I hope you are
having a great time preparing for Christmas. We
are very busy, but celebrating what God is doing.
Please read the letter below and then take some time
each day praying over our prayer concerns to the left.
We have shared
briefly a little about Mick, whom I baptised this fall.
Just before Thanksgiving he was in court. Since he had
not completed his rehab program, the judge put him back
in jail. He sent us this letter from jail.
[Just to keep things clear...the picture below is of
Mick and Teresa, Clete's wife, not Mick's girlfriend.]
November 23,
2006
Attention Bridge of Hope. Yea, you Kevin or Armond, and
yea, all you beautiful people up there in those seats.
First, I’d like to say I love and miss you all. If you
knew me or anything about my past, you would know for me
to say those things it’s just not natural.
You see, I have worked for the Devil, you know, the guy
down there, for over 40 some years. My whole life I was
living a lie, selling and doing drugs, drinking,
lusting, [&] fighting! If it was wrong or against the
law, I was doing it. People say I was on top, the big
dealer. Oakley sunglasses, Nike shoes, brand name
clothes, hot car, spinner rims, 3 ten’s beating in the
back [that’s 3 10’ subwoofers]. Bling [gold jewelry] on
my neck and my wrist and rings on every finger. A pocket
full of money and a pocket full of drugs. But behind all
that flash, behind those shades, I was crying most of
the time. Nobody loved me for me! They loved me for what
I had or what I could get for them.
Well, about the first 2 weeks of August, I met a guy and
he started telling me about his dad. The guy’s name was
Jesus and his dad’s name is God! Talk about being on
top!! These two guys are it! They’ve changed my whole
life and turned my heart to mush, which brings me back
to you all.
I call my new church, family. I have to be gone for
about 95 days. I will think and pray for you all. You
people took me in your Sunday lives not knowing me! Or
even cared what was in my pocket. You all smiled at me!
Gave me hugs and shook my hand not wanting anything in
return. That’s just not natural.
Well, I’m still crying all the time. But now they’re
happy tears. I will miss the guy with the big smile that
opens the front door and those cute ladies with their
smell goods on and smiles. Can’t forget the donut man
and the brave lady that watches… the little people and
all the beautiful kids and teens that are our future and
the happy lady up front that can’t stand still. And to
the pastors and their wives. Much love to you all. This
is the hardest thing in my life I have or will ever have
to do. And you people do it every day. Thank you God,
thank you Jesus. Thank you all. Amen.
P.S. Could you please say a prayer for my girlfriend. (I
love her very much.) She has a new baby on the way and
keeping up with…[her 2yr old] my lil’ mini me is hard
work. Plus, she goes to school from 5 - 10. Now that I’m
gone, there’s no one to babysit. We have no friends only
our new church family. That is if you’ll have us?
We don’t eat much. :) Please watch out for… [them]. No
one should be alone having a baby. Thank you with all my
heart. Can’t wait to see you all! God bless you all!
Thank you all.
Your brother in Christ.
Mickey
We are doing our best to support Mick, his family and
several others. We want to
invite you to join us in showing God's love to Waterloo.
You can
help by praying
regularly for this ministry and by giving an end of year
gift. Even with the increased offerings over the last
couple months, we will need to cut 2007 budget by an additional $20,000 to stay afloat. Our leadership team
met Sunday night and wrestled over where we would cut.
We chose to spend some time in prayer and return to the
07 budget at our next meeting.
Thanks
for praying!!! You are a vital part of Bridge of
Hope. We covet and rejoice in your prayers
on our behalf. Thanks again.
