I got to thinking about you and your ministry and wanted to check and see how things were going. I am still sober, almost 2 1/2 years or so. I live with a few guys from my church and things are good. If you get a chance fill me in on Coming from the Heart Ministry, I hope the Lord is still using you and things are going well. God worked mightily through you to help me out of addiction, I hope you are still at it and helping others. Hope to here back and get an update on what God is doing in your life.

When I first met Pastor Johnson I was a mess

I just began my process of the battle to come off the streets doing anything and everything most women do to keep there high going because I was filled with so much pain, then I was led to attend a faith base recovery support group and then that’s when I first met Pastor Johnson who was the visiting speaker for that day.

He advised me afterwards that he had a weekly meeting as well and invited me to attended and I did and I have been attending Coming from the Heart Ministry support group ever since for the past 8 years.

This ministry has been a part of what keeps me in the word of God!!! I did attend and still do attend the traditional recovery meetings but I was not being fulfilled, but this group opened me to a whole new reality about recovery.

I had a sense of yearning for something else when all I did was the regular meetings. When I was introduced to Pastor Johnson and Coming from the Heart Ministry my soul truly rejoice!

This ministry stressed the importance of daily maintenance by reading the word of God and seeking God’s will through prayer to my Lord and savior Jesus Christ.

The insight given by Pastor Johnson and other members has truly blessed my life and has inspired me to enroll at Columbus State to take classes in Criminal Justice in order to fulfill a life long dream to be a Correctional Officer.

Update

In 2011 Monique has fulfilled her life long dream and now is a correctional officer at the Marysville Correctional facility for women. What a success story Kudu’s to you my sister keep moving forward and be an inspiration to other’s who are still bound by there strong holds so they can see that there is away out if you let Jesus lead the way!!!!

In Late 2002 I relocated to Columbus from Mansfield, Ohio with my new family in search of a better life style and new opportunities. I began to work various jobs to support the needs of family while my wife attended college. In the early part of 2006 I began to have the desire to become a truck driver, so I enrolled into truck driving school. After graduation in the summer of 2006 it was very hard finding work without the minimum 2 years experience and I was becoming frustrated.

Then one day I answered an add for a driving job with Rose Transport at this time is when I first met Pastor James Johnson he was the Fleet Operations Manager for whom I had my interview with and during the interview process we started having confession and talking about God instead of the job this blew me away for this has never happen before I ended up leaving the interview with the job, bibles, and other study materials at which time Pastor Johnson indicated that he had a Recovery Outreach Bible Study and invited me and wife to his class and we have been with ever since.

Then the light came on that God led me on my journey to Columbus from Mansfield to connect with Coming from the Heart Ministry and since the fall of 2006 I learned how to become a student to learn more about God, through Christ Jesus. I learned how to be more humble and by being under Pastor Johnson leadership. He taught me how to analyze the scriptures and breakdown the word of God. He is a good friend and mentor and always has been there for me when I need him.

In 2005 God delivered me from my drug and alcohol addiction and I truly believe that pastor Johnson and Coming from the Heart Ministry was God’s way of covering me and it was right on time, it gave me a place to connect with Him and other’s who were struggling as well.

Being apart of Coming from the Heart Ministry has been a life changing experience and since I have been connected with CFTHM over the last 13 years I have begun to witness to others and teach bible study at CFTHM and my Church. Plan and simple if it wasn’t for Pastor Johnson taking the time to mentor and coach me I would not be where I am today and my family would not be where they are as well we all have been Baptize and now serve I serve as a Deacon and wife is on the Praise Dance Team at the Church were Pastor Johnson used to serve at.

I thank God daily for using him as His earth vessel.

Pastor Johnson Ministry provides inspirational insight on life daily issues that absorb our everyday lives. Furthermore, his ability to address these wide range of topics with the presence of scripture to follow behind is very profound. Pastor Johnson is a true man of God and has proven his commitment and dedication that this walk a life does not have to be hard, with God on your side.

My weekly inspirational letters has carried me through until it's time to meet again for his Recovery Outreach Bible Study Support Group Lecture. After leaving his class you can't help but to feel empowered to fully examine self and put into action God breathe words of scripture in your everyday life. Finally his class leaves you with a sense of direction or a better understanding of your God directed assignment in life.

So here's to you Pastor Johnson, for being my earthly angel to open my eyes when I could not see.

Coming from the Heart Ministry has been very helpful to many of the clients I have worked with over several years, as they re-integrate back to their community following months and years of incarceration. Those that have suffered the effects of addiction benefit from the recovery aspects of the Saturday night potluck meetings, and those without addictive backgrounds also profit from the information, sharing, and support of the meetings. Thank you James for committing to help clients returning to our community.