One of the lyrics to Mandisa’s “Overcomer” says, “You might be down for a moment, feeling like it’s hopeless, that’s when He reminds you that you’re an overcomer….” For those working for the facility, each one at one of their life had to overcome something.
Now, they’re teaching a new group of residents how to overcome their addiction, to become new creatures in Christ, learning a new way to live without using their addiction as a crutch.
Three years ago, on Feb. 20, 2017, Amy and Nick Coyle, along with Jennifer Sprayberry, opened God’s House of Hope of Nettleton. Coyle, who battled her bouts with alcoholism, checked into Restoration Ranch in Sheffield, Ala. It was there when God began to change her life. From there, she helped to open up a drug and rehabilitation center in Holcomb, Mo., where she met Sprayberry.
Three years ago, on Feb. 20, 2017, there were children at Montgomery County Elementary. They were bright-eyed and bushy-tailed and learning, playing, and preparing for the state test, some who had no idea they were about to see their friends from Winona a lot more.
Both came full circle as three years later, Coyle, Sprayberry and Johnson along with their staff, celebrate the opening of God’s House of Hope of Kilmichael at the former Montgomery County Elementary School on Thursday, Feb. 20.
Those in attendance who went to school at Montgomery County Elementary School or Montgomery County Vocational High School remember classrooms, teachers, principals, and friends. The school will now be home to those who are willing to learn how to operate life without the crutch of drugs and alcohol. There will be new teachers that will show them they can make it, for God will be their principal governing over them, and they will overcome their addictions with new bonds, new friends.
All because a local woman made a simple comment: “I wish there were one of these in our area.”
Coyle credit the conception of God’s House of Hope of Kilmichael, first to God and then to Juanda Swanson. She said Swanson had been following their ministry through Facebook and messaged her, telling her that she needed her in her area.
“I had no idea why I responded. I didn’t know her, I didn’t know where she was from, but I messaged her back and told her, ‘You never know. There may be one there one day.”
Unbeknownst to Coyle, Montgomery County School District was absolved by the Winona Separated School District, became the current Winona-Montgomery Consolidated School District. With students from both districts in Winona, it left two empty schools in Kilmichael, and an opportunity to make “one day” happen.
Coyle said Swanson told Mayor Bobby Howell about God’s House of Hope, and Howell told her about the consolidation. She said they toured the school, met with the Winona-Montgomery Consolidated School District School Board.
She said she and Sprayberry were on a mission trip to Florida when they received the call that the district had accepted their offer of $40,000 for the building.
Coyle said once they got in and began the work, it was a lot. “I never thought we would be here,” she said. She said she’d never been to Kilmichael before purchasing the school and opening God’s House of Hope of Kilmichael. But Howell, the board of aldermen and the community have been so welcoming.
“When God takes hold of you, you’ll never be the same,” she said. “I couldn’t make a day without Jennifer,” she said. Sprayberry’s been with Coyle since the opening of God’s House of Hope in Nettleton.
Coyle said Nettleton’s gone through seasons, and every day hasn’t been easy, but God always makes it happen. Coyle said one day, she was driving down the Natchez Trace, and the Lord spoke to her and told her “You’ve been in the wilderness long enough, I’m going to bring you to the land of milk and honey.”
She said she saw sightings of milk and honey. “Me and Jennifer needed soap for our room, and we went to the Dollar General to get some, and you want to know what it was called? Milk and honey!” Coyle said, laughing.
“We are the hands and feet of Jesus, and He’s with us every step. We’re so thankful for Kilmichael Baptist, they just took us in and loved on us. And we’re thankful for Greenlee’s they cook for us.”
“Lives are going to be changed, souls will be saved,” Coyle said.
Assistant Executive Director Rebecca Johnson said when they first arrived at the school, it looked like “At 3:30, the bell rang and they never came back. There were books, files, chairs, desk, everywhere. It was a mess,” Johnson said. “And Amy’s right, we thought we’d never get to this spot. People come and ask, ‘How’d you get all of this done?’ It was Jesus,” she said.
“I feel like we could be professional painters now,” Johnson said, laughing. “Only the Lord did it, and He dwells in this place. Like this building, when people come in here, they’re going to go through a complete transformation,” she said.
God’s House of Hope began intake Monday, Feb. 24.
