In partnership with the Mitchell Swaback Charities, Holding on to Hope Ministries is leading the way in speaking out about the prevalence and consequences of abuse in general and sexual abuse in particular. Bill Harbeck is the director of Holding on to Hope and is traveling across the country sharing with schools and churches about the nature and prevalence of abuse and Internet Pornography. New technology is quickly infiltrating homes and hearts with the plague of pornography and it is at epidemic levels. The immense shame that goes with involvement keeps this evil quiet. The consequences are deadly to individuals, families, and the community at large. It is time to speak out, to address the truth, and share the good news of hope for healing.

Xulon Publishers has just released Bill's new book, Shattered: One man's journey from childhood sexual abuse. It is the story of Bill's lifetime journey from abuse as a teenage boy to the joy of healing some 30 years later. It is a compelling story and a triumph of perseverance and God's grace. The book is available today at www.Amazon.com www.barnesandnoble.com and directly from Holding on to Hope Ministries at www.holdingontohope.org

Don't ignore this issue. It has been silent for too long. Contact Bill today to schedule a seminar for your school, church, or community and open the doors for those who are living in the silence of shame with hope for healing.

As the holiday season approaches MSC has committed this Christmas to help make a small difference for a few homeless individuals living in the Phoenix area. We are currently making plans to create 150 care bags to hand out on Christmas morning to those living on the streets. Each bag will be filled with food, as well as needed essentials like a new pair of socks and a new t-shirt and a short story about Mitch and MSC. Also included will be a track telling about the love of Jesus Christ and what salvation means. Mitch would often head downtown Chicago to feed the homeless or volunteer at a city shelter during the last few years of his life. Every time he volunteered a Saturday morning at a shelter, he would very often be the one who was blessed more than the individuals who he actually helped. Our goal is to do the same. As the majority of us celebrate Christmas with our families in front of a home cooked feast, we ask you to help us share a little of that comfort with others this Christmas.

Each bag will cost us $15.00 to construct, if you'd like to make a donation to cover a couple bags we would love your help! Make a donation today; noting how many bags you'd like to cover the expense for. We've set a goal for 150; help us reach that before Christmas arrives!

Check out the pictures! What a blessing it is to see home number five nearing completion. The older boys have already moved into the first completed home. Once the new facility is completed there will be a total of six homes and various other buildings. Mitchell Swaback Charities has also funded the construction of a fresh water system that will allow the orphanage to have access to their own water rather than purchasing and filling reserve tanks. If you're interested in learning more about this project please visit our projects page.

Wednesday 2/11/2004

There's only one thing that God wants of us — it's our unconditional surrender, we can't live in the old, we have to live in his new creation in us. That's pretty to the point lay it all down to him, don't hold back in any area. We have to give it all to him. Trust and have Faith that he will take care of everything.