Valentine Season

Our Valentine Season is always our busiest. We spoke at numerous locations and one of our favorite was for a church in DC where our friend Pastor Brett Fuller pastors. Pastor fuller is the chaplain of the Redskins so many of the players and their wives were in the audience and Bill was presented with an autographed football as a gift. We spoke for this group in the past but this conference was on Red Hot Monogamy and had a diner dance as part of the weekend. It was a joy and delight. We are bring asked to speak more often on Red Hot Monogamy as it is hard to find material from a Christian worldview on this vital but personal topic. We present with humor and the material is practical and Biblical so more pastors are asking us to speak on the weekend as well as on Sunday morning on this topic.

Fall Frenzy

The fall had us speaking somewhere every weekend! It began with the Chaplain of Walter Reed Army hospital hearing us on the Focus on the Family radio broadcast and calling at 6 am Ca time to see if we would speak for wounded warriors (and their spouses). We of course said, Yes! We have spoken for numerous military events all year-- (the divorce rate of Marines is at an all time high of 80%. They need our help, encouragement and prayers for their tremendous sacrifice)
October 1 marked a huge transition for Bill. God had been blessing both his small group ministry under Dr Jeremiah at Shadow Mountain, and our writing and speaking, and working two more than full time positions meant Bill was getting very little sleep so his health was being put at risk once again, plus both ministries hit the place they both needed more focused attention to move to the next level. This was a difficult transition, both Dr Jeremiah and Bill prayed for months over it, but in the fall, we decided it was time for Bill and I to launch full time into our writing, speaking, relationship building ministry. God filled in our schedule, knowing He was moving us this direction, in the next 6 months from Oct- March. We were at our home church (which is Shadow Mountain where Caleb is active and growing), we were in town (not speaking) only 3 times in 6 months. While this is terrific for our speaking ministry, it is a big transition for us (especially Bill) who has always been 'Pastor Bill" for nearly all 29 married years together. (Bill went from working with almost all males on Senior staff at SMCC to all women in our "JOY ZONE" office. The women gave him a testosterone party and gave gifts of footballs, sports photos, coffee, mugs etc to help him feel more at home. It is good he has taught on gender differences!). We anticipate many exciting things are ahead but we covet your prayers over us as we navigate the months ahead. ( A huge joy came in September- the birth of our first granddaughter, Eden! Brock and Hannah are terrific parents! You can catch up on family happenings at: http://farrelfamily.blogspot.com/)

First Five Years-- The GIFT to the Rest of your Love

September brought the release of The First Five Years: Make the Love Investment that Lasts, a book for newlyweds was released by Hachette. It is based on the format that there are 4 gifts that if you give these, they lay a strong foundation for your love for the rest of your life:
Get in the Game
Invest in Your Sex Life
Figure it out
Tough on me, Tender on You
Many radio stations interviewed us for this book-- and a few TV shows, but we have seen pastors and parents appreciative of a book they can give to each couple getting married they know.

Seasoned Sisters Goes National-- International!

May was the kick off to a new ministry: Seasoned Sisters-- a ministry for women 40-65+to help them maximize mid-life and beyond. A woman can join our online community and receive encouraging emails about every 7-10 days; they can begin their own Seasoned sisters friendship circle small group, or churches can launch these groups in their churches. The kick off and release of Pam's new book Fantastic After 40 happened at Emmanuel Faith church in Escondido, the online kick off happened later in September. We have members now in several foreign countries! Over 1,000 women have become members with really very little marketing. Pam highlights Seasoned sisters in her women's events, an article was written about the ministry in Just Between Us magazine and it was highlighted on Significant Living TV, and Joni TV (Daystar) as well as local Fox media. There have been 4 Girlfriend Gatherings (in Bakersfield, Lynchburg, San Diego first Assembly and Journey Church in La Mesa). These one night events highlight Pam's "Choosin' Joy" message and give women the opportunity to join Seasoned sisters. (Read more about this ministry at http://www.seasonedsisters.com/) The first national conference will be held Sept. 13 in Encinitas"Seasoned sisters by the Sea Vacation Retreat" and speakers will be Danna, Demtre, Marcia Ramsland, Pam and Bill Farrel, Doreen Hanna, and fiction author, Sally John. Pam has been carrying Sally's books at her events and on the minsitry websites, the Beach House and Castles in the Sand, all year as Sally's home burned in the CA fires. Worship will be by recording artist, Teresa Muller.

A Year of Transition and Blessing

We want to share with you some of the ministry highlights of the past year- 18 months. So let's start with March - May 07 . On Bil's birthday March 1, we met with Dr James Dobson and taped Red Hot Monogamy interview. In 2007, Focus on the Family aired Men are like Waffles, Women are like Spaghetti, and Red Hot Monogamy, then re-aired them. They were named Top 10 of 2007 of ALL the interviews Focus on the Family did. We then went to Singapore to speak for Singles and college students,(We spent time with our friends from Talbot Seminary the Creasman's who are missionaries in Singapore. We spoke at a Christian high school while there as well. ). We traveled to the other side of the world in addition to to our weekly speaking for men, women, couples, families. May was the release of Lifeway's Men are like Waffles, Women are like Spaghetti small group DVD curriculum.