Here we are on the threshold of Christmas 2025.
Once again, we pause to ponder the significance of the holiday.
I understand that people who are twenty Christmases old and younger may not be the primary readers of this letter. Most readers are likely thirty-plus Christmases old. Some are into their seventies and eighties. What is left to marvel about Christmas after 70 of them? Have we wrung out everything we could possibly talk about when it comes to the birth of our Savior?
I hardly think so.
Jesus was born in Bethlehem – one place, one time, in the presence of relatively few people – and they were the only people who ever had this opportunity, to actually behold the incarnate God lying in a filthy manger, born as a human baby! They actually witnessed God being “born.” There was no way they could fathom the magnitude of what was going on – the eternal significance of the situation.
By and large, the world went about its business. But spiritually, a shift was set into motion. Things would never be the same. How monumental was the shift? It depends how observant you were. It was so monumental that we began to mark time by the birth of Jesus – time before His birth and time since. You can change BC and AD in an attempt to leave Jesus out of the history books, but guess what? The dividing line between the new BCE and CE happens to also be the birth of Jesus – so – there is that!
The arrival of Jesus was more significant than an occasion to reset the calendar by, and His Presence didn’t simply change the lives of a relative few 2000 years ago. The arrival of Jesus, the touch of Jesus, and the intervention of Jesus continues to reach into the lives of ordinary people every day.
The One who came to us in Bethlehem 2000 years ago wants to come to you today, tomorrow, and all the days of your life. And you can count on the fact that when He comes – everything changes!
Feb 1, 1978, was the night my wife Cindy and I knelt at our coffee table with a young pastor who led us in prayer to ask Jesus to forgive us of our sins and be our Lord and Savior. No bells, no whistles. But by the next day, I knew – we both knew – that everything was different. It was like a shift had taken place in our hearts and from there on, everything began to change. We have lived ever since in the continual surprise of His Presence.
I have lived over 17,000 days in the knowledge of Jesus being my Savior. My walk is never old, dull, or boring. In fact, after 70 Christmases, Jesus continues to show up in surprising ways all the time!
My prayer for you is that whether you have walked with Jesus for a lifetime, or you have just met Him, you are experiencing His life-changing power in your life. His promise is, “I will never leave you or forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5) And that changes everything!
“. . . anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun.” (2 Corinthians 5:15, 17)
Merry Christmas!
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Ministry Update
It's been quite a year... already!
This fall, Freedom House Ministries of PA became a stand-alone non-profit, furthering our mission to help men in the Delaware Valley live deeply into the Freedom Christ offers.
God is moving, and I wanted to give you a sample of what we see happening:
The men from our Monday morning Bible Study installed a new floor in the sunroom. The philosophy of the group's leader is that "you don't really know a man until you've worked with him." Relationship connections were deepened while giving Freedom House a huge upgrade.
November 1st was a work day where 19 men poured into the care and upkeep of the Freedom House grounds. One volunteered his tree expertise, an answer to prayer, as there was work to be done on multiple trees. Other guys split wood and cleared overgrown areas. The House received a wonderful facelift, and we celebrated with an impromptu cookout.
Our Friday Fires continued through the fall with our last outdoor Fire of the season in November. Over fifty men have been coming out monthly to eat together, build bonds, and listen to powerful testimonies of God's love, power and grace.
New Groups have been launched to help men continue to find freedom and growth in their faith. Bible Studies, Discipleship Groups and Sexual Addiction Recovery Groups are all meeting regularly. Our goal is that every man would encounter Jesus in deeper, life changing ways.
We hosted two Wild at Heart Basic weekends this year, and just recently conducted a brand-new weekend experience for veterans of Basic, titled Survival School. Seventeen men sampled the new material and were challenged to go deeper in their relationships with Jesus.
2026 will be Freedom House Ministry of PA’s first full year operating independently from Priority One. I am filled with hope and excitement for what God will do!
Together with the newly established board, it is our goal to impact men both in the present and for generations to come. We believe that when men are set free and transformed in Christ, the impact transforms their inner life, their home, work and communities.
I want you to know that you are a huge part of that impact!
Your regular giving enables more men to attend our events, or subsidize much-needed counseling. It also allows me to focus more of my time on helping men who need individual attention to grow and heal.
On behalf of so many men who are committed to fighting the good fight, THANK YOU. Your generous gift in this season means so much, and your on-going support is truly invaluable.
I pray a manifold blessing of return to you and your family this Christmas!
Strength & Honor.
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