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At 43, Tandy has spent half his life battling an addiction to drugs and alcohol. Almost a year ago he sat at his dying mother's bedside - just months after
losing both his father and grandmother - and vowed to make one last attempt at
getting his life back together.
Soon afterwards, Tandy ended up in the hospital himself. "That was around the time that I hit rock bottom. I felt I had nothing to live for," recalls Tandy. "I had no home, no job, and no friends or family that would even call or come to see me. They had suffered as a result of my struggle many times before, though, so I really couldn't blame them.
"Since I had no health insurance, I had to agree to be released from the hospital to a place I vowed I would never go, a homeless shelter," says Tandy. "All I had was a pair of pants and a shirt that the hospital had given to me. As difficult as it was, I had to start asking for things I needed - clothes, shoes, transportation and even a haircut. I was so humiliated. All that was going through my mind was, 'How did I let myself sink so low?'"
Tandy eventually ended up at Breakthrough Urban Ministries, and right from the start, he felt hopeful. "I started to feel human again. I was treated with respect, like I was part of a family," he says, and adds, "Breakthrough was spiritually based in a way that I knew, deep down, I really needed and wanted. Spending time in devotions and conversations with the staff and guests really brought me back from spiritual starvation and depression." Tandy continues, "I cannot begin to describe the serenity, calm, and security I began to feel. It was a lot like when I was a child."
Today, Tandy is hopeful and focused. He is thankful that Breakthrough connected him with an opportunity at Inspiration Corporation, where he receives job training and work experience. "My mindset has changed even more," he says. "I am dreaming again. Dreaming of what I could be and about what life has to offer when I focus on doing the next "right" thing. He smiles and says, "I feel that my life has just begun. It's a new page to be written, a clean slate. I see many opportunities and many challenges ahead, and that's exciting."
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Jayson Gasper lives in Chicago and works for Cognizant Technology Solutions.
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How did you first hear about Breakthrough Urban Ministries and what made you decide to become involved?
My employer does an Annual Halloween Benefit, focusing on a different organization each year. I found out about Breakthrough online, and it seemed like they provided a lot of services very effectively. The Benefit committee agreed with my recommendation, and we were happy to donate the proceeds of our ticket sales to Breakthrough last fall. That was paired with a donation from our corporate office.
What were your thoughts on Breakthrough's "Behind The Scenes" Tour?
I attended with a few of the other Benefit committee members from my company. There were several things that really stuck with me and made me even more confident that Breakthrough is having a great impact. Hearing the staff's passion for what they do and for the people they help was very moving. I was also very impressed with the video clip about the employment program.
Why do you think it is important to financially support Breakthrough Urban Ministries?
Breakthrough offers more than just shelter and food, even though those are also important. They offer so many opportunities for people in need. I think it's also impressive that they help so many people, not just the homeless, but the surrounding community and youth as well.
How else have you or your company been involved?
I recently organized a gift drive to help support Breakthrough's Christmas Store. I was really impressed with how Breakthrough wanted to provide a way for their guests and the community to buy gifts for their loved ones in an affordable way. It also attracted my co-workers to the drive, and made them want to give. I feel really strongly about Breakthrough's work, and I would like to help more in the future.
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| Jayson's co-workers donated gifts for Breakthrough's Christmas Store. |
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Thanks to the generosity of many individuals, groups, and churches, this year's Christmas Store was a huge success! Breakthrough friends came together to provide the local community and those connected to our programs with a fun and dignified way to purchase gifts for their loved ones.
Shoppers enjoyed breakfast and lunch prepared and served by groups from Willow Creek Community Church and Harvest Bible Chapel, whose volunteers also provided Christmas crafts and plenty of cookies for all the shoppers.
Other volunteers worked hard to sort gifts, keep the store stocked and wrap presents throughout the day. More gifts were donated than in previous years, which meant that community members, homeless guests and youth in our after school program were able to buy liberally for their loved ones. |
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Executive Director,
Dr. Arloa Sutter |
Pressing On
"Not
that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made
perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus
took hold of me." Philippians 3:12
The beginning of
the year is always a time of reflection for me, a time to review the
past year and to ask God to paint a new vision for the year ahead. I
don't want to get caught up in legalism, yet this is a great time to
evaluate how we can move from where we are to where we should be in
order to increase our effectiveness in the world.
In his autobiography,
Benjamin Franklin describes the thirteen virtues he sought to live by
when he was twenty. He committed to tracking his success in each of the
thirteen areas and gave special focus to one each week. He developed a
table for each virtue, reviewed them each evening and placed dots in
the square for the days he faulted. After thirteen weeks he would start
over moving through the virtues four times per year. He followed the
practice every year until he wrote about it at age 79. He was motivated
by Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is
noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely,
whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think
about such things."
I am challenged to follow Benjamin
Franklin's example to set high standards and goals that will lift me to
higher effectiveness for the Kingdom. Also, this month the Breakthrough
board will be meeting to review the year and envision what God wants us
to focus on in 2008. Please pray with us that we would have the courage
to press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus has taken hold of us.
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Tutor Training
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, January 22, 23, 24 from 5 - 6:30 pm
3330 W. Carroll Ave., Chicago.
Calling all new tutors! Breakthrough has a critical need for volunteers
to help students after school.
Dinner is
provided.
For more information or to reserve a spot, contact Volunteer
Coordinators Dave or Ann Healing at 773.722.1144 x271 or volunteer@breakthroughministries.com.
Behind the Scenes Tour
Monday, February 4 from 6-7 pm
3330 W. Carroll Ave., Chicago.
Please join us for an exciting Behind The Scenes Tour of life at Breakthrough!
- Meet Arloa and our staff
- Hear life transforming testimonies
- Take a walking tour of Breakthrough's Joshua Center
- Catch the vision of our future Breakthrough Campus
CLICK HERE for more information.
To reserve a spot, call 773.722.1144 x238 or email tour@breakthroughministries.com
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