Welcome to the God's goodness podcast where our mission is to encourage as well as highlight
God's goodness and modern day miracles. We are your hosts, Josh and Shelly Hankins.
Today we have with us a very special couple. It's Patti and Joe Barnabi and the Holy Spirit
led me to them through a friend I know and you know the Holy Spirit is leading me to
all the right people for this. And they just have this ministry that helps families that
are facing addiction and they're bringing addiction awareness to their local communities.
And we just wanted to highlight what they're doing and spread the word so maybe somebody
can get help through it actually. So with that we'll have them open us with an opening
prayer and then we'll have them take it from there.
Heavenly Father we just thank you and praise you for this day. We ask that the Holy Spirit
be upon us right now, that you fill us with your words and not our own words Lord. You
allow us to know that we are never alone when you are in our lives. So I just thank you
and I praise you for never alone, the non-profit faith-based organization and also for Club
316 for all the teens that have gathered in your name. And I just give you the glory and
praise for this day and I'm very honored to be able to do this to spread your goodness
Lord. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Amen.
So Patti you were led to start a really cool group, what do you call it? The group? Organization.
Organization. Yes. And so tell us a little bit about it and what led you to it.
Well it all started in the summer of 2010. I was working in Hancock County Schools and
during the summers I, you know, I'm off and so I decided I was going to start walking
to get in shape. So my son had given me an iPod and on it was this song called Never Alone
that I'd never heard about, heard it before. I don't even know how it got on this iPod.
But it was called Never Alone by Jim Brickman, Lady Antebellum, sings it. And while I was
walking I thought this is a great time for me to pray. So I started praying and I listened
to the song and as I did I thought of a young man named Nathan Puelis. He had graduated
my middle daughter and when his parents divorced after a senior year in high school he got
into a different crowd and that crowd not only led to, you know, drinking and marijuana
but it led to pills and then to heroin. And Nathan lost his life when he was only 25 years
old. So on that same day I went home and our local news, News 9 had a special on heroin
addiction in our community. And so I listened in and it didn't show the parents' faces,
just their voices, while I recognized them. They lived down the street in my neighborhood
and my son played with their sons throughout the neighborhood and played all the sports
at Weir High. And after he had gotten out of high school he was always in trouble. You
know, he was like the class clown getting attention. But after when Eric got out of
high school he ended up getting into drugs and became an addict. And his parents were
sharing that at that time it was destroying the family unit and they just didn't know
what to do. But after that I felt like God was telling me he got to do something even
though I myself was not addicted or really basically anybody in our family. So I called
News 9 and they hooked me up with this lady at Healthways and I told her I wanted to have
a walk for addiction. So a couple months after we put together a walk, little did I know
God's plans because on that day we had over 400 people that walked. It looked like it was
going to storm and rain. So one guy kept coming up to me and oh we're not going to be able
to do this blah blah blah. Well I said well it's all in God's plan. The sun came out,
the rainbow came out and we had a beautiful sunny day. Little did I know we were going
to make $16,000. Well, I was like what is going on here? So after that I felt like the
Lord was telling me that he wanted a support group but not like AA because AA is basically
just for those that are addicted. He pointed out he wanted a support prayer group for those
that are addicted, family members that wanted to regain hope and trust in their loved ones
again and also for community that wanted to make a difference. So I put together the
support group. We met actually every Monday night for years. I just switched it up. Oh
it's been a couple years Joe. Yeah right before COVID. Yeah and you know so I had been at various
Catholic churches that they allowed us to host the support group there but then when
we got involved with Crossroads Church we decided to have the meetings there and Joe
helped set up all the chairs and everything. We do it once a month. It's actually the second
Monday of the month Crossroads Church in Whearton West Virginia. But I mean through all this
it's been unbelievable. I mean so many families have come in and out of the doors. Some their
children were saved. Others have died like Nathan. And many times as the years like this
has been a lot of years. It's been 13 years and at times I was like well I'm going to
give it up and then God gives me something else. I mean we were in Women's Day magazine.
I thought it was a joke and one day I had gotten a Facebook message from my son's friend
and she says they would like to do a little thing in you know Women's Magazine and I was
like okay I thought this was a joke at first you know. But it's like God always comes through
you know and it was like so after a couple years of the support group I kept feeling
like the Lord wanted to lead teenagers to get involved in this because they stopped the
sad program in the high school. So now I felt led to start a group for teens. You could
share a little bit on that Joe. Club 316.
Well we noticed some younger high school kids coming to our church and I'm making shame
for themselves. They'd come right up in the front rows and sit across the front and just
kind of look at that and one lady that goes to our church her son was one of those and
she come up the patio and she says Christian brought some friends to church and they're
looking for a group. They want to start a group and I told them to see you. So they
talked to her. Their first group was about four or five. We met at the dining room table
ordered pizza and they told her what they would like to do and she says we can do that.
We can have it right here at our house and they liked that. They liked that idea of being
in someone's home. And the first night it was a Sunday evening it was about 6.30. Eleven
kids showed up and they agreed to have it every two weeks. The second week 21 kids were
sitting in our basement in a circle and I have a nice size rec room but that was the
max and they talked that they were each going to bring somebody and I told her I says what
are we going to do? What are we going to do? Because they wanted to be in the home and
I don't blame them. I believe it's a lot more intimate. They feel welcome. Had a lot of people
throw some donations to us in snacks and water and candies. Money for Bibles. It was picked
up by a lot of people. It was unbelievable. And so it's taken off. We had about four group
meetings. Had a little sponsor talk. They've asked for speakers. One kid asked for someone
to talk about the future and jobs and everything which was a surprise. And they like it. They
like it. Had one the other night we had 24 kids there. The amazing thing with these kids
and Patti got to speak in the high school last week. He was talking to a friend of mine
who was still a teacher there. There's a group of kids out there looking for something different.
And that's what this one fellow told us. He said we're looking for something different.
So they're coming to church on a regular basis. They're influencing kids to seek this difference
thing and we're trying to be as positive influence on them as we can. But our daughter who's
an interim pastor at our church had noticed these kids coming and then they noticed a
few other people with them and she said we've switched here a little bit. She said it used
to be parents who would bring kids to school. Take kids to your church. She said I'm looking
at these kids that are coming by themselves and then I'm seeing them next week with a
mother or a father or a brother or a sister or an aunt. And it's like these kids are searching
and then getting their parents to come with them which is total opposite of the way it
was when we grew up. Yeah. Yeah. That's beautiful. Yeah. We've had a lot of our guests come on
and you know when they were teens and younger they didn't have a lot of friends that you
know iron sharpens iron and they didn't have a lot of friends they found that were seeking
the same things they were. You know it was a lot of secular things and it was hard to
find friends that wanted to learn more about Jesus and things like that. So it's a great
outlet for them to have. Well the story was this one boy Malachi's
his name. He decided and he wasn't a churchgoer. He just decided one morning that he wanted
to come to church. So he went and got one of his friends Eva and then Christians mother
come to our church but he was the type that only came Christmas or Easter that type of
thing so never you know never would come. And then Christians cousin was a believer and
I'll never forget Landon our pastor the past had been praying at all of a sudden she reached
out her hands and she start praying for Landon. Well he just his tears were flowing. The
Holy Spirit touched him. Well then when Malachi and Christian came in Eva it was the same thing
just one day their tears were just coming down their faces you know and Malachi was
the quarterback of Weirheis football team and so he said that he wanted to pray before
the games I said well just gather around sit around and there was like just maybe one
or two with him. Well as the season went on and on it was almost the whole team that gathered
around him and prayed before the games. So it's just like I just feel like there's a
revival with young people right now. You know they're they're seeking more and you know
that the sad thing is this I mean we were just news nine came the other night for our
Christmas gathering and the kids got to be on TV and then we did a group thing like and
we all y'all 316 John 316 it one girl told me yesterday at her school the teacher had
seen this on TV and she made the comment well there are some kids on there that aren't very
good or something like that negative and she looked at her Kennedy and she looked at her
and she says she says well everybody can change God gives us more chances than one like that
and I was like all right you go girl you know because that was the right thing to say. Absolutely
it reminds me of that sick people are the ones who go to the hospital right people are out
of shape are the ones that need the gym well there's a lot of hypocrites in church because
that's where they need to be and so to criticize someone for being something that you think
a Christian isn't is ludicrous without you experiencing that life for yourself. Well she
said she said afterwards that teacher when she said that she just looked at Kennedy and
went oh like that and you're correct I mean so many times people in church will be so
judgmental that's one thing with never alone people says a lot of people say to me you
know you don't care if you have to hang out with this one or that one and I said who did
Jesus hang around with he didn't care that's how you get healed that's how you learn to
love one another you know so what difference does it make I tell the kids all the time
I was in everybody's crowd I was it with the kids that weren't so popular you know I was
with the kids that were popular it didn't matter to me you know that's how I live my life it
doesn't matter and God will use anybody you know take all the characters of the Bible
some more murders some more adulterers you know he'll just use anybody somewhere all
the above exactly exactly right and you know what too it's like so many times I question
glad I'll go well why did you put me in this ministry never alone you know I'm not an addict
I've learned a lot in my life you know what being sixty some years old but and he keeps
telling me you don't have to have a degree you didn't have to go to college to do this
and I'm just like I'm totally amazed and with these kids here I am in my sixties and I feel
like I'm their mother hen or something you know but a friend too that they they like
me and I'm like I'm totally amazed you know how these relationships are happening well
he knew how you were going to respond and that's why he chose you why did you pick you because
he knew you'd say yes right otherwise it'd be somebody else doing it and we'd be talking
to somebody else right now but you said yes you had it on your heart and you leaned into
it and you prayed about it and he told you that this is what he wants to do and you had
no idea no background no clue just a heart a heart for God and a heart for community
and this is where he led you this is why you do it because he knew that you would choose
him back same reason why he says that he chooses us right well God chose us okay what's because
he knew we'd choose him back and if you think of some of these kids maybe that's why they're
choosing it they know they've aired and they know they were going down the wrong road and
nobody's leading them to the right road and they're going to find their own way and where
did they go they went to a church and what did they find they found that person that
cared we hope you know to see that they continue in it and I firmly believe that everybody
deserves a second chance oh well according to the gospel they need a second chance you
know and and a lot of us do need that and I love what you guys do especially with the
kids because that's our future well not just that but so many feel so alone right they
feel alone they feel like there's no outlet they feel like no one understands they feel
like no one is listening right they feel like that the whole world is against them sometimes
and we are created in the image of God's we are very spiritual beings and if we don't
turn to the the great spirit God Almighty we're going to turn to a different spirit
and and I love that you give them an outlet that shows them the truth the only truth
the truth that matters for the rest of their eternity right and I will continue to pray
for your ministry that these these kids that come that they continue to have a relationship
beyond the ministry for the children that that maybe even they branch out and and create
their own little pockets and their own little parts of community so that this is something
that can spread and grow like you were saying a like a revival right well to me a revival
is global right it's not just community it's not just my neighborhood so I I think I think
you're right I think our country is headed towards a revival because we're fed up with
the evil and a lot of us are leaning into the teachings of Christ because the alternative
isn't working right and and so we're going to look into it and say well what will work
you know maybe these Christians aren't so crazy right so in the thousands of years that
Christianity has been what have we taught we've always taught marriage which stopped
the raping of women right we and the monogamy aspect of it right we've taught that that
we can't treat slaves in a certain way right you can't we we have all these moral ethical
things that have come out of Christianity that people want to slay in Christianity for that
we're going to turn back to and say hey maybe this isn't so bad yes well you know what's
so neat too after when I started the support prayer group it was like okay God kept saying
about the teens you know how long it took before this teen group started 13 years 13
years you know what the fruit wasn't there it's these kids that have come you know Malachi
Christian Landon tie I mean Eva and Lily you know and Cole I mean there's so many of
them but you know what they want to be there they want to come and that's what's so beautiful
about it you know I mean like we've talked about depression we've talked about anxiety
we've talked about you know like Joe said careers and their future goals and one speaker
came and she came from a really bad bad home and she had become an addict she didn't have
any self-worth no self-confidence and it was funny just the other day we went to Weerhaw
and Oak Glen high schools in our Hancock County and one girl had come up and she was
seeking help for a family member but I asked her I says why don't you join club 316 and
she said she looked at me and I knew she came from a family that didn't have a lot of money
or whatever and she says because some kids in that group don't like me so I looked at
her and I said well I like you already I says I would love for you to come and give it a
try and I says the whole scenario the group is to love one another and treat others the
way you want to be treated that's going to be our next topic and in January and I was
like she says well I won't have a ride I says I'll come pick you up so I'm praying that
I get that opportunity you know to minister to her because she's a senior this year and
you know I don't know what will go on after she gets out of school but you know what that
that's it I mean if we treat others the way we want to be treated I think it'd be a better
world absolutely can you imagine the expression not her face the healing that she'll feel
if they accept her right if they show her that love if they could grant her that second
chance right the one that they were striving for that they got and they looked at her in
the same light you imagine that the sense of belonging she would adapt in that environment
the healing that she would get the growth that she would get I think that's that right
there is beautiful to think of that that's amazing that's not only just her those that
were holding that against her oh yeah if they make the change then it makes it comes great
absolutely people yeah that forgiveness that's not that's for you that's right if you're
holding a grudge against somebody that's not usually hurting them it's usually only hurting
you yeah it eats you up inside when you do that when you don't you know you can't forgive
somebody it does it eats you up it's exhausting yes it's like taking poison and expecting
the other person to die yes and God is very good about taking care of us and the moral
law the ten commandments weren't designed to hold us back from living life to the fullest
but were designed to keep us from harming ourselves and harming others right and the
same can be said with with any of the rules that he gives us that are the rules that we
still live in today like forgive others as I forgive you right because it does hurt us
it hurts us in the longer it hurts us deep and when we hold on to things like that especially
if you're on the other side and you think someone isn't forgiving you for something you did that
can be painful as well and and I can see it affecting a teenager who is struggling with
self identity struggling with self-worth struggling with where they fit in this giant world right
because hey I'm in this little Hancock County but all of a sudden they realize I'm especially
with social media as big as this this is a really big planet and it will cause a lot
of frustrations and loneliness and fears to erupt to the surface if not for a balance
for an anchor for a stabilization through Jesus and through fellowship with others right
yeah just love what you guys do with that yeah thank you it's one other thing about
going back to Neverlone it's definitely there to help those that are addicted and help was
available and it doesn't come right from Patti but she makes connections for them to get the
help now of course they got to want to grow go there's a little bit of fun that she can
work with she can get them in there and pay maybe pay their first month or get them to
the area where they need to go and it works but what I'm learning is happening is the
parents are coming to the group now so we kind of forget about the parents and about
a month ago there was my six or seven parents in there and three or four their children
were out they don't know where they're at they're addicted they're addicted and they're
always going to get help but they never get it so as you go around the group and you pray
for them and you pray for them as guys we've got to pray for mom and dad that are sitting
here I'm going to use myself as an example I can go home and I can put my head on my
pillow and I'm going to go to sleep jean goes home can't put his head on his pillow he
doesn't know where Sarah is at he doesn't know who she's with he doesn't know what time
of the day he might get a phone call from a mort this group can help a lot more than
just the attic his parents comfort to be able to come to be able to express their opinions
with other parents that are going through the same thing and I think the biggest thing
they learned was the enabling parts I've had seen parents come in there and say it
took me a long time to quit being the enabler and that helps the next parent because they're
doing the same thing so they're hearing it from direct victims yeah like just this week
I had two calls one was a grandmother and the other was a mom and they said Patti you
know okay they said yeah they'll meet with you okay so I could you know got my things
in order and the next day I was supposed to meet with her and another guy that helps me
to find places for them to detox and rehab and she canceled so she says oh the following
day I'll meet same thing same thing and the mother has had it I mean she says she just
can't live here anymore I can't do anymore she's wearing me down you know and the grandmother
she had messaged me and asked if you know I could help her granddaughter and I said sure
I'll be happy to give her my phone number she never called and so I mean you're talking
about not kids that are in their 20s you know and up and it's like they just don't take
any responsibility anymore they leave their children with the grandparents to raise and
it's just the spiritual warfare is powerful right now and I don't know people don't believe
in that too maybe the ones that do not really know the Lord one on one I think they ignore
all that stuff and like clearly yeah it's me it's obvious you know before we we actually
sat down I told you a story about a man that that was trying to quit and he gave me a little
packet of heroin and I went to go get rid of it and as soon as it was next to my head
to throw it down my first thought was I wonder what it's like right I'd so do heroin I don't
have desire to do heroin I'm an EMT now I do a lot of Narcan I've seen a lot of effects
in the families so I you know I just miss that thought put it in my head again to slap
it back down and Mike thought was I wonder how much I can get for it I thought nope gotta
get rid of it and so I feel definitively that there is essences of the enemy in this spiritual
battle attached to these things that make it virtually impossible for someone who does
not walk with Jesus to quit these addictive things that you need to have a relationship
with Jesus and and you know ladies and gentlemen it doesn't matter because he meets you where
you are right because while we were still sinners he came and died for us right not
once to say hey when we cleaned our lives up he decided to open the door and come on
in right he would have to good furniture out with grandma's furniture with the plastic
on that you know to be in the showroom I remember we're Italian and we don't want to
set Jesus at any other part of our house is a shambles right because of massive hoarders
on to the things that we like in our life the things that we think make us who we are
and we're afraid to let him in and really all he wants to do is partner with us and
cleaning the garbage out it's so it's such a beautiful thing that we have him to combat
something is horrific I think it's horrific as as addiction because addiction causes shame
guilt isolation loneliness never alone and these are the things that keep them from getting
the help that they need and the communities that they are in just encourages more of the
same behavior and so when they try to break free and they're they're doing well all it
takes is one friend to have a bad day and say hey you want to do this with me you know
I don't believe any of them are deliberately trying to get someone hooked for getting
hooked sake I think if they could they would all be free as soon as they could and I think
it's a struggle for all them I don't think anybody willingly says I'm clout of monadic
you know can't wait to start this again oh man I can't wait till the pain sets in I need
to go steal something for this or or work until I get fired for this or you know nobody
I think wakes up thinking this is this is a good choice for me and I'm glad I made it
yeah it's not going to be there they don't want that in their lives you know the thing
that you said supposed to point is the power of Jesus in their life yes so the success
rate for addicts is it's bad I've seen kids go through this organization five six different
rehab places and still fall out and they're still out of it but the ones that can get
to a faith-based rehabilitation center you got to go get detox which is going to be a
public place you got to get to that faith-based detox and I mean faith-based rehab center
and when you take Jesus in then your enemies are gone and the enemies is all that well
it helps it helps you know it's a spiritual force you know that can help you that's like
our scripture is we can do all things through Christ who strengthen us and that's Philippians
413 that was the scripture the Lord gave me for never alone because we can't do anything
on our own that's why I try to tell the kids too even my grandkids you know they're in
the sports and everything and I preach to them you can't do it on your own you have
to ask Jesus to help you you know and I think when they take that seriously and realize
what none of us saying then they'll see that that force of the Holy Spirit is really going
to help them if it's an arresting match or basketball, baseball whatever it may be you
know but until you realize that you can't succeed without Jesus yes you can absolutely
do it on your own see how far that gets you see where your life is now without him now
why are you here because you didn't have him then that's right and it's important that
you don't want to stay here and you want to move on that you would you adopt him you
invite him into your life that you want to be in the very near presence of God that you
want to be adopted as a son or a daughter that you want the life that Jesus Christ has
set his life aside for you for you want him to take the wrath of God and you want to be
free of that sin not just free from sin but free from sin itself right I think we all
want that as Christians is to live out that gospel story the gospel message and it's very
difficult when we're so constrained this is a trick of the enemy that we're so constrained
with this fight against this enemy that nobody else can possibly fathom right nobody else
who's going through this and it's the same for addiction it's the same for any other
weird idiosyncrasy that you do that you are not alone that there are millions of people
that suffer the same as you like you are not alone and Jesus still died for all of them
you know we all like to say that if you were the last person or the only person or God
still would have sent Jesus to die for you right but not a lot of people think that if
he died for you you were the one that killed him yes and he is still died for you knowing
that you killed him that right there is is baffling yes it is so true and you know what
I think people don't want to even think about that that he died for our sins people that
don't know him because they don't want to acknowledge that you know it's not part of
the world in a way you know this is all spiritual stuff and and some people just don't have
time they go into the material world and they forget about who made them and who gives them
the blessings that we are blessed with you know when I first became a Christian I didn't
struggle with that he died for us I struggled with why did he have to if God is so great
before I was a Christian if God is so great why did Jesus need to come why couldn't he
just like boom you're done you're forgiven just like you know my wife does something
make you know what I forgive you no no sweat you don't have to do anything you don't have
to die for me nobody's a die for you I forgive you right so I had a hard time understanding
why Jesus need to die and I think that's something that you know I don't think you need to be
a theologian but it's something you should look at and understand why he had to die and
why this was part of God's plan for us right so that when people have the questions that
I had you're able to go I'm glad you asked you know what that's a good point you know
what today in church to my daughter Ligana she's the network pastor to high valley crossroads
in Weirton and at towards the end of the service she shared about I have to say this sometimes
Christians are like well if you don't know the scripture then what good are you doing
or whatever but she said today you might not know the scripture as well but if you share
more or less the love of Jesus to others and talk about Jesus share about him that's powerful
and of course you want to read scripture too I'm not saying that but sometimes people feel
like if you don't know the scripture as well as they do that you're not considered as Christian
you know or good enough to be sharing about it.
If you're going to apologetics absolutely study your scripture because you're going
to need to defend every single point that they can possibly make but if you're going
into true discipleship Jesus says go and make disciples of the nation but first I want you
to be a theologian I need you to learn Aramaic, Greek, Hebrew and and I need you to study
every single word you need to understand every single thing you need to understand this song
and this poem and you need to understand why I did it this way no go and make disciples
right and if you don't know something look it up together.
I'm real bad at remembering where I find scripture I'm real bad at that and I love to quote Jesus
you know because he never said hey it's written in Isaiah he said no it is written right he
just said it is written and so I tease they didn't have things numbered like we do now.
Yeah right but it is important to read scripture to know it so that you're not easily deceived.
Yes spiritual guide.
Correct I tell my son if I beat you a pie it was 99% pie but 1% dog feces would you eat
that pie?
No because you know there's 1% but if I don't tell you it's in there you did not even know.
Exactly.
So if you read your scriptures and you don't have to be studious just read just you know
give them a passage a day right start your day with a Bible verse and read that because
then it's harder for me to believe that that oh it's 99% truth but that 1% lie.
So why are you telling me the truth because you're trying to use it against God and against
his kingdom and it's good to know that.
I have a men's life group and I have one guy in there and you know we love the group and
we get along and we can hear things out and you know we're all Christians and he said
if we're not reading a word sitting here does does no good and so he challenged us one time
we meet every seven days he said we're going to take the book of Ephesians which has six
chapters he says and we're going to read one chapter a day that means tomorrow you get
it chapter one Saturdays two Sundays three and so on and Wednesday will be chapter six
and we'll meet back here next Thursday and we'll see how well we did.
That has not stopped that's like two and a half years running it's just what you said
it's one chapter a day that's all you have to do.
What do we got 50 verses probably the most in a book except Psalms say yeah Psalms is
forever.
Psalms is forever but it's made a difference in like eight men's lives like you wouldn't
believe just reading that chapter and sometimes you get in a slump and wouldn't you know it?
That was right there attacking you.
In a heartbeat.
Why is this happening and one guy will say it'll say hey I haven't seen you post anything
online get away from the word yeah well you're asked for it then get back to the word get
back to the word Joe and it works it works so she gave bibles to these kids last week
and that was the goal for them to do is to read one chapter a day and we'll see where
it leads us so we can.
It's a beginning you know it's a beginning and you know what it was so neat too with
picking the name for the teen group they one kid had picked a name and then another mom
God bless her Angie had thought about Tim Tebow and hit the club you know under John
316 so the kids chose that club 316 after John but they amazed me sometimes you know
it's just like sometimes I know I wasn't feeling good I was having a tooth problem and one
of them messaged me and he says how are you doing and that meant so much to me because
you know I always think about them if they're having a basketball game or if they're feeling
down or whatever but when somebody young like that reached out to me that really touched
my heart a lot of adults don't even do that you're absolutely right.
I'm not guilty of that sometimes it's the spouses I can admit it yeah I'm real bad at
that.
You know I really am good at that we're trying to keep in touch with you know I'm like Joe
I'm a life group leader too for women and one of the ladies she fell and she's in a wheelchair
and I know she has such a very difficult time she's such a beautiful soul you know but she's
hurting so bad she was a teacher and an outstanding mom so it's so hard sometimes you know I pray
for her I try to witness to her but it's like we're not living her life and she is so excited
that her land is involved in club 316 and he's going to be one of the leaders I'm sure.
I think this is just another reason why you were chosen for this you know that you have
that thought of other people that you have that compassion for other people you can think
about them and empathize without having to do it right without the understanding of
a similar pains or hardships but you can empathize deeply that this is another reason
why God said hey Patti I got something for you and will you do it and you know yep here
we are and another part sure it didn't take off for 13 years but how long did Abraham
wait to have his son the promise that God promised him you know how long and how old
was he right so I love that you're not taking a consideration as a limiting factor right
that you stayed at it 13 years later stayed at it you didn't have a kid with the other
midwife you had this with the original intent that that God had given you and that your heart
is still in it and I love how vulnerable are when you said that sometimes you have these
moments where you feel like you just want to space it and be done with it and because
that's a very real thing you're human being and yet God calls you and prompts you and
motivates you and keeps you going on the path by putting other things in your path that
you cannot ignore and I love how he does that for you and I love how you respond to it and
if I can just encourage you to continue on doing it as if it was your first day right
if you can continue on doing it as if you're working on for the Lord you know that that
passage you work as if you're working for him where you are and he sees the things that
you're doing and a lot of the times we don't realize all the good that we do right a lot
of times you'll see someone walk out that door and you'll never see him again but you
have no idea the something that you could have started in them just by having a door
open and God available to him in that moment that four years later they might find themselves
in an alley and they're like this is it I'm done and they walk into a church and they
give their life to Jesus and their life is completely transformed because you planted
that seed and I want to encourage you to continue to do that with unwavering faith and if you
ever need to call you know call Shelly I'll be glad to pray for you I'd be glad to talk
to you I'd be glad to encourage you I have a few spiritual gifts in that department I
would be more than happy to help you out with that I'm really bad about thinking about it
myself so you have to do the leg work and call me first but I'm always in the moment
if you do.
A few years back I had had surgery done and I was at home you know and I needed care and
she was sitting on the opposite couch for me one day and I was going through some cars
that I got when I was in the hospital and everything and she was working she says you
know what she says I think I'm going to give up never alone she says you need my help and
I got to be here for you and I'm reading all these cards and all these people that are
praying for you so I know I'm in good hands and I looked at her and I says what about
the people that need help she says well you know I don't know I just feel like I need
to be here and I says Patti I'm recovering I'm doing good those people need you they
don't have anyone else to call and she said it had been like a quiet time period like
nobody had been bothering her and sure enough like the next morning phones ringing person
needs help phones ringing person needs help phone rings against she looked at me she come
downstairs and she says you know you told me I couldn't give this up and I told you
I was just as I've got three people to take care of right now and it happened again just
couple years ago we were riding in the car and she says I think I'm about ready to give
this up to who to who who's going to do this we didn't even get to our destinations is
she got a phone call she calls them Godwinks it's Godwink so that's why she's still here
today just like Isaiah who shall I send you shall I sign on the year Peter worked through
jail to write the Bible he spent all that time doing that eating give up well you know
what that's it too like people say oh this is a coincidence and in never alone meetings
and stuff I'm telling the kids this now too it's Godwinks God is winking at us that he
has an assignment for us so we got to get to work and I don't believe in coincidence
is over since I've a family Christian not at all no it's cool how he works all the
relationships together you know you lead people to the resources they need and it's just all
life is about relationships you know because that's how you got here surely that's it from
Kathy she's in my women's group it's we called our group a name and we call it faith over
fear especially for Angie that you know we're praying for a miracle that she'll be able
to get out of that wheelchair someday so we're praying for healing so that's why we but if
it wasn't for her associating us to connect with you I would have never met you and Josh
the Holy Spirit really strong working working things together in your lives right now it's
pretty busy yeah but I'm excited I'm excited you know it's like Lord what do you have next
that's the better attitude yes what's next instead of saying why we should say how how
do you want to use me in this how can I serve you in this instead of why did this happen
yes all right well this happened how would you like me to move on I got a deal what do
I do what do I do you know keep praying how am I going to bring you glory with this papa
I need some help that's right what would it be like to bring him back in the school building
by in the public buildings I don't think you ever should have left you know well so he created
everything right and so therefore we have the laws of nature because he created them and
if nature abores a vacuum right so if you take extreme good out of school what gets
sucked into it and the evidence is out there you took God out of school and this is what's
going on this is a direct relation to what you guys wanted right this is we can't have
this this is once you do what I did one ground up and just ignore it right I was raised Buddhist
I didn't pray when they pray they just ignored it but I showed them respect and they give
them their moment and I you know they put you by your head you're like all right well
I'm not going to say things as they're talking in the middle of it that wasn't rude my parents
taught me better than that but it wasn't for me you can have your moment it's only got
last a minute I sat in on a round table there was a particular group up there that was wanting
that the 10 commandments out of the classrooms and everything so people were dialogue dialogue
back and forth and everything and I stood up just God stood me up maybe that's a better
way to put it and I says you know why you want the 10 commandments out of the classrooms
out of the schools I says because you can't alter them there isn't enough words to change
the true meaning of vowed shout not kill and it everybody got quiet and all of a sudden
something they started clapping and I didn't mean it to become that way I was just angry
at these people that were trying to force this down our throat and a couple people come
up to me after we said we never thought of it that way you're right you can't alter
the vowed shout not kill you know yeah you doubt shout no kill unless your spouse doesn't
know it doesn't go that way there's not enough words unless they had it really common that's
what we need to get back into school and that's what they need to probably recite every day
and keep God in America well your 316 group would be a lot smaller if they did and I'd
be okay with that I'm sure you would too well John 316 for God so loved the world that he
gave his one and only son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life
for God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world but to save the world
through him.
Amen love that one and I like that you went on to 317 because I cannot read 16 without
17 cannot because it's one of my favorite ones go on this is important because he did
not come condemn the world but to save it through him and a lot of us feel condemned.
Exactly and judged you know judged is a big thing too.
Philippians 313 I have not yet reached my goal but I continue to strive for what's ahead
for me that's where we need to go every day even with Mark you want to give up every day
we're on this side of the dirt is blessing anyway thank you so much for coming on it
has been a pleasure to meet you guys finally and I'm just glad that we got connected the
way we did be God with a cat like he's working through this podcast and I just pray that
the right people hear this message and then they can share it with people that it can
help because it can inspire others to seek that help and help others.
Shelly that's a thing though it seems like it's so hard to get them to come through the
door because of the shame I should have mentioned that shame is a big thing with them coming
to our meetings or even calling me you know and yet in a small community you hear who's
using and it's like it's not really a secret but they're afraid to come forward because
of the shame and guilt.
But you have to start somewhere if you're going to get help why not start with people
that are out there willing to help and to love you no matter what not to judge you.
Through some of her fundraisers she's had speakers come in next addicts and everything
and they'll take that mic and they'll be in a room and there might be a menry center
we've got probably 150 to 200 people there and the first thing they'll say is if what
I say today helps one person in this crowd the trip I made was worth it and we're talking
about guys that come from Florida.
Yeah.
Get some of those other places and that ring a bell with me that ring a bell with me that
guy's come and taken time out of his life hoping for one person to get saved in this
room.
That's how Sam is now I know you guys are going to be connected with Sam he was on a
few episodes ago.
I know Sam Gattano.
He's our number one so far.
Joe Liss right now.
He is something else.
I loved his story I sat there and listened I haven't gotten to listen to any but because
we are Italian I had to listen to hear what Sam had to say.
He's got a great message.
Yes he does powerful.
Yeah if God loves him then who are you to say your sin is worse?
All right who are you to say like well I've done so much you have no idea like you have
no idea.
I know I was like like this.
I worked in a courthouse and we were partnered with a workforce board people that had issues
you know they needed to get some work experience so we took one in to help us.
I don't know who we're getting and I don't know what they've been involved in and I really
didn't know the magnitude of it but the person that we got was a felon and it was because
of drugs and the sheriff's department and the safety police at the courthouse stopped
me when I came in one day and they said you know the person upstairs is a felon because
she worked in our office and I said no I don't know that.
I said we just asked for someone we're giving them 60 days to get their life you know get
their job experience and he said well this could be a problem.
I said why would it be a problem come from the state and they checked out her record
and he said well we'll give this a try here.
I said she was not going to be working with money so you don't have to worry.
But we'll see where it goes and I looked at him and I said you know everyone deserves
a chance and he looked at me and he says you're right Joe.
I said thank you.
We kept that girl for about 150 days.
We got her her GED I sat with her in a room and I said what is your goal in life she said
to get my GED.
I said I can make that happen.
I made a call to the career center which is right up the road from us.
Our girls took her back and forth from school.
She got her GED.
She was so excited to get it she mailed for her own diploma even though they get it with
the class and she says I want to get my CDL.
I said we can make that happen there too.
She got her CDL and she got a job.
The day she left the courthouse we had a party.
The guy that told me what we were up against up there come into that room and said I didn't
believe.
I had my doubts when you come in here.
He said but I've seen you changed your life.
He says I want to tell you something you ever have a problem.
Outside of here you get in a pickle you call my number you have it.
He said I'll be there to help you.
I got two people with one girl.
That's awesome.
Can't be afraid to talk.
Can't be afraid to spread.
No, you cannot be ashamed of the gospel.
The quote you said about disciples.
That's crossroads.
Quote, when we leave our vision when we leave the church the pastor recites that to go out
and be disciples to others.
You're done being a church in here now go out and be the church.
Make disciples.
Very important.
Yeah, so good.
Well, thank you for joining us and if this has been a blessing to you we ask that you
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