Client Stories
He joined a gang, working as a “debt collector” and applying the fighting lessons he had learned in prison. When beatings didn’t produce collections, Artie’s friends supplied him with a gun. “I was supposed to shoot a couple of people, but I believe God was with me, because I missed the first one and couldn’t get a clear shot at the other one.”
Drugs had taken over John’s life and cost him his career. A year ago he was evicted from his apartment. He found temporary refuge in a downtown church where the pastor told him he needed accountability in his life and suggested the Kansas City Rescue Mission.
His addiction finally led to jail time and then to homelessness. His parole officer gave Charlie an ultimatum: either find a treatment program or spend more time in jail.
After a week of evaluation, Philmon was accepted on the CDP at the Mission. He entered a new environment where the guiding principles are taken from scripture, where decisions are made after prayer, where relationships are built on grace. It was only a matter of days until Philmon Duhart had rededicated his life to Jesus Christ. He discovered a new way of living.
His stature was an asset in Vietnam and even helped keep him alive in prison but the time came when Bill’s great size couldn’t keep him from a great fall. The time came when Bill Johnson had nowhere to go, no one to help, and for all his size and strength he felt very small and helpless.
“Gail, can you loan me a few bucks to get by? I swear I’m good for it.” It hurt her heart to hear her brother like this, at the edge of panic. She wanted to help him, to bail him out of his jam, even though she understood it was enabling his addiction.
Don’s eyes fell upon the worn hymnal lying open on his lap. The words on the dingy white page rebutted his cheerless thought with quiet encouragement: What a Friend We Have in Jesus...