| The Presidential Proposition — Fall 2025 Restarting a Ministry Organization After Three Decades: John Ledford Evangelical Ministries is Becoming “Generational Discipleship.” After thirty years of serving in other ministries, some might assume an earlier ministry vision has run its course. But in God’s economy, time never disqualifies purpose. When an older Christian ministry awakens again after decades of pause, it becomes a living example of God’s faithfulness and the surprising ways He calls us forward—no matter our age or past seasons. Restarting a ministry later in life brings a perspective that can only be formed through years of walking with Christ. The maturity, humility, and patience gained across decades become powerful tools for discipleship, outreach, and encouragement. What once may have been done with youthful ambition and pure passion, can now be carried out with seasoned wisdom and deeper dependence on the Holy Spirit. There is also a unique joy in seeing God revive something He planted long ago! The vision may be similar in bringing the most into the Kingdom of God as possible, but the mission field has changed—and so has the minister. Technology, culture, and even church life look different than they did over thirty+ years ago, yet the Gospel remains unchanged. This makes the renewal of an older ministry both a continuation of previous goals and a fresh beginning with new challenges! Many believers wonder if their most impactful years are behind them. | The Presidential Proposition (continued) But a ministry reborn after three decades testifies that God’s calling does not expire. Whether the restart is small or significant, quiet or public, it reminds the world that God delights in using His willing hearts—at any age—to advance His kingdom. In the end, a revived ministry becomes more than a return to old work; it becomes a declaration that God finishes what He starts, and He often invites us to step back into His plans long after we thought they were “in the past”. For those restarting after many years, this is not merely a second chance—it is a new chapter authored by the same faithful God. Over the last few months, our Team has been working to get to know each other listening & praying how to best accomplish the purpose God has laid before us! The Lord has truly blessed me with some of my most dear friends who each have very respectful & mature Christian testimonies and ministries of their own! They have helped me to clarify & refine what God has deeply burdened me with for the future!! What comes next will be the radical implementation of years of dedication to EVANGELISM and DISCIPLESHIP on the next level as God leads!! May our Lord revive, renew & relegate the BOLD imaginations of a young boy from rural East Tennessee many years hence! A Screenshot from John’s Zoom classroom |
| My New Friends Victor & Brandy Victor is a very curious and seemingly happy type person. He did some work on my house earlier this year, and that is how we met. He was there several times, so we were able to engage on several different subjects. His facial tattoos make him a very interesting person! They make you want to know more of their story!! I asked to hear more of his story, which tells him that I care about his life. I also shared more of my story — so that I could share God’s story and the Gospel with him. Over time, we became friends (by the third or fourth time I spoke with him while he was working at my house). I invited him to our new Spiritual Discovery Group at Publix in Ooltewah near where we live. I was surprised at his willingness to attend the event. Previously I had met his girlfriend Brandy when she had come to help him clean the house after he finished the major project at the house. She was quieter and more reserved, not as open as Victor. They both came to attend the Spiritual Discovery Group together. They seemed to enjoy it, and they participated with the group. God opened a door and built the bridge for Spiritual conversation and the opportunity to share more of the gospel with them. Pray earnestly that God will speak into both of their lives, and they will see their need for Jesus Christ and his reality in their daily lives! May the Lord give one of us the opportunity to lead them to have a close personal relationship with Christ! May they both feel the joy of forgiveness and new life in Christ soon‼️ I hope they can both become part of the family of God and a part of our growing network in the region! If you would like to help us lift up and bless more people like “Brandy & Victor” please support our ministry and share this newsletter with your family & friends! If you would like to learn to meet and bless the “Victor & Brandy’s” in your community, please sign up for our next online live video training later in 2026 (March) on our website! From our training center, John will be leading a training on Zoom of “Disciples Making Disciples” (DMD), the exciting and life-changing ten Chapters from The Timothy Initiative. (You can order the book(s) at ttionline.org or from the same link on our website! |
INTRODUCING GENERATIONAL DISCIPLESHIP BOARD MEMBERS
Jeff Prine, Melissa Boyd, Rev. Gary Miller, Rev. Terry Hudgins, and Regina Bacon
GENERATIONAL DISCIPLESHIP
VISION
WE WILL TREAT THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST AS THE MOST EXCITING
FACT & EXPERIENCE OF HUMAN LIFE! John 1:12-14
PURPOSES (GOALS)
#1 – GO MORE to all the world. Begin nearby as the Scriptures teach. ALL healthy Christians will be currently active to “GO MORE” in regular outreach ministry in specific forms of evangelism & discipleship. — Acts 1:8
Live out and train others in the Great Commission personally. “GO MORE” every week and every day. Individual & Small Group Discipleship must be first & foremost in our daily life! Each Christian lives in a MISSION FIELD This fact is taught in the New Testament!
Matthew 28:18-20; Matthew 21:43; 2 Timothy 2:2
Our ministry will have “A MAJOR PARTNERSHIP” with The Timothy Initiative (ttionline.org). God has created a world-wide discipleship training movement, founded by Dr. David Nelms in 2007. They coined the term “microchurch”. We will promote the components of this effective & simple model of evangelism, discipleship, and church planting.
#2 – DO MORE “need based” discipleship through consistently meeting real needs around us. Our focus is on the needs of the soul more than the body, although both are important. We will urge & challenge every established church, individual Discipleship Group, and micro-church to “DO MORE” locally by being intentionally involved in ministry for specific real needs. Any real social need can be good mission service – but our primary GOAL will be on discipling broken people — those struggling with life-controlling issues — and family members plagued by drug & alcohol addiction issues. Substance addiction is the most obvious and destructive problem causing disease, dysfunction, and death in the United States (and every country of the world). Luke 4:18-19; James 1:27; James 2:1417
Our ministry will have “A MAJOR PARTNERSHIP” with two ministries in relation with this goal: “Friends House Ministries”, which currently runs four Sober Houses in Chattanooga, TN [friendshouseministries.com] where I am a founding Board member. Also, with “Life Recovery”, founded by Dr. Steve Arterburn. ( liferecoverygroups.com ). “Life Recovery”, is a national 12-step ministry making a BIG difference by offering Biblical addiction recovery. It is most suited for the average size church and smaller churches. There are many other solid Biblical recovery ministries which we will promote and advocate for — including Celebrate Recovery, started by Saddleback Community Church in California. Their approach is best for large churches that have the means to address broader life-controlling behavioral issues.
MISSION (HOW)
We will advocate for & share the unique methods & training of TTI with as many people as possible in North America to the second, third, and fourth generations — i.e. a Christian reaches one person, then they reach someone else and they another!
Our President and other like-minded ministers will develop an interested network to achieve our two Purposes/Goals — creating outlets of education, excitement, and training for “DMD”. We will conduct informational & interest meetings, both formal and informal. We will host events and online trainings to enlist & train interested Christians & churches. Our leaders will learn to live out these principles of EVANGELISM and DISCIPLESHIP so that we will be practitioners of the vision, purposes and mission we espouse. This is the correct way to be truly authentic in our vision to see these New Testament disciple-making methods come back to life in our modern world in strong & significant ways!
Our ministry will be a catalyst for genuine, productive Gospel ministry & change! We will train others how to start and lead effective local & regional Discipleship & Recovery Groups. We will conduct related training online & in person. We will urge others to carry out BOLD GOSPEL MINISTRY &
ADVENTURES!!! We will not tolerate mediocrity in the modern Church, by being a “HOLY IRRITANT” to prevent stagnant & ineffective discipleship ministry!! The need is everywhere and is overwhelming!!
Motivator — John 15:1-11
| New General Zoom DMD Training begins Saturday, March 7th For ALL INTERESTED @ 12:00 pm Eastern Time Contact John for details. To book a private Zoom training for your church or ministry contact us for available dates & times ‼️ — John L. 423-595-5499 simplejesusman@gmail.com |