Life Link

Well, we are all on the cusp of yet another New Year: 2025. It’s always hard to believe when a new year comes but with it always comes that little but powerful word HOPE.

I’ve always wondered why it is included with the big three in 1st Corinthians 13 where we are told that faith, HOPE and love are the cornerstones of the Christian life.

Then after some prayer, researching verses and thinking I realized it’s true power and why it is worthy of being included as part of the foundation of our life of Christ. Faith is unstoppable, love never fails and HOPE is indestructible. It never dies, it cannot be stomped out and it will never go away. Rather, it will continually grow and bear fruit of the truth which God has put in our heart. My favorite illustration of this fact is Romans 4:18 Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping–believing that he would become the father of many nations. For God had said to him, “That’s how many descendants you will have!”

One of Leanne and my favorite Bible verses is Romans 15:13 which says, “May the God of HOPE fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope, and the power of the Holy Spirit.” So, it is my prayer that we all go into the new year, every year, every day and even every moment with the highest HOPES in God not only fueling our faith in His promises but sustaining us in the knowledge that Jesus never fails. May we all believe that every day can be better with God so that we will be filled with His joy and peace as we see Him do great, good and wonderful things.

As Leanne would always say: pray the best, think the best and believe the best which comes from her favorite verse Ephesians 3:20 “Now glory be to God and by his mighty power I work within us is able to do far more than we could ever dare to ask or dream of – infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires thoughts or hopes.”

HAPPY NEW YEAR AND MAY GOD BLESS US ALL IN A NEW AND SPECIAL WAY IN 2025. HOPE for the best because the best is yet to come.

We at Access-Life pray that everyone had a God blessed Christmas and was impacted in the special way by the knowledge of God sending His one and only Son for each of us! We also hope that every day we will enjoy the matchless gift of Jesus that God has given us and all that it means to us. From forgiveness, redemption, rebirth and life in Christ to protection, provision and the meeting of our every need so we can walk in the light of his love living in the holiness, goodness and purity of His life of abundance. :-)

Hey there boys and girls of all ages and abilities. Look who just graduated from college, our super senior ministry intern, Hannah Grace Spradling ! She has work so hard with a Philippians 4:13 attitude and prayed, been persistent, persevered and patient. Now with God’s help she has achieved it. Congratulations, Hannah!

Unfortunately, now that she has graduated and will be working full-time as a teacher in January, she will no longer be our senior ministry intern. However, since she is such a multitasking busy bee she’s going to be transitioning into our East Tennessee area ministry lead in a part-time position. We are so excited to have her continuing to work with Access-Life as she has been a blessing to so many for over 2 years. So please join us in congratulating her at hannah@access-life.org on this great achievement of graduating from college as well as transitioning into a new position with the ministry while she works full-time as a teacher.

Way to go Hannah and looking forward to the great things God will do through you in the future. We are always amazed how God does so many good things through the hearts and minds of His people!

Our annual Access-Life Christmas Jingle and Mingle in East Tennessee was back at Jefferson City Christian Church this year, with many new variables and not typical in many ways. However, God was there as always blessing people with His love and joy.

There were smiles at the fun activities but the picture above of the group surrounding and praying with one of the participants speaks volumes of God’s presence working touching lives and meeting needs. That is ministry in action and a very special site and moment that I hope everyone will notice and enjoy. Thank you so much to all of the volunteers who came together to help our ministry intern, Hannah Grace Spradling make ministry happen and we pray that everyone continues to enjoy this wondrous Christmas season.

By the way, for those of you with the heart for prayer. The young man in the picture who is surrounded anf being prayed for by ladies at the event is having surgery to remove a rod from his leg today per his father. I’m sure all prayers are appreciated. 

Well, the big week is finally here! That’s right, this coming Thursday is Thanksgiving. It was always Leanne‘s favorite holiday and we both enjoyed it to the fullest with faith, family, friends and fellowship.

It is such a wonderful time of the year when we become more aware of the many gracious blessings that God pours out upon us everyday. As we see these many blessings through our eyes of faith, it makes us realize how good God is and how much he loves us. When we focus on these two facts it brings about a true humility where we can not only better walk in the light of His life in which we as believers live but also rest in Him knowing that He is taking care of us in such a unique and tender way.

I hope and pray that the verse below (Jeremiah 32:40) and the artwork that I drew earlier this year not only encourages you in these facts but inspires you as the verse references.

Finally, I will leave you with my favorite Thanksgiving Day verse: “There in the presence of the Lord your God, you and your family shall eat and shall rejoice in everything you put your hand to, because the Lord your God has blessed you. Deuteronomy” 12:7

ENJOY GOD’S MANY GOOD GIFTS AND HAVE A BLESSED THANKSGIVING!

Hey there guys and girls well ages and abilities! In case you missed it, September 21st (the Saturday after our North Texas Expo), we held our annual Fall Fun Day at Shady Grove Church in Dandridge Tennessee. 

As usual it was an amazing God bless success with volunteers opening up the autumn season with blessings of arts, crafts, games, food and more on individuals and families living with disabilities in the area in Jesus’ name! 

We have been doing this almost as long as the Expo in East Tennessee and it has become a real community tradition. That is one of the things I love about our East Tennessee Outpost team as they have built a wonderful community of friendship, fellowship and fun for individuals and families living with disabilities all centered in Christ. 

Although, personally I’ve only been able to attend a couple I can tell from the smiles in the pictures I see that God is there touching lives and meeting needs that only he knows. 

A lot of folks think disability ministry is complicated but Shady Grove has figured out quickly that it’s all about the Golden rule and just loving on people with the love of the Lord. No special training needed as God tells us he will equip the called. :-) 

Thank you so much Helen and those at Shady Grove for making this special event happen every year. Coming from East Tennessee myself I think it’s best if I close this post with a happy fall y’all. :-)

Hey there boys and girls of all ages and abilities. Our Access-Life fall newsletter is in the mail. It is a very special edition as it highlights not only my number one and only girl, Leanne Goddard but the recent North Texas Expo that we did in her honor. Since we cannot mail it out to everyone we know, I thought posting it would be the next best thing. I hope you’re encouraged by the words and pictures as well as the life testimony that Leanne lived for our Lord Jesus. I also pray that God will continue to grow her legacy and make a significant impact on individuals and families living with disabilities for His kingdom.

So, we are finally wrapping up everything on the wonderful 12th annual Access-Life in North Texas this past September 14th which had over 1,000 attendees and I wanted to give everyone one last look at the good things that God did that day with the attached photo collage. It was all done to share the love and gospel of Jesus with individuals and families living with disabilities and honor my precious girl, Leanne Goddard. It was the first step in seeing her legacy here on earth grow and expand but it will not be the last as every activity, Expo, mission trip and outreach we do going forward will be to honor her and her heart’s desire to see people come to know Jesus. She and I both know well the truth that if you have Jesus you have everything you need. The fact that with God all things are possible, we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us and hope in God never disappoints exponentially magnifies this truth that the ministry will continue to share with the special shining light of her legacy igniting our passion to move forward and Christ alone. Thank you again to everyone who answered God’s call and made this outreach bless many in Jesus’ name!

So, the service for my sweet bride on Saturday was amazing! It was beyond my highest hopes, prayers and expectations. The presence of the Lord was there in such a special way permeating the atmosphere that many were blessed as we glorified the Lord for all the good that he has done and honored Leanne Goddard for the wonderful life she lived and the eternal impact she had on so many people. It was the best day I have had since her passing and while I know this will be a lifelong healing process, everyday that passes is just one more day closer to when I will be with Jesus and her and Heaven. Until then I will strive with all I have to glorify the Lord and honor her legacy while moving forward in Christ with life and the Access-Life Ministry. Thank you so much to everyone who attended and those who watched online [over 1,000 watched and currently over 2,200 have viewed the service]. Thank you to everyone who has been praying, sent a card, flowers and/or ministry gift as well as shared a kind word in a variety of ways. For those who shared in the celebration of Leanne’s life service, I pray you were blessed and encouraged and we will all be renewed in our resolve to see God’s kingdom expanded here on Earth which was Leanne’s heart.