Your Hands Are Our Hands

There’s nothing we enjoy more than sharing with you the amazing stories of folks whose lives have been changed at Hope Ministries.  We are kindred spirits in our longing to care for the poor and homeless in Iowa, and we know you’re as thrilled as we are to hear these remarkable stories of transformation.

... Terry* grew up simply wanting to fit in.  So when his friends starting smoking pot, he did, too.  Before long, he was hooked on cocaine.  Things got so bad, he lost his home and stole to pay for drugs.  He tried to get clean but nothing worked, until he came to Hope Ministries.

 After joining the Journey of Hope recovery program at our Door of Faith facility, Terry gave his life to Christ—a decision that has given him the strength and encouragement to remain clean and sober.

... Before Kevin* joined our recovery program, he was living in a homeless tent camp by the river.  But at his age, he couldn’t withstand the cold and finally came to our Bethel Mission emergency shelter.  After years of fighting alcoholism, Kevin was ready to get clean and rebuild his life.  For several months, he helped our maintenance staff until he found full-time employment.  Now he’s saving money so he can move into his own home at last.

... When Tamie* arrived at Hope Family Center, her life was in complete turmoil.  Her husband had just been arrested and her children had been removed from her custody.  Her drug addiction had finally cost her everything she held most dear: her marriage, her family, her home and her life.  While on our program, Tamie gave up drugs and regained custody of her children.  Now she’s back in college, completing her degree in accounting. 

There’s no question in that these remarkable stories could not have happened without the help of faithful friends like you—people who give unselfishly of their time, talents and treasures to reach out to the men, women and children we minister to at our Bethel Mission, Door of Faith and Hope Family Center facilities.

Every day, people from all walks of life take time from their busy schedules to help us and those we serve:

... A woman who suffered physical and emotional abuse as a child now volunteers at our Hope Family Center to help the women there find the same healing and hope she found in Christ. 

... As part of a school project, a seventh grade girl collected 190 books and 154 family-friendly movies to make children staying with us feel at home.  Another girl asked friends and family to donate to Hope Ministries instead of getting her birthday gifts. 

... On a blustery, cold day, area teens participating in one of our Service and Mission Teams (SAM) ministered to homeless men and women living in camps in the woods.  The teens prayed with the homeless campers and handed out food and blankets.

Each time you and these other compassionate souls invest time or funds to help the homeless, you touch a life in a remarkable way.  Your hands become our hands, so our hands can become His hands.

When you care enough to give sacrificially to Hope Ministries, you provide the financial, prayer and volunteer fuel we need to continue our frontline ministry with the addicted, the abused, the sick and tired, the impoverished, the mentally ill … those everyone else has turned their backs on. 

Thanks to your consistent help, in the first quarter of 2008, we have already provided 45,612 meals for the hungry and 19,775 nights of shelter for the homeless.  Each of these numbers represents a life touched, shaped and changed by the hands of Christ.

We want to continue serving as your hands to the homeless.  Because when we minister in Jesus’ name, our hands become His hands, and peoples’ lives are transformed.

 Please, reach out in love this month to the homeless right here in our own backyard.  Send your tax-deductible gift now.

*Names and details changed.