Summer Update 2022

The Proclaimer

In February, our mission took us to four of the refugee camps in Uganda. Picture Dallas,Texas, a city with 1.4 million people, the 9th largest city in the United States. 1.4 million is the number of men, women and children who fled for their lives from South Sudan and the Congo and now live in refugee camps all over the UN. Each camp is broken into zones much like a neighborhood. A zone is determined by demographics of men, women, children, and pastors. On average, each person will spend 20 years of their life in a camp. The number one teaching pastors desire is how to experience and give away biblical forgiveness.

Our mission in Uganda was to equip pastors to spread the message of biblical forgiveness. God provided many divine appointments. One particular afternoon, God placed a member of our team on a mud bench in the back of a church hut as a refugee shared about forgiveness. Using a small hand-held device known as a proclaimer, he was able to share the gospel in the language of those in this particular camp. At the end of his teaching, our teams were introduced and strangers from the other sides of the world united on the power of biblical forgiveness.

“The Proclaimer,” shared a sincere interest in learning more about the Fresh Start ministry so he traveled 2 ½ hours by small motorcycle across bumpy dirt roads to participate in one of our Fresh Start seminars. After two days, 50-60 pastors were able to lay down their hurts and grievances in exchange for freedom only found through Christ. As the Proclaimer approached us with tears and a smile a mile wide, we could see the willingness in his heart to give away what he had just received as he processed the hurts in his heart.

The Proclaimer has now become a conduit for the message of Fresh Start across Northern Uganda and keeps in touch with our team. Recently, he shared how others are being set free as they join seminars similar to the ones our team led in February. Pastors from differing tribes can now walk together in forgiveness and freedom. Because of the generous support and prayer from our team at home, over 200 pastors in four different locations were equipped with Fresh Start resources and training. This will enable the message of Fresh Start to spread to various refugee camps and across Uganda through faithful men and women like our new friend, the Proclaimer.

Thank you for your prayers and support as we continue to pray for a Fresh Start for every heart in every nation!

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20

Living OUR Legacy: “Go Vertical!”

Have you ever been in a situation where you felt unappreciated or unwanted? It may be in your job, family, friend group, or church. Have you ever felt discouraged and wanted to quit? What should a person do in any of these circumstances? Why are you doing what you are doing? Who are you living for? Are you living for the approval of man, or are you living for the Lord?

What we need to do is “Go Vertical!”

In 1 Samuel 30:6 the scripture says, “David was greatly distressed, for the men spoke of stoning him because the souls of them all were bitterly grieved, each man for his sons and daughters. But David encouraged and strengthened himself in the Lord his God.”

What does “Go Vertical” mean? It means to lift your eyes and heart to the ONE you are living for… JESUS. HE needs to be the reason you do what you do, or don’t do. If you are living to please HIM, you will find peace and satisfaction. You will never please everyone, therefore, be the person who God has made you to be and live for Jesus!

As we say in Fresh Start… “GO VERTICAL!”

-Mindy Petersen

2022 Fresh Start Banquet

On April 9th, we gathered at the Scott Conference Center in Omaha, Nebraska for our annual Celebration Banquet. Coming together as a Fresh Start family is one of our favorite times of the year. The banquet is a time to truly celebrate all God is doing in and through the ministry, how we sense He is leading us for the upcoming year and a chance to hear how He is moving personally in each of your lives.

Our theme this year was the ripple effect of a changed life. We heard from various speakers including our International team, Next Gen team, and Pastor Daniel Hicks from Georgia who challenged us to consider how God is inviting us to take care of our hearts.

Without a doubt, the best part of this year’s banquet was seeing the impact of ordinary people interfacing with God’s word. It takes humility and courage to obey what God is asking us to do. When we obey and step into the call to forgiveness He has on our life, lives are changed. If we will participate in doing what we can do, God promises to do what only He can do in our lives.

Nothing compares to the power of a heart in the hands of God!

We are praising God for His faithfulness in each of our lives personally and for His guidance over the Fresh Start ministry. We are extremely grateful for your generosity and responding to the call to serve and invest in the ministry of Fresh Start. Because of your support, we have more prayer and financial partners and are pleased to announce that we have met our match campaign! Thank you for investing and participating to see a Fresh Start for every heart in every nation!

“Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.” John 14:21