Stefanie Lewallen with The Write Talk loves to do just that.. Write and Talk! When she is not writing she is no doubt speaking. Stefanie offers over 26+ years of professional writing services including voiceovers, commercial writing, radio, feature writing, ghost writing, PR, marketing and fundraising. Her speaking engagements include women's groups, youth groups, speaking to writer's groups on "Writing as a Ministry", how to get started, how to edit your own work, and incorporating humor and real life to your stories. Her articles have been seen locally and internationally in The Commercial Appeal, Delivered Magazine, The Tri-State Defender, Bartlett Express, Memphis Business Journal, and many more. If you are interested in booking Stefanie for your next event or would like to inquire about services please email Stefanie at stefielew@yahoo.com.
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Faith in Action Fighting Abuse
Grace Rivers Featured in Local Magazine
In the June 2010 issue of “Delivered” magazine, StefanieLewallen wrote a very good article on the ministry of Grace Rivers. It very clearly displayed the heart and soul of our ministry. This is the first media representation of the ministry that has been done. We are thankful for her insightful writing following the interview she had with John Smid..-Grace River Blog
Saving Grace
By Stefanie Lewallen — John Smid, founder and Executive Director of Grace Rivers Ministries, wants others to know the Jesus he knows.
Grace River’s mission is to challenge believers to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit to represent Jesus. He believes it can be done by being honest, authentic and real with people.
According to Smid, The uniqueness in this ministry is to not just give people the four spiritual laws, but to invest in them relationally, to show them “grace, mercy love and redeeming hope.”
Smid believes that our world is very hardened. “too often believers wear a mask of Christianity said Smid. He wants people to take off those masks, say what real people say and not feel like they have to hide themselves to show Jesus. ‘Many believers do not understand how to show Cod’s grace. We tend to be legalistic. Smid defines legalism as any expectations and standards we may set for those we encounter He wants us to instead send the message I love you the way you are.
Relationships are very important to Smid. He loves people for who they are and wants to genuinely share Jesus with them. He believes that being their friend and walking alongside them gives the Holy Spirit more of an opportunity to work in peoples’ lives, “People make people subjects” stated Smid. “We go into a relationship and instead of seeing the person we see a goal. They become a target of accomplishment instead of people, instead of relationship.
Smid, who once lived in the homosexual lifestyle, remembers, that once he knew the love of Christ, he began to love and appreciate the Scriptures and the teachings, of Christ. He is now out of that lifestyle and has been married for twenty-two years. “If someone Is struggling with an issue, we have to be spirit led when dealing with them.” He refers to Galatians 6 where we are instructed to catch those caught in trespasses and catch them gently. Smid believes that sometimes helping other people may also include getting out of our comfort zones and reaching out to people who are from different backgrounds and races.
Grace Rivers is also the reverse of a typical church. ” A church invites you to church. We invite people into our lives.” commented Smid. The ministry works on individual relationships first than invites the individual to home group meetings, missional groups and celebrations gatherings. “My objective is to not have any agenda, goals or requirements. I just really want to know them and want them to know the Jesus I know. Jesus loves them and cares about them.” ” I reach out to anybody,” remarks Smid. “But I do have a burden for the gay community. I have a burden to communicate the love of Christ.” Smid wants us to get outside of our churches so that the people we get to know may want to follow us through the front doors someday. “We can’t just go after people and think that their sin is any different than ours. We all need God’s grace.”
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