prayerfully consider joining us financially for this assignment that is way beyond Steve and me, but not beyond the LORD’s gracious hand?

Intersect is a 501(c)(3) and all donations are tax deductable.

Spiritual connections at Intersect are not only about engaging in those Spirit led conversations, but also in training in how to make those transitions in normal conversations that lead to the gospel.  The International Mission Board is one of those examples.

International Mission Board.  It was a joy for me to join this group of missionary candidates preparing to go all over the world to have spiritual conversations about Jesus.  We had opportunity for real conversations that led to faith in Christ in downtown Richmond, VA.

Meet Stacy!  While Colin [in training] and I were on the streets of Richmond looking for opportunities for spiritual conversations … God connected us with Stacy on the street corner.  Stacy had been a long time addict and lost everything living in the kingdom of darkness [the world’s system where Satan is the ruler].  I asked him if he wanted to live in God’s kingdom and live in blessing, joy and love where Jesus is the ruler of our lives?  He said YES, and the smile shows the result of rejecting the lies of Satan and now believing the truth of God that he is now the beloved son and a member of God’s kingdom forever!

Another sensitive spiritual connection centered around a 58 year old man who was living in an open wound for 52 years.  He encountered sexual, verbal, and emotional abuse by teens when he was 6 years old.  We reframed the lie that what happened to him was not his fault and kept him from sleep for years.  He embrace the truth of what really happened and how God was with him through his darkest moment all those years ago … and Jesus set him free and he has been sleeping through the night ever since.

Coaching is about creating an environment to find a new perspective or a desired goal or a way through some tough spot in life, and then inviting Jesus and his wisdom into the equation.  

Finding a new path to life - joy - and healing is not always easy.  But as we worked through Parker’s story of shame and pain from childhood wounds, he was able to move from childhood logic of believing the lies of the events and words spoken to him, to adult logic of who God says he is and began to live as God sees him.  He moved from hurt to healing.

Other coaching conversations included …

• Disrespect and verbal abuse.

• Dealing with assault and sexual abuse.

• Setting goals to overcome low esteem and low personal confidence.

• Through the renewing of our minds through the Word.

• Helping a board of directors to balance vision and accountability.

Owen, Jackson, Austin, and Bryson.  Sometimes we pretend to be someone or something we are not.  At Intersect, we want to help connect your life to Jesus and to live in your true identity and to live out your kingdom purpose for the glory of God.

If we can serve you through any aspect of our Intersect Ministry, I hope you will reach out to us  with any interest you may have.

We so value your prayers for the ministry of Intersect and would be honored to pray with you as you are led to share your life with us.  Thank you for your financial support and loving us in Christ!

And should you be led to partner with us financially, there is a place on the website to donate.  You can also support through a direct mail to Intersect.

On the website, there is also a place you can connect with us with your prayer concerns. We would be honored to pray with you. 

Merry Christmas!

BRENT + MELODIE

740.637.2432

discoverintersect.com

Romans 5.8

Soli Deo Gloria

Special thank you to Novus Creative for being our creative partner.