the FREEDOM
letter
Please share this GOOD NEWS! (please view full-screen) (The Publisher authorizes and requests the copy, printing, and free distribution of this newsletter. It will print well from this page or you may copy and paste to your word processor. You may also distribute by e-mail by creating in your e-mail text a hyperlink to http://www.40days2freedom.org/fl3-99.html)
the FREEDOM
letter
| WELCOME | MIRACLES | NEW BOOK | MINISTRY | SUPPORT |
“Your strength must come from the Lord’s mighty power within you.” (Eph 6:10)
THANKSGIVING - CHRISTMAS 1999 EDITION
==========================================================
(This welcome message is repeated in every issue in consideration of first- time readers of this newsletter.)
The Freedom Letter and 40 Days to Freedom are publications of Freedom Ministries, Inc., a Florida not-for-profit corporation (#N94000005074) and a non-denominational Christian ministry. The book, 40 Days to Freedom, is a procedure for healing addictions and obsessions given by God to Tom Lomas, the author, in answer to a desperate prayer when on the brink of a second suicide attempt.
Tom’s addiction of almost forty years was classified by psychiatry as “masterful instinct.” During the forty day walk in the desert of his soul, he was spiritually reborn and set free. God then disclosed the reason he was given a procedure, instead of an instant healing, was for Tom to write 40 Days to Freedom so souls in bondage, all over the world, would experience this same, glorious, God-given freedom and rebirth.
This issue of the Freedom Letter shares only a few of the many healing testimonies received by Freedom Ministries, Inc. since early ‘95 when 40 Days to Freedom was first distributed. Freedom Ministries, Inc. is qualified as a 501-C3 charitable organization (IRS #585090062).
Please mail inquiries and donations to
Freedom Ministries, Inc., 1855 W. SR 434, Suite 250, Longwood, FL 32750
Phone: (407)262-1016; Fax: (603)372-5489; E-mail: freedom918@aol.com
Web: www.40days2freedom.org
TOP
================================================
MIRACLES SHARED
From Texas accessed 40Days through the Internet...... Tom...Your book is fabulous! But I knew it would be, even before reading it, and taking the 40 Days to Freedom walk....My husband and I are now on our second Freedom journey...The first time, brought us much closer to the Lord, than we had been in the 20 years that we had been ordained minister's... and it is drawing us closer than we have been in 32 years of our marriage. Other areas of our lives needing a lot of help too...and the Lord has delivered us from several habitual sin areas...We believe there is more that God want's to clean up in us, and we will continue the daily journey with the 40 Days to Freedom. Also, we have been sharing the book with friend's and people at the church where we now attend...They are excited about what it is doing in their lives as well. We are retired and living on our Social Security...but that doesn't mean we can't minister to people where we find a need....I understand that your book isn't available except online...We would like very much to be able to distribute the books here at the jail and also one of the state prison unit's, that is here locally.
From jail in Tavares, FL........ I was truly blessed by your book called 40 Days to Freedom. It really changed my life for the better. I never doubted for once that the Holy Shroud is true. The moment I laid eyes on the picture of the Savior in your book, I was struck with an overwhelming peace. I never knew such peace existed. I am, at the writing of this letter, presently incarcerated; but my worries about my situation are no longer worries; for I have been truly blessed in that situation.
From the UK.......... I went through the study program earlier this year and it helped me a great deal. Before starting '40 Days' I was experiencing an addiction and it ground me down - always being defeated by it, always ending in remorse. Your book gave me a new hope and I believe that it helped me to become renewed in my faith in Jesus Christ. My addiction is under control - I cannot say it will not return, but I am free of it for the present. Thanks be to our gracious Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who loves us and gave Himself for us. We all need help at times in our Christian lives - you have helped me and I would like you to be aware of that fact.
From jail in Ina, IL........ I am presently incarcerated at Big Muddy Rivers; and I would like to congratulate you for your success and the job you have done. I thank God for your organization and giving back to the people, by applying your knowledge, so people can apply it in their daily lives. Thank you for giving your time and patience. The check is not much; but I would like to show you that I care. Enclosed $2.00.
From Miami, FL......... After several starts and failures, I successfully got through the 40 days, one day at a time, and only by the grace of God. My area of struggle is the same as the one you describe. I guess I am an especially hard case. I know the battle is not yet over. I am very thankful for the Scriptures and insights you share in this book. Although this life will always have problems, trials, and challenges, what a difference it makes to be walking in fellowship with Christ! Like any other book written by a godly man or woman, the book is a "miracle" only if I let it be. The power to change (and I know you will agree with me) is only from God. To God, and God alone, be all of the glory. And I thank you for being God's instrument to help me. I continue one day at a time. As I said, I know the battle is not over. Please include me in your prayers, as I am sure you pray for all those who have completed your book.
From jail in Kissimmee, FL........ I would like to thank you for giving me the opportunity to read your book. I am using it to overcome a drug addiction to Crack Cocaine. Every day I could feel myself getting stronger. On Day 11, I honestly said, for the first time in my life, “I do not need or want drugs.” Thank you, Jesus.
From Martin C.I., Indiantown, FL.... It was very nice to meet you in person when you stopped by Martin C.I. We all enjoyed your testimony at our Wednesday afternoon A.A. meeting. I did the 40 days as a way of strengthening my faith and purifying my mind. I benefited greatly from the experience. I will be getting out in two years; and I’ll be looking for some Christian volunteer work in the Orlando area so I’ll look forward to donating some time to your ministry.
From Kokomo, IN........my experience was a lot like
your own. Lots of secular (and churched) counseling, but nothing had gotten
through this hardened heart until 40 Days. Thanks, Tom, for submitting to
God. I was sitting in a Steak 'n Shake restaurant last night, on the west
side of Indianapolis. (I work downtown Indy). I stayed in there for an hour
and a half, just chewing the cud of the 40 Days, dwelling on the principles
outlined in the 1st 6 chapters. It is very powerful stuff; and rightfully
so, because I realize that it comes from the Throne. As I 'was sitting there,
I parsed through Romans 6, diagrammed it out and I really got a blessing
from God. He is opening my eyes, little by little, replacing my vision with
what you described as "the eyes of Jesus," which is such a neat way to describe
it. God is showing me avenues of ministry that I could not see until these
torrid blinders began to be removed from the eyes of my heart. I know that
He is rebuilding me for the purpose of going back to the valleys, to the
trenches of life, and retrieving the souls of men like me, especially those
churched men who are living in the closets of deceitful and shameful sin.
Tom, the message God gave you is so straight forward and true. He has raised
us up in these last days for a reason! I have begun to go to the Rockville
Cor. Fac. in RockviIle, Indiana, to visit my 37 year old female cousin. She
is in prison for prostitution. For 20 years she has been blinded, pummeled
and beaten up by Satan. Last Saturday was my first visit and it was wonderful.
On Monday, I sent her a printed copy of the 40 Days, along with copies of
all the htm files from your web site, including all the supporting documentation
you have there. This Saturday I am returning to discuss through Chapter 6
with her. Thus far, I have printed 5 copies on my computer at home.
TOP
===============================================
NEW BOOK FINISHED
The Man in the Desert - Diary of a Freed Addict was recently completed, after 5 months in composition, and was mailed to our new co-publisher, 1stBooks Library, on October 15th. It will be available for purchase through their website (www.1stBooks.com) hopefully by early February and in hardcopy at their site and bookstores with POD (print-on-demand) machines throughout the USA by late February.
Spiritual and personal freedom from all that attempts to enslave us is again the theme as is true with all the publications of Freedom Ministries, Inc. In addition, The Man in the Desert includes my personal and spiritual autobiography which was not included in our first book. As since disclosed to me, this was God’s plan that I experience nine years of His tutelage of my soul, after its rebirth through His Holy Spirit, before sharing my full autobiography in print.
He has additionally revealed that His “this message will blanket the earth” communication, received in early ‘96, accepted by leaving a successful financial planning practice to devote full-time to His ordained ministry, pertained to our second book as well as the first. I therefore expect it to rapidly become a best-seller, no credit to me but to the Father and Jesus who were more the authors than I. As announced in the last issue of this letter, the proceeds from the new book will be used to pay for additional printing and free distribution of 40 Days to Freedom. Therefore, I have arranged that all author royalties will be donated directly to Freedom Ministries.
By the grace of God, I receive no ministry salary. Since my purging of self-dependence in early ‘98, God has adequately provided for me materially; and I have indeed come to enjoy immensely the freedom of a Spartan lifestyle, as St. Paul characterized in 2 Cor 6:10, “we seem to have nothing, yet really we possess everything.” But the spiritual provisions of the Lord have been overwhelming!
I am thankful to the Father for making this new work available to His
children, which we all on this earth are, a full year before the birth of
the new millennium on January 1, 2001. Its powerful message has the potential
to do much to bring sanity and hope and freedom from all fears to our
beleaguered, materialistic world. My cup truly overflows and my prayer is
that overflow will bless you through The Man in the Desert -
Diary of a Freed
Addict.TOP
============================================
FREEDOM JOURNEY 2000
God has assigned a great adventure as a follow-up to the writing of The Man in the Desert, a bicycle ride across America to promote the new book, to minister to captives, and to write our next book. On April 1, 2000, I’ll depart Orlando, solo, self-contained, on my ten year old, Italian road bike for Key West. Then on to Los Angeles and finally to Seattle. We anticipate, with route deviations for book signings, to accept hospitality, and to minister, that this journey will be well over 5,000 miles. A time profile of four to six months is anticipated. There are approximately 350 ministers and chaplains across the country who have ordered and distributed many of the 16,700 hard copies of 40 Days to Freedom from the first two printings.
I will also hope for assistance with lodging as my gear will not include bedding or tent; nor will I spend trip funds on hotel or motel for a single night. Gear weight will be critical to maintaining a decent average road speed and endurance of my 60 year old legs. Minimal lightweight clothing, a towel, toiletries, water, energy snacks, a tool kit, spare tubes, special maps, cell phone, and a portable computer will comprise my gear in three bags carried by the bike. I will have a directory of hostels in the computer along with all reading material; no paper except for maps.
During this trip, our third book, Freedom Journey 2000, to include a diary of the trip, and at least one issue of the Freedom Letter will be composed. To ministers, chaplains, and anyone else, who seek to assist in offering God’s freedom to the captives and / or offering hospitality to this itinerant messenger, we offer the opportunity to participate in this blessed journey and adventure, ordained by our Father. A member of our ministry board speculated I would receive little or no response to this offer. I remain the optimist. Regardless of response, the trip will happen as it is the will of God; and, as in the past, He will provide.
The issue of hazard as a single traveler on the road has arisen and is not a concern as God demonstrated, when last April, I biked 50 miles in wind and cold and rain on heavily trafficked, narrow roads, after my car had been stolen, to keep an appointment at the Federal Correctional Complex at Coleman, FL to deliver forty copies of 40 Days to Freedom and give testimony to my personal experience with God’s healing and freeing power. I should not have survived that trip; but I did unscathed and wonderfully blessed by a great reception and an angel provided for transport (bike and me) home.
In addition, I am a living example of Jesus’ instruction to seek first God’s kingdom and all our other needs will be provided. Could I possibly have any better guardians for this trip than God and His angels? Yes it will happen as it is His instruction to me. You should know I am physically capable as I have been participating in cross-state rides for six years and typically train 100+ miles per week. That schedule, of course, will increase some but I am fit enough to initiate the trip now.
While writing this newsletter, I decided to seek additional confirmation from God that this journey is His will by planning a bicycle trip to DeLeon Springs, a round trip of 101 miles. All did not go according to plan, which is normal for operating in God’s will, as He loves to surprise us. The results were beyond anything I could have anticipated: three ministry opportunities with the third including about an hour of witnessing at the DeLeon Springs Recreational Area and the 101 miles completed in one day with my bike loaded as for the cross country trip. Not only was I not exhausted after this trip, which was beyond any single day achievement in my cycling past; but I was able and eager to bike an additional 25 miles the next morning.
I see these unplanned results as God’s confirmation that
Freedom Journey 2000 is indeed His will and assignment to this
ministry. As still further confirmation, the Scripture quote on the heading
of this letter was chosen before the test trip was planned; and, as I now
close this segment of our love letter to you, God brought the correlation
to my attention.
TOP
=============================================
OTHER MINISTRY BUSINESS
Our focus for the past five months has been mostly on composing The Man in the Desert. Prison ministry, primarily at two state and one federal institutions has continued and is now increasing. A first for the State of Florida will be established this November when a new Christian dormitory will be occupied by inmates who have participated in the Kairos Prison Ministry program at Tomoka Correctional Institution. Other prison ministers and myself will provide intensive discipleship on a weekly basis. Additionally, I plan to work three additional Kairos Retreat Weekends between now and my departure on Freedom Journey 2000.
Also, another Freedom Letter is planned before departure which brings me to ministry expenses. Ministry donations have dwindled from a high average of $1,160.11 per month in 1998 to $503.30 per month average for the last four months. Our mailing expense has decreased since we finished distribution of the second printing of 40 Days to Freedom early this year but our fixed monthly ministry expense has remained at $611.18 which doesn’t include such variables as postage, printing, long distance phone, and traveling.
Printing and mailing newsletters is very expensive and indeed we now distribute the Freedom Letter more by e-mail than regular mail but we feel there are many on our database of 3,500 without e-mail capability who deserve to receive and share our good news as we pray all recipients do. The cost for printing and mailing our last issue to 700 people was $336.49 which was not recovered through their donations. We are committing a similar expense this time as fund-raising is not our purpose; sharing our good news of God’s blessings and the opportunity to participate in providing those blessings through prayers, testimonies, and donations has always been the purpose of this publication.
Now, we are excited by adding to that opportunity Freedom Journey 2000. Our greatest challenge in outfitting for the trip will be a lightweight computer which we believe we have located on the Internet, suitably equipped, for $1,917 and weighing only 3 pounds. Additional one-time expense I estimate at under $500. Daily expenses on the road will depend on hospitality offered or found along the way. Hostel and YMCA lodging run $15 - $25 per night. It is unlikely I will be able to maintain office or home while on the road; although a good response through a donation pledge-per-mile could change that. My greatest personal sacrifice will be giving up my pet cat, Ucf, to a temporary (or permanent) new master.
We know God will orchestrate this effort according to his will which
will result in blessings for all involved. We look forward to updating you
on Freedom Journey 2000 in the beginning of the new year. In
the meantime, we appreciate your interest and participation in this ministry
dedicated to freeing people worldwide from all that enslaves the human spirit
and pray for you and your loved ones the only true freedom which comes from
the Father, was taught and lived by Jesus, and is endowed by the Holy Spirit.
Amen.TOP
=============================================
Please copy and print the form below for return to Freedom Ministries, Inc.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SUPPORT FORM
Yes, Tom, I want to participate in delivering God’s message of personal and spiritual freedom to all the captives across America and around the world. I offer my prayers, testimonies of my 40 Days to Freedom experiences, and financial support. Please see that I receive every issue of the Freedom Letter so I may rejoice with you in the fruits of our ministry including Freedom Journey 2000.
NAME: ____________________ E-MAIL ADDRESS: ________________
ADDRESS: _________________________________________________
DONATION ENCLOSED: $________ PER MILE PLEDGE: _______ ¢ FREEDOM JOURNEY 2000
** We appreciate the use of your envelope to reduce ministry expense.
Mail form and check to
Freedom Ministries, Inc., 1855 W. SR 434, Suite 250, Longwood, FL 32750 or You may E-MAIL your pledge.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
40 Days to Freedom DOWNLOAD BOOK NOW
or
go to previous issue or next issue of the Freedom Letter
or
Return to Home Page
TOP