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Our Why and How
BREAD FOR CHILDREN magazine was birthed out of
a vision from the Lord, given to teacher/writer, Anna Lee Carlton in the
late 1960’s. The vision was for a magazine containing Biblical teaching,
articles, and testimonies of God’s goodness.
The original charter, issued in 1972, was under
the name BREAD FOR CHILDREN. A second charter was issued in the name
BREAD MINISTRIES, INC; a religious organization chartered for the
purpose of publishing the whole Gospel of Jesus Christ without regard to
denomination, creed, race, or nationality. The basic vision remains,
with some adaptations in format that have occurred over the years. The
word “GOD’S” was added to the nameplate of the magazine to reflect
its use by God’s children of all ages. There are grandparents who still
read BREAD for themselves, and pastor’s who use its content as a basis
for messages.
In line with the vision from
the Lord, BREAD is designed to teach children about Jesus Christ and how
to live an overcoming life in the Spirit of the Lord. Anna Lee Carlton
was a gifted teacher and writer who loved the Lord with all her heart.
She guided BREAD for more than twenty years, until declining health
resulted in her retirement.
Judith Gibbs, the current
editor, joined the ministry in 1981 and served as Mrs. Carlton’s
assistant for twelve years prior to her retirement. Judy’s background
was also that of a teacher.
BREAD has always been a faith-based ministry.
We do not charge for BREAD FOR GOD’S CHILDREN magazine. The Lord said the
Gospel was given to us freely, and we were to give it freely. Though we
do not charge, there are costs to print and mail BREAD. Since our
beginning, the Lord has provided for our needs through donations
from the Body of Christ: those who have a desire to see the Word of the
Lord go out to all of God’s children. BREAD, in English, is sent into
many other nations of the world. Since 1977, we have printed (on an
intermittent basis) in Spanish; to go into Latin America and Spanish
speaking nations of the world.
In our office we write, edit, design, and
design the pages for BREAD. The pages are sent electronically to a printer
who returns the printed magazines to us for mailing. We have the
equipment to address and mail the magazines across the US, to Canada,
and many other nations.
The BREAD staff meets daily for prayer and
Bible study. We pray for our readers, missionaries, and the nations. If
you have a prayer request, you can send it via our email address, call,
or write. We don’t claim any special miracle powers other then believing the
Word of the Lord, but we do pray, and we do believe Jesus.
Our Locale
Since 1981, BREAD’S home has been a beautiful
acreage outside of Arcadia, Florida that we named Bethlehem Acres. “Bethlehem”
means “house of bread.” Our Administration Building, Mission House, and
the director's home: The Carlton House are all log structures with plenty of windows so we can enjoy the
beauties of nature around us. We are at the end of Cross Avenue, and our
acreage backs up to Joshua Creek. We feel right in the center of God’s
will. We invite you to come and visit any time you are in Central
Florida.
Our Readership
Our readers are of all ages and from every
denomination and locale in the USA, Canada, and many other nations. From
that readership, we have a special group of Prayer Warriors who
pray for the ministry and staff on a regular basis. They receive a
monthly newsletter of prayer encouragement and needs, plus praise
reports for what God is doing.
See the contact
page for the opportunity to support BREAD MINISTRIES.
The following is a statement of
faith which we at BREAD MINISTRIES believe in and endeavor to live by:
We believe the Bible to be the
inspired and authoritative Word of God and infallible rule of faith and
conduct.
We believe there is only one God,
Creator of the entire universe, eternally manifested in the Father, Son, and
Holy Ghost.
We believe in the deity of Jesus
Christ, in His virgin birth, in His vicarious and atoning sacrifice through
His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension, and in His
personal return in power and glory upon the earth.
We believe conversion through faith
in Jesus Christ is absolutely essential for all of unregenerate humanity.
We believe the whole Gospel of Jesus
Christ includes holiness of heart and life, healing for the body, and a
definite personal experience with the Holy Spirit thus causing the fruit of
the Spirit and gifts of the Spirit to become manifest and alive in one’s life.
We believe God speaks to His children
today with direction and guidance for their personal lives and callings by the
Holy Spirit; but only in harmony with the Holy Scriptures, not in
contradiction.
We believe in a definite bodily
resurrection for the end-time; the just unto life eternal and the unjust into
eternal damnation.
We believe in the spiritual unity of
all believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, thus bringing to pass the reality of
God’s Kingdom on earth as recorded in Matthew 6:10… “thy will be done in earth
as it is in heaven.”
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