Living Real

The Good News Club! Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF). Do the schools in your community offer the Good News Club via an after school program? If not, I pray you'll help start one. I had the opportunity to interview the International President for CEF, Dr. Jeremiah Cho, and what a fascinating story he has to tell. You can hear his deep love for God and for reaching children for Christ in his voice.  Growing up in South Korea, he knew nothing about Jesus, but God drew this humble man to Himself at the age of 15. His purpose and passion was ignited after much praying and seeking God's will for his life. He is committed to reaching and discipling children for Christ around the world, and he is leading CEF in doing just that. In 2024 alone, 27 million children around the world were exposed to the Gospel of Jesus Christ through the Good News Clubs.  You don't want to miss this one. And, if you'd like to know more about how you can get involved with this ministry in South Carolina, go to https://www.cef-sc.org/. You can also read articles about CEF written by the SC President, Lee Stillinger, in the Spring 2025 and Fall 2025 issues of Living Real Magazine. https://www.livingrealmag.com   Keepin' it Real, Melanie

Most Christians in America cannot comprehend the persecution happening to Christians around the world. Sure, we might read an article, see a social media post about praying for the Persecuted Church, but most will scroll on by. We don't hear about it from the pulpit like we should, and it's certainly not a headline grabber for the media. This is why I'm so humbled to have been asked to do a LR podcast episode with a Ukrainian Pastor (Igor) and Chaplin (Mark). Their personal stories and encounters with the Russian invasion, occupation, and persecution are jaw-dropping. These are bold and courageous spiritual leaders, and, what impressed me the most is, they did not travel to America to ask the American churches for money. They came to bring awareness as to what our brothers and sisters in Christ are dealing with in Ukraine and to ask for us to use our most deadly spiritual weapon against the evil one - PRAYER - and to engage with them in fighting through this intense spiritual battle. They are asking that the American Church move to the spiritual frontlines on their behalf. Pray for protection, spiritual covering, for their faith to be strengthened, and for the Gospel of Jesus Christ to continue to spread. God is moving in the midst of the evil and atrocities happening in their country. People are hungry for hope, truth, and salvation. Commit with me and others to live real by lifting up Mark and Igor, great men of faith, and the persecuted Church in Ukraine. And then, if you will, please share this episode of the Living Real Podcast with your pastors, churches, and prayer warriors. We cannot shirk our responsibility to pray for them. May the Church be the Church for every tribe, tongue, and nation. May Jesus Christ be praised. More of their stories will be in the Fall/Winter 2024 issue of Living Real Magazine coming in October. Living Real, Melanie

Season 3, episode 1 is a round-table discussion about faith and fostering in SC. Three foster moms, (Amy Bowen, Lacey Hines, Debbie Smith) talk about their amazing stories of fostering, how their faith directs their steps, and the joys and frustrations they've experienced in being a foster family. All three families have also adopted children they have fostered. I consider these women and their husbands heroes of the faith. They have stepped up to literally rescue and change the lives of orphans for the glory of Christ. James 1:27 says, Pure and undefiled religion before God the Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained from the world. The Church has been given the responsibility to look after orphans. It's a beautiful picture of what Christ has done for us by adopting us as His children. Looking after orphans comes in many forms, but we must be willing to come alongside these brave men and women to support and encourage them in any way possible. If you are interested in becoming a foster parent in SC, here's the link to start the process: Heartfelt Calling Thank you for listening and until next time... Keep it Real, Melanie

Part One: Open the Word - Exposing the Enemy of the Light Follow along as we examine Ephesians 6:12, 5:8b, 11 to discover who the real enemy of our souls is, and how we push back against this present darkness with the Light of Christ.  Part Two: A Conversation with author, Charles Martin - For more info, go to https://www.charlesmartinbooks.com/   This conversation is one of my favorites so far. Charles Martin is the real deal. He loves Christ, his family, and writes amazing fiction that points to the love of Jesus Christ. He is one of my all time favorite authors of inspirational, Christian fiction. Martin is not a sappy writer by any means, just real, down to earth stories that portray how hard relationships can be. His characters motivate us to examine our own hearts and to be honest with ourselves, God, and others about anything that's holding us back from the freedom God desires for us to live in. With some heart-racing, on-the-edge-of-your-seat "James Bond" type action infused, The Water Keeper, The Letter Keeper, and coming in 2022, The Record Keeper, have exposed the atrocities of human trafficking and what it takes to rescue someone from this evil. Rescue is possible. Healing takes time. Hope is never lost. Forgiveness is essential. Freedom is pure joy! Keepin' it Real, Melanie

Part One of this Living Real episode dives into the significance of Israel. Why is this tiny nation surrounded by regimes who want it to fall of such biblically prophetic importance? My guest in Part Two challenged me to go deeper into "Why Israel?," because a particular piece from her art collection wrecked me. Psalm 8:2 helps explain why. Part Two is my conversation with a divinely gifted artist, Mary Burkett. She'll tell you she's not an artist, but her work says differently. She never tried to draw anything before January of 2017. That morning when she sat down at her kitchen table in West Columbia, SC, with a brand new sketch pad and pencil and began looking for inspiration, no one could have imagined what would emerge from the paper - 27 portraits entitled The Beloved: Children of the Holocaust. Since 2017, Mary has gifted the world with over 100 beautiful faces of children who point to a story only God could write.  When you hear this miracle in her own words, you will not only be blown away but changed! I was. Check out Mary's artwork at https://www.maryburkettart.com/belovedchildrenoftheholocaust1  You'll want to read her article, A Pencil in His Hand, in our Fall/Winter 2021 issue of Living Real Magazine. If you can't find a copy (out in October), check it out on our website @livingrealmag.com. Genesis Creative Studios is also putting the finishing touches on a documentary film about Mary and her art. It should be coming soon. Stay tuned to our Facebook page for more info. @livingrealmag Keepin' it Real for Jesus' sake, Melanie