Living IN SPITE OF ministries is devoted to, Encouraging, Educating, and Equipping people to use their IN SPITE OF situations as a catalyst for serving Christ and helping others. Whether they be physical, emotional, or spiritual challenges, we all have an IN SPITE OF in our lives. Far too often we allow our circumstances to define who we are; when God wants us to see our trials as opportunities to experience His grace and strength. Our IN SPITE OF situations are designed to build us into the people God intends us to be, so that we can demonstrate His great love to the world.
Evangelist John Ashley and his wife Joann have co-authored the book IN SPITE OF: The Johnny Ashley Story. A book written about their son, Johnny’s life, and the inspiration he was to countless people. The book is also a testimony of how the Lord has sustained their family through the many years of having their faith consistently put to the test.
It is their firm belief that God gave them their son Johnny, and His strength so that they can use what the Lord has taught them to be a help to others. Everyone has an “In Spite Of ” in their lives; some big, some small in comparison, but each one is real to those experiencing them.
Brother Ashley has also authored the book The Compassionate Shepherd. This book teaches the best practices to use while trying to help others that are going through trials and grief. He uses the Word of God and practical experience to help people, help people.
With great passion and compassion, Brother Ashley will encourage and challenge those in his audience to see their “In Spite Of” in a different light; not as a problem that God has allowed into their lives, but as an opportunity to see God’s power in operation personally. Brother Ashley is available to speak in churches, conferences, seminars, workshops, and where ever there are people that are hurting.
John and Joann have a special place in their hearts for caregivers. They know firsthand many of the challenges they face and desire to be a help and encouragement to them. Evangelist Ashley is currently traveling and preaching and sharing Johnny’s story with his new endeavor, LIVING IN SPITE OF Ministries.
DOCTRINAL STATEMENT OF LIVING IN SPITE OF MINISTRIES
- THE SCRIPTURES
We believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be the verbally and plenary inspired Word of God. The Scriptures are inerrant, infallible, and God-breathed, and therefore are the final authority for faith and life. The King James Version of the Bible is only translation we will use. (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21).
- SOVEREIGN GOD
God is a person existing as a Trinity in unity – The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – three persons and yet but one God. (Deut. 6:4, Matt. 28:19, I Cor. 8:6)
- SON
Jesus Christ, eternally existing, is the only begotten Son of God, who became man totally apart from sin, being conceived by the Holy Spirit, and born of the Virgin Mary, and is true God and true man. Through Him, we have direct access to the Father. (Luke 1:30-35, Phil. 2:5-8, Col. 1:15)
- SIN
Man was created in the same image of God, but fell through sin, bringing not only physical death but also spiritual death – separation from God. Now all mankind is guilty of sin before God, and condemned to death, because all men have sinned. (Gen. 1:26-27, 2:16, 3:6-19, Rom. 3:10-23, 5:12, 6:23)
- SACRIFICE
The Lord Jesus Christ suffered, shed His blood, and died as a substitutionary sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. He arose from the dead in the body in which He was crucified. He ascended into heaven in the glorified body where He is seated at the right hand of God the Father as Head of the Church, making intercession for the saints as our High Priest. (Luke 24, Acts 1:9-11, Rom. 5:8-10, Eph. 1:20-23, I Peter 3:18)
- SALVATION
Man is eternally lost because of his sin. He must personally be born again to enter the kingdom of God. Salvation is by grace alone through personal faith in the finished work of Christ on the cross. (John 1:12, 3:3-7, Eph. 2:8-9)
- THE CHURCH
- We believe that the church is to be local and visible. It is solely made up of born again, baptized persons. It is (I Cor. 12:12-14, II Cor. 11:2, Eph. 1:22-23, 5:25-27)
- We believe in the autonomy of the local church free from any external authority or control. (Acts 13:1-4, 15:19-31, Acts 20:28, Rom. 16:1-4, I Cor. 3:9-16, 5:4-7, 13, I Peter 5:1-4)
- We believe that there are only two offices in the local church, that being the Pastor and Deacons. These two offices are to be filled by godly men of integrity in each local church. (See Philippians 1:1; Acts 6:1–7; 1 Timothy 3:1–13; Titus 1:6–9; 1 Peter 5:1–4.)
- There are also two ordinances that are to be practiced by the local church, baptism and the Lord’s Table (also called communion). These ordinances have no part in salvation and only serve as pictures of what Christ did for us. (See Matthew 28:19; 1 Corinthians 11:23–26; Acts 2:38–43, 8:36–38;