Poland
Arthur lived on Poland's streets for 16 years. He bounced in and out of 12 different shelters. Life was such torment for Arthur that he attempted to take his own life - not just once - but 48 times.
ITMI's Bread of Life Foundation, whose mission is to love, care for and reach the poorest of the poor in Jesus' name, intervened.
Arthur was accepted into Bread of Life's transition home, the New Life Center, in Dluga Goslina, Poland. At the NLC he received medical help and Christian counseling from the center's staff of professionals. New Life Center participants are guided through the process of family reconciliation if their situations calls for it. They receive job training and participate in community service and projects that guide them into good citizenship.
A group of men from the New Life Center.
And they hear the Good News that their past is forgiven, their future is secure and grace is theirs if they follow Jesus. They'll hear and see that in many different ways over the course of their stay.
Arthur believed it and accepted it. His life started to change. Jesus saved him from the frightening shadows of his past, and set him free to a life of love and good works.
Since Arthur got out of the NLC in the fall of 2015, ITMI's Daniel Machlowski has been meeting with him and discipling him. Together, they've been demonstrating and declaring the Gospel to two other men they know.
At the end of 2016, Daniel and his fiancé, Blueberry, hosted an evangelistic New Year's Eve party. This was the second year they did this. It was a way to invite people in, share the Gospel and provide a fun place to be. For some of the people they are reaching, not going to a bar for New Year's Eve seems revolutionary.
There was lots of laughter, a live worship band, and Daniel shared from God's Word just before the countdown. Forty people came to their 2016 New Year's Eve party, five of whom were people interested in Jesus but not yet believers.
Worship time.
Daniel shares from God's Word before the countdown.
This is what Arthur said about the party and his new life in Jesus.
"The New Year's eve party was the best New Year's of my life. It was the first New Year's Eve that I had sober. I am learning to play sober. I am learning to live in this weird world, work, have relationships, and get to know people sober. I feel like a newborn learning to walk, getting off my knees and onto my feet. I like this state. It's nice. I now wake up and no longer go to the store and beg for money or alcohol."
Restoration is beautiful, isn't it?
We are all like Arthur in some way - in great need of the restoration only Christ can offer.
As believers, you've experienced Christ's restoration for yourself. And then you passed it along to Arthur and many, many others through your support of Bread of Life and the New Life Center.
You've blessed many, and because of your faithfulness, they are now blessing others!
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