"I have come into and out of 335 North Avenue, and oh what a feeling it is. My problem was trying to solve something myself that only God could solve. I was homeless, destitute, and worried. I felt I had the ability to straighten everything out, but God was the only one who could direct my path. As long as the devil can keep you focused on doing things that are ungodly, as long as he says ‘You don’t need God in your life; I can give you material things and whatever you need,’ then he can keep you from your day of jubilee. What I needed when I came to Jubilee House was not material things. I had been given so much, but God took it away because I was listening to Satan and not listening to God."

As Alphie addressed the current residents he said, "Psalm 68 says ‘Let God arise and His enemies be scattered.’ What are your enemies? Your depression, your denial, your unwillingness to trust in God. So ‘let God arise’ in your life, and you, too, will approach your day of jubilee. You may think living here is hard. But just know that here you are, building your foundation, setting your goals, knowing your limits, so that when you are independent of Jubilee House you will be free indeed. No more devilish schemes or patterns to partake of, but only sweet joy from Jesus. I received inspiration here. I received the determination to ‘let God arise.’ This house can help anyone who is making a choice for God first."

"I remember the first time I saw this house. I remember walking up to the house and then walking around back. There was garbage and trash everywhere, windows broken, old furniture laying around outside, walls cracked, just a multitude of problems. For those of you who know me, I’m a very practical person. I saw a lot of things that needed to be done immediately. It was a monumental task.

It occurs to me that this situation was very similar to what Nehemiah faced when rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. Nehemiah was the king’s cupbearer. The Lord impressed upon him the vision and desire to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, and God gave him a burning desire to do this. Nehemiah went to Jerusalem and met with the people. They worked together – families, individuals, priests, and all kinds of people – different folks rebuilt portions of the wall. Everyone did their job. They all worked together. Now when I look back over the last two years, I realize that this is what has happened with Jubilee House. I’ve worked here at the house with many of you, I’ve seen many of you in action. I know that many have prayed, many have given financially and of your service and lives. The Lord did it through everyone. And today as a board member, I want to thank each and every one of you who had a part – praying, giving, serving – to help this come about. It was no one person. The Lord did it, and the Lord gave us Tommy York as our Nehemiah and gave him a vision. I’ve never run into anyone quite like Tommy. He is a bulldog - He just doesn’t quit. When the task seemed insurmountable, he just kept going. Thank you all for your participation and how you’ve joined the Lord in the work he was doing.

Now the easy part has been done. The rebuilding of the home is finished. But there is something more important going on now and has been for the last year or so. So I want to ask you to continue to participate. There is rebuilding of lives taking place here every day. I’ve had a chance to work with a lot of these guys. They really desire to be set free. Some of them just need a little help. They have a real passion to live for the Lord. They just need help in building their foundation and rebuilding those walls. And this, the Jubilee House, makes that possible. I want to ask you to consider continuing to pray, continuing to serve, and continuing to give so that these guys can rebuild the walls of their lives and be set free. We have already seen it in happen, and especially in Alphie. I’ve gotten to know him and have come to love him and the other guys, and they ARE being set free. Please continue to participate so we can see more and more men set free in this way."

"I have learned that all of the work of God cannot be done within the four consecrated walls that we preach in. Jesus did come to the synagogue, but he also looked at the multitude and had compassion. He went to the street. There’s a lot of work there.

Tommy York is a Nehemiah, but he is more than that. In Isaiah 58: 12 says, "And those from among you will rebuild the ancient ruins; You will raise up the age-old foundations; And you will be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of the streets in which to dwell." We call him Tommy, but God calls him a repairer and a restorer. When we look at the ministry of ChristWalk, we see that it is a call to mend broken lives, to call back those who have lost their path. You see, men walk, and men lose their perception of life. But God always has someone to put in their pathway to bring them back. And we also see that men walk, and men become broken. Even those of us who know, or think that we are in the know, become broken. And in our brokenness, we need someone to repair us and to restore us. That is the ministry of Jubilee House. When a man is in need of repair and restoration, he sees that "I cannot make it by myself" and "I need someone I can talk to, reason with, someone I can trust." And many would not walk in a church, but they will come to a facility like this and find a Nehemiah, a repairer and a restorer."

The trip was organized locally by construction missionary Brad Charles of Church of the Nations in Athens. Brad will be in Mexico until the beginning of August working on construction and repair of churches in the area as well as construction and upkeep at the pastors school sponsored by Living Springs Missions. At this school young pastoral candidates are able to receive education and training in ministry at no cost.

As a part of the one day conference I led two sessions on church missions and ministry and pastoral leadership. The other conference presenter, Ron Charles, led sessions on Christian principles for finances based on the teachings of Larry Burkett of Christian Financial Concepts. We spoke through a translator who has extensive experience translating in mission settings. Approximately eighty pastors and church members were present at the Templo La Hermandad en Cristo church in Victoria.

Training for Christian pastors is much needed in Mexico. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with the Mexican believers and I look forward to future mission opportunities with the pastor training school if God allows us to return.