“Bring forth the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that have ears. Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the people be assembled: who among them can declare this, and shew us former things? Let them bring forth their witnesses, that they may be justified: or let them hear, and say, It is truth. Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me, there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me, there is no savior.” Isaiah 43:8-11
Today, at 11 a.m., God’s House of Hope Kilmichael, the drug and alcohol rehabilitation center, will hold its grand opening and ribbon cutting. Those in attendance will be able to take a tour of the facility.
God’s House of Hope will begin intake on Monday, Feb. 24.
But, before the grand opening and ribbon cutting Pastors Saxton Odom, Linda Malone, Chad Bowen, Greg Magee, Janie Mortimer and David Sartin with the Winona Ministerial Alliance prayed over the directors and staff members of God’s House of Hope of Kilmichael in their worship room, named the Wheeler Room after Wheeler Church of God in Prentiss County on Wednesday.
The Winona Ministerial Alliance also provided lunch to the staff and the directors.
“Before this was a school, and many children were seeking education and a better life,” Pastor Saxton Odom, pastor of Winona Church of God, said. “And, you all will do the same thing at a new level. Those who are loss, lonely, bound, poor in spirit, will get an education, but not man’s education. It’ll be God’s education.”
Pastor Linda Malone, the pastor of Kilmichael United Methodist Church and Bethlehem United Methodist Church, told the staff and directors that when people come to God’s House of Hope seeking help, they won’t only break their addiction but will work on their whole self. “And you’ve been there before, you’ve been in their shoes, you been in a door that wasn’t open to you.”
Malone said she has a nephew who was once a resident in a halfway house. He is now over the halfway house and knows where they are.
“I also understand the hurt that goes along with that.” She told the staff directors to remember who they are and who’s they are in Christ when temptation arises.
Pastor Chad Bowen of Moore Memorial United Methodist Church told those that it is God’s House, and none of this would be possible without God.
David Sartin, the pastor of First Baptist Church of Kilmichael, said he’d seen the transformation of God’s House of Hope from day one.
“We’re thankful that the directors had a vision and saw a need,” he said.
“We need programs like this,” Sartin prayed for patience and understanding as staff members and directors work with clients who will come to the facility who may not want to hear that they need the help.
“You may hate me for that. No, don’t pray for patience, but we need patience and understanding. We pray that God gives you mercy, grace, love, and peace, so those that come through these doors, you can offer them the same. This is a great ministry, and God wants to use you as his vessel, his instruments.”
Sartin reminded staff members and directors that when they started turning Montgomery County Elementary into God’s House of Hope in Kilmichael, they couldn’t initially see it and didn’t have much in finances to make it happen. Still, it was in God’s power that it was transformed. And it will be in God’s power that lives will be transformed.
“This is what faith can do, and the God I serve is a Miraculous God,” Sartin said.
Rev. Greg Magee said that when he spoke to God about what to tell those at God’s house of hope, God led him to Isaiah 43:8-11.
“Those who will come here will have eyes to see but will be blind, they’ll have ears to hear but won’t want to hear what’s being said. Don’t give up, and don’t get discouraged,” Magee said. “God can and will change them.”
Pastor Janie Mortimer of Holcomb United Methodist Church prayed for consecration. “This is a wonderful ministry, and it is such a blessing, and God is going to bless all the areas that you’re going to serve,” she said.
The pastors then had a prayer service where they prayed and anointed the staff and directors of God’s House of Hope. God’s House of Hope is still in need of donations: monetary, food, and toiletries. Contact GHOH of Kilmichael at 662-330-6020.
