June, 2020
|
As we enter the summer months, I wanted to share what Friendship Ministries and Russ’s teachings have meant to me.
Interestingly, for years as a member of St. John’s Presbyterian Church in Devon, I saw mention in the Church’s Sunday bulletin of the Friendship Ministries meetings on Friday mornings in our Fellowship Hall downstairs, and for a couple of years, I kept saying to myself “Boy, |
I would love to check that out.” But, my life was too busy to make the time and take the leap.
Then, one day (several years ago), my good friend, Ed Riegl, mentioned to me to check out Friendship Ministries at St. John’s, and I finally said to myself that I need to check it out. And, I am so very grateful that I accepted Ed’s invitation.
My faith journey had been developing and strengthening for some time; but, little did I know that the very difficult struggles of our two adopted children in their teenage years and continuing into their young adulthood would test the patience and faith of both my wife and me. Those struggles for our daughter have led to low self-esteem, drug addiction and suicidal ideation, which resulted in her being a resident in a 3 month in-patient program in Nashville at the beginning of the COVID shutdown in March, 2020. While she has made lots of progress, there is SO MUCH more that she needs to work through. Her struggles have been gut wrenching, heart breaking and maddening, all at the same time.
Over this period of time, I have been strengthened and encouraged by Russ’s teachings and the prayers of not only Russ, but also other members of Friendship Ministries. I am eternally grateful for all of those prayers and support. They have been a Godsend.
I have learned to adjust my expectations for my children (that are in line with where they are, not where I want or think they should be), to lean every day on Christ for strength, wisdom, patience and compassion, and to become like a farmer (where I look for opportunities to plant “seeds” with my children and to trust in the Good Lord that they will take root in His time, not mine). In short, I am so much more at peace with myself and in my relationships with our children and my wife. That is an enormous blessing.
As we head into a summer that is hopefully much more normal than what we experienced last year, I ask you to prayerfully consider supporting Russ’s ministry at Friendship Ministries. His ministry is life-changing.
Your friend in Christ,
Then, one day (several years ago), my good friend, Ed Riegl, mentioned to me to check out Friendship Ministries at St. John’s, and I finally said to myself that I need to check it out. And, I am so very grateful that I accepted Ed’s invitation.
My faith journey had been developing and strengthening for some time; but, little did I know that the very difficult struggles of our two adopted children in their teenage years and continuing into their young adulthood would test the patience and faith of both my wife and me. Those struggles for our daughter have led to low self-esteem, drug addiction and suicidal ideation, which resulted in her being a resident in a 3 month in-patient program in Nashville at the beginning of the COVID shutdown in March, 2020. While she has made lots of progress, there is SO MUCH more that she needs to work through. Her struggles have been gut wrenching, heart breaking and maddening, all at the same time.
Over this period of time, I have been strengthened and encouraged by Russ’s teachings and the prayers of not only Russ, but also other members of Friendship Ministries. I am eternally grateful for all of those prayers and support. They have been a Godsend.
I have learned to adjust my expectations for my children (that are in line with where they are, not where I want or think they should be), to lean every day on Christ for strength, wisdom, patience and compassion, and to become like a farmer (where I look for opportunities to plant “seeds” with my children and to trust in the Good Lord that they will take root in His time, not mine). In short, I am so much more at peace with myself and in my relationships with our children and my wife. That is an enormous blessing.
As we head into a summer that is hopefully much more normal than what we experienced last year, I ask you to prayerfully consider supporting Russ’s ministry at Friendship Ministries. His ministry is life-changing.
Your friend in Christ,
Steve
Steve Scolari
Steve Scolari
Contributions can be mailed to Friendship Ministries, PO Box 55, Devon, PA 19333
or online by clicking the "Donate" button below.
For information on stock donations, please call our office at 610-430-6630
or online by clicking the "Donate" button below.
For information on stock donations, please call our office at 610-430-6630