Testimonials
I would personally like to thank you, the many supporters of the Hope House. My name is Jody Mclean, but these days I go by Private Mclean. I am currently here at basic training at the 1-48th Infantry Battalion at Ft. Leonardwood, Mo.
We have a couple of weeks to go before graduation and then we will begin our M.O.S. training. From there many of us expect quick deployment with a combat unit. I am one of the proud few that can stand up and say I fight for this great country of ours.
This has truly become an adventure of a lifetime. I am thanking you because before all this there was a time when I was down and out without any hope. Thankfully, God saw it fit to send help my way in the form of Hope House.
I lived there for a couple of years. During that time I experienced many ups and odwns but I was really able to see the love that Christians like yourself have for those of us that need a hand. I will never forget the times I had there. My heart will always be with the many men that come and go through those doors.
Thank God for Danny and Cha who God knows had to pray for patience when it comes to me. "We learned what it meant to go the extra mile".
Please know that your support has made a difference on many lives, especially mine. Please pray for me and my many brothers here in Bravo 1-48th for the path that lay before us.
Thank you All and God Bless.
When I first saw Jeremy walk down the isle of our church, I knew he was to be my husband. I did not believe in love at first sight, so I blew it off. He was a new resident at the Hope House, and I had just been saved. I had made friends with a few of the guys at the Hope House, and Jeremy was part of that group. We started talking and spending time together, and eventually we began dating. He was a "diamond in the rough", just like me. We both had made some bad choices in our lives, and wanted to straighten up.
Then Jeremy got in trouble. I tried to be there for him. I saw him everyday, and did all I could think of to help him and make his situation more bearable. Finally, he was sent away. My heart was broken, and I lost my faith in God's word to me. For that reason, Jeremy and I broke up, and it would be another painful two years before God brought us back together. During this time, I moved to Gainesville. It was the worst year of my life because I was not where God wanted me to be. In February of 2004, I realized that I was in misery because I was out of God's will. I moved back to Tallahassee and began to go to church again. During this time, I began to pray that if Jeremy was "the one", That God would bring us together. To make a long story short, God brought him back to me, and we got married in August of that year. We were blessed with the birth of our beautiful son, Angelo Edward "AJ" Jay Jones, a year later!
I thank God for the Hope House. I have seen so many lives changed for the better because of this ministry. I know it changed my life! My Jeremy is a wonderful husband, and an amazing father!! I thank God everyday for him and AJ. It just goes to show the power God has to change lives, and the importance of supporting His ministries. Without the Hope House, none of this would have been possible. Danny and Che Heaberlin hold a special place in my heart for their loving sacrifice.
"No Jesus, No Peace. Know Jesus, Know Peace."
Hi! I am Jim. I'm 72 years old and was a banker most of my life. I was Newsmaker of the Year in one of the major states in this country. I was even the commencement speaker at the Big University in that state. Boy the world was my oyster, and you know what? I forgot about JESUS. I went to church, paid into the collection, but I did not pay any attention to what was being preached to me, I just did not hear. Well I was divorced, my children stated they never got to know me as I traveled so much, and my wife got the 6000 square foot house and all of my retirement income.
Boy was I taken down!! I started to cash bad checks. One was for a new car. I was caught and sent to prison. For the lack of anything better to do I started to read the Bible. Then one day something within me said, "Jesus is your friend, talk with Him." I did, and started to find Peace of Mind. I read about Hope House and wrote them a letter asking if I could come to them when I got out of prison. They said yes. Hope House has given me back so much of my self respect.
The supporters of Hope House have been very helpful to all of us here. They help us in so many ways with the contributions of time, clothes, Bible study, food and even funds. It all helps so much. That's why we all say...WE LOVE OUR SUPPORTERS!!!
Jeff Anderson - Not long ago I got out of the Navy under a medical discharge. My family didn't want me back home, and I had no place to go. I knew Mr. Heaberlin when he had the Rescue Mission at 510 West Tennessee Street, and I heard he had opened another mission called the Hope House. I called, and spoke with him. He told me there was one open bed, and I have been there for about four months now.
I have rededicated my life to the Lord, and have gotten a job with a construction company. I praise the Lord for giving me another chance, and thank Him for places like the Hope House. I have saved enough money to buy a cheap car, and will be going to Atlanta, GA with the construction company I now work for.
Many times I think about where I would be if it wasn't for the Hope House. I pray the Hope House, and all who make it possible.
Hi, my name is John Lloyd. For the past 10 years I have been fighting a battle with drugs. I was on my way to Alabama when my car broke down. It was an old car, and wasn't worth fixing. I was trying to get a ride to I-10 hoping to hike to Alabama late one evening when I saw a sign that said Jesus Loves You. It was almost dark, and not knowing what to do I walked up to the house. It was called Hope House.
I was invited in, and introduced to a Mr. Heaberlin who told me all about the Hope House and asked me if I would like to stay. I wasn't sure at first, but stayed anyway. I sure am glad I did. I received three meals every day, and worked. The Hope House was like a heaven on earth to me. I could go on and on about the many things I have learned, but the most important thing is that I really truly met Jesus and know I have a home in Heaven.
So far I haven't done any drugs for 3 1/2 months. Please pray for me. I was told that the Hope House is kept open with financial gifts, and food donations from people in and around the city. I thank God for all of you.
My name is Andy Boss. I am 20 years old, and I guess if I had to compare my present situation to someone, it would have to be either the prodigal son (Luke 13:11-32) or Jonah (Jonah 1-4). Basically, I have always known that God is in control of my life but, like Jonah, simply couldn't bring myself to trust His will for me. I had grown up all my life in the church, but chose not to give God the reins. I thought that I was strong enough, responsible enough, and mature enough to do it myself. In doing so, I hurt and betrayed many people that loved and cared about me.
Well, God let me do things on my own for a while, and eventually I found myself in that authority-free situation many young people find themselves in: college. Similar to the prodigal son, I wasted my substance on ritous living, turning my back on the things that my family had taught me from a very young age. Eventually, God stepped in.
On November 10th, at 4 in the morning, I was arrested, and ended up spending the next 32 days in the Leon County Jail. For the first time I found my life completely out of my control. It was there that I decided to make the life-changing decision to let Christ take over what I had messed up so successfully. Like I heard someone say once, it's hard to trust God with everything until you have no one else in which to trust. That was definitely the case in my life.
Eventually I was released from jail. That proved to be the most amazing example of trusting God, seeing as how I was in a different state, where I knew no one, and had nowhere to go. I set out walking from the jail, and was starting to panic because I knew that the homeless shelters were beginning to close their doors for the night. I remembered reading I Thessalonians 5:18, which states that in all things I should thank God. I thought it sounded kind of hard to do at the time, but did it anyway, and asked Him to put something or someone in my path. No sooner had I finished my prayer while walking down the street, when I saw a sign that said 'Jesus Loves You.' I really had no idea what the place was all about, and went to the door intending to ask for a ride to the nearest shelter, or even just a prayer. What I found was a Christian house for men and nowhere else to turn.
Thankfully, the Lord got my attention, and I have no doubt in my mind that I am now where he intends for me to be. I thank Him for seeing fit to save me from my life of sin, I thank Danny Heaberlin, director of the Hope House, for opening the door to me, and I thank all of you who so generously contribute both your money, as well as your prayers. I pray that God blesses you abundantly, and that you can trust Him with everything before He has to get your attention. Because He loves you and He doesn't mess around!
