Gen225 News Winter 2013

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You are one man or womanwho has come from all overo journey on a path of

growing deeper in yourGod-given story of who you

re in Christ. We have comerom all walks of life and

hose to step out of comfortones and risk exposing whowe really are. To oururprise, we have foundcceptance, freedom, healing,

oy and above all, love. Aglimpse and a taste of the love

f Christ.ooking Back

t was five years ago, with aomputer at the foot of our

ed, that we began thisourney of providing pathased retreats. We just had our

38th weekend in Novemberand its hard to believe wevecome so far. Its like muchneeded oxygen for us to lookback through the pictures andwatch again the videos on theGen225.orgweb-site. Andgetting messages of

encouragement from you islike much needed wind in oursails.

Challenges

We all have full-time careersand are still operating thisministry when we can, fromthe foot of our bed. This pasttwo years our hope has beenfor the ministry to moveconsistently forward. Withoutfocus and consistency ofpurpose, it has become very

challenging and at timesdiscouraging. In addition tour scholarship needs, wewould like to hire a part-timemployee. This person woucoordinate: Special events such as, to

based banquets, guestspeakers and testimonies

On-line resources Partner churches, counse

and other Christian non-profits

Perform planning andadministration of retreats

This is an exciting time forof us to see God move even

more.

Being in this group has really shown me how to live as God has called

me to live my life. Being able to be open about who I am and the

struggles that I have and just know they will love me through thosethings has changed my life completely. - John

A non-profit ministry focused on the redemption of men, women and

marriages as we walk together toward Christ. We not only seek healing for

ourselves, but seek to break the past and future bonds of generational sin.

What is Gen225?In this issue

Men Who Retreat from Nothing 2Women Escaping Isolation 3Becoming One 4No Shame Campaign 4

A Publication of Gen225 | Issue No1 - Winter 20

R E D E M P T I O N

Moonshadow Lodge, Smoky Mountains,

Growing Deeper in Our God-Given Story & Who We Are in Chris

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he Past

t was the first weekend in November of008 at the Moonshadow Lodge in

Townsend, TN. It was my birthday and Iwas so nervous, barely knowing what todo next in a weekend where 32 men hadome from 5 states. God had His way

with us that weekend and it was good. Ayear later, I was called to Minneapolis toead a retreat with 12 men on Mud Hen

Lake in Wisconsin. They looked to me asleader who knew what he was doing in

ministry, relationships, brotherhood andove. Its humorous to think that I of all

people was called to go and lead these

trangers to somewhere better. In the end,t was them who changed my life.orever. I was never the same. As I

walked with my Silas along the lake, oneald eagle after another would fly by me.can still feel the cool breeze and hear theound of their wings passing as they

would glide through the air.

My lungs had never been so full ofxygen with the feeling of God using me,

despite and with my inequities. I felt like

maybe, just maybe I could do this again ifGod would have it. And it was good.Very good.

Ive personally led 20 or so of the 48Hours. It continues to mold and shapemy life. For God to continue to send Hissons into my life leaves me at a loss for

words at every retreat. Why do youcome? I wonder to myself. Alwaysastonished that anyone would come.The Future

What does God want from me? Fromyou? It is my hope that we all would beshining lights, burning bright all aroundwhere He has us. But without each otherour lights grow dim and some go out.

As each of you leave these retreats I do

carry with me a heavy burden. A burdenof knowing that so many men, includingme, will re-enter daily life and slowly losethe power of freedom, safety, acceptanceand love amongst a band of brothers thatwere but strangers a mere 48 Hoursearlier. I have longed to be able toprovide us on-going life-lines ofencouragement and support. ie:Conference calls, workbooks, testimonies,new retreats, help in starting local groups

and ways of connecting one brother toanother. Lord help our lights shine! ToHim be the glory, forever and ever!Amen - Rob

Men Who Retreat from Nothing

I wandered in to the 48 Hrs with no idea of what to expect or really why I was there. What I found was men like me. Men

shackled with burdens, secrets, fears and wounds from the war of life in a fallen world. I also found that when wounded

men share their wounds, God shows up and draws a living picture of Matthew 11:30. When you share your burdens with

a brother, they become lighter. Shared secrets lose some of their venom. Shared lies become confessions. And in that

sharing, a life of truth, freedom, and hope seems possible. We are not made to travel alone and this was a place to find

men to walk with. - Chris

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he Unveiling Retreat

ust over 3 years ago Robsked me to startacilitating womensetreats. Men wanted their

wives to find the freedomnd love in Christ that they

had discovered through themens retreat. I waseluctant.

Together with Lynn Bailey,Beth Hamilton, Wendy

ohnson and Jill Temple TheUnveilingwomens retreatwas created. There have

een 10 retreatsepresenting nearly 100

different women from 8tates. The Rahab meeting,

has been a safe place foreflecting, sharing, andonnecting weekly for

women in Tennessee as

well as Minnesota.

igh Points for Women

We have started to seekGod and step out of ourisolation.

We have

sharedsecrets thatno longerkeep usashamed ofwho we areand what wehave done.

We haveturned awayfrom

temptationand turnedtowards ourmarriages.

We havestarted to be honestabout who we arebreaking the generationalbonds of pretending andlying.

Moving Forward

Today I still fight the fearsthat I am not good enough,that I do not have theanswers, that women willnot like me. The truth is, I

am notgood enough, I donot have the answers andsome women dontlikeme But GOD. I lovethose words. God bringsthe unlikely women to The

Unveiling. It is He whomoves in this ministry tofree women from the bondsof shame and isolation. Itis God who changes thehearts of women. I ameager to see what will Hedo next! - Francie

Women Escaping Isolation

And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed

nto His likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the

Spirit. - 2 Cor. 3:18

This past weekend was such a bless

and led to one of the most significa

conversations that I have had with

husband. I have know him since 1972

look forward to seeing what the LO

will do in me and my family as a result

The Unveiling. - Frances

Never have I experienced such r

honest & heartfelt testimonies. I

blessed and have come away knowing

not alone in my suffering. Thank you expressing the seriousness of sa

people & creating an environment wh

we were able to be real. How vital tha

to women like me who do not have s

people in my daily life. - Jenny

I saw "my story" in the lives of so ma

of the other women who attended

retreat. The freedom from the lies (I h

believed all my life) and the beauty of

truth revealed was life changing. - Co

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Becoming One

Becoming One Retreat

n fall 2012, Gen225 held its first everBecoming One marriage retreat. Sevenouples spent the weekend at the

Mountain Destiny Lodge in Pigeon Forge,TN. Each of us, as individuals, have our

wn rich story of challenges, victories,pain, fears, and joys and bring those into

ur marriage. Many of these draw us

together, but along with the power ofdaily sin and shame, often createseparation between us. Becoming Oneallows husband and wife to walktogether and find new freedom andfellowship between God and each other.

The retreats are for husbands and wiveswho desire intimacy and joy that comesthrough faith in Christ and the covenant

of marriage as He intended from thebeginning. A pre-requisite to thisweekend is that each husband and wihas taken their own personal journeythrough the 48 Hours (Mens) andUnveiling (Womens) weekends.For more info or to help a couple atte

the retreat visit www.Gen225.org.

Creating marriages that God intended from the beginning

The marriage retreat, Becoming One, was a new experience for me. Honestly, I was skeptical about a marriage retreat. The

truth was, I was afraid. Often I am finding that God just wants me to surrender; to surrender my expectations, to surrender my

plans and to surrender my right to do what I want. This was a new step in surrendering in my marriage. Showing up with my

whole self, broken and wounded, with a surrendered heart was enough. God met me in a place that made and is still making

my marriage a beautiful journey. - Francie

No Shame CampaignThe man and his wife were

both naked and they felt no

hame. - Genesis 2:25We Need You

Never before has your support meant somuch in our efforts to redeemelationships between men, women and

marriages as we walk together towardChrist.

Our hope is that each of you will becomepart of the vision of Gen225 by

upporting our financial needs. An end ofyear gift would be great, but registeringor an automatic monthly donation

would make it even simpler for you togive regularly and for us to plan. We haveadded this subscriber option to the homepage of our web-site.Join us in ourNo Shame Campaignby

making a recurring or one-time gift. To

help impact the most lives our non-

profit ministry needs:! 5 gifts of $500! 15 gifts of $195! 20 gifts of $100! 50 gifts of $50! 100 gifts of $25

Any gift in any amount will help.Are you up for the challenge?

Donate Now

Please remember us in your end-of-yegiving.Donations can be made:

Online at: www.Gen225.org

By mail to: Gen2251706 Murray Dr,Knoxville, TN 37912

Praise and glory be to God!In His name,Rob & Francie BrownGen225 Co-Founders

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