Spring, 2024 Update

Happy Spring to you all! While the temperatures in the Mid-Atlantic region are anything but springlike, it has been delightful to see the flowering trees go from bud to bloom. It is a time of renewal and hope.

For many in our country, however, hope seems like just a word in the dictionary. The enemy's assault on our loved ones in the area of addiction is relentless. A number of years ago, we thought that the heroin and prescription drug use was bad, which it was. But then came fentanyl being mixed in with the heroin. The death rate skyrocketed. During COVID, the number of drug overdose  and alcohol-related deaths rose exponentially each year. Fentanyl is now being mixed with substances such as methamphetamine, xylazine (an animal tranquilizer), and cocaine. In fact, a recent study showed that cocaine and methamphetamines have overtaken prescription opioids and heroin in illicit drug use involving fentanyl across the country, increasing 875% since 2015. The combination of these drugs increases the likelihood of overdose and decreases the response to Narcan to reverse the overdose.

The ministry of Love Them To Life exists to help the loved ones of those caught in the trap of addiction. As I say often in our meetings, we can't make our loved one get better but we can get well ourselves. This means learning about enabling, codependency, and healthy boundaries. Our Zoom support meetings on Monday nights are a place where women came come and unburden their hearts, all within a caring, loving, and accepting community of other women who understand. Education and encouragement are key words for LTTL's ministry.

Xiomara's Story

Xiomara has been a faithful attender of LTTL for several years. She wanted her mother to be able to read Beside Still Waters: Finding Peace in the Midst of Your Child's Addiction but knew that her mother's English skills were limited. Xiomara translated the book into Spanish and did such a good job that we decided to publish it in Spanish. Here is her story:

“For you have delivered my soul from death, yes, my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of life.” Psalm 56:13

"I am convinced that God’s Word has the power to rescue a soul from death and bring them to walk in the light of His perfect Love. Christ transformed my life and the life of my parents and can do it for anyone who believes in His name.

 “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12

I would like to share my story to highlight how the enemy infiltrates families to derail them from God's purpose. My earliest memories start with living in a home filled with fear due to my dad’s drinking. At age 5, I recall standing between my parents during their constant quarreling to prevent them from hurting each other. I feared Dad would kill Mom one day. When Dad wasn't drinking, he was an easy-going person, but the spirit of rage came over him while under the influence of alcohol. Mom became a bitter and hardhearted person. Because my parents were unhappy, they were not attuned to my emotional needs. I have no recollection of experiencing any form of physical affection. As a result of Dad’s unpredictable behavior and Mom’s indifference, my emotions towards them were ambivalent; I started to self-soothe in unhealthy ways. I created a fantasy world and found myself daydreaming most of the time. By 10 years old, I couldn't relate to the outside world; I was completely inhibited. I was bullied at school and did not fit in with the other kids. We moved around a lot and at every school I was an outcast. Eventually, I tried to become invisible in order to survive. A deep sadness started to grow inside of me. It was then that the enemy Satan planted seeds of abandonment and rejection into my young soul. 

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. “John 10:10

When a young person has no sense of identity, it can cause them to do crazy things to make them feel alive. Alcohol, sex, drugs, porn, suicidal ideation, anything to numb the pain. At the age of 16, my parents divorced. Mom had a new boyfriend and was pregnant. I decided to live with Dad because I did not want him to be alone. Dad did not handle the divorce well, and he started to displace his anger on me. I feared him and did not trust him. While under his custody, I found myself hospitalized after suffering an uncontrollable outburst because I had swallowed pills that I found in the medicine cabinet. I did not intend to take my life; I only wanted the problems in our family to stop. Regrettably, my parents were incapable of providing the help I was crying out for, and my battle with depression and anxiety went undiagnosed and worsened with time. I started to drink socially and experiment with acid to take my mind off things. 

Soon after, I moved back with Mom. My three siblings and I found ourselves living in an apartment in Los Angeles. The apartment halls were filled with trash and there were homeless people all around. It felt as if we were living in a prison cell, as there was no sunlight in our apartment. I believe I was especially weary because I feared that we would end up homeless.  Everything around me looked dark and hopeless. My little sister was only 2 months old, and Mom was dating a new man. I warned Mom about her boyfriend's drug use, but she ignored my warning and continued the relationship. During this time, the instability of our lives caused me great worry, and Mom’s choices angered me. I felt powerless. At the time, I did not know what depression was, nor did I have the words to describe it. All I knew was that I wanted to die. I continued to suffer from severe depression, and the enemy twisted my mind in every way possible. During this time, I started food purging, became obsessed with my body image, and felt a sense of shame. I know now that it was God who protected my life. 

Because I feared that Mom’s boyfriend would rage against me, I decided to move out with a guy I had been dating for a few months. I ignored all the red flags, including his controlling behavior and meth addiction. We moved to Texas, where we were isolated from family and friends. We eventually married. Being away from family was the perfect opportunity for abuse and dysfunction to grow. Throughout my marriage, I normalized abuse. I pretended to be happy, but on the inside, I grew more lifeless each day. I never thought I would survive. When a person is invisible, it’s easy to allow abuse because no one can see their scars. I remained silenced in my marriage for 15 years. It was through the help of friends and counseling that God made a way out for me. 

Sometime after the divorce, I returned home to live with Mom and siblings and was faced with new challenges, including living with a brother who battles with alcohol and drug addiction. In my desperation to no longer live in dysfunction and codependency, I started to cry out to God for help, and He heard my cry!  He led me to watch a video by Aaron Kim in which he shares his story of how Christ healed him from depression, suicidal thoughts, and anxiety. Through Aaron’s testimony I was led to Grace Fellowship International. From there the Lord orchestrated every detail to lead me to Love Them To Life. When I reached out to LTTL, Mom was turning a blind eye to my brother's addiction, but I knew inside of me that I could no longer ignore Satan's work against my family. I was desperate for our story to change. I read Cherri’s book Besides Still Waters: Discovering Peace in Your Child's Addiction. Each page in the book was God speaking to my heart, drawing awareness to the bondage of codependency that Mom and I were living in and had lived in for years. With God’s help, Mom read Cherri’s book, which the Lord used to help us set new boundaries for a safer home. The book was a gateway for healing in our family. 

Mom and I had learned to normalize dysfunction, which is far less than what God wanted for us. Learning this truth was liberating! God wants us to be free from the bondage of sin and abuse. We will never be the same because of what we've experienced. However, nothing is wasted in God's story of redemption. It is all for His Glory. God can heal every hurt and every twisted dysfunction of the mind. He is there in the darkest places of our soul and whispers life into our dying spirit. When I look back at my life, I recognize that the enemy Satan is the adversary who doesn’t give up trying to derail God’s children. But today, because of God’s mercy, both my parents have a relationship with Christ, and each day God is restoring our family piece by piece, according to His perfect will."

 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. Eph: 1:7-10

One of the ways that you can support LTTL is to recommend the books on Amazon and other distributors. This allows others who are looking for help to be able to find the books. It can be as simple as leaving a 5 star rating or you can write something about the book.

Here are the links to the books on Amazon:

Set Free book link to Amazon

Beside Still Waters book link on Amazon

Qe welcome your financial support of this ministry. You may use this secure online donate page or call Grace Fellowship International at 1-865-429-0450.

Year End Update, 2023

Christmas 2023 Newsletter

I would like to introduce you to one of the women that attends our Love Them To Life Zoom meeting on Monday nights. Delores is a delight to all of us in the group. She helps make newcomers feel very welcome and comfortable. She adds to the discussion each week and has a wonderful laugh that never fails to brighten my day. Her life has not been easy but she shows the love of God to all who come in contact with her. Here is her story:

"My name is Delores Borges. I have two children, a daughter and a son. My son has been an alcoholic for at least 25 years. He is now 47 and has two sons. I became a single mom when he was 7 years old; his dad was also an alcoholic and a drug addict. Alcoholism was a way of life for my family, as my father, brothers, and husband were all alcoholics. I began to isolate myself from my son, mostly because of his aggression and his verbal abuse as a result of his drinking. Being around him was very painful, as I felt like I failed him as a single mom.

I visited America's Keswick for several years and received their brochures on upcoming events. I saw that there was a support group for women who had loved ones in addiction called Love Them To Life. I immediately called and talked with Cherri Freeman. She explained that it was very confidential and safe to speak openly in the group. I've been attending the meetings every Monday night for the last two years. I have found support, compassion, and growth in my dealings with my son.

I have learned to see my son as someone who needs help, and I have also learned to understand his addiction. But most of all, I've learned to be patient and to understand what it means to 'love him to life.'"

Love Them To Life is a faith-based non-profit organization. We are supported solely through the contributions of friends of the ministry and can be a one-time gift or a monthly donation. If you would like to be a part of what God is doing through this ministry, donations can be sent through the following link:

https://lovethemtolife.com/donate

All gifts are tax deductible and are used for the expenses of the ministry only. Thank you for your help.

Our mailing address is:

Love Them To Life

31A Yorktowne Pkwy

Whiting, NJ 08759

Thank you for your prayers and support,

- Cherri

See the formatted email edition here:

https://mailchi.mp/2cddfbc0dceb/love-them-to-life-christmas-newsletter?e=3c50c9a529

Spring 2023 Update

Love Them To Life Spring Newsletter

May 17, 2023

May is one of my favorite months, as we see evidence of God's creative power everywhere around us. That which lay dormant and seemingly dead has now burst into the lush green and vibrant colors of Spring. It is a wonderful reminder of God's transforming power in our lives and in the lives of those trapped in bondage to addiction. It is a privilege to work with families who, in a sense, have been enslaved to their loved one's destructive choices and to see healing and growth as they embrace their true identity in Christ. It is never easy to watch a loved one self-destruct but we are not called to implode with them. Watching the growth within us may be the very catalyst our loved one needs to recognize that the "pigpen" is no place to live and that there is hope for transformation. When we refuse to enable or find our identity as the "fixer," we show our trust in God to work in our loved one's life, no matter what that looks like.

How does a free audio book sound?

Thanks to the generosity of my high school friend Steve Gannett, Set Free: Finding Truth and Hope When a Loved One is Addicted is now available in audio form on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. Steve did an amazing job narrating and editing the book for audio distribution, something that would have likely cost thousands of dollars otherwise.

I have some free codes for the audio book and only ask that you be willing to write a review. Please contact me at lovethemtolife@gmail.com if you are interested. Reviews drive sales and we want as many people as possible to find the help and hope that they need. Also, if you would be willing to do a review of the print or Kindle version, that would be a blessing!

I recently had the privilege of teaching two webinars on addiction (links will follow). The first was through Grace Fellowship International, of which LTTL is an associate ministry, and the second was through GFI India. I keep joking that I can claim to be an international speaker now. It was a unique experience to teach and answer questions with people in a time zone 9 1/2 hours ahead. Although we tend to focus on the enormous problem in the US, there is so much need for people around the world to understand addiction and the hope for addiction.

I am available to teach on addiction for your church or group. Please feel free to contact me at lovethemtolife@gmail.com.

Session for Grace Fellowship India:

Love Them To Life is solely funded by the generosity of our ministry friends. If God is encouraging you to join us where He is working, donations may be made as follows:

https://lovethemtolife.com/donate

All donations are tax deductible and are used solely for ministry expenses.

Our mailing address is:

lovethemtolife@gmail.com

Also, please "like" us and follow us on our Love Them To Life Facebook page.

Book and Seminar

Set Free: Finding Truth and Hope When a Loved One is Addicted

After a year and a half of writing, editing, cover design, formatting, and publishing, Set Free is finally available through the major distributors such as Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and others. It is also available on Kindle. It has been quite a journey but it was worth it. Here are some of the reviews of the book:

Endorsements:

“Cherri Raws Freeman has written a painfully honest assessment of the devastation addiction unleashes on families. With drug and alcohol dependencies on the rise, Set Free is a must-read for every parent and grandparent whose descendants are dealing with addiction. The real-life stories, spiritual insights, and practical helps are priceless. It’s also a book for those who think their kids have sidestepped the ravages of chemical enslavement, because God only knows what they still might face.”

- John Ashmen, President, Citygate Network

“Having been personally impacted by addiction 30 years ago and serving in addiction recovery, I have read dozens of books on addiction, and attended many classes and seminars. While some were very helpful, Cherri Freeman’s new book, “Set Free” is a true gem for anyone seeking a deeper biblical understanding of addiction, it’s causes, effects on loved ones, and most importantly, what each individual can do to walk in freedom from the slavery to addiction or how to understand what you can do, if someone you love is an addict. For anyone like me, who was caught blindsided in the midst of addiction, this book will not only help you understand addiction, but will help you to move from insanity to being able to live each day wholly dependent on the only One who can help you to live with joy, strength and peace, Jesus Christ. A book that will be underlined and highlighted and referred to again and again. A must read.”

-MaryAnn Kiernan MCC, Counselor and Retired Intake Manager of the Colony of Mercy at America’s Keswick.

One way you can help people find the book on Amazon or Barnes and Noble is to leave a review or at least give it a "stars" rating. It makes an immense difference in the visibility of the book on the various sellers' sites. Your partnership is greatly appreciated. You don't have to buy the book from that particular seller to be able to leave a review. We want people to find truth and hope when their loved one is addicted. Thank you!

See the book page here for more details.

On April 1st I presented a session of Grace Fellowship International’s Finding Freedom Seminar. It was held in Rhode Island. The following day I had the opportunity to visit a supporting church nearby, First Baptist Church of East Providence.

Christmas & Year-End Update

Love Them To Life Christmas 2022 Newsletter

"Silent night, holy night, all is calm, all is bright..." When we look at our world, it is hard to imagine silence, calmness, holiness, and brightness characterizing our day-to-day existence. Our culture has changed drastically, especially through the last few years of the COVID-19 pandemic. When we consider, however, the world at the time in which Jesus was born, it certainly was not silent, holy, calm, or bright for people of the day. But God... He sent His precious Son into our chaos because He loves us that much. May those who interact with us see the eyes of Jesus: peaceful, holy, calm, and bright.

Though there have been some changes in Love Them To Life ministry in the past year, our passion and purpose remains the same. The addiction statistics continue to increase. The overdose deaths go up each year, despite government and medical personnel attempts to control the supply of drugs. Alcohol deaths continue to rise also. The goal of LTTL is to bring hope and help to the families of those in addiction. Our Monday night Zoom group is ministering to women from across the country. It is exciting to see the growth in these women as we tackle tough issues such as enabling, codependency, and healthy boundaries, all from a biblical perspective . We are able to share our fear and pain with our sisters going through similar problems with their loved ones. If you know of a woman who could benefit from joining our meetings, please have them contact me at lovethemtolife@gmail.com. The group is for any woman who has a loved one in addiction, whether it be a son or daughter, husband, sibling, or parent(s).

Set Free: Finding Truth and Hope When a Loved One is Addicted is finally completed! It is currently only on Kindle but should be at all the major distributors, such as Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Apple Books, in the next few weeks. The following are a few of the endorsements for the book:

"Cherri Raws Freeman has written a painfully honest assessment of the devastation addiction unleashes on families. With drug and alcohol dependencies on the rise, Set Free is a must-read for every parent and grandparent whose descendants are dealing with addiction. The real-life stories, spiritual insights, and practical helps are priceless. It’s also a book for those who think their kids have sidestepped the ravages of chemical enslavement, because God only knows what they still might face."

- John Ashmen, President, Citygate Network

"Cherri Raws Freeman’s book, Set Free: Finding Truth and Hope When a Loved One is Addicted, injects light into a dark subject. There is, as the book makes clear, a silent epidemic of addiction happening all around us that we tend to ignore until we can’t. When someone we love finds themselves in the grips of addiction, this is the book we’ll need. It is honest and passionate. Written from places of personal hurt and healing, Freeman reveals the harsh truth and realities of addiction. But at the same time, the book is thoughtful and offers help. Its primary goal, after all, is to set people free in the hope and power of the gospel. I suspect this book will be a lifeline for many."

- Dr. Travis Dickinson, author of Wandering Toward God: Finding Faith amid Doubts and Big Questions

The Spanish edition of Beside Still Waters is now available in both print and on Kindle. Many thanks to those who worked on the translation, especially Xiomara Landaverde.

Your prayer support and financial support are essential to keep this ministry going. The enemy wants nothing more than to shut us down, but he doesn't get to win. Love Them To Life is under the ministry umbrella of Grace Fellowship International. Any donations are tax deductible. The donation information can be found at the following:

https://lovethemtolife.com/donate

Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year to you all!

-Cherri

Summer 2022 Update

From Cherri Freeman

As I sat here thinking about what to include in this newsletter, I reflected on the reasons that Love Them To Life exists. They are as follows:

1. To bring glory to God. This is His ministry. The goal will always be to point people to the true hope, which is Jesus Christ.

2. To provide support for those who are dealing with a loved one in addiction. The weight of watching someone you love destroy themselves is staggering, and so we need each other.

3. To educate. There is so much misinformation about addiction under the guise of tradition and/or "evidence-based treatment," and it is easy to listen to the louder voices when it comes to addiction. However, when the basic presuppositions about addiction are flawed, treatment based on them rarely, if ever, works. We are seeing statistics that are hard to imagine: over 100,000 people died of drug overdose in 2021. That does not take into account those who died from alcohol-related issues, which is approximately 95,000 per year.

The LTTL support groups continue to meet in various locations. I lead the Monday night Zoom meeting and am blessed to have women from many locations join the group on a regular basis. We learn, laugh, cry, and learn together what it means to have our identity firmly rooted in Jesus Christ so that no matter what happens with our loved ones, we can get well. I also continue to take calls from women who need one-on-one coaching in this area.

The book Beside Still Waters: Discovering Peace in the Midst of Your Child's Addiction continues to impact lives. When I went to a writers' conference in February, I was shocked to learn that selling 300 books is considered a success. I am so grateful that the book has sold over 1,500 copies, which translates into many lives who have found hope and help through it. All of the profits of the book over the years have gone into supporting the ministry. If you know someone who could be helped by it, it is available on Amazon.

One of the big projects for this year was writing a second book that is a more general and deeper discussion of addiction in order to combat the misinformation that is so prevalent about the subject. What someone believes about addiction matters. The new book is nearing completion and will be titled Set Free: Finding Truth and Hope When a Loved One is Addicted.

The following is an excerpt from the new book:

"I thought I knew addiction. But I didn’t. Or rather, I knew about addiction but did not truly understand it until the lives of two of my children were threatened by it. I naively thought that growing up at America’s Keswick and having my kids live or spend much time there would addiction-proof them. It didn’t. As a result of much pain in their lives, some of which I take responsibility for, they made very destructive choices that could easily have ended their lives. I am profoundly thankful that both are doing well now, and the experience launched me into the ministry of Love Them To Life, which was never on the radar of my life plans (want to make God laugh? Tell Him your plans!). Did I ever want to know what it would be like to see my son in handcuffs or visit him in jail for months? Most emphatically no! Did I want to see my beautiful daughter looking like a skeleton due to her cocaine use? Never! But if you ask me if I know addiction these days, the answer would be “yes” and for a good reason this time.

"While I have not personally been enslaved to a substance, I understand being enslaved in other ways, including enabling destructive behavior because I did not know any better. God has taught me the very hard lessons so that the readers of this book have the opportunity to learn them in an easier way. His heart for us is that, no matter what happens to our loved ones who are in addiction, we can get well. We do not need to be enslaved to past mistakes and pain, to present turmoil and ineffective strategies to change our loved ones, and to fear of what could happen in the future. The enemy wants to kill, steal, and destroy us and those we love. But he doesn’t get to win. Jesus does."

Financial support to this ministry can given online at https://lovethemtolife.com/donate . Contributions can also be sent by mail through Grace Fellowship International, P.O. Box 368, Pigeon Forge, TN 37868. (Please mark clearly that the donation is for Love Them To Life.)

Your prayer and financial support for Love Them To Life is greatly appreciated.

Spring 2022 - Update

Love Them To Life Spring 2022 Newsletter

Peace is not the absence of trouble but the presence of Jesus.

One of my favorite hymns is "It is Well With My Soul," written by Horatio Spafford after the loss of his children as a testimony of hope and comfort in the face of horrific pain and grief. The first two verses are as follows:

"When peace like a river, attendeth my way,

When sorrows like sea billows roll.

Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say

It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,

Let this blessed assurance control,

That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,

And hath shed His own blood for my soul."

Is there anyone these days who does not feel buffeted? The world-wide effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, financial and political instability, and the addiction epidemic can cause us to wonder what is next.

I read an article recently on the increase of alcohol use during the pandemic. 60% of people increased their alcohol consumption during COVID-19 lockdowns. Approximately 95,000 American's die from the effects of alcohol each year; worldwide, up to 3.3 million people die each year as a result of alcohol abuse. Even moderate consumption of alcohol causes an increase in diseases including a variety of cancers. It also has immediate effects on diminished brain size.

Why are so many people turning to substances that have so many possible negative effects? Why do people put drugs such as heroin, fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine in their body, knowing that they are looking down the barrel of a loaded gun each time they use? It all comes down to numbing. Life feels unbearable and hopeless and the desire to escape is far greater than the concerns for health and safety.

The message that Love Them To Life continues to bring is that there is hope. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the only hope for those in despair, including the families of those enslaved by addiction. I am continuing to minister through the Monday night Zoom meetings for women who have a loved one in addiction and being available for individual counseling by phone, as well as being available to speak at churches and to groups about the problem of addiction, the impact on families, and the hope that is in Jesus Christ.

In February, I went to a Christian writers' conference in North Carolina. While standing in line for dinner the first night, a couple behind me, who were there for a pastors and wives conference, started asking some questions as to why I was there. When I explained that I was writing another book on addiction, the wife told me that she has been dealing for years with her mother who is a heroin addict and is really struggling with it. I had a copy of Beside Still Waters: Discovering Peace in the Midst of Your Child's Addiction with me and gave it to her. She was so amazed and grateful that Father had put me in line right in front of her just when she needed help.

There have been some changes to the structure of Love Them To Life recently. Grace Fellowship International's board invited LTTL to come under their umbrella as an associate ministry and to have all donations to LTTL run through their office. This has been a benefit in many ways, including freeing me up from the bookkeeping end of things and also giving LTTL a broader exposure through Grace Fellowship's contacts. I am very grateful to Dr. John Woodward and the board of GFI as well as the office staff who have been so supportive of this decision.

The mission of LTTL has not changed. We are continuing to bring hope and help to families who have loved ones in addiction. We are excited to see how Father will expand this ministry in the coming days.

Please pray for the following requests:

1. For the women who attend the Monday night Zoom meeting. Their hearts are broken as they watch their loved ones destroying their lives. Please pray also for the other LTTL groups that meet in various locations.

2. In the process of reorganizing, we have lost some financial support. Please pray that Father will bring those who will see the need for this ministry and will support it with both prayers and donations.

3. I am finishing up a second book on addiction called Set Free: Finding Truth and Hope When a Loved One is Addicted. Please pray for wisdom in seeking a publisher vs self-publishing. There are very few Christ-centered, Bible-based books on addiction and its impact on the family.

If Father lays it on your heart to support the ministry of LTTL, you may do so in the following ways:

• By check: please make the check out to Grace Fellowship International, PO Box 368, Pigeon Forge, TN 37868. *Please put Love Them To Life on the memo line - this is very important as they handle finances for a number of ministries and won't know where to apply it.

• Electronically: https://lovethemtolife.com/donate

Thank you for your continued support. We could not do this without you.

-Cherri

LTTL Update

January 31, 2022

Dear supporters of Love Them To Life Ministry,

The Board of Directors of LTTL wishes to thank you for your faithful prayer and financial support over the years of our ministry. We also want to advise you of some changes that are taking place that we believe will lead to further growth for LTTL:

1.     Joe Freeman has resigned from any involvement in LTTL primarily due to his health issues. We as a board appreciate his work through the years and pray for God’s blessing on him as he pursues other avenues in life.

2.     Cherri Freeman will continue in the ministry of LTTL, working with the families who have a loved one in addiction. She is continuing to be available to speak at churches and groups as well as facilitating the Zoom support group and talking with individuals who need help. She is continuing to be involved in writing and is hoping that her second book on addiction will be finished in the near future.

3.     Love Them To Life was approached about becoming an associate ministry of Grace Fellowship International and this was approved by the board of GFI. This will relieve Cherri of the bookkeeping while allowing her to focus on the ministry itself. Beginning in March, all donations should be sent to Grace Fellowship International, PO Box 368, Pigeon Forge, TN, 37868. Please be sure to note on the memo line that the donation is for Love Them To Life in order to be put in the correct account. Receipts will be sent out from GFI. If you utilize PayPal, gifts may be sent to Grace Fellowship International but notated for LTTL. Any donation sent to the original address for the ministry will still be receipted during the transition time as we ease into the new arrangement. Grace Fellowship is a well-respected organization and the board of LTTL is very grateful for their shared vision of ministry. Their website is GraceFellowshipInternational.com.

Again, thank you for your continued support and prayers. We could not do this vital ministry without them. Please feel free to call Cherri Freeman at 732-773-7747 if you have any questions.

Blessings,

The Board of Directors, Love Them To Life

Christmas 2021 Newsletter

LTTL Christmas 2021 Newsletter

Megan's Story

"A little over two years ago, I received the news that nobody ever wants to hear. A friend knocked on my door and told me that my husband, John, had passed away. It's hard to formulate words to describe what I felt in that moment, but the pain was agonizing, gut-wrenching, and excruciating. At the age of 30, I was suddenly a widow and a single mom to a house full of young children. I knew in my heart when I got the news that John lost his battle with addiction. My husband struggled with the bondage of addiction on and off throughout our entire relationship. He sought help many times and he loved Jesus Christ, but the relapses still came and they were followed by the ugly cycle of shame. The thing about addiction is, it doesn't discriminate. It doesn't care if you're a Christian. It doesn't care if you have a wife and children at home. It doesn't care if you are a son or a brother. It doesn't care if you haven't had a chance to grow old and live your life. Addiction is a product of a fallen world - and it comes to kill, steal, and destroy. We know that addiction doesn't just affect the person in bondage, it affects the whole family. It causes pain, conflict, frustration, sadness, and the feeling of being overwhelmed. But I have also learned, in my journey, that despite the pain, you can still love in a healthy way. It was not easy, but over the years I learned how to love my husband in his createdness as a child of God and not based on his performance. I learned how to create healthy boundaries and love him in his need, not necessarily his want. I learned how to love in grace and not in law. I learned how to empathize with his pain and the cycle of shame. I learned how to listen and encourage instead of being quick to condemn. Loving with agape love takes intentionality and hard work, but God can and does enable us to do it. I have found a new passion in sharing that truth by journeying with wives and the family members of those struggling with addiction. God has led me to lead a Love Them to Life group to minister to others and remind them that God can use all storms for His glory. I know he can use my testimony to help others and he can use yours too."

Ministry Updates

As many of you know, Joe has been struggling with health issues for many years and continues to decline. As a result, it was determined that it was best for him to resign from the ministry in April of 2021. We value your continued prayer for him.

The ministry of LTTL is continuing to go well. Our Monday night Zoom group provides help and hope for women who have a loved one in addiction. I am also available for individual counseling and for speaking to groups.

From April of 2020 to April of 2021, 100,306 people died from overdose. This represents and almost 30% increase in just one year. The largest increase in overdose deaths occurred due to fentanyl and its analogs. Fentanyl is not just being found in heroin anymore - drug dealers are lacing cocaine, methamphetamine, and marijuana with it. Alcohol deaths are also increasing. Helping families know what to do and what not do when a loved one is in addiction has never been more vital, as well as dealing with the very real emotions such as fear and worry that go along with loving someone who is destroying their lives. Our job is not to change the person in addiction - only Father can do that. But we can get well ourselves and learn not to enable destructive behavior so that they have the opportunity and motivation to get well.

Love Them To Life is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization and is funded solely through donations. All donations are tax-deductible and are used for the expenses of the ministry. If Father leads you to support this ministry on a monthly basis or with a one-time gift, donations may be made in the following ways:

- by check: made out to Love Them To Life, 31A Yorktowne Pkwy, Whiting, NJ 08759.

- electronically: https://lovethemtolife.com/donate

Above all else, we are so grateful for your prayer support. We could not do this without you!

Thanksgiving post

Happy Thanksgiving

What a year this has been! If you are like me, it is sometimes hard to see past the difficult times and recognize the many blessings we have in our life. We are often challenged to be thankful in the midst of our circumstances but my challenge recently has been to go further - am I thankful for the hard times? There have been so many losses this year. It seems as if every time we turn around there is yet another blow to our peace of mind, whether it is financial, health-related, or the loss of a loved one. Father uses those trials to help us grow in our dependence on Him and to find our security and identity in Him alone.

I Thessalonians 5:18 (ESV) says: Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. And so we are thankful for the many blessings of life as well as the trials. The biggest blessing is being a child of God, accepted in the Beloved. We know we will spend eternity with Father. We are blessed to have food and shelter, loved ones who surround us, material blessings beyond what most people in the world could dream of and for this we give thanks. I am thankful for the many people who have stood by Love Them To Life with prayer and financial support. You are making a difference in the lives of families who have loved ones in addiction and we are grateful.

Love Them To Life is a non-profit ministry solely support by donations. All gifts are used for the expenses of the ministry.

If you would like to support LTTL through a one-time gift or a monthly donation, you can do so through the following ways:

- by check: Love Them To Life, 31A Yorktowne Pkwy, Whiting, NJ 08759

- electronically: https://lovethemtolife.com/donate

Above all, thank you for your prayer support. You are a blessing! Happy Thanksgiving!

Spring 2021 Update

SPRING NEWSLETTER

March 2021

One of the effects of the Covid 19 pandemic has been the shutdown of normal activities and the ability to meet with other people on a regular basis. This has caused a feeling of isolation, fear, and the loss of hope. The statistics which show the increase in the number of people addicted to drugs, alcohol, pornography, gambling, gaming, and over-eating are staggering.

As a result of not being able to meet in person for our Love Them To Life support group, we felt that Father was leading us to begin meeting virtually on Zoom. This has allowed us to broaden the reach of LTTL support meetings to those who live in areas where there are no meetings.

We would like to introduce you to two women who have been a part of our virtual meetings: Brenda and Tammy.

______________

The Good LORD HAS AGAIN showed His Faithfulness by meeting this mother's need!!! Several months ago Grace Fellowship International of Pigeon Forge, TN, referred me to Cherri Freeman’s weekly “LOVE THEM TO LIFE“ Zoom support group meeting!!! Through 38 years of my child’s addiction, only secular resources were available UNTIL NOW!!! This ZOOM meeting is my sole connection to understanding hearts as we share and learn from Cherri and her book Beside Still Waters: Discovering Peace in the Midst of Your Child's Addiction. This mother is GRATEFUL TO GOD FOR ALL OF THIS!!!

Sincerely

Brenda Welch

Knoxville TN

___________________

Fear not, for I am with you, be not dismayed for I am you God, I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous hand. Isaiah 41:10

Having a child in addiction just about takes the life out of you. Somehow God led my son to Keswick. I don’t believe this was an accident. Somehow God brought me to Love Them To Life. This was saving grace.

Living in northeast PA, about three hours from Whiting, NJ, my friends thought I was crazy making these weekly trips. On Mondays, after teaching all day, I would leave school at 3:00 and set out on my journey that often took close to 4 hours because of traffic to attend this group for mothers of addicted loved ones. Then a 3-hour ride home would put me back in PA about midnight. Even my son, who was in Keswick at the time, would say, “Mom, you should be able to find somewhere closer to home to attend meetings.” Honestly, I never really looked. Was it the words written in Cherri Freeman’s book, Beside Still Waters or the safe feeling I had when I was there or the connection I felt with the group? It’s where God was leading me at a time when I needed him. I wasn’t able to make it every week but I tried. In my book I still see the words “missed” on the chapters that were discussed when I was unable to attend. I wanted to be sure to attend those sessions in the future.

It’s been about 5 years now since my son left The Colony of Mercy. I’ve made the trip to New Jersey a few times each year to maintain my connection with Cherri and this group.

Receiving an email amidst the pandemic saying that Love Them To Life was going to Zoom was a gift from God. Now being able to attend the weekly meetings regularly. It has taken me off the road and put me in my living room with God’s arms wrapped around me. I don’t want to miss a meeting. Each week I gain a greater understanding of addiction and how God can bring one out of this stronghold.

I think about the door this piece of technology has opened for other women who may not be able to physically attend a meeting. Zoom has allowed distance and other factors to not be an inhibitor to making the connection with other women who share in God’s love and have a loved one in addiction. It is here where we can come together, miles apart, and find the strength to “love our child to life by assisting them to brokenness.”

Fortunately, my son is no longer addicted to drugs. Other evils still continue to challenge his walk with the Lord. As for me, I will continue to zoom with the ladies on Monday nights. And if it’s part of God’s plan I may be starting a group in PA.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me besides still waters. He restores my soul. Psalm 23:1-3a

Blessings,

Tammy Thumann

______________

Love Them To Life is a not-for-profit organization. Any of the support that comes in goes directly to ministry expenses. As part of what we do, we are grateful to be able to offer counseling for those dealing with loved ones in addiction without charge because of your faithful support. But the most precious gift you can give us is your prayer support.

We are available to speak in churches and for groups as they begin to open up. Our passion is to spread the good news that Jesus is the only hope for freedom from addiction and to support those who are devastated by the addiction of a loved one.

If Father lays it on your heart to support the ministry financially, it can be done in the following ways:

- By check: Please make the check out to Love Them To Life, 31A Yorktowne Pkwy, Whiting, NJ 08759

- Electronically: Click on the following link: https://lovethemtolife.com/donate

All gifts are tax deductible. Thank you so much for partnering with us.

Christmas 2020 Update

What a year this has been! I imagine that there are very few people who won't be happy to see the calendar turn to 2021 ... and yet, God's faithfulness has been evident throughout one of the worst years in recent history. We have also learned in a fresh way many things, such as the importance of being able to worship freely with our church family, of being with our loved ones, and of the many freedoms we were so accustomed to having.

Love Them To Life has never been more relevant to the world in which we live. Although the statistics are still being compiled, we already know that the numbers of people enslaved to drugs and alcohol have risen dramatically. As isolation, job loss, and depression have become even more common, people have especially turned to alcohol to numb the despair they feel.

While the pandemic has prevented us from speaking at churches and presenting our Set Free seminar this year, the ministry continues on as we counsel those in addiction and their families. We have started a Zoom support group for women who have a loved one in addiction, meeting on Monday nights at 7pm. This allows those who don't live in an area close to an in-person support group to still benefit from meeting with others going through the same problems that they are experiencing. If you know of a woman who would benefit from the group, please have them contact us at lovethemtolife@gmail.com for a link to the Zoom meeting.

Our book Beside Still Waters: Discovering Peace in the Midst of Your Child's Addiction has continued to sell well. We were excited to learn that several books were sold in Canada and in Germany this year.

We look forward to speaking at churches as they open up. If your church would be interested in having us speak at a service or present our seminar, please contact us at lovethemtolife@gmail.com.

We depend on the prayer support as well as financial support of the friends of the ministry. We could not do this without you. All donations are tax deductible and are used solely for ministry purposes.

Donations may be sent by check to the following:

Love Them To Life, 31A Yorktowne Pkwy, Whiting, NJ 08759.

Electronic donations may be sent by the following link:

https://lovethemtolife.com/donate

Thank you for partnering with us in the ministry to which Father has called us. Merry Christmas and blessed new year!

-Joe and Cherri Freeman

Fall 2020 Newsletter

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Fall 2020 Newsletter

Covid-19 has affected our world in so many ways. We hear about it on the news daily, with implications for families,education, work, corporate worship, travel, healthcare, grief and loss, or even a simple walk on the beach. What is not being talked about is the impact the virus is having on addiction to drugs and alcohol. The following are ways that Covid-19 has deeply impacted the addiction crisis in our country:

1. We are told to isolate, which promotes depression and loss of connection with others, leading to increased substance abuse. This is the opposite of what people coming out of addiction need to do.
2. The fear of losing jobs, houses, and savings lead some people to "numb" the pain with substance abuse.
3. Many long-term treatment facilities have been closed or taking a limited amount of new clients. 
4. There is an impact on families who have loved ones in addiction. Some feel forced to take an active drug user or alcoholic in to their home so that they are not on the streets. This can lead to enabling and codependency issues. It certainly increases the stresses on an already stressed family.

Covid-19 has increased illness, stress, unemployment, isolation, anger, fear, and death, all of which people use drugs and alcohol to numb and forget. Although this is an unprecedented time in our country, it is comforting to know that our God never changes, nor does the answer to the problem of addiction, which is a personal, intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. 

We received this encouraging letter from a young woman in Tennessee recently. She gave us permission to share it with you.

"Hi, my name is Emma and a few months ago I started receiving counseling through Dr. John Woodward at Grace Fellowship International. About a month and a half ago I began the recovery coach track, and through that I was led to your book Beside Still Waters and your Love Them to Life seminar (which I started watching last night. I'm starting video 2 tonight). A little background on me: I was a methamphetamine addict for the last year until I was arrested on January 24th of this year with my fiance who was also a meth and heroin addict. I was bonded out of jail and moved to east Tennessee to get clean before my next court date and I'll admit it's been a rough road, but when I got to your book on my reading list, my perspective changed. While I knew my mother loved me and suffered during my addiction, it's almost as if I talked myself out of believing that to be true. I had convinced myself she didn't care about me and the only person affected by my meth use was me. As I read your book, I began to cry and I called my mom. I sincerely apologized to her for the pain I had caused her, and she confided in me that she had felt she had lost her best friend the day I began taking meth. She told me she felt it was all her fault because "had she just known the signs, had she just stopped me" maybe I wouldn't be in the situation I'm in. I encouraged her to read Beside Still Waters as well, and she told me last night how healing reading it has been. She told me how God healed her heart and took away the stress, anxiety, and guilt she felt over my addiction. She also told me she plans to recommend the book to others she knows are suffering the way she was. All this to say, thank you for your open honesty and truthfully the tough love you illustrated in BSW. Thank you for touching and healing my heart, but more importantly thank you for the tools to allow my mom to heal. God bless you and the work you do!"

The ministry of Love Them To Life has continued, despite the restrictions of the past months regarding travel and churches having to meet virtually. Speaking at churches and teaching our Set Free seminar are the public portions of our ministry. However, we continue to counsel individuals as well as providing a phone resource for families who have no idea what to do or how to help their loved one. 

As the churches open up and begin to have services in person, we are available to speak, including Joe's testimony and a time for questions/answers. We are also available to teach our Set Free Seminar. 

The seminar is also available online and could be shown remotely to groups or individuals who need to see it but may not have access in person. Please contact us at lovethemtolife@gmail.com for more information.

Many of our LTTL support groups are now meeting in person. Please check with the group in your area or contact us at lovethemtolife@gmail.com for further information. The group listings can be found on our website at lovethemtolife.com. The groups that meet at America's Keswick are fully open and meeting on Monday nights at 7pm and Wednesdays at 10am. 

There are ways that you can help the ministry of Love Them To Life:
1. Please pray for us as we continue to bring the good news of hope for addiction through Jesus Christ. 
2. Talk with your pastor regarding having us speak at your church.
3. Please pray that more churches will have the vision for an LTTL group in their area.
4. We are supported through tax-deductible donations. All funds go to the expenses of the ministry. If you feel that Father is leading you to help support Love Them To Life, there are several ways to donate:

   - Electronic payments on our website  lovethemtolife.com ; click on the Donate tab.
   - By check: please address it to Love Them To Life, 31A Yorktowne Pkwy, Whiting, NJ 08759

Thank you so much for faithfully partnering with us.

Christmas 2019 Update

Love Them To Life
December 2019 Newsletter

We are so grateful to look back over the past year of ministry and see how Father has blessed, sustained, and challenged us as we work with the families and friends of those caught in the bondage of addiction to drugs and alcohol.

Although we work in a field that provides plenty of discouragement and pain, there are many moments when we rejoice with those who are set free and the families who are restored. Joe was invited to be in a wedding of a young man he had counseled at the Colony of Mercy several years ago. The wedding was a worship experience where God was clearly the center of all that went on. There are times when pouring our hearts into troubled lives can be discouraging - we are only two people and yet He uses us to bring truth and comfort to those who are hurting and searching for help.

Our ministry could be summed up in 3 words:

Educate - we were able to teach our Set Free Seminar four times this year in churches in New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.  We love being able to share the truths about addiction, its effects on the family, and the remedy for addiction, which is falling in love with Jesus Christ as Lord, Liberator, Leader, and our very Life. Our seminar in October at Coastal Christian Church was an amazing experience and gave us an added bonus: a professional quality video was made and gifted to us so that we can share it with people who can not get to the seminar or to be able to show to pastors who are considering having us come to teach at their church.

We also spoke in a number of churches using Joe's testimony of From Wreckage to Redemption and my testimony of being a mom who has had children in addiction. It is always sad to see the number of people in churches who are dealing with a loved one in addiction or who have lost someone from their family to overdose. It is a privilege to come alongside and share the hope of Jesus Christ with them.

Encourage - Joe has spent much time this year discipling and counseling those who are struggling with addiction as well as discipling individuals and couples from our church who are training to be mentors for Colony of Mercy graduates and their wives in their covenant months.

Our LTTL support groups continue to be a blessing. We are now going to offer a daytime group for mothers, grandmothers, or wives at America's Keswick on Wednesdays at 10am. There are many women who have trouble driving at night and have requested a daytime group. The first meeting will be January 8, 2020. Please spread the word if you know of someone who would benefit from the group.

Enlist - We would like to say that here are many churches that have people struggling with addiction in them but the reality is that every church has those issues. The church most often doesn't know how to start a support/discipling ministry. Love Them To Life provides recommendations,referrals, and training opportunities for those churches and individuals that are not afraid to deal with the "messy business" of addiction. We also suggest materials that are Bible-based, Christ-centered in order to assist in starting support groups.

Love Them To Life is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. We do not take a salary from the ministry, so all funds go towards ministry expenses. We are grateful for all who have supported the ministry, whether through regular monthly donations or one-time gifts. We are  currently receiving about 40% below what our monthly needs are but have been amazed at how Father continues to provide.

Would you consider a year-end donation to support Love Them To Life? This is how our ministry survives financially.

If Father lays it on your heart to support us monthly or through a one-time donation, you can do that through the following ways:

 - by check: please make it to Love Them To Life, 31A Yorktowne Pkwy, Whiting, NJ 08759

- electronic donation: https://lovethemtolife.com/donate

As always, your prayer support is the most necessary thing to enable us to continue the work that Father has given us. We are blessed to have you as prayer partners. Thank you for your help in 2019 and we look forward to partnering with you in 2020.