Arloa Sutter

"If you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry, and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness and your night will become like the noonday. The Lord will guide you always...You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail." Isaiah 58:10-11

In 1 Kings 17, God told the prophet Elijah to go to Zarephath where he would encounter a poor widow. He was to go and ask her for something to eat and drink.

"Sir, I haven't got anything", she told him. All she had left was a tiny bit of oil and a handful of flour. She intended to use it to make one last meal for herself and her son and then they would die.

The woman had come to the end of her own resources. She had very little to give. But in obedience to God and faith in His promise to provide for her, she gave what she thought would be her last meal to Elijah. She fed him first.

What happened next was a miracle. "The jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry." God replenished what she poured out!

I have been blessed in recent days to hear stories from Breakthrough donors about how God has blessed them as they have spent themselves on behalf of the hungry and the oppressed through their generous giving to Breakthrough. That is the promise of Isaiah 58:11. We ourselves do not run dry as we give, because God pours his provision into our lives and we become like well-watered gardens.

Malachi 3:10 instructs us to "test" him in this. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse,... and see if He "will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it."

If you have not already experienced this joy of giving, I challenge you to take the test, give a real stretch gift and see what happens. It will transform your life.

Does your employer offer matching gifts? Many companies have programs that match employee gifts to non-profit organizations. Don't miss the opportunity to double or even triple your contributions to Breakthrough! Ask your HR department about your company's policy. Click here to see a partial listing of companies that match

Lia enjoys learning in the Breakthrough Beginners program

"Lia is a cheerful young girl and a great older sister," says Lisa Gwin, an instructor with Breakthrough Beginners, the program for pre-kindergarten children. "She takes responsibility and has a really sweet spirit."

Like the dozen other children who attend Beginners, Lia learns about shapes, colors and letters, as well as important social and behavioral skills. "We teach skills as simple as following directions from authority and standing still in line," says Marcie Curry, Breakthrough's Academic Assistance Coordinator. "Often the children aren't accustomed to that kind of discipline, and we want to help prepare them to succeed as they grow older."

It's that kind of dedication from staff and volunteers that makes Beginners such an important part of Breakthrough's services. Lia and her younger sister, Lexus, attended the Beginners class for a while when their mother, Syreeta, decided to enroll them in a program run by the city instead. "I could take them to the city's program five days a week," she said. "Breakthrough offered three days."

After two weeks, Syreeta changed her mind. "I noticed a big difference between the two programs," she said. "At Breakthrough, I could tell that the staff really cared about my kids. They wanted to be there and wanted to teach. It wasn't just like showing up to baby-sit."

Now, Syreeta regularly volunteers with Breakthrough Beginners. "I am so thankful for this," she says. "I'm glad I can help out with something that is good for my daughters."

Get involved!

Breakthrough Beginners needs volunteers to assist instructors, teach art and music, and help clean the classroom. If you can help in one of these areas, please contact Academic Assistance Coordinator, Kristi White, at 773.722.0179 x19 or kwhite@breakthroughministries.com.

Scott Ruth, Volunteer Coordinator

How did you hear about Breakthrough and what made you decide to work here?
I became aware of Breakthrough through my Urban Studies classes at Moody. I heard Arloa speak at the Urban Missions Conference in 2002. Breakthrough seemed like a good fit considering my interests and calling. I wanted to continue reaching out to homeless men and women, while also trying to narrow the gap between the worlds of the affluent and the poor.

Describe your previous experience.
During my first month on campus, I felt God's leading to reach out to homeless people. One night, I asked a friend to join me. It was an amazing experience! That was the start of what eventually became Frontlines. After awhile, I lobbied the school's administration and faculty members to recognize Frontlines as an official student group at Moody.

What is Frontlines?
The student group conducts street outreach with a focus on relational evangelism. After two and a half years, there are hundreds of students involved. Frontlines receives donations from local churches to distribute during street outreach and on visits to local shelters.

For Breakthrough volunteer opportunities, contact Scott at 773.989.4382 x271 or sruth@breakthroughministries.com.

Would your group like to help with ongoing projects? Contact Volunteer Coordinator, Scott Ruth, at 773.989.4382 x271 or sruth@breakthroughministries.com.