Testimonies

Freedom Quest:

“I came to Freedom because I wanted to know Jesus. My life changed because before I came to Freedom I knew who Jesus was, but not really. They teach me different things like if I have a problem, the only person I can ask is Him. After that, I decided to ask Jesus into my heart and now I still know him and work for him. And it’s nice to have someone to talk to about the hard stuff I go through.”

–Epiphany, an orphaned refugee from Tanzania, age 17

Volunteers:

Bob and Cheryl Marckmann first heard about Freedom for Youth at the church they attend. About a year later he began volunteering as a teacher in the Freedom Quest program with inner-city and at risk teens. He loves it now, though it wasn’t an immediate decision. “I thought about it for awhile before I got into action,” Bob said. “Then I knew that I just had to get in there and do it.”

Cheryl said a large factor in her decision to volunteer was because of a mission trip they had taken to Jamaica earlier. “There are mission trips to do right here,” said Cheryl. She now loves spending time with the teens and watching them grow and learn. Cheryl’s words of wisdom for future volunteers at Freedom for Youth are, “Don’t come with preconceived ideas. We’re here to love, not to judge. To love as Jesus loves.”

Parents:

I would like to thank you for all that you have done for my child(ren) throughout these months.  I would also like to say that each of them have learned so much since being in Whiz Kidz.  I believe that your program is truly a blessing and I hope and pray that it will be around many years to come.  I believe that when you bless those who are in needing, you will be blessed 20, 30, 100 times more and each of you will be blessed.  I say this for the fact of how much time you took out of your time to bless the children that needed that extra help.  I come from my heart and say that my children were blessed to have met each of you.  I am truly grateful that each of you had took out your time to not only help tutor my children but also be able to help with transportation to bring each of my child(ren) to and from home as well.  You all are a true blessing.  I know this letter and card is not much but I could not let the time go by without me giving you a letter of thanks. May God bless you and keep you.

–Nicholle, a mother with children involved in Whiz Kidz and Freedom Quest

Transitional Living:

“My life was in shambles. I found myself in prison and seeking solace through alcoholism, drug addiction and destructive relationships. I had no clue where my life was going, I hated the idea of being alive and until I found Christ there was nothing I found purpose in. I found Him through time spent in prison with others who were trying to change their lives, too. I joined Bible studies and other groups trying to find something consistent and true. I found truth only through the Word of God and saw firsthand how it had an impact on the lives of those around me.

I met Tony when I first moved to Des Moines, while I was in a drug and alcohol rehab center. When I went back to jail because of my previous conviction, I attended his Thursday night Bible studies. I found out about the Freedom Center and the Promise House and I decided when I was discharged from my sentence I would join the program and try to center my life around a relationship with Christ.

I was in the Promise House program for about eleven months. After I graduated, I rented the upstairs apartment and continued developing my own position in ministry, gaining financial stability through working a full time job, and learning how to be a productive individual in society. I developed skills that now allow me to think and do for myself rather than relying on others. Without the Promise House, I would not be as involved with my local church and would not have the solid foundation for what it means to be a true Christian, how it’s defined through the core teachings of the Bible.

Three Bible verses that have been of great encouragement and inspiration through my walk with Christ are:

Philippians 1:21 – “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”

2 Timothy 3:16 & 17 – “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

Romans 5:3-5 – “Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.”

–Aaron, former Promise House resident