Merry Christmas from the Fredericks Family! This year can be summarized by the word "First" as this letter explains.
First we want to say Merry Christmas to you. This has been a very challenging year to some and it will continue to be challenging as we move towards 2012. Know we would be honored to pray for you and keep you before the Lord as this is a bulk of ministry as anyone knows.
One of the firsts in 2011 was having an engaged daughter which started on Christmas Eve last year. So, 2011 began a first of many firsts, preparing and planning for a wedding. So, on October 15, 2011, our eldest child and daughter, Rebekah was married to Christopher Pereza (Per - ez - a). They have their first apartment and first Christmas as a couple. They are a great couple and we have enjoyed being around to see them as much as we do. This leads to our second ''first.''
This will be our first Christmas with only four children living in our home. While Chris and Rebekah will be over on Christmas, it is a new thing for us.
Another first in 2011 was having our oldest son, Jonathan, get his driver's permit. While we have had two daughters get their license, this is our first son. He's doing great and maneuvers the curves around Anthem very well (had to get this in as a dad).
In 2011, we saw our youngest be the last "Fredericks" in the middle school. That is another first, and it brings a sunset to another life stage for mom and dad. This spring mom and dad see Hannah graduate from 8th grade in May. Hannah had an honorable first in September as she joined with several school choirs and sang The National Anthem at the Arizona Diamondbacks' game which clinched the Western Division of the National League.
In July, Paul experienced a first - he was able to officiate a wedding for one of his relatives as he flew back to Cleveland, Ohio. His Nephew, Charlie Grogan, and Carrie were married in mid-July. It was great for him to be there and he saw many relatives as well as some fellow high school friends he hasn't seen in almost 30 year.
In September, Kelly had a first by hosting her daughter's bridal shower here at our home. It was a great day for Rebekah and both families as she received many gifts to equip their home.
This fall, David played his first year of freshman football and played Defensive Tackle.
He did very well, considering it was his first year playing football. Many of the other young men had been previously playing in the "Wolf Pack" league. His other first was having braces placed on his teeth.
Sarah had a dramatic first this year as she began Modeling School in the fall and will graduate on January 22, 2012. We're thrilled with her goals and her commitment to accomplishing them. We'll keep you posted on her.
The Ministry continues to expand as Paul is serving many families, couples, and individuals. He continues to officiate weddings and memorials in various venues around the Phoenix area. He serves over 10 funeral homes as they need a minister for families who do not have a pastor or for families whose pastor is unavailable.
Recently, Paul led a memorial for a 19 year old young man. His past was tainted with Heroin drug abuse. But in the past months he was taking steps to rehab from his addiction and was making amends to his family when the Lord took him home. From what the parents told Paul, the young man had made a confession to Christ in his younger years and was making steps to build his faith when he died. At the memorial, Paul had the opportunity to speak to over 200 people; many of them were in their late teens and early 20s. He challenged them to think about the gap death brings to our minds as to what happens next. Paul spoke from John 11, boldly declaring that only Jesus can bridge the gap between life and death. The father of the son emphatically said, he was glad Paul spoke that day, making the gospel very clear to so many who needed to hear the message of grace and hope.
This year, Paul has joined Arizona Coalition of Men's Ministry (AZCMM). This is a nonprofit ministry, reaching out to men in the community and local churches. Paul has provided to AZCMM a "Chaplain Training Program" called "The Aaron and Hur Training" to help men become lay-chaplains in their local churches. This equips men to help serve alongside their pastor in real-life situations, hospital visitations, nursing home visitations, funerals, etc.
Paul is also building the chaplain ministry in the community as well. There have been many who have heard the gospel for the first time through Paul and the! Lord's work, serving as a chaplain. We trust the Lord will continue to expand this ministry as He did in 2011. Through the Lord's work as a chaplain, the Lord has touched over 75 different families through memorials and marriages. On 9-11-11, Paul was asked to speak at a local church as well as a community service, commemorating those who lost their lives tens years previous. The gospel was declared in all these services. While it is not always visible on how God worked, we know the Lord planted many seeds of the gospel in the hearts and minds of these families. On both December 7 and 8, Paul spoke to over 300 people about the first year of grief and the many 'firsts" individuals and families would need to process and would experience. He also provided them with practical tools on how to cope with these "firsts."
May I challenge you with a first? Next year (2012), will be full of "firsts" for all of us. No one, but the Lord knows what will come our way. That is why we still call it, "The Year of our Lord, 2012." It is His - story being unfolded and He is inviting us to join Him. Would you become a participant in what will be many "firsts" in the Lord's great adventure for Phoenix Pastors and Arizona Coalition of Men's Ministry? The Lord will bring many eternal souls in our path in 2012 and we would enjoy having you by our side by praying and partnering with the Lord’s work.
phoenixpastors@.gmail.com
http://phoenixpastors.webs.com
Leaning on His Promises,
Paul, Kelly, Sarah, Jonathan, David, Hannah Fredericks, and ...
Rebekah and Christopher Pereza
