Great Grief and Great Joy

This is the most difficult thing I’ve ever had happen in my life and now have to share. I do not want to do it but I know the longer I procrastinate the more pressure and pain I will bear. Through the prayers of many and the strength of our Lord and savior Jesus, I am just now able to communicate with you all personally.

In extreme sorrow I must tell you that my most precious gift from our Lord Jesus and the love of my life Leanne passed away yersterday at 11:15 a.m. It was extremely sudden as just hours before we were conversing and she was asking me about things to do for ministry work. She had been very stable at home for months but for the past few weeks had said she was not feeling well. She even took antibiotics for a UTI two weeks ago. For some unknown reason her oxygen levels dropped quickly this morning and her heart rate increased greatly at the same time. We turned on our oxygen and her O2 levels bounced back but her heart rate remained at 158. So we called the EMTs and they began transporting her to the ER. Rachel one of our caregivers was in the ambulance with them and said that she was not responsive at this time and by the time they reached the hospital she did not have a pulse.

By the time I arrived at the hospital they had been working to revive her for over 40 minutes without success. I had prayed earlier and put her in the hands of Jesus and while I’m extremely heartbroken and do not know how I will ever recover, God knew it was time to take her home to be in the arms of Jesus. From talking to the doctors she probably had several infections going on that had gone to the sepsis level which then hit her heart. While she is the biggest and strongest fighter I know her body could not come back.

Please be praying for me that Jesus will comfort me as only he can because Leanne was my soulmate, the love of my life and my most precious blessing from our lord Jesus. She was always there to encourage me, support me and be there for me no matter what I needed. I love her more than words can express as we have always had a special bond centered in Christ. I cannot imagine a more godly, wholesome, holy, beautify and wonderul best friend, wife, and forever lover of my heart than Leanne. She loved me with a fierce and unwaivering heart and I only pray the God enabled me to be and do the same for her.

At this point I am an extreme grief but do know because of the best gift Jesus has ever given Leanne and me which is our salvation in Him alone that not only is she safely and joyously in his arms in heaven but we will be reunited there together in his arms someday. At this point that is all I know and all I care.

Thank you all so much for your prayer and care in our lives. As able, either I or someone else will update you all on plans for her celebration of life service as she was a person worth celebrating greatly.

Access-Life 2024 Summer Newsletter – A Community of God’s Blessings in East Tennessee!

Hey there boys and girls of all ages and abilities!

After some super help from our faithful Royal ambassador, David Browne and new ministry volunteer Jessica our summer newsletter is in the mail. :-)

We want to make sure that everyone gets to hear the good news of what God is doing through Access-Life and see the pictures of the smiles he is putting on so many faces. So attached is a copy of the front and back pages for you all to see, read and share as God leads.

If you’re interested in giving towards the work that God is doing through the ministry you can also go to the link below to donate to any of our area activities from Central Florida and East Tennessee to North Texas and Belize or the ministry overall. :-)

https://forms.ministryforms.net/viewForm.aspx?formId=6a91faee-c486-446c-9963-83e797ae0ae9

We hope you’re encouraged by our 41st “Life Line” issue and pray that you’re inspired by knowing that God is still doing good everyday in our world.

Access-Life “East Tennessee Expo”: July 22, 2024 – God Pours Out the Sonshine!

Hey there boys and girls of all ages and abilities! I just wanted to share that Big Dave our Royal Ambassador and I made it back to Florida after an adventure filled trip in Tennessee and a God blessed Expo there. :-)

It is always amazing to see God work through the hearts and minds of his people to do such great things. We are blessed to be a blessing and in God’s economy we are always blessed in return which pretty much sums up this year’s Access-Life East Tennessee Expo.

We had great teams of volunteers from New Freedom Missionary Baptist Church and Shady Grove Church on top of our SUPER Ministry Intern, Hannah Grace Spradling [as well as Jerry Carter who transported our equipment trailer with a last minute notice] that were right there with us every step of the way before, during and after the big outreach. We even connected with a few new churches like Mt Vale Church and First Baptist Church of Bean Station and loved seeing Jesus shared through the Gospel bracelets activity, Prayer and Care booth and even the Bibles that were in each goodie bag.

The exotic petting zoo with a baby kangaroo, monkey and mini camel was a big hit along with the horses from Ridin High. :-) We also gave 50 boat rides on pontoons to over 400 attendees and there was even a 12 lb carp caught at the fishing activity! All of the activities flowed with blessings from the Lord to so many individuals and families living with disabilities that we are so grateful for God’s presence permeating the Expo as always and filling so many people with His Joy.

We’re still working on wrapping everything up but wanted to say thank you to everyone who prayed, served and gave to this outreach. May God bless you richly for your time, resources and generosity!

Hope and pray you enjoy the photos and collage! You can visit the East Tennessee page on our website at Expo in East Tennessee – Access-Life for mor pictures, too. :)

Access-Life “Spring Fling”: March, 23 2024 – Sharing the Story!

Hey there boys and girls of all ages and abilities!

In case you missed our Spring Flings at Mount Vale Church in Jefferson City, TN or at Grace Evangelical Church in Leesburg, FL on March 23rd or the pictures from them on our website or social media, here is a photo collage to give you a glimpse of the fellowship, fun and faith that was shared that day.

We were blessed by God to have over 100 participants and volunteers in total celebrating the joy of spring and the Easter story. There were cross and prayer box crafts, bowling and bingo games, prizes, snacks and of course Resurrection eggs that walked everybody step by step through the miraculous story of Jesus’s death and Resurrection.

We are so thankful to have such great church partners with Mount Vale and Grace Evangelical as well as key volunteers and our ministry intern Hannah who with the help of Doug and Leanne made everything happen through God’s direction and strength and in Jesus’ Holy name. :-)

We hope you enjoy the photo collage and will plug in when our local Outpost celebrate the Christmas story at our Jingle and Mingles on December 7th.

Access-Life 2024 Spring Newsletter – Sonshine in Belize!

Hey there boys and girls of all ages and abilities! Our spring newsletter is finally in the mail and it’s all about our great trip to Belize. :) Since we cannot actually mail a copy to all of our ministry family, I have attached copies of page one and two for everyone to read and even share. You can also go to our donation page at Access-Life Support (ministryforms.net) if you feel led to contribute to the work God is doing through @accesslifeinc You can just text the word “give” to 352.309.1455, too. :) Hope you have a God blessed “green” weekend!

Access-Life “Belize Mission Trip”: February 5-12, 2024 – More Work to Do?

2024 was the first year we have been able to take a full team to distribute mobility items and medical supplies to Belize since 2020. Last year we had an incredible team of FIVE “Philippians 4:13” attitude folks who distributed an entire 40 ft container from Texas and this year we had a great team of ELEVEN veterans ready to expand God’s touch even farther. However, only one 20-foot container from Florida arrived in time to be distributed at the Hearts of Christ mission as the 20-foot container from Texas was delayed and did not arrive until after we left.

Despite this disappointment, God showed up in special ways as we were able to not only distribute food and bibles to folks directly in a local community but also give away a few mobility items outside the homes that we visited while out in the streets on the outskirts of the capital city, Belmopan.

We were also blessed by God to be able to serve 67 families, three disability organizations, one local medical clinic and the only hospital in the area with the wheelchairs, rollators, walkers, crutches, canes and medical supplies that arrived in time. As a bonus we give out Bibles, hygiene kits, Gospel bracelets and toys with prayer to those who came to appointments at the misio. It was amazing to see God touching lives and doing all we did in Jesus’ name. :-)

With the Texas container now safely at the hearts of Christ mission and storage, we are planning to go back in April and finish the job! So please join us in prayer for God to not only guide and direct us but provide everything we need to bless others in his holy and precious name.

Words, words, words…

Words are the most powerful thing that we have and can use as Christians to encourage someone, expand God’s Kingdom, bring holiness into a situation and to repel darkness from a path forward.

This can obviously be done with words spoken to God in prayer, praise and thanksgiving as well as requests, repeating God’s will and supplications all done with the confidence of God’s light, love and promises bringing more of heaven to Earth with every breath we speak with Him.

Person to person, words fitly spoken can have an impact just as great under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. When we attempt to speak the words God would have us share, people are encouraged, hearts are inspired, countenances are uplifted, peace permeates the atmosphere and a sense of victory and safety bring relaxation.

I love the verse Proverbs 16:24 that says, “pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones”. What a beautiful picture of a soothing and relaxing conversation that brings about a sense of goodness so that others can truly enjoy the moment with a wholesome heart.

It is so easy for us all to be influenced by the world until we become cynical and numb to the ungodly and unholy rather than be in tune with the wholesome goodness that God wants us to enjoy and communicate to others. How easily words of criticism slip out, unholy metaphors or simply things that we have heard for years and years come out of our mouth without even realizing what we are saying.

Maybe that is why the psalmist in Psalm 141:3 says “take control of what I say, oh Lord, and guard my lips”. The Bible says that controlling our tongue is one of the most difficult things for us to do. It takes purposeful and thoughtful thinking and self-discipline to truly be uplifting, inspiring and a blessing to others with what we say. So, I’m going to start my New Year’s resolution early and diligently try to be aware of what I say in hopes that it will bring more of heaven to earth and be a blessing to others.

Let me leave you with these final verses from first Peter 1:15 and 16 to set a reference to what God expects of us as believers. “But as he which hath called you is holy, so be holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written; Be ye holy for I am holy”. It is a tall order but the more we try to follow this admonition the more wholesome, holy, peaceful, enjoyable and wonderful the world will be. :)

Access-Life “East Tennessee Christmas Jingle and Mingle”: December 2, 2023 – Happy Birthday Jesus!

What a God blessed day we had in East Tennessee! Our annual Jingle and Mingle was so much fun! Thank you to all who participated! Special thanks to Wendy O’Neal and Hannah Grace Spradling for all of their hard work, Linda West Schumann for getting the nativity book slides ready and Robbyn Cassell for helping decorate last night! So, appreciate all our ministry volunteer that served. 🙂 Merry Christmas everyone! We at Access-Life hope you all have a blessed one!

#Jesusisthereasonfortheseason, #merrychristmas, #DisabilityMinistry, #Jesusforeveryone