5/4/2026
"Mission flows from intimacy"
Fred Weymouth
Yesterday I decided to attend services at my sister's church, which I used to do quite often before some changes turned things around. When I walked into the back door I was greeted by friends who seem to genuinely appreciate my being there. I felt as if I was "home." When I strolled into the sanctuary, making my way to the back, greeting old friends, my sister was surprised to see me, as I had not mentioned that I was going to come. I love surprising people and hopefully making them happy. This is the first time I've ventured this far since my son's accident in early December. My Nissan Sentra didn't make it, so I acquired an older Mercury Milan, and it has taken time to adjust to an American car made from metal. The trunk is so heavy that it takes some effort to get it up and down. My dad would love this car, and I know that he is smiling from heaven! Nonetheless, and back to my story, I decided at the last minute to hop in the car and attend services. I am so glad that I did.
Pastor Ken announced that they had a guest speaker for the day, and I was pleased to hear that it was Pastor Fred Weymouth from The Fix Ministry located in Tappahannock, Virginia, an outreach for those who are struggling with drug abuse and other addictions in their lives:
"The purpose of The Fix Ministry is to save lives. We show men & women how to change their lives by furthering their relationship with Jesus Christ along with their education in the areas of social and biblical studies. This, along with our vocational and in-action discipleship training properly prepares them for a future in the job market or ministry as well as general self-sufficiency."
My sister had been telling me about Pastor Fred and this ministry for a while now, as she felt that it may be something helpful for son who suffers from guilt and shame of past drug and alcohol addiction, and the local church ministries have not been able to help him, sadly. He felt condemned and unsupported, and even when he shared his testimony with those trapped in the same sins, he was accosted by someone in the group, and the pastor and other group leader, along with my son, did not assist or provide support to my son or silence the offender, so he eventually stopped trying to offer help to others. In seeking out support groups and pastors or lay people to walk beside and help my son, I realized that the needs are not going to be addressed by those who have never walked in the same shoes. My son was once a very strong Christian, but things happened in his life, bringing discouragement, and his friends were unable to help him and could not understand, so he found new friends who taught him a way to cope with hurtful and traumatic situations. But the entire fault can not be placed on the church, as he did not receive the compassion and understanding from his dad, and although he talked to me about some feelings he had, I did not realize things he wasn't telling me, things he was told not to share with me, things he kept secret.
Watching my family suffer and working with at risk kids and all ages with mental health conditions and abusive behaviors in my work, has opened my eyes to the great needs that exist today. And in my walk with the Lord, I see how poorly the church has been equipped to walk beside those in need. Church youth groups and field trips or camps will not reach someone who cannot relate to the others in the group who have never had these experiences. That's why I appreciate the ministry of The Fix, because Pastor Fred has walked this walk, and he has found that that Jesus is the only true "fix" for our sins.
The scripture he shared was found in Luke 4:16-19 where Jesus ministers in Nazareth:
"So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up, and as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written: 'The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.'"
After reading this, Jesus sits down, and in response to everyone's inquiring gaze, He added: "Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."
One of Fred's opening remarks was "Mission flows from intimacy." In order to have the compassion, the heart for missionary work, especially in the darkness found on the streets, you must have an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. And you can only develop this deep love and respect for Christ if you spend time in the secret place. Our love for others is the "overflow of union with Christ." Another thing he shared, and I have come to understand this deeply is that heaven or salvation is for those who know they deserve hell. Without grace, without belief in and acceptance of Jesus and His blood shed for us, for me, we would be destined for hell. Fred knows this, I know this, and every disciple of Christ should know this reality. The proud that fill our churches have not come to that realization I am afraid. Heaven will be filled with sinners saved by grace, saved from messy lives. Because we know what Christ did for each of us, our love for the lost is fueled by that desperate need to tell others about Christ. We talk about what and who we love. Charles Spurgeon said this:
"If sinners be damned, at least let them leap to Hell over our dead bodies. And if they perish, let them perish with our arms wrapped about their knees, imploring them to stay. If Hell must be filled, let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go unwarned and unprayed for."
What fuels your life?
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