(continued from Youth page)

A few weeks ago, we were blessed to have the members of the Discipleship House powerfully share their faith testimonies with several of our youth.  The Discipleship House, also known as the halfway house, is a ministry organization that provides an alternative lifestyle for those facing jail or prison time who strongly desire to change and live their lives for God.  Words cannot describe the turn-around these guys have made, nor could I begin to tell you how gentle-hearted and gracious they are.  They have a passion for Christ beyond my comprehension, and without their knowing it, they are touching lives in drastic ways.

    Their testimonies were incredible.  To even try to give you details would not do them justice.  However, I want to share with you a few insights.  One, God is good.  No matter what messes we make of our lives, God can turn it into good.  Listening to the guys speak about every wrong turn they took and the endless list of mistakes, it dawned on me that God is using their pasts to benefit the future.  He’s taking the messiness within their lives and using them as an example for future generations.  God has given these guys the second chance they deserve.  They are no longer bound by their sins, but are now bound by grace.  They are no longer under the manipulation of Satan, but are under the guidance of the Creator.  God is speaking through them, and we need open our eyes and hearts to the message that they give.

Second Corinthians in chapter five, verse 17 states:
             Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature:
 old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 

The brothers of the Discipleship House live by these words.  God has made them new.  They taught me that there is not a single person in this world that God cannot change; there is not a single mistake we make that God cannot forgive; and, there is not a situation we get ourselves into that God cannot overcome.  These men are living witnesses that with Christ,
all things are truly possible.

I pray continual blessings for these wonderful men, and I hope that you get an opportunity to know them.  They come to every Food Distribution with a servant’s heart, and work in places throughout our community.  Please pray for them and Discipleship House ministry, for God is faithful and will deliver.

Kathy Nelson