Tammy's Story
I became aware of Hope and A Future Ministries back in late 2007. I was in the Jackson Co jail and was meeting with Chaplin Darrell. He told me about a woman who he thought I should talk to. He said she had been where I am but God did a miracle in her life. It was Rachelle. I was so excited because I felt in my spirit she would understand. I really needed someone in my life that wouldn’t judge me. I was looking at prison time and I was scared. The day of court came and I was sentenced to prison. Rachelle was coming the next day to see me but at 2am that morning, I was shackled, handcuffed and put on a bus to prison before I could see Rachelle! Long story short, I wrote Chaplin Darrell as soon as I got there to see if Rachelle would be willing to write me and she DID! She also came and saw me! I was so surprised and grateful. I had so much hope, encouragement and joy from her visits and letters. She also told me I was covered in prayer by her, her church and everyone involved with Hope and A Future. I was so happy not to be doing that journey alone. And that’s when God began to move! I was told by the prison I did not qualify for any programs. HA! Funny thing about God, He doesn’t put people in a box, or label them like the world does AND… He is the BEST at showing the world who His kids are and how much He loves them! Alls I can say is He blessed me with programs. I left with 15 certificates and/or diplomas!!! Only the Lord right! When I paroled, Rachelle picked me up from the bus station, took me to see my PO, and then to the Transition Center. We discussed me becoming a disciple, but it wasn’t feasible because my daughter was coming home to live with me and I needed to be responsible and get a home and a job to support us. I continued to go to church with her 2x’s a week and she continued to be my mentor. Fast forward to 2014, I worked very hard for many years, sometimes 2 jobs to prove to myself I was responsible (obviously Gods still got work to do), I got to busy for church, then to read my bible. The story is usually the same at that point. Enter the enemy hitting full force. I ended up going with my daughter when she went on tour. She was watching my world fall apart slowly, and tried to tell me to go back to Jesus & Church where I was happy but I didn’t listen. We ended up in So. Calif. I grew up there but just wanted to go home to Oregon. My life felt so out of control and the world was beating me up! God was saying call Rachelle, do her program. (My phone fell in water a few yrs ago so I lost her number). I tried to hunt her down but couldn’t find her. When I felt I was about to loose my mind & completely hopeless God told me to look again, there she was in the contacts in my phone! WOW! She was so loving and happy I wanted to come. She sent for me and I am now in the 2nd phase at the Freedom House. Hope and A future Ministries, has proven over and over that they allow God to use them and work through them. Thank you to everyone who has prayed for and/or supported this ministry in any way. I am living proof this Ministry reaches out to lost & broken people the world prefers to ignore and gives them hope & allows them to be restored through Jesus. GOD IS GOOD, all the time! Tammy