🌊 ERSM | Fall 2025 Newsletter

Dear Missionary Partners, Donors, and Members,

WOW! The location, the testimonies, the food—we were blown away by the turnout at our recent fundraiser! Roughly 85 people gathered, and together we raised just over $20,000. We’re so close to our yearly fundraising goal of $65,000 and our hearts are overflowing with gratitude, awe, and wonder. Your support is changing lives. Hope is being restored. Healing is happening. Thank you for walking with us.

This year we have raised a total of $42,000. Thank you for all of your support!

Because of you, we are expanding our programs. We are offering two new meetings this year, and will have four new people leading meetings.

We will be offering our first in-person meetings. Place and location TBD.

And we will start our first young adults group meeting on Wednesday nights from 8:00-9:00 pm on Zoom. Reach out to Lacy if you are interested in any of our meetings. 

The more people we reach, the more people are healing. Thank you for your dedication and commitment to partnering with us! 

🔥 Upcoming Event 🧡 Wisconsin Fundraiser Night

📅 Friday, October 24 | 🕠 5:30–8:30 p.m.
📍 Holy Rosary Catholic Church, Medford, WI

Join us for an evening of food, fellowship, mission updates, and hear testimonies.
Special thanks to:

• Holy Rosary Catholic Church – for hosting

• Kari Wanke – for coordinating and sharing her passion

• Steve DeLonay – for serving up delicious eats 👨‍🍳

🎤 What to Expect:

• A powerful testimony from an ERSM member

• Mission and vision updates from Lacy, and why she felt called to start ERSM

• Kari Wanke sharing why she is so passionate about this ministry

• Great food & refreshments

👉 [RSVP by October 12] so we can plan for enough food for all! RSVP LINK/QR code
📬 Wisconsin folks, Watch your mailbox for a postcard invitation too!

🔥 Discipleship training  🧡 Past, present, and future disciples

📅 Tuesday, December 2 | 🕠 5:30–8:30 p.m.
📍 St. Pat’s Catholic Church, Oak Grove, MN

Reach out for more information.

 🔥 Healing Retreat: “Transformed in Christ”

📅 Saturday, January 24, 2026 | 🕗 8:00 a.m.–12 p.m.

📍 St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Oak Grove, MN

Part 1 of St. Pat’s 2026 Encounter Series: Renewed, Anointed, Sent 

• Forgiveness isn’t a shortcut. It’s a sacred journey.

  Lacy will be speaking soon on one of the most misunderstood gifts God gives us: forgiveness—
  what it truly is, what it isn’t, and why rushing past our real wounds can leave us stuck, heavy, and wondering why our hearts won’t move forward.

  So many of us have tried to “forgive quickly” because it felt like the right thing to do…
  but unprocessed pain doesn’t disappear. It buries itself.
  And buried pain becomes resentment, numbness, or quiet sadness we can’t explain.

  But here’s the hope:
  God never asks us to bypass our hearts.
  He invites us to bring them—messy, honest, unfiltered—into His healing light.

  True forgiveness is possible.
  Not the forced kind.
  Not the performative kind.
  But the kind that frees, restores, and makes room for joy again.

  If your soul is ready for that kind of freedom, this talk is for you.

   

🌱 Shared Successes

• 📈 Weekly attendance remains strong—community bonds are deepening

• 🏕️ Our first Backyard BBQ fundraiser at Dan & Caroline Jaeger’s lake home drew 85 attendees and raised nearly $20,000

• Thanks to our anonymous donor of $1,500 for sponsoring the event! 🥰You know who you are!

• Thank you to Dan and Caroline Jaeger for hosting, mentoring, and donating the table, tent, and chairs; Mike and Tracy Plankers for cooking and supplying the meat; Jerry and Julie Powaser, for your assistance, mentorship, and financial contributions!

• 💬 Thank you for the inspiring testimonies: Nancy Breyen and Kip Smith

• 🙏 We are forever grateful for increased interest in volunteering, prayer support, and deeper involvement!

🎙️ ERSM in the Media

ERSM was featured on the Practicing Catholic Show podcast and in the Catholic Spirit newspaper for the Archdiocese of St. Paul & Minneapolis.

Thank you for having us, Practicing Catholic Show and thanks for the write up, Catholic Spirit! It's always such a blessing to be a part of your ministries.

🎧Anchored in Christ: Finding peace in Seasons of Change (with Lacy Apfelbeck) 

🎧Seen, known and loved: The healing power of faith and community (with Lacy Apfelbeck)

📰Founder of Edge of the Red Seas Ministries: Surrendering to Christ during change

📰Founder of healing ministry leads prayer group at Extreme Faith Camp

💬 What People Are Saying

“Edge of the Red Sea came at just the right time. I didn’t know how not to live like a narcissist. Each page we cover in the men’s group is like a roadmap—how to not do the thing I don’t want to do, and how to do the right thing.”

— Smith

“When suicidal ideation came again just a year ago, it was different. This time I had the support of ERSM, its members, my friends, and community. ERSM is helping me see the ribbon of grace woven through my life.” — Nancy

🙌 We Need Your Help

• 🧡 Join Our Board – We’re seeking 2–4 passionate new members
  👉 Learn more & apply here

• 🙏 Join Our Intercessory Prayer Team
  👉 Sign up for weekly prayer needs of ERSM

• 🤝 Volunteer Opportunities

  • Healing Retreat: “Transformed in Christ” | Jan 24, 2026 | St. Patrick’s Catholic Church (Reach out to Lacy if you are interested in helping)

With Deep Gratitude

Thank you for your prayers, your time, and your financial gifts. You are part of every transformed life, every story of healing, and every step we take. We are praying for you!

With love and gratitude,
Lacy Apfelbeck
Founder & Director
Edge of the Red Sea Ministries 🌊