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leader brief
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| People don't need to settle for slop! |
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| Arloa Sutter |
The story of Brian, a guest at our north side center for homeless men, reminds me of the story of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15. Brian was raised in the home of a Baptist preacher in southern Illinois but says he "did all there is to do to rebel and then some." He adds with a grin, "It's the 'then some' that really got me into trouble." Barely escaping arrest on drug charges and with nowhere else to go, Brian found his way to Breakthrough.
Similarly, the prodigal spent his inheritance on riotous living and found himself hungry and homeless. With his money gone, he got a job feeding pigs in exchange for sleeping in the pigsty. He was so hungry and destitute that even the slop he was throwing to the pigs seemed desirable to him.
When a man like Brian loses his way and gets caught up in the wild life, he is stripped of his dignity and begins to long for things God never intended him to desire, like drugs, alcohol, and damaging relationships. At Breakthrough we remind people that they don't need to settle for slop. There is a loving Father who is waiting for them to come home. They can receive healing and forgiveness and start over.
The story of the Prodigal Son ends with the father throwing a celebration for his son. There is no greater joy than when the lost are found, when the homeless go home, and when the hungry feast!
We get to do a lot of celebrating at Breakthrough. Today we celebrate Brian's new life! He is currently active in a church and has begun trying to rebuild a relationship with his father again. Please pray for Brian as he continues to grow. |
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partner with us
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| Your Gift Transforms Lives! |
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The men, women, and children who come to Breakthrough search for hope of a better life:
- A homeless man desperately seeks help to fight his alcohol addiction.
- A young woman involved in prostitution clings to her dream of life without bondage to heroin.
- A mother in East Garfield Park wants her son to have a future filled with promise and hope.
- A child, facing drug dealers on his daily walk to school, is anxious about joining the wrong crowd.
You can help each of these people in need. Your gift does make a difference in changing lives! Donate securely online at www.breakthroughministries.com, or mail your gift to Breakthrough at 5243 N. Ashland Ave., Chicago, IL 60640.
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mark your calendar
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| RSVP deadline is today! |
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| Volunteers, if you haven't already RSVP'd to our Volunteer Appreciation Event, please do so today! You can reply online or call Amy Cosby at 773.989.4382 x271. Please join us Saturday, April 5 at 5:00 pm for dinner and an encouraging time of worship and fellowship! |
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ministry update
the latest news from Breakthrough
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| Tiffany dreams of brighter days ahead. Breakthrough's Bridge of Hope ministry provides support to women caught in a destructive lifestyle. |
Tiffany remembers exactly where she was when she first met the Bridge of Hope team over a year and a half ago. While walking a west side intersection known for prostitution, she "kept seeing people going into an RV, and I wondered what they were doing." She continues, "One day, one of them came right up to me and started talking to me.
Their persistence has made an impact on Tiffany. Clean for almost seven months, she is thankful for the continued support from Bridge of Hope. "No matter my condition, even in some really low points, they didn't give up on me. The staff visited me wherever I happened to be staying at the time and encouraged me." Tiffany adds, "I'm always glad to see Brenda. She takes me to church with her."
Bridge of Hope Assistant, Brenda Williams, attends Calvary Memorial Church. She has worked with the Bridge of Hope team for several years. Brenda says of Tiffany, "She is always eager to come to church and to meet others who can set a good example for her. We try to show her how to live in a more healthy environment."
Every day is a struggle to stay clean and live in a new way. "I have to be careful with finances and in setting my priorities," Tiffany admits. "I've been through 12 step programs. Anybody can memorize what you're supposed to do. It's harder to apply that spiritually." She emphasizes, "I want to learn how to live."
Tiffany dreams of getting on her feet again. One day, she'd even like to become a truck driver. "When I was a little girl, I liked trucks," she smiles. "I've always wanted to travel and see the country."
Please pray for Tiffany as she continues to seek help and support. Click here to learn more about Bridge of Hope, Breakthrough's outreach to women in prostitution.
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volunteer spotlight
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Name: Pete Stanke
Occupation: Theatrical Lighting
City neighborhood or suburb in which you live: Palatine
Tell us about your experience:
There's a saying about receiving more than you give, and I've definitely found that to be true. The joy and encouragement I receive from serving at Breakthrough is much greater than what I feel I offer. I'm amazed to see how faithfully some of these guys look to Christ, regardless of what kind of circumstances they're in.
What is your volunteer role?
My small group comes to the North Side to prepare and serve meals to homeless men. If time permits, we try to do a small devotional or Bible study afterwards and worship. We really try to make time to just sit and talk with the guests.
What led you to become involved with the ministry?
I think we are called to reach out to others, and my heart is for the homeless. I heard about Breakthrough through a guy at my church, Kent Steiner, who used to work with your youth program. There is so much opportunity to serve, and God has impacted a lot of people at Harvest Bible Chapel to partner with Breakthrough. Two members, Luke Trifilio and Hellen Kim, actually organize several church teams to come and serve meals. Since Luke plans the meals and buys the ingredients in bulk, he is able to provide them at a savings.
Click here to find out about exciting volunteer opportunities on our website. |
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thank you
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| New Lockers for the North Side |
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| Staff member, Jorge Moreno, and a guest help install the donated lockers. |
Where do homeless people keep their backpacks or belongings during a job interview? Carrying around your only clean pair of socks, a shirt, and a bar of soap in a plastic bag certainly would discourage most prospective employers. Thanks to a volunteer's assertiveness and the cooperation of a local health club owner, homeless men at our North Side location now have cleaner, more reliable lockers in which to store their personal belongings.
While talking to staff member Judy Cuchetto one afternoon, a volunteer learned of a need for better storage lockers at the North Side facility.
She knew of a health club undergoing renovations and contacted Wally Reule, Director of Operations of Fitness Formula and owner/operator of the East Lakeview Multiplex. Mr. Reule informed her that on that very day the health club was planning to remove their current lockers and haul them away. Mr. Reule was happy to facilitate the donation of the lockers to Breakthrough's North Side center.
Thank you Wally Reule, Fitness Formula, and East Lakeview Mulitiplex!
To learn more about other needs at Breakthrough, take a look at our wish list.
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