Easter Match

I hope you’ve never faced the kind of trauma Daniel faced. Multiple traumas.

 

He grew up in Cuba, he was a good student, he graduated from medical school. But he couldn’t stand the way Cuba’s oppressive government was failing its people. Daniel courageously joined protests against the communist regime. And the day came when he had no choice: He had to flee.

 

He came to the U.S. ... and I wish I could tell you that the rest of his life here was easy, productive, joyful. But that’s not how it went.

 

Daniel married, he became a father — but then Daniel contracted Lyme disease, and suffered miserably. His marriage collapsed. His physical condition grew worse and worse; he lost his job. When Daniel showed up on our doorstep, he was terribly weak. He couldn’t keep his hands from shaking. And mentally, emotionally, spiritually ... he was a broken man.

 

But if we know anything after a third of a century of helping homeless people here in the Sunnyslope area, it’s this: There is hope — because God heals.

 

Your generous support opened our doors to Daniel. You were here in spirit, as we slipped an encouraging arm around his shoulders, and welcomed him in, and gave him safe shelter, and met his most urgent physical needs. In the days that followed, your love gave him strength ... and hope for the future.

 

One of Daniel’s urgent needs: a job. Soon after his arrival, he found work — not much, just sweeping floors at Goodwill. But it was a start.

 

Many days, on the job, he felt discouraged ... but he always remembered the simple-but-powerful principle he had learned here at House of Refuge Sunnyslope — something as basic as A-B-C:

First, just get A job.

This will lead to a Better job....

And this will position you for your Career job.

 

Again and again, as he made his way through his menial duties, Daniel’s heart came back to a place of gratitude. “I distinctly remember God reminding me to be thankful as I swept the floors,” he says today.

 

Week by week, month by month, we saw Daniel change ... and beautifully. As we helped him get the medical attention he needed, his body gradually healed. As he participated in our Bible studies, he grew closer and closer to God. As he engaged with our case managers and volunteer mentors, we watch him blossom. All thanks to your generous giving, and the support of other caring Christian friends like you.

 

After a year, as Daniel was preparing to graduate from our ministry program, his dream came true: he reached his goal of re-entering the healthcare profession. As you read these words, Daniel is thrilled to be serving as a Respiratory Specialist.

 

But God wasn’t finished working miracles in Daniel’s life. After his graduation, he reunited with his wife and children. They found an apartment together. They’re a family again.

 

I don’t know what would have happened to Daniel if he hadn’t found our House of Refuge Sunnyslope. You set his miracles in motion, by making a place for him . . . a place of love and care and help and hope.

 

Today, as Easter approaches and we prepare to celebrate Christ’s resurrection, I pray you’ll set more miracles in motion, for others like Daniel who have suffered life’s tragedies and traumas. Your gift today can be used by God to transform lives — by the power of God’s love ... the same power that raised Jesus from that tomb.

 

And if you give today, your gift will be matched dollar-for-dollar, its impact literally DOUBLED, up to a total of $30,000 — because we’ve received a wonderful Easter Matching Challenge. Your gift will go twice as far to lift someone like Daniel from the pit of despair ... to bring Psalm 40 to life for them, in powerful, practical ways ... so they can say along with the Psalmist David:

“He turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.”

 

Your Easter Matching Challenge gift today will offer true and lasting life-change to twice as many people in need here in our community. You’ll be providing twice as many meals ... twice as many nights of shelter ... twice as much love.

 

So many among us are hurting, so many are lost in helplessness and hopelessness ... please don’t delay. However God has blessed you, share a portion of your God-given bounty. Give as generously as you can. Thank you! And I pray your Resurrection Sunday will be a day of blessing!

 

Mercy, peace, and love be yours in abundance,

Julie Supplee

CEO