On the road again from Ridgeland, SC to Richmond Hill, GA

back to Our Walk of Faith

Be sure to check out the new map section and the links section...So the adventure continues...On Friday, we met several of the staff members-Abiel & Chad-from the Institute who had been away on a conference. Eric Blair shared with us that there are 52 churches in a 9 mile radius from the school. They are working to unite the churches so that they can work together to meet the needs of the community. After the work day was over, Pastor Jimmy gave us a ride to Ridgeland, SC. On our way, we stopped to eat at a Mennonite Diner and met the owner, Ray. He shared his vision to begin a children’s ministry using a life-size version of Noah's Ark. We also had our last class with Pastor Jimmy for awhile. This time I was prepared though...I had a pencil and paper and took notes rapidly as he shared and answered our questions. We arrived in Ridgeland where our good friend Eric Hensley, the residence director of the men's shelter, greeted us. We hadn't seen him since we left Biloxi last December. He and Chris are so alike that I would almost say they were twins separated at birth! Eric began our tour of the mansion in the garage where we met Ermes (in English it would be Hermes...the messenger) and Omar. Chris started to talk to Ermes, and we learned that he was from Nicaragua (the last country along the path where we were still in need of some contacts!!). As Pastor Jimmy was leaving, another car pulled up. Esmeralda and Pastor Ramiro wanted to walk around outside and pray over the mission and for the outreach that would take place on Saturday. We had an amazing time of prayer with them, and then they kept praying after we went inside! Saturday we woke up to help prepare for the "Ride for the Homeless." Bikers paid an entry fee to ride and get a shirt. All of the money would go to support the mission. We met tons of people that day!! James from Missouri, who believes that his ministry is teaching and baptizing disciples, taught me a new lesson in folding paper...I can't wait to share it with some kids!! James had been working all week at the mission ministering and teaching. As a result, 5 of the men made decisions for Christ for the first time or to recommit their lives to the Lord. Then Saturday afternoon they were baptized. What?! Yes...it was awesome to witness. (See pictures below.) Please pray for Brian, Darin, Ermes, Omar, and Eddie. Brian is an aspiring and talented musician who is really seeking God. Darin humbly shared his heart and God's protection on his life...that he should have died a long time ago, but he's here now for a reason. Ermes has been hurt by the church and was mistreated by his boss when he was injured on the job a few years ago, but he has a lot of wisdom about the Bible. Omar is from Texas and made an open profession of his faith on Sunday at church. Eddie is Pastor Jackie's brother who is hoping to get into a rehab center in Florida. He is struggling to overcome many addictions and the guilt he feels for making choices that he knew were wrong. Evans was the only other man in the house when we arrived...please pray for him, he doesn't know the Lord yet and isn't interested right now. We also met Dee (in the middle...pictured with a friend and her son) and Gwen (pictured in the hat and bright sun)...wow...such awesome women of God. Both of them have been through so much, but they will quickly tell you that God is their sustainer, Jesus is their Lord, and the Holy Spirit is their "honey." They are married to God and want nothing more than just to serve Him and please Him. They both tell stories of God's deliverance from sin and addiction (not to drugs but to men). Women so often put other people in God's spot of #1 in their lives, so it was amazing to learn from them and soak up their wisdom! Angie just came out to ride but had been looking for a church for a year, so she found a new family!! Pastor Jackie and Sister Donna, the pastor of Gospel Lighthouse and his wife, shared testimony with us and took us out to eat for Sunday lunch. They were the ones who originally started the mission. Pastor Jackie was one of the biggest drug dealers in South Carolina before he came to the Lord. He has such a story...it would have been terrifying to live his life of drugs, gambling, alcohol, and violence. Yet Donna clung to the Lord and stood by her husband. I don't know if I've ever heard of such commitment! I was amazed!! Now the Lord has transformed Pastor Jackie and they are serving God together!! Amazing! Casey, the associate pastor, also has an amazing testimony of deliverance from drugs and alcohol. The community sometimes looks at the church and says they are nothing but addicts and alcoholics, but I say...Jesus came to seek and save the LOST. A Doctor doesn't come to heal the healthy! They are reaching out to people who others ignore...it's great! Mr. Bob and Mrs. Christine are also members of that church...let me tell you...Mrs. Christine just speaks scripture constantly and Mr. Bob is so sold out to the Lord. We met so many others who have just been transformed for the Lord! On Saturday night, the women invited me to go to the movies with them (the ones mentioned above and Teresa and Jessica as well). We saw One Night with the King based on the story of Esther. Chris was able to hang out with the guys at the shelter as well as Eric and James. They celebrated the 5 new birthdays with cake and ice cream! On the way to church on Sunday, Eric asked us if we would give the devotion on Monday night. We agreed but had no idea what to talk about since we were giving our testimony at church that morning. Church was wonderful...Will and Pat can play virtually every stringed instrument that there is...They played the piano and steel guitar during the service and there was a bass player and 2 guitar players as well...not to mention the 4 other vocalists. Wow!!! After we shared the pastor took up a love offering. The message was a powerful one from Isaiah 43. We learned of a 4 year-old little girl who was supposed to be blind by the age of 5. She had the coke-bottle glasses times 10. Her vision was terrible. Her family and the church wouldn't accept the doctor's diagnosis and began to pray...well, Olivia has 20/20 vision in one eye and 20/70 vision in the other and it's still improving! What a mighty God we serve! He's concerned about spiritual, emotional, and physical healing!! Sunday night Eddie shared with us that he had given his last $2 in church, but that God had already given it back to him over 100 times that afternoon and he just wanted to give us testimony of God's provision! Brian told us that sometimes people give things other than money and he wanted to give us his testimony. Oh, I almost cried...that he would trust us with something so obviously private for him. On Monday, I volunteered to cook supper (with a little help from my friends especially Chef Eric). Chris also helped me. Another man moved into the house named Chris (from Kenly, NC whose dad was also a FWB minister) while I was preparing dinner, so I put him to work too! John also came right before dinner. He had been falsely imprisoned in Savannah, GA and was trying to start his life over. During the devotion, Chris and I shared from Ephesians 2:1-10 on the assurance of salvation, pressing on to the goal of eternal life in Christ Jesus, and surrendering to God's plan for our lives. After devotion was over Ermes, Eddie and Brian all shared with us. It was a great night! Please pray for Shawn, a man who's leaving the house; Kelley, his girlfriend; Reggie, another man in the house; and the new guys-Chris and John. They also need new members on the Board of Directors for the mission...there are only 3 directors right now, and there should be 7-12 to help with the operation of the mission. On Tuesday, I cut Chris Embler's hair, and then John asked if I could cut his because he thought it would help him get a job. After a quick prayer, I gave my first real hair cut with a pair of clippers! I think it turned out okay, praise the Lord! Then we got ready to leave. Eric (pictured with Chris) gave us a ride to the outskirts of Savannah where we prayed together and said a teary good-bye. Then Chris and I started walking...almost 10 miles yesterday! As we were coming into the town, we were planning to stay the night in, we came to The Upper Crust Italian Restaurant.



A man (Stan Parker) was walking in and he asked what we were doing and where we were headed. After chatting a bit, he invited us in for dinner with him and his wife (Ruth). So we learned that they were traveling from their home in Canada to their home in Florida. They were just stopping in for supper and to stay the night in town. After supper, they told us if we didn't mind walking to the hotel, (Their car was packed full.) they would love to put us up for the night. What?...yes, we stayed in a hotel last night and had a hot shower!! When we got in, we talked a little more and then prayed with them! They've had some health issues and their daughter, Janet, is going through a hard time. So be in prayer for them too. Chris called Ross last night and we learned that he and Molly are expecting their 1st child on June 25th! We're sooooo excited! Please be in prayer for them too!!! Today (Wednesday) we went to McDonald's for lunch. We were pretty amazed about how empty it was, but when we were trying to decide where to go, Peter asked us what we were doing and where we were coming from/going to. We shared a little of our story, and he invited us to his church. He also shared his testimony...yet again of deliverance from addiction, drugs, and prison! Wow! What a great God! He gave us a ride to the library, so we'll have to see what happens from here! As always, we love you and would love to hear from you! God bless!


James baptized from (left to right) Eddie, Omar, Darin, Brian, and Ermes!!!




This one is actually from earlier in the day...Ermes and Chris talked a lot about the Lord. The tent in the background was used in Biloxi as one of the worship tents...they are planning some tent revivals with it while it's at Ridgeland!!