“For me, personally, I saw religion and politics as spiritual issues when you boil them down to their finite,” he says. 

Woolford felt the Lord calling him to run for office after his experience with COVID clampdowns on the church. The unraveling of Christian values across our nation paired with the willingness of believers to give up rights was alarming to him. As a basis for his political service, he points to Psalm 82:3: “Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute.” 

Matthew 4:4, where Jesus refutes the tempter by proclaiming ‘Man shall not live by bread alone,’ fuels Woolford’s other work: Bible distribution through Mission Cry. 

“As the president of Mission Cry, sending the word of God around the world to people – that’s the only thing that doesn’t return void – and then working also as a lawmaker, I see it going hand in hand,” he says. 

The work is rewarding, but the responsibility is weighty. Woolford draws strength from the Lord. 

“God has called me to both these things, and so it’s a balance that only God himself could be doing right now.”

Mission Cry President Jason Woolford and volunteer JoAnn Walsh. Photo courtesy of Mission Cry.

Whether sending Bibles to 178 nations or working to change unjust laws in Michigan, Woolford knows his work puts him on the front lines of spiritual battle. Please pray for Woolford, his family, and their ministry team. 

Acts 1:8 reads, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

“Michigan at the capitol is the uttermost parts of the earth,” Woolford says, “so I would appreciate the prayers, and I’m very thankful to be serving both globally and at the state level for Michiganders.”

Pray that Mission Cry would raise sufficient funds to send containers filled with Bibles and free books around the world, and pray for partners distributing them. On the home front, pray for Representative Woolford as he storms the spiritual strongholds of Michigan’s political realm. 

“That’s going to be a real battle, and so praying specifically that God would give me strength and wisdom and knowledge above and beyond my own, and a Holy Ghost boldness,” he says. 

Featured image courtesy of Mission Cry. 

Kurt Dillinger, President and Founder of LIFE International, explains, “This particular building was the first Jewish synagogue built in Grand Rapids over 120 years ago, and they were here in this building for many, many years. Then it evolved into becoming a university building where they did theater here. Then it became another business building.

“It eventually became the largest abortion facility in West Michigan.”

(Photo courtesy of Dominic Blignaut/Unsplash)

Around 20 years ago, when the abortion clinic building went up for sale, it seemed an unlikely place to transform for a biblical pro-life ministry.

Yet, that is what LIFE International did, and Dillinger says it’s what God intended.

“Over a five-year period of prayer, God brought us to this building and He showed us this was the building. It came up for sale and some business people in the community heard about this story. They said, ‘We’re going to buy the building and give it to you.'”

Grand Rapids’ Kent County sees an average of 1,450 abortions per year, according to statistics from 2013-2023. The state of Michigan reported 31,241 abortions total in 2023 — a nearly 30-year high.

The Church still has much work to do in promoting and celebrating God’s value of life in the culture — in Michigan, across the United States, and around the world.

However, this story is a poignant reminder of God’s sovereignty and redemptive work, and He will have the final say.

“We’ve had many women come to our building here who had abortions in their past,” says Dillinger. “They’ll come, and they’ll want to see the building.

“We get to communicate to them, ‘Look what God did with the brick and mortar. He changed it from what it was, to what it is today. A place of death was turned into a place of life. He wants to do the same thing in your heart. You are more important to Him than brick and mortar. This is just a message to you how much He loves you.’

(Photo courtesy of LIFE International)

Dillinger emphasizes, “That’s been our message through our building. God has uniquely given us a wonderful mouthpiece here for our community.”

LIFE International has expanded its pro-life work over the years into more than 100 nations, equipping Christian leaders to communicate God’s heart for life.

Pray for women and men hurt by abortion or considering it to know God’s love for them and their babies.

Learn more about LIFE International’s ministry.

Header photo of historical ministry building, initially built as a Jewish synagogue. Photo courtesy of LIFE International.

75% of post-9/11 veterans self-identify as having PTSD.
(Photo, caption courtesy of Warriors Set Free)

“It is pretty apparent through the national suicide rate that we’re carrying things that we just shouldn’t be carrying,” says Eric Brew, a veteran and the director of Warriors Set Free Georgia, which is a ministry of Set Free.

According to data gathered from 2001 to 2021, the national suicide rate was twice as high among veteran adults as is was among non-veteran adults. (More on that here.)

“We want to spend time with these guys and help them to figure out how to empty that rucksack, lay stuff at the foot of the cross, and to walk away from it,” Brew says. 

This is the fourth Warriors Battle gathering since the Georgia division of Warriors Set Free started last year. From October 23–26, the group (all men) will deal squarely with truth, relationships, identity and purpose in a God-centered way. 

One important thing is that they’ll do it together. 

“We don’t just tell someone that they should lay things at the foot of the cross, and we don’t just tell them how. We actually walk through it, hand in hand; we stand shoulder to shoulder with them while they do it,” Brew says. 

“Christ Himself said healthy people don’t need a hospital, right? This is not about getting ourselves right. This is about an opportunity to come and have your heavenly Father meet you right where you are.”

Do you want to see God touch more peoples’ lives? Brew says there are multiple ways that you can be part of the ongoing stories with Warriors Set Free. 

“The first [way] is not only the simplest, but it’s also the most heartfelt, and that is we want people to pray over us,” Brew says.

Warriors Set Free needs strong believers from all generations, services, and backgrounds.
(Photo courtesy of Warriors Set Free)

“Pray that hurting veterans, hurting first responders, people who have got roadblocks between them and their Heavenly Father, might just find their way to us so that we can simply present an opportunity for them to have a face-to-face encounter with their Father, to do business with God and to stand on this side of freedom.”

If you are a veteran or first responder who needs to talk, get in touch with Eric Brew directly at eric@warriorssetfree.org.

Connect with Warriors Set Free Georgia on Facebook, or learn more about their ministry based in Michigan and Georgia at warriorssetfree.org.

Header image courtesy of Warriors Set Free.

Eric Brew is the director of Warriors Set Free Georgia, a ministry of Set Free, based on the western edge of the state. He says the storm swung east of them and hit hard as it went north. 

“I think we’d be remiss if we didn’t say we need to be praying, right? Some folks have lost everything, so asking God for His peace and His provision to cover them is first and foremost,” Brew says. 

“Secondly, I think that we need to be the hands and feet of Jesus, to step out in faith and offer help, comfort and some practical assistance to those in need.” 

More than 160 people have lost their lives from Helene, at least 25 from Georgia. That count is feared to go up as rescue efforts continue. In the meantime, consider how you can help. It’s going to be a long rebuilding process. 

“We’re going to continue [the] mission that the Lord’s given us and then figure out ways that we can get involved to help those who have struggled [after Helene],” Brew says. 

“If there [are] any veterans, active duty, or first responders out there that want to sit down and have a conversation about some of the things that they’ve seen during this devastation, we’d love to stand shoulder to shoulder with our brothers and sisters, love on them and assist them in finding ways to lay things at the foot of the Cross.” 

Connect with Warriors Set Free Georgia on Facebook, or get in touch with Eric Brew directly at eric@warriorssetfree.org. Learn more about this ministry based in Michigan and Georgia at warriorssetfree.org. 

Header photo: Georgia National Guard 1st Sgt. Michelle Abbot, senior enlisted leader with the Columbus-based Alpha Company, 876th Engineer Support Company, 878th Engineer Battalion, 648th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade gives route clearance guidance to her Soldiers at the Augusta Readiness Center in Augusta, Georgia, Sept. 28, 2024. (Photo and caption courtesy of Georgia National Guard via Wikimedia Commons)

Not all but many of the country’s 16.2 million veterans “are in the fight for their [lives], whether it’s depression, anxiety, suicide, [or] divorce,” says Warriors Set Free director and Army veteran Steve Prince.

“They’re fighting to be happy, healthy, and whole again, based on the trauma they’ve been through.”

A division of Set Free, Warriors Set Free focuses specifically on veterans and first responders. Learn more here.

“We fight alongside them, train and encourage them in the spiritual fight so they can have victory over the spiritual enemy,” Prince says.

“John 10:10 says Satan comes to steal, kill, and destroy, but Jesus came to give us life and give it fully. That’s what we want for these military veterans and first responders.”

Based in West Michigan, Warriors Set Free started a second branch in Georgia in late 2021. “Michigan doesn’t have any active-duty posts, and veterans don’t flock to Michigan to retire [but] Atlanta is the hub of the South,” Prince says.

“There are over 30,000 veterans in the county that Fort Moore is located in.”

In 2024, Warriors Set Free: Georgia is planning four freedom events for struggling veterans.

(Photo courtesy of Warriors Set Free)

“We call it (the event) ‘Warriors Battle,’ and the [tagline] is ‘You are worth fighting for,’” Prince says.

“I love the idea of taking the physical fight from our physical enemy and bringing it to the spiritual and fighting for these men and women who have sacrificed so much for our freedom.”

Know someone who might benefit from these events? Connect with Warriors Set Free here.

Prayer is the first and best way to help Warriors Set Free, Prince says, but “we [also] love to see people coming alongside and supporting us financially. People give $20 a month; we have people write huge checks; they all matter.”

Give safely online to help Warriors Set Free reach more veterans.

Header and story images courtesy of Warriors Set Free.

An unreached person isn’t someone who knows about the God of the Bible and chooses to reject Him. Someone who is unreached never had the chance to respond to salvation in Jesus Christ because they have never heard the Gospel. They are lost because they do not know.

Baptism in Pakistan. (Photo courtesy of FMI)

Thankfully, there are concerted Gospel efforts among ministry organizations to the unreached. But the Church needs to do more — and it’s easier to get involved than you may think!

FMI serves countries that are mostly within the 10/40 window and overwhelmingly unreached. The ministry supports indigenous church planters reaching their own people with the Good News of the Gospel.

Bruce Allen with FMI says, “Almost one out of every nine souls on the planet lives in the area where our partners serve. These are the countries of Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Turkiye (which is the world’s largest unreached nation with the Gospel), and Kenya at the base of the Horn of Africa – a very Muslim dense region of the world.”

To connect more believers with critical missions to the unreached, FMI is hosting three regional banquets across the United States – Grand Rapids, Michigan on September 21; Lancaster County, Pennsylvania on October 5; and Emerald Isle, North Carolina on October 12.

Sadaqat holds his treasured copy of the Injil (New Testament) that first riveted him with the good news of God’s unshakeable love through Jesus Christ. (Photo courtesy of FMI)

“FMI just wants to inspire people and serve as their bridge so that they can effectively connect with the places where more than 1,440 unreached people groups live,” says Allen.

“These banquets are an opportunity to meet with our staff [and] our board members, enjoy a buffet meal, and hear about what God is doing in some incredible places even though they’re spiritually dark.”

Sign up for one of FMI’s regional banquets here!

Even if you can’t go, Allen asks, “Pray for those final days of the preparation. Pray for the conversations also that happen at these events. Not just the what happens during the program when someone gets up and is speaking or sharing one of these stories or things like that, but the conversations when people are sitting at the tables or standing.

“Then also pray for our partners, the national leadership teams that we have in each of these countries. They have a vision for expansion…. Pray for the church planters for their stamina, for their vision, and that the Lord would resource them.”

Click here to learn more about supporting FMI.

Header photo courtesy of Kyle Glenn/Unsplash.

Steve Prince of Warriors Set Free, a division of Set Free Ministries, went through this process last fall. “We felt led to go to where there’s more activity in the veteran community. Michigan, where we’re currently based, has no active-duty posts and very minimal retirees” compared to other states, Prince says.

“As we were evaluating data, looking at the numbers, and praying about where we should go, we met somebody from Atlanta or Georgia almost daily.”

Learn more about Warriors Set Free: Georgia here.

Prince and his team stepped out in faith one year ago, launching a new branch of Warriors Set Free in Atlanta, Georgia. Today, “we’re following where God is leading us, and we’re excited about reaching more veterans and spreading the Gospel,” Prince says.

“We are obedient to what God is calling us to do, and there’s a lot of momentum. The doors keep flying open.”

According to a 2020 study, Georgia ranks 10th nationwide for having the most active-duty personnel. The same research placed Michigan at 44th of the country’s 50 states.

GallantFew at The Ranger Outreach Center provides one-on-one transition assistance and veteran support to Army Rangers and veterans in Columbus, Georgia.
(Photo, caption courtesy of Warriors Set Free)

Many veteran organizations are based in Atlanta because “there’s a huge need [for veteran services], both in Atlanta and across the state,” Prince says. During a recent visit, he connected with the City of Refuge, The Warrior Alliance, VETLANTA, and VEO.

“VEO is a property that houses vets [who are] struggling with homelessness. Their CEO participated in some ministry events with us, and he’s excited about us being on their campus,” Prince says.

Support Warriors Set Free here.

Pray for transformation in Atlanta as people find spiritual freedom through Christ. “We specialize in veterans because we are them. As you impact a veteran, you impact their marriage, family, community, and church,” Prince says.

Pray that many veteran and military-oriented organizations will partner with Warriors Set Free as they learn about freedom ministry. Leaders from several ministries recently went through “freedom appointments” led by Warriors Set Free.

“It’s like a one-day spiritual basic training. But for every individual we get to do that with, it has a dramatic impact, helping them become obedient to who God’s called them to be,” Prince says.

“I’ve heard from the staff of one organization that their leader is leading better and has become a more godly individual [as a result].”

In the header image, Steve (left) and Wayne (right) meet with Mitch (middle), a U.S. Army Ranger veteran and point-person for Warriors Set Free in Georgia. (Photo courtesy of Warriors Set Free)

In the past 12 months, a few social media posts and many prayers led to a new branch opening for Warriors Set Free, a division of Set Free Ministries. Warriors Set Free expanded to Atlanta, Georgia, from Grand Rapids, Michigan, in early 2022.

The “soft launch” followed months of research and preparation – and a little heavenly intervention.

“Last summer, we knocked on the door of the state headquarters of the Georgia National Guard, and within about 20 minutes, we were in the office of the commander of the state, the two-star general,” Warriors Set Free Director and Army vet Steve Prince says.

Only God could orchestrate a meeting like this. “We know people are praying for this ministry,” Prince adds.

“Walking into a building and having a meeting with a two-star general without an appointment is a miracle. That just does not happen.”

It would be like having lunch in your state capital one day, “and the governor decided to sit down and grab lunch with you,” Prince describes as an example.

Steve (left) and Wayne (right) meet with Mitch (middle), a U.S. Army Ranger veteran and newest member of the Warriors Set Free team.
(Photo courtesy of Warriors Set Free)

“There’s probably 15,000 people this man (the General) is responsible for. He doesn’t talk to people that don’t have a reason to talk to him.”

The Lord connected Warriors Set Free with the Army Chaplain Corps to start work among active-duty personnel during this meeting.

Plus, “Jeff Struecker was in the actual mission for Blackhawk Down. He’s a pastor [in Georgia] now, [and] he referred Mitch, who we brought on staff,” Prince adds.

These connections lay the groundwork for more veterans and active-duty military personnel to find healing and freedom in Christ. Praise God for opening doors of opportunity that only He could unlock. Pray He will provide the manpower and resources needed for ongoing ministry.

Learn more about Warriors Set Free here.

Header and story photos courtesy of Warriors Set Free.

A 2014 study found nearly one in four active-duty members showed signs of a mental health condition. Today, over a million veterans live with invisible war wounds like post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, depression, or anxiety.

Warriors Set Free, a division of Set Free Ministries, points wounded warriors to healing in Christ.

Your mission isn’t over; you still have a role to play. We need you. Your fellow veterans need you.
(Graphic, caption courtesy of Warriors Set Free)

“We know veterans are hurting, and they’re trying just about anything they can to deal with their pain. Then they go, ‘Well, maybe I’ll try faith; maybe I’ll try Jesus’,” WSF Director and Army vet Steve Prince says.

“We need prayer to connect to them in that time, at that moment, and we need an introduction.”

The Lord is doubling Warriors Set Free’s impact and reach through a recent expansion. Along with a residential program for veterans, WSF partners with the Army Chaplain Corps to help active-duty members.

Right now, the Army Chaplain Corps is studying WSF methodology and results. “Once that [study] publishes, that’ll be open to the entire Army. So, somebody at Fort Hood, Texas, [could] read about this study a year from now, call us up and say, ‘Will you come to train my staff?’” Prince says.

“We will be training active-duty chaplains how to do what we do: bring freedom in Christ to active-duty service members who are, just like veterans, at high risk for suicide.”

Warriors Set Free needs help from prayer warriors. “Please, please, please pray for these hurting veterans,” Prince requests.

“Pray God would move them to grow closer to Him and not try some of these other things that don’t work.”

Additionally, Warriors Set Free is a Christian nonprofit and depends on gifts. Support WSF here.

“I love the $10 a month donation. That’s where my heart is; I love the giant donations too, but for a little old lady somewhere to send us $10 a month means a ton [because] I know she’s praying for us,” Prince says.

Header image is a representative stock photo courtesy of Diego González/Unsplash.

Steve Prince leads Warriors Set Free, a division of Set Free Ministries. Based in West Michigan, Warriors Set Free helps veterans from all branches. Learn more about their approach here.

“As a current member of the Army, Warriors Set Free is important because I know that I don’t have to combat lies and fear alone.”
(Graphic, caption courtesy of Warriors Set Free)

“Bringing Jesus to veterans helps them with PTSD, suicide, depression. We assist them, we guide them in healing from the past and winning those battles,” Prince says.

Last year, the Lord put a more expansive vision on leaders’ hearts. “Michigan has no active duty posts at all. So, we started praying about it, and all roads led to Georgia,” Prince says.

“Out of faith, we got on a plane, went down to Atlanta, started meeting people, and connecting with different organizations.”

Today, Warriors Set Free has one full-time staff member in Atlanta, and “in December, a man in Holland, Michigan, connected us with Terry Tucker, who runs a property [in Atlanta] that’s going to house 400 veterans,” Prince says.

“They’re doing complete (holistic) care, and they were missing the spiritual element, so we’re going to be a part of their collective impact.”

Plus, “God keeps opening doors. A week ago, we did a Zoom call with a colonel who’s in charge of finding new approaches within the (Army) Chaplain Corps, and they’re going to study the freedom appointments specific to veterans,” Prince says.

“We already know it works. This will be scientific proof to the Army, to the other branches, that freedom in Christ [works] and warriors who are set free are set free indeed.”

Ask the Lord to strengthen and sustain Prince and other believers on the Warriors Set Free team. The ministry is growing at an incredible pace. Support Warriors Set Free here.

“I’m holding on and praying and telling the Lord, ‘this is more than I can handle,’ so He better be driving. I’ll sit down in the backseat, shut up, and do what I’m told,” Prince says with a laugh.

“We want to be in the will of God; we want to be going where He leads us and not forcing things on our own,” he adds.

“As He opens doors, we need the courage and the wisdom to go through them.”

Header image is a representative stock photo courtesy of israel palacio/Unsplash.