Arloa Sutter

The scene flashes to the ring and we watch as round after round Rocky takes a brutal pounding. Finally in the last round, Rocky takes a hit that lands him spread eagle on the mat. The crowd rises to their feet to watch as he struggles to get up. Sickened by the beating they yell, "Stay down! You've fought a good fight. Stay down!" Even his coach yells for him to give up the fight. But Rocky remembers his commitment to "go the distance." He pulls himself up on the first rope. "Stay down," the crowd screams. Painfully, he pulls himself up rope by rope, staggers to his feet and motions for Apollo Creed to keep fighting. At last, the bell rings and Rocky is ecstatic. He went the distance!

The Christian life can feel like that ring sometimes, can't it? There are days when you've taken a beating and you feel like giving up. It's as if you can hear the crowd yelling, "Stay down. You've done enough. Give it up." My word to you today is to stand up in the power of Christ and resolve to finish well. Some day the final bell will sound, the struggle will be over and you will be rewarded.

You can still make a contribution toward our fundraising goal of $300,000.

Your gift allows Breakthrough to provide opportunity, hope and support to transform people and communities from the inside out!

Click here to DONATE NOW! First time gifts of $100 or more will be matched dollar-for-dollar! Click here to find out more.

If you reserved a seat, click here for directions, map and parking information.

Enjoy a complimentary dinner and learn how being involved with Breakthrough has transformed the lives of program participants, volunteers, donors and staff! We look forward to an evening of reflection, hope, and sharing the vision for Breakthrough's future. Our fundraising goal this year is $300,000.

THIS YEAR'S EVENT FEATURES:

• Emcee, Paul Konrad, from WGN's morning show
• Musical performances by The Chicago Tabernacle Choir and Breakthrough's Youth Choir
• International speaker and author, Dr. Tony Campolo
• Breakthrough Executive Director, Arloa Sutter

Ricky recently moved into his own place.

"Who Knows Me Better Than God?"

For many years, Ricky was a functioning addict. "I knew something was wrong in my life," he says. It was only after time in jail and the loss of his job that he hit a low point. "AA was helpful but not everybody there 'walked the talk.' I figured, 'Who knows me better than God?' That's when I decided to turn to Him."

Breakthrough's nurturing environment is a comfort to many homeless people who, like Ricky, face the reality of life on the street. "I'm on my feet most of the day, getting shifted around from place to place," he says, adding "It's difficult to show up for a job interview with all your belongings in a bag. That's a tell-tale sign of homelessness."

Ricky found support and encouragement at Breakthrough. "It means a lot when somebody looks you in the eye," says Ricky. "The staff here show real concern, and they treat you with respect, love and patience."

Despite the obstacles, Ricky is working hard to find employment. He recently found housing and hopes that will help him land a job. He looks forward to the future. "I want to keep putting my life back together and reconnect with my family."

Click here to find out more about Breakthrough Men's Services.

Brian Eisenmenger recently ran the Chicago Marathon and raised $1,390 in support of Breakthrough. Brian lives in Carol Stream and attends Community Fellowship Church.

What made you decide to raise money for Breakthrough?
As I trained for the marathon, I kept wondering, "This will be a great accomplishment for me, but can I create another purpose for running?" Many participants in the Chicago Marathon run for big "sponsored" charities. Deciding to run in support of a Christ-centered organization made the whole experience more meaningful to me. I chose Breakthrough because of the real impact they make in the lives of others. On top of that, I was able to introduce many of the people who sponsored me to Breakthrough and its mission.

How did you hear about Breakthrough and what led you to become involved with the ministry?
Over five years ago I volunteered at Breakthrough through one of Willow Creek's Saturday mission projects. During the couple of hours I spent that day, I felt that Breakthrough's ministry was a real and viable solution to helping homeless people. I'd known several homeless people before and was moved by their struggle to overcome addiction and other obstacles.

Describe your volunteer experience:
I remember helping sweep the streets with a guy whose life had been clearly changed by Christ. He wasn't just saying "God Bless" or "Thank You Jesus." After talking with him, it was apparent that he had a real relationship with the Lord. Although his life was not where he wanted it to be, I sensed the growing confidence he had about going in the right direction.

Describe your marathon experience:
I experienced every emotion - fear and excitement, despair and ecstasy. At mile 23, when I was ready to quit, two thoughts kept me going: 1) the pain I was experiencing was nothing compared to the sufferings of Jesus on our behalf and 2) I needed to finish for all the people who agreed to support me and Breakthrough.

Brian finished the Marathon in four hours, 39 minutes and 23 seconds, only two hours and 33 minutes behind the winner.

BEST is our new program to assist men who are homeless, or at risk of homelessness, to achieve self- sufficiency by empowering them with the necessary skills and behaviors to successfully obtain and retain gainful employment.

As a volunteer and then as a staff member, Anne worked diligently to research and design the program as well as secure critical funding.

Click here for more information on BEST.