ing with Him by grace through faith. We are promised the Holy Spirit, wisdom, under-standing, the knowledge of His will and purpose for our life … to name a few, there are more! These are all part of the promise we looked at earlier - the promise that God will be found. In the definitions of “seek” that I looked at, worship and prayer was a major part. Seeking and searching the Bible would also be included. Do these describe our coarse of action (lifestyle)? There’s another part of seek I’d like to look at. Luke 19:10 tells us that “the Son of man (Jesus) is come to seek and save that which was lost.” Jesus’ purpose for coming to earth was to save mankind, so that every one would have opportunity to receive Him. In John it says that “the Father (God) seeketh such to worship Him.” (John 4:23b) Who are the Father and Son seeking for? 1. The lost. Who are the lost? Romans 3:23 & 5:12 …

every person born into this world has fallen short, has sinned … is lost and needs the Savior.

2. Those that worship Him in spirit and truth. The wise men in Matthew 2, when they found Jesus, fell down and worshipped Him, then offered their gifts.

Our greatest gift to Jesus is ourselves … full, yielded surrender and obedience to the One that is seeking us. So here we have it: We are invited to seek the One that is seeking us! Have I found Him? Has He found you? May God bless each and every one in 2014! Sam & Marla Yoder Adrienne, Lashawna, Kenton, Koen - Board Member

“Seekers”

A Place of New Beginnings!

Greetings of love to all in Jesus’ name. We’ve just come through the holiday season with lots of activities going on, par-ties, meals, family gather-ings, shopping, etc. Some-thing that I’ve thought of dur-ing this season is the word

“seek.” It seemed like many people were looking for bargains, good deals, for that perfect gift. I was told that people were waiting in line at stores, even overnight, to make sure they could be the first to enter the doors. Sometimes this resulted in someone getting seriously injured. In Isaiah 55:6a it says “Seek ye the Lord while He may be found;” and Jeremiah 29:13, “And ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart.” We learn from these verses: 1. A promise - God can be found. 2. We must seek; seeking requires a course of action.

In the example of the shoppers, they had in mind something they wanted, and as in these verses, they that seek God must do so with a full or whole heart.

Jesus said to seek God and His kingdom first. This should be our first priority, all others secondary. His kingdom is not meat and drink, but righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. His kingdom is not earthly, tangible, temporary things, but eternal, such as the gift of salvation, which is the forgiveness of our sins through the shed blood of Jesus and be in right stand-

Jan. - Mar. 2014 *** 113 N. Industrial Park Rd. Washington, IN 47501 *** (812) 254-3399 *** freshstarttrainingcenter.org

Isaiah 28:10 “Precept must be upon precept, … Line upon line, … Here a little, there a little.” (I’m sure there is a sermon there somewhere.) This is a verse I have been rolling around in my head today and even shared it with the inmates at the county jail this even-ing. Maybe it’s because this is how I find myself learning a lot of the time, a little here, a little there, and a lot of things that don’t necessarily go as I would like in be-tween. Am I failing in those in between times or just learning what works and what doesn’t? Is it like Thomas Edison said, “I haven’t failed, I just know 10,000 things that don’t work now.”? Maybe that is how we teach someone a new con-cept or job. When we get a new resident in the shop he doesn’t learn everything in one day. We give them a tour of the shop and facilities, talk about some do’s and don’ts, then we go to work. But, very seldom is one able to just take off and construct a piece of furni-ture or whatever without farther instructions. You have to learn one step at a time.

In Isaiah God didn’t want his people to stay in those beginning stages though, He wanted them to go on and continue to build upon those things that they had learned. Likewise at the Training Center, we give many lessons, both in the classroom and in the shop, but we would like that to be a means of being able to go further and deeper on their own. As I am writing my mind keeps saying, “Well, you sir, how are you getting along on your journey?” I will say that there is joy in the journey, but there are still days when I have to back up and reboot and I thank

God for His grace to get us through those times. Blessings, Kevin & Dawn Eshleman Courtney, Erica, Kailyn, Lauren - Shop Foreman

Greetings from Fresh Start Training Center, I have been blessed recently, as we have been looking at how God carried out the promise of a redeemer. After the fall God promised a re-deemer for mankind. We

have just celebrated the Christmas season and God’s fulfillment of his promise through the Old Testament till the coming of Jesus. Cain killed Abel but God gave Adam and Eve a son Seth who kept the linage going for the redeemer. Then you have the Flood, Noah was faithful and God kept his plan in place through the faithfulness of Noah and his family. God called Abraham to leave his idol worshipping culture

to go to the place God showed him. Abrahams faith-fulness provided a way for God to keep his promise alive. There are many other faithful people God used to provide the way for the redeemer to come. Then to think about all of the details God worked out with the birth of Jesus. The taxation, Angel ap-pearing to Joseph and telling him to take Mary as his wife, Joseph and Mary travelling to Bethlehem because of the taxation. There are many other de-tails that I will not take time to mention. God was in control of the very finest details to ensure the fulfill-ment of his promise! Can you trust God with the de-tails of your life? How grateful are you for the com-ing of Jesus Christ our Redeemer? Bryan & Virleen Fleagle Shannon, Weslyn, Breanne - HEART Program Director

“Details”

“Step By Step”

PRAYER REQUESTS Please pray for our current staff needs: Single Men for Counselors & Shop Assistants Single Lady for Cook Married Couples for House parents & Marriage Counselors

Pray that God would continue to supply for our finan-cial needs.

Pray for personal victory in the lives of our residents.

PRAISE REPORT Praise the Lord for meeting our financial needs.

Praise the Lord for the battles won in the hearts of the men.

Praise the Lord for the many generous donations of produce, fruit and meat.

Praise the Lord for the many recent graduates who have returned home and are doing well.

Praise the Lord for the recent interest in staff posi-tions.

Greetings to all of you in the Precious Name of Jesus, As I reflect over the past couple of months, there has been a lot tak-ing place. In the beginning of October we went on our small P.R. trip with the residents and were gone about 5-6 days. We went east to VA and WV. WE had a good trip and are praising the Lord for keeping us all safe as we traveled. There was only a few staff that went along. It was Bryan & Virleen, Virlin & Rosie, Mark Miller and Matt & I. When we came back Matt and I went on a little trip to the Smokey Mountains then onto SC to our home Church to visit. After we came back the staff

men and residents went on their yearly camp-ing trip to Patoka Lake while us ladies stayed back and had our own little party and went shopping. It rained for the men some but they managed to try and stay dry. For Thanksgiving most of us staff stayed here and had our own Thanksgiving dinner but there were a few that went home for Thanksgiving as well. The day after Thanksgiving, Jay & Mary Ann Martin and a few of their

children, along with Mark Miller and Virlin & Rosie Yoder went to Daniel Chupp’s wedding. Daniel was a former counselor here. There was a lot that happened in December. All the staff and residents and the local board had a Christmas party / farewell for Julia Hersh-berger who served here as a cook. She went home December 16. Pray for her as she adjusts back to home life again. We all (staff and residents) went to the annual K & K Christmas supper again this year.

That’s always a highlight for us. Jay & Mary Ann and their two youngest children couldn’t make it this year

because they went to Jonah Miller’s wedding that day. He is a former resident that was here. Over Christmas most of our staff will be traveling home to families. Bryan’s will be staying here and then doing their Christ-

mas in January at the Smokey’s with their children. The residents also get to go home for a few days over Christmas as well. That’s always a high-light for them. Continue to pray for Tim, Jay, Virlin, Bryan and Matt as they continue to study for their topics for the Helping Peo-ple in Need Seminar that is coming up in January. God Bless, Crystal Swarey

- Houseparent

Staff Reflections

“Camping - relaxing around the fire!”

FAREWELL Julia Hershberger completed her term of service here as a cook on December 12, 2013. Thank-you, Julia, for investing your time here. May the Lord richly bless you as you serve Him where He has called you. You will be missed here at Fresh Start!

WELCOME We welcome Leroy Martin from Withee, WI to our staff team here at Fresh Start. Leroy will be filling the role of counselor/mentor. Please pray for Leroy as he goes through training and assumes his re-sponsibilities here. Thank you, Leroy, for answering God’s call to serve here at Fresh Start.

“Helping with Tornado Clean-up in Washington.”

“Thank-you, Julia for your service to Fresh Start!”

“A test of faith … Trying the Faith-fall!”

Residents

Back Row: Joe, Brandon, Gabriel Front Row : Jesse, Daniel, David

“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlast-ing.” (Psalm 139:23,24. These verses describe my desire as I came to Fresh Start. In my time here I have been helped to look at my past - a time filled with emotional difficulties, self-gratification, and lust. My relationship with God was distant. I repeatedly fell into conflict with those around me at home and work. I would blame others rather than take responsibility. After a period of severe anger and bitterness my most loyal friends recommended I find longer term solutions a look deeper into my life problems. Soon after I came to Fresh Start I recommitted my life to God. I found reassurance of salvation in Je-sus Christ. I was helped to understand Jesus count-ed me worth dying for, and I needed to stop nursing inferiority. I have also been inspired with the testi-mony of David Ring, who has cerebral palsy, but preaches to crowds. He asks, “What’s your prob-lem.” Everyone has the ability to serve. Learning to trust God brings me freedom from the need to constantly control my surroundings. Finding forgiveness gives me inspiration to pursue a close relationship with God and others. I marvel at the methods God has used to make a point in my life and to mold me to his likening. Please pray that I would be faithful where God plac-es me. - Gabriel Resident

“ … For he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” (Heb. 13:5b) Also, “Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest ob-serve to do according to all the law …” (Josh. 1:7a) These are two verses that have stood out to me re-cently, and been something to hang on to, and hope in during discouraging times. They speak of God’s faithfulness and my need to trust and obey. My past has been a story of high hopes and dis-couraging failure, and often becoming focused on my immediate problems and discouragements, which at the time seem even more certainly con-demning because I know that even this state of de-feat is because of taking my own way. I have suc-cumbed to having feelings of hopelessness and self-pity, instead of repenting and looking to God, trust-ing Him, and selflessly serving Him for His love and grace. Yet, even in these times, God has been mer-ciful and presented rays of hope and encourage-ment along the way, proving again my need to trust and obey. Another thing I am coming to realize more and more while here at Fresh Start is my need for humil-ity. It has been good to live and be accountable to the other residents and staff here. We are like a family in that we are close enough to know each other fairly well and enjoy and encourage each oth-er’s lives and point out our faults, bad habits, and other hindrances; and through this environment I am realizing that my own selfishness and pride are most often more to blame than anything else. I am blessed to have the opportunity to see and confess my faults among fellow laborers, and am looking forward to what God has in store for me here! - Brandon Resident

Congratulations! Earl Charles completed the program here on Octo-ber 21, 2013 and returned to his home in Pennsylva-nia. Dave & Virginia Hochstetler completed the program on December 16, 2013 and returned home to Georgia. Mark Overholt completed the program here on December 19, 2013, returning to his home in Tennessee. We wish each of these individuals God’s blessings as they apply the principles they learned here to everyday life.

February 5 - 14, 2014

Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2014 7:00 p.m. Lighthouse Mennonite Church

VanLeer, TN

Thursday, Feb. 6, 2014 7:00 p.m. Pickens Mennonite Church

Pickens, SC

Friday, Feb. 7, 2014 6:30 p.m. Day Spring Mennonite Church

Taylorsville, NC

Saturday, Feb. 8, 2014 7:00 p.m. Berea Mennonite School

Harrisonburg, VA

Sunday, Feb. 9, 2014 9:30 a.m. Pilgrim Christian Fellowship

Stuarts Draft, VA

Sunday, Feb. 9, 2014 7:00 p.m. Bethel Mennonite Church

Gladys, VA

Monday, Feb. 10, 2104 7:30 p.m. Kempsville Amish Mennonite Church

Virginia Beach, VA

Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2014 TBA

Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2014 TBA

Thursday, Feb. 13, 2014 7:30 p.m. Ebenezer Amish Mennonite Brotherhood

McConnellsville, OH

Friday, Feb. 14, 2014 Travel Home

Please pray for us as we travel and share in song and testimony!

P.R. TP.R. TRIPRIP IITINERARYTINERARY

Current Needs: Living Room & Bedroom Furniture /

old or new 3/4 ton truck Staff Needs: Single Men for Counselors and Shop Assistants Single Lady for cook

Attention!

All former Staff, Residents & Board Members

The Fresh Start Reunion is being planned for:

June 27 - 29, 2014

Please save the dates and plan to attend!

Fresh Start, Inc. Quarterly Financial Report

October - December 2013

Beginning Balance ……………………………………….……………….. $45,430.05 INCOME Donations …………………………….. $ 77,397.24 Interest ………………………………… 12.36 Misc. …………………………………… 3,814.93 Phone …………………………………. —0— Resident Fund ……………………….. 200.00 Shop …………………………………….. 36,198.28 TOTAL INCOME …………………………….$117,622.81 EXPENSE Allowance ……………………………. $ 37,825.31 Deductions ……………………………. —0— Equipment …………………………….. 1,769.29 Food …………………………………… 4,969.29 General Maintenance ………………… 1,009.21 General Supplies ……………………… 1,948.81 Housing ………………………………… 12,998.21 Insurance ………………………………. 3,482.00 Jail ………………………………………. 379.80 Misc. ……………………………………. 114.00 Payroll Taxes ………………………….. 9,904.78 Postage ………………………………… 175.85 PR/Follow-Up …………………….……. 907.60 Printing …………………………………. —0— Resident Fund …………………………. 200.00 Sales Tax ………………………………. —0— Shop Expense …………………………. 41,562.71 Staff Training …………………………… 1,196.51 Study Material …………………………. 136.83 Travel Expense ………………………… 2,434.82 Utilities …………………………………… 7,898.66 Vehicle Expense ……………………….. 5,853.97 TOTAL EXPENSE …………………….…….$134,762.92 ENDING BALANCE ……………………………………………………...… $28,289.94

Founders The late Abe Knepp & his wife, Viola

Local Board

Gerald Wagler, Chairman Ray Lengacher, Vice-Chairman

Kevin Wagler, Secretary Rick Wagler Sam Yoder Marlin Yoder Mike Miller

Advisory Board

Myron Mullet, Abbeville, SC David Bontrager, Jr., Middlebury, IN Glenn Horst, Elmira, ON Vancen Miller, Bourbon, IN Joel Martin, New Holland, PA David Yoder, Jr., Auburn, KY

Staff Tim & Michelle Weaver Family Administrator, Washington, IN Virlin & Rosie Yoder Family,

Assistant Administrator, Montgomery, IN Kevin & Dawn Eshleman Family, Shop Foreman, Hephzibah, GA Bryan & Virleen Fleagle Family,

HEART Program Director, St. Thomas, PA Matt & Crystal Swarey

Houseparents, Donalds, SC John & Mary Fisher

Assistant Houseparents, Mifflin, PA Jay & Mary Ann Martin Family,

Director of Client Care, Dundee, NY Leroy Martin, Counselor, Withee, WI

Mark Miller, Shop Assistant, Washington, IN Naomi Bechtel, Secretary, Montgomery, IN

Irene Plett, Cook, Boley, OK

PRSRT STD AUTO

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SHOALS, IN PERMIT NO. 18