Friday night was a very emotional evening. We had three new people join the group.  It’s exciting to see the room fill with many challenges among the crowd.  If you desire an evening with changing circumstances you would enjoy HOPE.  Not every one is capable of handling the many challenges we face at the addiction program. Many of these students have very serious problems and represent touch and go situations.  One was at the center Friday night.

A young girl about the age of 18-19 came to the center.  She was polite and quiet.  When we got to the prayer request time she opened up to us in tears about her problems.  She is a victim of child abuse, as well as many other challenges; some were very serious.  I believe this was one of the most difficult sessions I have had at HOPE since we started in January.  It left us totally and mentally exhausted. Not since my college days at Lima Mental Hospital, working in the criminally insane department, have I been this challenged. Believe me I had to really think and remember the correct procedures in dealing with her. STOP there! See the HOLY SCRIPTURES win every time.  WE pointed to JESUS!  He is truly OUR Lord and Savior.

Please continue to pray for our Enabled Ministry…HOPE!

Director Mike Williams-Hope International Addiction Program
Enabled Ministry

Many have come up to me in church or public places and (not surprisingly) asked, “What do you do at the Hope Ministry?”  I would like to explain the No’s and Yes’s of the ministry and how to deal with addicts and the homeless in Middletown.

Enablement defined is, “any approach that provides means or opportunity.”  A leading question among workers dealing with the addicted people is, “How do I know the difference between enabling them and showing them love?”

Some believe that it is just a lack of character that keeps the addicted bound and they just need to repent and exercise will power to stop their addiction.  (TRUE) However, in some cases they will feel sorry for them and will continue to enable them-giving them enablement-a help that hurts!  The best method is replace their addiction with the Word of God and change their behavior and habits.

Replacing compassion with Godly and spiritual needs.  You see, you cannot help someone UNTIL they, come to the end of themselves.  The need to LOVE and COUNSEL them with Godly Principles.  Being sincere is important and not just spitting out hot air.  They know when you are blowing smoke at them.  It comes down to the fact we must be willing to help them not enable their habits.

We strive to follow certain principles:   (1)  If a student asks for money; one who would enable them would give them money–quickly. (2) One who would love them could meet them at the store or take them to the store and purchase the item of need. Plus, spending valuable time with them and developing them in spiritual ways.

Other things in the same order: If they ask for gas money or transportation money, don’t ever give them money!  It gives them a way to buy their sinful habits. If you love them take them to the store and purchase the gas for them. And again you are spending valuable time with them to develop spiritual values.

We at HOPE try to change their circumstances of how they are living.  We have one student now boarding at THE HOPE HOUSE, two who are staying with friends, and one enrolled with The Good Will Industries learning a job skill and placement. One student is enrolled in school to get his GED diploma.  Two have jobs and are becoming self-dependent. These are major accomplishments if you knew where they came from and where they are today.

There is hardship as well, as we have seen several drop out of the program and back on the streets.  We still offer them a way to be set free but it is their blindness to sin that leads.  Pray for them and HOPE INTERNATIONAL.

Director of Hope International addiction program- Mike Williams
Enabled Ministries

Hope International Addiction Program

We are all familiar with the “PRODIGAL SON”, and the sadness of the sons’ departure and how the father never took his eye off the horizon waiting for his sons’ return.

We at HOPE see familiar stories just like this one.  Friday night we took our banner outside so those who drive by could see we were open for our meeting.

Then we met Mark.  Mark is a 42 year-old homeless man who had just lost his job and soon after, he lost his apartment.  Mark was a special person as he also boarded (free) to several homeless young adults with no place to live or no food. He was a Christian man and lived with Christian morals and principals.  Mark had a compassion for others who are in dire need.  I actually met Mark during our open house for the Enabled dinner during Revival week.

Now Mark and the others who were living with him were homeless.  The landlord allowed them to stay just two more weeks but now time was up.  He now lives on the streets.  He has no job, no place to live and is running out of money to buy food.

Now we have Brenda.  Brenda is 18 years old and has been homeless since May 2010 when she graduated and turned 18. She has lived with several others who were in similar situations as her own.  Doing odd and end jobs and struggling to meet expenses.  Mark had allowed her to have her own room that she shared with another girl.

Brenda was now homeless as well.  She sat there on a town center bench and wept.  She had no place to stay because the Hope House was filled.  Hope House has 50 beds and 20 beds for hard-core addicts trying to get free. (Several have been coming to our meetings).

I asked why she didn’t go home and she said, “Her mother told her she was old enough to take care of herself.”  That seems to be the thing with so many of these young adults.  Then they turn to prostitution or drugs.  Brenda is trying to stay clean and was scared to be left alone on the streets.

In both cases they are sleeping in the hallways of the court house.  That seems to be the safest place to stay.  They said the police make them move around all night to keep from being arrested.

They come to HOPE INTERNATIONAL for a touch of God.  We hold no prejudice feelings nor look down on them.  We offer hope and encourage them that God loves them.  We go to the streets and rescue them.  Pray for our ministry. Our ministry is important to those in need to be set free.

Hope International Director Mike Williams
Grace Baptist Enabled Ministries

This past Tuesday, 15 individuals came through the Enabled ministry.  One trusted the Lord as Savior.  In addition, two more trusted Christ as Savior on Thursday.  Praise the Lord!

We need some workers.  Please see Brian Messer this Sunday to volunteer or see Bro. Mike Williams or Jim Battig to volunteer for the Addictions ministry.

Hope International Addiction Program

Leadership is only as good as your team.  We are so blessed with the workers at the Hope Ministry.  You can certainly see this in the development of the Ministry Program.

Friday was just a typical day for Joyce and I as we got things ready for the Friday night Addictions program.  We needed to make sure we had enough coffee for Roland, water for Jesse, Brian clean clothes to change into, and James plenty of shaved ham for sandwiches.  Get the computer packed, have the right disc for music and Bible Truth memorization program.  My sermon is ready and I had all the materials needed to pass out in the meeting.  READY, SET, GO!  ”That’s our motto”.

How fast things can change!  I told Joyce everything seemed to be in a glass jar.  When looking at things they became at a far distance.  I have had these same experiences before and I knew I had better sit down.  I managed to get to my reclining sofa and the next thing I knew, time had passed by 35 minutes.  I had a blackout.  I called for Joyce and she quickly noticed that my speech was slurred and my face was drawn.  I was having a stroke.  She called my doctor and was instructed to get to the hospital.

How quick things can change.  We made several calls and talked with Brother Max.  Still “on with the program; my workers were going to be in charge…not missing a beat.”

Joyce took me to the hospital and while they were filling out paper work and admitting me she went to the center and met Jim and Donna Henry (Counselors).  She unlocked the door and gave them means to purchase the pizzas.  Roland showed up and had chips, water and soft drinks.  Then Joyce rushed back to the hospital as they were taking me in for tests. Nothing lost all taken care of: “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” PHILLIPIANS 4:6-7

There were two new students that evening and if we had been closed we would have missed this new blessing.  ”Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

We have even more proof that HOPE is working and more will walk the streets of Middletown someday set free!  Most important, this is why we need your help!  No one tries to do this program alone, WE ARE A TEAM!!!  God Bless.

Mike Williams Director HOPE INTERNATIONAL ADDICTION PROGRAM
Enabled Ministries-Grace Baptist Church

A visitor came into our Friday night program.  We had just prayed, as a group, that we wished we could reach someone new into the program.  Just then we noticed an elderly man walking slowly back and forth in front of the Enabled building.  He kept looking in as he walked to and from the window in front of the building.  One of our students went to the door and talked with the visitor.  Soon he entered in and asked if he could join this group’s meeting.

He introduced himself as Fred Arney, a passer buyer, on his way to Georgia to visit family.  He was on foot, no place to go and nowhere to find shelter for the night.  He was hungry and really distraught with his current circumstances.  He was polite and very quiet mannered, as he spoke very quietly just above a whisper.  He said, he saw this was some type of ministry and knew it would be safe to come in and really needed to be in God’s presence.

We welcomed him in and gave him a Bible and told him about our program.  He smiled as we led him to a seat and introduced ourselves to him.  He joined right in our sharing of testimonies and asking for prayer requests.

James 5:16 “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”

Freds’ testimony was that as he left Toledo, Ohio.  He was telling testimony of how God was working in his life.  He wanted to share his love for Jesus.  Enclosed is a poem he wrote and was sharing in his journey to Georgia.  (I did not change his spelling, so it reads as he wrote it).

Sin shall not have deminsion over you
Far you are not under the LAW but under GRACE
Vingnes is mine sayes the Lord
Amaizing Grace how sweet it sounds
that saved a wretch like me
I wonth was lost But now I am found
Was los blind but now I see
If the Son shall set you free you shall be free indeed.

IS MY NAME WRITTEN THERE?
World I care not for riches…neither silver nor Gold
I would make sure of heaven
I would enter the fold, in the clouds of thy Kingdom
with His pages so clear and fair,
Tell me Jesus my Savior is my name written there?

Lord my sins they are many like the sands of the sea
But the BLOOD of my Savior is suffience far me
Far the promise is written in bright letters that glow
tho your sins be as scarlet, I will make them like snow
Is my Name Written There?

O that beautiful city with its mansion of light
with it’s glorified beings in pure garment of white.
where no evil thing cometh to do-spoil
what is fair where the Angels are watching
Yes my Name’s written there…Yes my name is written there
you can find it in His book yes on the page of life
In the book of the Kingdom
Yes my names written there

Fred Arney

We closed around 9:30 P M  and Joyce and I cleaned the pantry and started turning the lights off and Fred left.  We watched him as he slowly walked away on his venture to Georgia.

Director HOPE International
Grace Baptist Church Enabled Ministries

H.O.P.E.  International Addiction Program

Galations 5:24-25    ”And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”

Friday evening wasn’t any special night or any night for celebration; it was a typical night for Brian Kirmse. This evening was just a little reflection of the importance of HOPE.

Joyce and I arrived at the Ministry Building around 3:30 P.M. Friday evening.  Sitting in a fetus position was Brian curled as close to the door as possible to avoid the 94 Degree heat.  Brian usually shows up early every Friday evening.  This time something was a little different.  You see, Brian is homeless at age 19, and lives in the streets of Middletown.  He was as white as a ghost and completely soaked with sweat as the sun beat down on his body.  I asked him if he was alright and he shook his wet soaked head, looked up with a smile and said, “I’m a little early as usual.”  He shows up at the center usually around 4:00 P.M., but tonight it was earlier than usual.

This story is very true and certainly doesn’t even come close to the actual facts. Brian was kicked out of his house because he had graduated from high school and mother told him to fend for himself.  Sadly he was kicked out at age 16, because his mother had many boy-friends.  He learned quickly to survive on the streets but with substance abuse.  Pain was an expected event for Brian.

I met Brian through the Enabled Pantry ministry.  We became friends and he accepted my willingness to offer prayer support.  In the first week with him he accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior.  He has grown, and he is becoming an asset to the HOPE program.  For twelve weeks he has been alcohol and drug free. Galatians 5:1  ”Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.”

“Brian that day was taken to Hamilton with his mother, she left him off in front of a Route 4 Kroger store and drove off leaving him behind. Brian walked in the heat for 12.5 miles to be able to attend our meeting.”

HOPE means something to these kids, and the program is working.  It’s an important ministry, so please support us!  This may be a person that will be something someday.  He wants to be a minister or work with other youths to show them how God works in our lives.

Finally this is a poem he wrote…enjoy!

A lot of things go on in this world
Some good, some bad
Either way, there’s a lot of Blame to go around
So here’s to it going where it belongs
Praise the Lord

Blame You, oh powerful one
Have seen me to the end of my rope
I blame my life on you

You have broken me
To a thousand pieces
Beyond Mans ability to repair

You have destroyed me
Shattered my faith
Tore me, limb from limb
I blame my life on you

I have given up Hope
Ran out of love
Filled up with Hate
I have Died
I have Changed
Your Works have Shattered me
I blame my life on you

You…
You have healed me
You have given me strength
You have SHOWN me TRUTH
The folly of my ways
You have opened my eyes

You…
You have lifted me up
You taught me
You have returned my smile
My laugh, my joy
Gladly my Lord,
I blame my life on you

Stay strong, never stop believing
He will always believe in you
Always love you, as one of His own
For you are
One of God’s Children
God Bless YOU ALL.

-  Brian Kirmse

HOPE International-Mike Williams, Director

While getting the TRUTH, you sometimes have to be willing to hear the Pain of the addict.  We are approaching 20 weeks into the program and, believe me, it’s been hard work.  Every step has to be planned and walked in a careful approach.  One slip can set you back weeks or even finish what you have accomplished to date.  Reaching the very depth of one’s thinking can be an amazing accomplishment or failure.  We strive to replace the old with the new spirit…God’s Spirit!

Enclosed is a poem written by a student: James Sloan

“God’s Love”

God’s love is like a glove
Because He is my Father above,
He gives me HOPE
He helps me stop my pain in using dope.

If I cared more about God’s love
I see His mercy and learn He is my Savior,
God please don’t leave me as I’m a wreck
Like a wrecked train…no where to go,

I pray not to take your name in vain
Even with my messed up brain,
I see God’s love
It’s like gold, making everyone bold.

I see hope…and God’s love is being bold
even when I learn these things.
My God loves me this I’m being told,
Thank God for HOPE.

Enabled Ministry Grace Baptist Church
HOPE International Addiction Program
Director Mike Williams

H.O.P.E.    The ministry is designed to not only counsel the addict but to help rehabilitate them back into a normal Christian life style.  It is also to help them have self-esteem and direct their problems to the Lord as their Rock.

We have finished the first 15 weeks of the program and now it’s when we really get to their problems.  Our meetings from an outsiders viewpoint may appear rather confusing as the addict addresses their strongholds and “modge-podgiest” religious beliefs.  It’s not easy to take many religious backgrounds and sort out the falsities they have habitually formed.  The Kings James Bible is our Sword of truth!

We are making great progress, and they are falling into the fold of Spiritual Truth and placing Jesus in the center of their lives.  The next part is very serious as now we are focusing in developing self- esteem and cognitive mental belief in themselves.

Three of the addicts we have placed in the outside world as constructive religious people.  Two are in the food pantry working as volunteers but the most important thing is that they are functioning with other Christians and in serving the public. That’s part of the HOPE program in getting the addict into a working relationship with trust worthy Christians as their role models.

Last Tuesday one of the students helped out in the pantry and also led three to the Lord!!  Another student went door to door in his neighborhood and led five to the Lord.  Friday night three went out in front of the Enabled building before our meeting to witness to passer buyers.  They were heckled and made fun of by people walking buy…”Druggies, Low life’s, Religious freaks, to name a few” however, they stood their ground and a 60 year old man accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior!  That’s the program working to its fullest!

HOPE is a fantastic program for recovery.  A lot of work is still a head of us but we see light being shined from Heaven as we seek the Lord.  Come be a part of our program we could always use more helpers and counselors.  We could also use more to join the program and be set free from your afflictions.  More and more are coming up to me in church sharing family issues and seeking ways I can help.  HOPE can help!!

Mike Williams Director of HOPE INTERNATIONAL ADDICTION PROGRAM-Enabled Ministries

HOPE International Addiction Program 30 Week Program

Currently, we are working with twelve counselors.

The program has been modified to get more out of our twelve counselors and better utilize them by tweaking the basic structure of the counseling session.

Instead of using the hour-long breakout session we are using 30 minutes in a group session and then breaking out into groups of men and women Bible lessons.  They will last 45 minutes and cover what we had studied in our group session.  This way we can get more students per counselor – 4 students per counselor.

The program will spend the entire session on the current Bible Truth and the Daily Journal based on the date by month.  This way we don’t have to keep backtracking when new students enter the program.  (Within the last 15 weeks)

The next 15 weeks will be working on the day-by-day journal (Intense Bible study) as well as the Bible Truth.

We then have more group sessions with the student sharing more of themselves and their knowledge of what we are studying.  We probe and redirect their thinking – to be more functional as Christians in society.

We currently have 8 addicts. 1 with food addiction control.  I am counseling 3 students on Tuesday: 1 with their parent.  (Two weeks ago I led the parent to the Lord…that helps with the counseling session). At the conclusion of the 30 weeks we will start the individual booklets on various trials of addiction studies and the Day by Day Journal-Monthly booklet.

New people will be placed into the 30-week program as usual.

We are running about 22-26 people per Friday evening.