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Living Free: An Interview with Aleta Nichols

WIM recently had the privilege of visiting with Aleta Nichols, the volunteer director of the Living Free ministry at James River Assembly ( JRA) in Ozark, Missouri.

WIM: What is Living Free?

Nichols: Living Free is a Christian ministry with a mission to help reach out to people facing life-controlling problems, hurts, and the everyday challenges of life that can be overwhelming. The Bible studies are designed to help individuals deal with real life problems in an honest way. The principle focus of this ministry is to help people live freely in Jesus Christ.

WIM: As the leader of this ministry, what are your goals and hopes for Living Free?

Nichols: As the director of the Living Free ministry at JRA, my goals are to present the Gospel of hope to those who find themselves trapped in life-controlling issues. It is also to provide the families of those dealing with problems the tools to help a person not only become free, but to remain free.

The goal of this ministry is for a three-fold collaboration with the people of God, the Word of God, and the Holy Spirit, all working together to help a person see there is freedom that can only come through Christ.

It is important to treat the heart issues first, and then as the heart issues are dealt with, the addictions the person is dealing with can be healed. Hebrews 12:2 tells us to look to Jesus, the founder and the perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the Cross.

WIM: How many people are involved in this ministry?

Nichols: Living Free meets at JRA twice Sunday mornings and also on Tuesday evenings. We have approximately 50 leaders that are actively involved in various roles. Attendance ranges from 80-100 participants during each session. The Tuesday evening session is more of a community outreach whereas Sunday morning attendance if primarily people who attend JRA on a regular basis.

WIM: Can you share a testimony of someone whose life has been changed as a result of Living Free?

Nichols: We have had many go through the Living Free ministry in the last 9 years since it started. Some testimonies are more miraculous than others.

One of the most exciting testimonies is about an attorney who had grown up in church, but had a gambling problem. He had stolen a large amount of money from his clients to support his habit. When he first attended Living Free, he did not believe that he would ever be free from his addiction. Yet, the more he read God's Word, connected with God's people, and found a fresh trust in the Holy Spirit's working in his life, he began to see himself the way God saw him.

He turned himself into the authorities and went through the legal system. This gentleman was able to make restitution to those he had hurt and stolen from. With God working in his life, he did not have to do any prison time. He has been an advocate against gambling in the state of Missouri. Both he and his wife have now launched a Living Free ministry in their home church in Northern Missouri. He has been free 7 years, and it has been a joy to watch how God is using both he and his wife in their local church.

WIM: How important is it for the local church to provide ministry to help people with life-controlling problems?

Nichols: Living Free helps many people who have attended church for many years but are stuck in their walk with Christ. They may not feel safe to reveal their pain to anyone, so they hide it and wonder why they don't have joy or feel fulfilled in their Christian lives. Living Free addresses the issues in a safe way and provides the person the understanding that anything that blocks our walk with Christ keeps us bound. By using biblical components along with caring people and the continued work of the Spirit, individuals become free and learn to stay free from the strongholds in their lives.

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