Dear Friends,
November is here and we at JoyShop Ministries are very excited to share with you all that God has done this past year in providing the necessary resources to begin our huge dream project: Getting our workshop, “Seeking God First” into an affordable DVD series.
From the very first JoyShop I held at my home church in January of 2005, people were asking for it in DVD form. A year later, I had our church tape my workshop using poor quality DVDs that I had purchased at BJ’s! They were a hit except for one small problem . . . halfway through, the DVD would stop working and we were getting “nice” complaint calls. That is when I personally made the decision that I would not tape the workshop again until the ministry could afford to tape it professionally and of top quality.
Back in those days, my workshop was only two hours long. However, after many requests for more teaching, I slowly added to the workshop – and it is now close to five hours long! This type of a workshop can easily be made into a “series” that would be great in a church, Sunday school class, small group or retreat setting. The time has finally come to record the workshop! The taping will take place on Nov. 15-16 in the main ball room at the Lancaster Cork Factory Hotel.
Although we are extremely confident of the Lord’s leading and provisions, we have a responsibility to work hard and bring our best to this exciting opportunity. One way we are doing this is by hiring Shane and Kelle Ortiz, of Soteria Productions, based in Atlanta, Georgia. They have won more than 19 awards since 2002 and have clients such as Family Life Ministries, Grammy winning artists Third Day, Christian comedian Anita Renfroe, fast food’s premiere chicken provider, Chick-Fil-A and many other reputable organizations. Stephen Ostrander, a professional independent director in the world of film and video, will also be part of this team. He has won three Emmy awards for his work and most recently worked on the new film, “Courageous,” coming out soon from Sherwood Productions, the company that produced “Fireproof.” Not only are these people gifted with communicating powerful messages to their audiences but, more importantly, they love the Lord Jesus, and they thrive on anything that is going to reach more people with the gospel message of God’s love. I believe God has brought us together to produce the best possible product to reach the masses.
Using people of this caliber requires significant funds. We are looking to raise a total of $80,000 in order to give our best to God and His purposes. Your gift of $10, $25 or more is greatly needed and appreciated as we trust God to have all funds in hand by the end of November. Your gifts will affirm that we at JoyShop Ministries are correctly hearing God’s call for completion of a DVD.
Sometimes I ask God, “Is this project really worth spending this kind of money on the simple message you have compelled me to share?” As I have wrestled with Him on this because of my desire to be a good steward of any money this ministry receives, He continues to affirm the direction He is leading us. Sometimes it comes through the mail by an unexplainable significant contribution to the ministry. Other times it comes through personal notes received from young girls such as this one:


“Your message was very powerful and your story touched my heart . . . I was fighting back tears as I re-lived my own situation . . . . I, too, am 17 and have just gone through a pregnancy, but unlike you I took the easy way out and chose abortion. The procedure I chose was called a medical abortion, which is an alternative to a surgical procedure. In this way you can take a pill which causes the uterus to contract and expel the fetus. Around midnight after taking the pills I climbed out of bed and ran to the bathroom where I delivered my 8 week old fetus on the floor. Seeing my baby lying there, I screamed for my mother. I cried all night along after realizing what I had done. My heart was broken but my mother told me to pray, pray, pray. I did, and I felt God speak to me telling me that he forgave me and everything will heal over time. I now understand I cannot let my fears or the enemy speak over my life. Your testimony tonight offered more strength and help to me. Thank you for sharing.”
Other times it comes through a Facebook message like this one from a male who attended a JoyShop at the invitation of another student:
“Thank you for speaking at LMH this past Sunday night! It was very cool to hear your stories and it made me look back over my life again. This past week I've actually been getting up early in order to read the Bible and talk with God. I've tried it before but never could do it. So thanks for being the one who "pushed me over the edge." I'm so glad I came … Thanks again!
Friends, I just turned 54, and honestly, I don’t know how much longer I have to share this message. I am one person who can physically only do so much. Our message is foundational in meeting the need of a starving Church which no longer prioritizes daily time in God’s Word. Charles Stanley once said, “If you don’t have time for prayer and Bible Study, Satan is winning the war.” I need your help to get JoyShop’s message out to battle against Satan’s strategies of defeat in the lives of believers everywhere!!!
Time is running out; the Lord’s return is nearer every day and until He returns, He requires each of us to be faithful and multiply the “talents” He has given us!
May each of us be faithful with those talents! And may we hear on His return, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the JOY of your Lord.” (Matthew 25:23) Will you personally join me in this battle by contributing to this DVD project and affirm God’s call for us. The need as noted is great, but we believe God will provide through you. Thank you.
Serving together,
Anita
Anita Keagy
Founder, JoyShop Ministries

June Newsletter

Newsletter June 2010
Note from Anita
“’If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.’” By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.” John 7:37-39

If you are like me, most of you just skimmed over the above verse, not letting the content sink into your heart. I want to ask you to take a moment, close your eyes, and ask God’s precious Spirit to minister to your heart as you read the life-giving words of Jesus again.
A prerequisite to having the Spirit of God in our lives is a fundamental belief in Jesus. None of us can even say “Jesus is Lord” apart from God’s Spirit living within us. (I Corinthians 12:3) But having the Spirit of God within does not always mean that I am experiencing the fullness of His Spirit. So often I cry out to God, even beg, ‘Lord Jesus, fill me with Your Spirit,’ as if it is some supernatural phenomenon that is going to overtake me miraculously and I will now be a super duper Christian who always walks around pleasing God and never failing Him. Subconsciously I am looking for an “experience.” In other words, it’s all about me. But a few weeks ago, I was reading a sermon by A.W. Tozer, and this statement jumped off the page: “Many, many have failed to note Peter’s Pentecostal emphasis: The important thing in God’s plan was the fact that Jesus had been exulted in heaven, and that His glorification there had been the signal for the coming of the Holy Spirit . . . . the Spirit does not have to be begged – He comes when the Savior is honored and exalted!”
Being filled with God’s Spirit is not about me and what I may or may not experience. But more importantly, it is a heart whose greatest desire is to honor and exalt Jesus in all that one does and says. Together may our heart’s cry be, “Oh God, more than anything else, I desire for my life and my words to honor and exult Jesus. He is worthy of all glory! May each morning that I arise bring words of adoration and praise to my Savior.”

These past months, the Lord has allowed JoyShop Ministries the privilege of serving him in numerous settings. The JoyShop Team feels very blessed in that we are often able to see fruit from our ministry almost immediately.
Comments from recent retreats:
“I am leaving feeling re-energized and re-dedicated to my quiet time every day.”

”This has been most helpful for me to realize that I need to make God a priority.”

“I have not been consistent in seeking God first on a daily basis, but I am accepting the challenge of seeking Him first!”

“This was my first retreat! It was very inspiring and gave me a more clear direction as to how to read the Bible and get to know God. Thank you.”

“I have completed the 21-Day Challenge study this past year and continue to use those study principles in my reading. Thank you for these tools.”

“You have taught me a new way of looking at spending time with God on a daily basis. Thank you for coming into my life at this time.”

“I am anxious to put this info to use when doing my devotions.”

“I know the importance of a daily quiet time . . . in fact, I routinely teach it to other women. However, my own quiet times have fallen prey to my busy life. Thanks for the “kick in the pants” . . .

One pastor’s response to his congregation after the ministry’s challenge of seeking God first on a daily basis truly reflects my heart’s desire for everyone:
“I have had several good conversations about how great it was . . . to be challenged . . . to have a quiet time with God in the morning each day . . . this was a huge challenge and one that is not easily carried out without some accountability. I am writing to each of you to encourage you to not miss those meetings with the Lord each morning. For me the decision needs to be made before I go to bed so that my opportunity (alarm) clock wakes me up at the right time; otherwise, I would miss the meeting and need to get right to the agenda for the day . . . . let us encourage one another in this area that so easily gets attacked and crowded out by the agenda we have in our heads and calendars. If you are married, hold each other accountable by talking about your meeting with the Lord. If we all get serious about having a meeting with the Lord each day, we will see our marriages, families, neighbors, church and even this region transformed by the power of the living God.”
Amen and Amen!!!! Preach it, Brother Joe!

Prayer for the ministry:
Exciting days are ahead for the ministry and I praise the Lord for the many provisions and open doors he is giving us.
Please pray for:
--The working out of all the details in taping the JoyShop professionally in November including distribution of the DVD series.
--Kelle Ortiz, of Soteria Productions, who not only will be apart of the team who will be taping JoyShop in November but who has stepped out in faith and obedience to begin screenwriting for the film, “The File,” based on my book. She feels very passionate about the story and would like to help get it out to reach more people. We don’t know what God has planned or even if the screenplay will become a film but we are trusting that God’s will and purposes will be accomplished whatever the outcome. Particularly pray for her on Wednesdays. That’s the day she has set aside each week to work on this huge vision.
--Most importantly, please continue to pray that our hearts will remain hungry for a deeper intimacy with Jesus and that together we will continue to prioritize this most important relationship so that our lives will bring praise and honor to Jesus Christ.

PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR JULY 18. JOYSHOP MINISTRIES IS HOSTING AN ALL U CAN EAT ICE-CREAM SOCIAL AT MY HOME ON 2045 PROSPECT RD. WASHINGTON BORO, PA, AT 6:30. I WILL BE GIVING AN UPDATE ON THE MINISTRY AND SHANE AND KELLE ORTIZ, FROM ATLANTA, GA., WILL SHARE THEIR ROLE IN HELPING JOYSHOP MINISTRIES’ MESSAGE SPREAD THROUGH MEDIA. WE WILL SPEND SOME TIME IN PRAYER FOR THE FUTURE OF THE MINISTRY AND THEN HAVE SOME FOOD AND FELLOWSHIP!

March Update

April Newsletter 2010

“If you were to spend a month feeding on the precious promises of God, you would not be going about with your heads hanging down like bulrushes, complaining how poor you are; but you would lift up your heads with confidence, and proclaim the riches of His grace because you could not help it.” D. L. Moody

Note from Anita

Last night as I crawled in bed exhausted from the difficult challenges of my day, I stared at my alarm clock and told God, “I just can’t get up as early as I would like to tomorrow morning to spend time with you!” I knew that I had to leave my house by 7:00 a.m. in order to get to Millerstown for an all day JoyShop. Normally I like to allow at the very least one hour with the Lord before leaving for a speaking engagement. Of course, one has to allow additional time for make-up, hair repair and dress. I was emotionally drained and just didn’t have it in me. So I added the usual request to my statement, “Lord, if I need extra time with you in the morning then you will just have to wake me up. I can’t bring myself to set the alarm any earlier.”

It never fails, He wakes me every time! By 4:45 a.m., my eyes were wide open and I thanked the Lord for waking me and giving me the extra time to prepare for ministry. As I left my house this morning, I praised the Lord for His faithfulness in spite of my own weakness. His Word energizes me and I can step out to faithfully speak His Word, knowing that it will not be in vain. One of my favorite promises is from Isaiah 55:10-11, “As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”

There is so much to share with you that I hardly know where to begin. God has been so faithful and continues to confirm the call He has placed on this ministry. The simplest way to testify to God’s generosity is just to share the many things for which I am thankful.

As many of you know, I sent out a letter the end of December expressing our need to raise $50,000 in order to professionally tape JoyShop in a live setting. We have received more than $19,000 thus far and we are praising the Lord for this sign of confirmation. In February, Paul and I had the opportunity to travel to Atlanta, Georgia, to meet with Shane and Kelle Ortiz of Soteria Productions. God led me to this couple two years ago and we had been in discussion about the possibility of working together. You can tell by our picture that we had a great meeting. Our goal is for them to come to Lancaster in November to tape at Manor Church. Please continue to pray for JoyShop Ministries as we step out in faith and trust God to carry this project to completion.

In January our DVD promo for JoyShop Ministries was completed. After many hours of taping, interviewing, and editing, Shire Interactive was able to condense it all in to a two- and-a-half minute promotional. We needed this in order to provide material to hosting churches and schools to encourage better attendance at our events. We are hoping to add it to our website in the near future.

God opened an unexpected door to speak at Sarasota Christian School while Paul and I were vacationing in Florida with friends. Yes, I was supposed to be on vacation, but it is nearly impossible for me to turn down an opportunity to share with teens. The unexpected bonus was having my daughter, Twila, and her husband, Daniel, along with two of my grandchildren attend the chapel service where I was speaking. It was history in the making. She had never heard me speak “live” and it was awesome to be able to introduce her to the student body when I was done speaking! Later on in the evening I talked with the woman who had given me the invitation to speak at the school. She told me that one of the teachers bought my book and decided to read it aloud to her class. She had read four chapters to her class that afternoon! Several students shared with me the impact the story had on them. The ministry provided the students with our teen journal packet that consists of a journal, pocket testament, and highlighter. They were invited to take the 21 Day Challenge so that their relationship with Jesus would grow deeper. There is no doubt in my mind that lives were impacted due to God’s grace. Praise His Name!

Another unexpected blessing was meeting a woman in Florida who happened to attend a Christmas tea where I had spoken three years earlier in Lancaster County. She told me that she has been seeking God first ever since and it has changed her life. Her husband who was standing beside her confirmed it!!!

I thank God for the four women retreats we were able to be a part of from January through March. One comment I received through email made my heart soar: “Thanks so much for sharing your JoyShop with us. I know a lot of ladies are taking your challenge very seriously. A good friend of mine and her husband now get up every morning together for individual quiet time …”

Two women who had attended a retreat a year ago recently sent me an email saying that, as a result of that weekend, they have been seeking God first daily. Their hearts are on fire to share the message with others and God opened the door for them to speak at a women’s retreat in Hershey. Two women who attended that retreat wanted to take the message back to the women who could not attend. I am so thankful to God for multiplying the message through others. I pray it just keeps spreading: SEEK GOD FIRST!

Thank you for your partnership through prayer and finances. This ministry could not continue without your support. We are the body of Christ appointed to serve one another in unity and love. Each of you has blessed me and I pray that God will bless you abundantly as you seek Him. We are in a battle and the enemy will do what he can to keep us from spending time alone with Jesus. Do not give him an inch!

Blessings,

Anita

How to Pray for JoyShop:

 Please continue to pray for protection over my mind and my family as being in ministry continually puts us in the line of fire.
 Continue to pray for the Board as we make plans for professionally taping JoyShop and all the work that comes with that. We want to be wise stewards of our finances.
 Pray that the Lord will grant the ministry favor as we look to a well-known Christian organization to help us plan ahead in making our materials marketable.
 Pray for the next JoyShop event that will be held at Grace Church at Willow Valley. This is a women’s only event and will be the last JoyShop in Lancaster County until July, when I will be at Rawlinsville Campmeeting.