| Greetings!
What a way to close the season!! Passionate Pursuit on the Beach was fun and festive - full of worship and Truth! See the photos below!
Shades of Grace would like to express our special appreciation to:
- Shelly Wilson who led us in joyous praise and sweet worship.
- Oak Grove Baptist Church whose decorations brought the beach to Hotel Fredonia.
- Crispin Bradsher, pastor of Oak Grove, who "got the bugs out" of our sound system.
- The Passionate Pursuit Team who worked tirelessly throughout the year in order to produce a first class event each month: Deanna Thompson, Melinda Malloy, Crystal Bradsher, Cindy, Jessica, Jodie and Sandra Nichols.
All in attendance enjoyed a movie produced by Melinda Malloy that chronicled the growth and ministry of Passionate Pursuit over this first year. The moving photographs demonstrated a year of dramatic growth and powerful ministry.
Dramatic Growth:
The first ever Passionate Pursuit, held in September 2008, was attended by 7 women, plus 9 Shades of Grace affiliated women. The season finale of Passionate Pursuit, held in May of this year, was attended by over 70 women - growth by a factor of 10!
Over the course of the the 2008/2009 season, God used Passionate Pursuit to impact the lives of well over 200 women from across Texas and the nation. At May's Passionate Pursuit alone, women from Florida, North Carolina and Washington were in attendance. Texans attending over the course of this year represent the entire east Texas region - from Livingston to Ft. Worth and Austin to Shelbyville.
Powerful Ministry:
Through Passionate Pursuit, God has moved in the lives of women and brought them into a deeper relationship with His Son and His Word. Many women have expressed that God gave them a "NOW" word, speaking through the message into their present need.
"Just this morning I prayed - I was out of faith, gas, or hope. Your sermon was my answer from God! It's like I'm just beginning to see who God really is. This morning I felt like I was standing alone. Now I know I'm not! Thank you, Jesus." - Paula
"Fantastic message tonight! It was such a blessing and many of us were touched. I know it was a "now" word for me! I will study and meditate on this message." - Brandi
In other instances, the Holy Spirit breathed fresh Passion and hunger for Jesus Christ and God's word.
"Thank you for your words of wisdom on how to listen to God and have faith in what we hear from Him. I gave you a prayer request last month...and now I want to listen, get in the Word and fast until I get an answer to something." - Luciana
If you've not yet shared your comments with Shades of Grace, write and let us know how God has used Passionate Pursuit in your life. Your words will bless and encourage the Passionate Pursuit team as they work to prepare for next year. You can submit your comments online or via email to: info@shadesofgrace.org.
I look forward to seeing you again this Fall! In the meantime, keep pursuing Christ passionately. He is your greatest reward!
"...for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him" Hebrews 11:6 (emphasis added).
Your Sister in Christ,
Natalie Nichols
President,
Shades of Grace Ministries
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Passionate Pursuit on the Beach
Season Finale - May 2009
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We played on the beach....
"If everybody had an ocean across the USA...
Then everybody'd be surfin' like California..."
"Let's go surfin' now
Everybody's learning how
Come on a safari with me..."
"Aloha Oe...
Aloha Oe..."
And soaked up the Son...
"Cleanse me, mold me,
breathe anew..."
"As I run to you
In a Passionate Pursuit."
What a relaxing and special evening!
Clad in flip flops and the bright hues of summer, ladies enjoyed a delicious island dessert bar while sipping tropical punch from the drink cabana. Island music wafted in on the breeze as we visited with friends, old and new! |
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| Above: Jonna McDonald, Crystal
Bradsher, and Valerie Murphy |
Above: Krystal Tarrant and Margie
Bailey |
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| Above: Luciana Barr and Linda Snell |
Above: Mary Vermeulen and Abigail
Wilson |
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| Above: Kendall Ridgway and Pansy
Tinkle |
Above: Denise Socia, Linda Howard, and
Sandra Tyler |
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| Above: Vicky Dudley and Kimberly
DeWitt |
Above: Sandra Tyler and Frances Spillers |
A wonderful time spent basking in
the Son!
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| Above: Abigail Wilson, Mary Vermeulen,
Betty Morrow, Charlene Rees, Kimberley DeWitt, Vicky Dudley, Chay Runnels, and
Ruby Woodard |
Above: La Ree Greer, Tammy LeMoine, Connie Belrose, Linda Snell, Debra
Yarbrough, Luciana Barr, and Linda
Moody |
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| Above: Julia Friel, Andrea and Maggie
Clark, Deanna Thompson, Tina
Whitehead, ReAnna Burnett, Barbara Whitehead, Linda Dorsett, and Bethany Stephens |
Above: Agnes Estraza, Annie Olford,
Valerie Murphy, Debbie Knight, Paula
Fenton, Haley Fenton, Cortney Hooper,
and Paciencia Estraza |
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| Above: Pam Casper, Ana Schuster,
Debbie Ferguson, Paula Havard, Jonnea
Rike, and Paulette Carson |
Above: Kendall Ridgway, Joanne Cook, Elizabeth Cook, Jacqueline Greer,
Jasmine Swisher, Susan Lambert,
Barbara Mackey, Marty Blair, Sally Blair,
and Pansy Tinkle |
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| Above: Jonna McDonald, Karen Key-
Scott, Karen Quinton, Brittney Molandes,
Pat Warner, Carolyn Box, Crystal
Bradsher, and Shelly Wilson |
Above: Ali Massingill, Krystal Tarrant,
Denise Socia, Margie Bailey, Linda Howard, and Sandra Tyler
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Singer/Songwriter Shelly Wilson brought the house down with her soulful, electrifying rendition of King Jesus! Every woman in the room was clapping, shouting or dancing to the glory of our King! Shelly also graced us with songs from her new album, "Under the Shadow of Your Wings."
Above: Shelly Wilson |
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We were moved to both laughter and tears as Sandra candidly
spoke of God's wise plan and comforting hand in the
painful circumstances of life.
Concluding a 3-part series on faith, Natalie shared "By Way of Mouth," a message exposing ten enemies of faith that lay
disguised in our daily lives. |
Above: Sandra Nichols
humorously shared her
insight during "Vein of Silver." |
Above: Natalie brought an
enthusiastic message about
faith for promised times. |
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As the evening came to a close, winners of the special summer door prizes were announced! Ladies won prizes of salon care, beautifully framed psalms, bath gifts, display crosses, books and CDs, beach mats and towels, pineapples and fruit - and EVERY woman left with a "Walkin' with Jesus" beach note pad.
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Door prizes were donated by Lyric's, Charlene Rees, Julia's, The Butterfly, and Shades of Grace. |
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| Above: Charlene Rees, Ruby Woodard, and Chay Runnels |
Above: Sandra Nichols and Josh McDonald |
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| Above: Paulette Carson, Paula Havard,
and Jonnea Rike
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Above: Barbara Whitehead, ReAnna Burnett, and Tina Whitehead |
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| Above: Deanna Thompson and Sandra Nichols |
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| Above: Tammy LeMoine and Connie
Belrose |
Above: Jasmine Swisher, Jacqueline Greer, and Susan Lambert |
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| Above: Paula Havard and Jonnea Rike |
Above: Barbara Whitehead and Debbie Ferguson |
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Above: Melinda Malloy, Jodie Nichols, and Jessica Nichols | |
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Special Thanks
to the Passionate Pursuit Team
Ladies, thank you for your tireless work throughout the year in order to produce a first class event each month. We deeply appreciate your sacrifice and ceaseless effort on our behalf!
Melinda Deanna Crystal Sandra
Malloy Thompson Bradsher Nichols
Jessica, Cindy and Jodie
Nichols
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 Discover Natalie Nichols and
Shades of Grace Ministries In the midst of severe illness caused by undiagnosed Lyme Disease, Natalie Nichols came to rely on God's Word to comfort and sustain her. Now through Shades of Grace Ministries, she shares how you and your loved ones can experience God's comfort and grace through life's trials.
Our Mission
The core mission of Shades of Grace Ministries is to lead others to seek and apply the Word of God in every circumstance of life.
Our Vision
Shades of Grace Ministries desires to see a world where every Christian walks by faith and stands upon God's promises as found in His Word.
 Watch Natalie's Journey
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"Thanks for an
amazing evening!"
- Debbie
"What a blessing and treat tonight was! The room was fun and beautiful."
- Mary
"I thoroughly enjoyed
this event!"
"I really enjoyed myself!
God has given me the beginning I needed in order to become the mother, wife, woman that He has planned
for me to be."
"Thank you for a great evening at
Passionate Pursuit!"
"Strong, strong words of God tonight!
God revealed His thoughts of instruction that were spoken through your teaching."
- Charlene
"It was a delight to be at Passionate Pursuit! It is truly a blessing to see what an impact you ladies are having on the community of women in east Texas."
- Abigail,
Dupont, WA |
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"Dear Natalie,
I want to tell you how God blessed
me and touched my life through
Passionate Pursuit this year..." |
| Click here to share your comments...
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"Thank you for the opportunity to step off the 'fast track' of life and soak in the 'Sonshine.'
Thank you for your desire to share the word of the living God!"
- Denise
"Thank you for your words of wisdom on how to listen to God and have faith in what we hear from Him. I gave you a prayer request last month...Now I want to listen, get in the Word and fast until I get an answer."
- Luciana
"God's Word at Your Fintertips will change many hearts and lives. Thank you for loving our Heavenly Father and for being obedient to Him."
- Linda
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